CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E1191 HON

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E1191

work with Americans living and working over-

seas and can attest to the increasingly impor-

tant role this segment of the U.S. population

plays in our nation’s economy and in our rela-

tions with countries and their citizens through-

out the world.

In this era of growing globalization, we are

all aware of the importance placed upon our

nation’s exports of goods and services over-

seas in an effort to provide a strong and

versatile economy.

Not only are we reliant on Americans

abroad to carry-out exports for the creation of

U.S.-based jobs, but we rely on these U.S.

citizens to best promote and advance U.S. in-

terest around the world.

Nevertheless, the U.S. Census Bureau does

not count private sector Americans residing

abroad, despite the fact that the U.S. Govern-

ment employees working overseas are cur-

rently included in the U.S. census. This is an

inconsistent and inappropriate policy, espe-

cially if the bureau is true to its word in that

it wants the Census 2000 to be the ‘‘most ac-

curate census ever.’’

It is imperative that the U.S. Census Bureau

count all Americans, including private citizens

living and working abroad. Not only will such

a policy provide an accurate Census 2000, but

it will allow Congress and private sector lead-

ers to realize how best to support U.S. compa-

nies and our citizenry abroad.

U.S. citizens abroad vote and pay taxes in

the United States, yet are discriminated

against by the U.S. Government solely be-

cause they are private citizens.

Let’s change this policy and include private

sector Americans residing overseas in the

census.

Accordingly, I urge all of my colleagues to

support this resolution.

H. C

. R

. 129

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the

Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT THE BU-

REAU OF THE CENSUS SHOULD IN-

CLUDE IN THE 2000 DECENNIAL CEN-

SUS ALL CITIZENS OF THE UNITED

STATES RESIDING ABROAD.

(a) F

INDINGS

.—Congress finds the fol-

lowing:

(1) The Bureau of the Census has an-

nounced its intention to exclude more than

3,000,000 citizens of the United States living

and working overseas from the 2000 decennial

census because such citizens are not affili-

ated with the Federal Government.

(2) The Bureau of the Census has stated its

desire to make the 2000 decennial census

‘‘the most accurate ever’’.

(3) Exports by the United States of goods,

services, and expertise play a vital role in

strengthening the economy of the United

States—

(A) by creating jobs based in the United

States; and

(B) by extending the influence of the

United States around the globe.

(4) Citizens of the United States living and

working overseas strengthen the economy of

the United States—

(A) by purchasing and selling United

States exports; and

(B) by creating business opportunities for

United States companies and workers.

(5) Citizens of the United States living and

working overseas play a key role in advanc-

ing the interests of the United States around

the world as highly visible economic, polit-

ical, and cultural ambassadors.

(6) In 1990, as a result of widespread bipar-

tisan support in Congress, the Bureau of the

Census enumerated all United States Gov-

ernment officials and other citizens of the

United States affiliated with the Federal

Government living and working overseas for

the apportionment of representatives among

the several States and for other purposes.

(7) In the 2000 decennial census, the Bureau

of the Census again intends to so enumerate

all such officials and other citizens of the

United States.

(8) The Overseas Citizens Voting Rights

Act of 1975 gave citizens of the United States

residing abroad the right to vote by absentee

ballot in any Federal election in the State in

which the citizen was last domiciled over 2

decades ago.

(9) Citizens of the United States who live

and work overseas, but who are not affiliated

with the Federal Government, vote in elec-

tions and pay taxes.

(10) Organizations that represent individ-

uals and companies overseas, including both

Republicans Abroad and Democrats Abroad,

support the inclusion of all citizens of the

United States residing abroad in the 2000 de-

cennial census.

(11) The Internet facilitates easy mainte-

nance of close contact with all citizens of the

United States throughout the world.

(12) All citizens of the United States living

and working overseas should be included in

the 2000 decennial census.

(b) S

ENSE OF

ONGRESS

.—it is the sense of

Congress that—

(1) the Bureau of the Census should enu-

merate all citizens of the United States re-

siding overseas in the 2000 decennial census;

and

(2) legislation authorizing and appro-

priating the funds necessary to carry out

such an enumeration should be enacted.

IN HONOR OF THE LATE ANTHONY

J. GENOVESI

HON. ANTHONY D. WEINER

OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, June 9, 1999

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

invite my colleagues to join the members of

the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club in pay-

ing tribute to the memory of New York State

Assemblyman Anthony J. Genovesi who died

on August 10, 1998, at the age of 61.

Anthony J. Genovesi, lovingly known as

‘‘Tony,’’ attended a private boarding school for

his grade school education, followed by St.

Francis Xavier High School. He graduated

from St. Peter’s College with a degree in Eco-

nomics, and then from Fordham University

School of Law in 1961. Following his admis-

sion to the New York State Bar in 1962, Tony

Genovesi served Law Assistant to the Deputy

Administrative Judge of the New York City

Civil Court; Opinion Clerk, Civil Court of New

York County, and Law Secretary, New York

City Criminal Court.

Anthony J. Genovesi has a great interest in

and affinity for ‘‘grass roots’’ politics, with a

specific interest in protecting our children and

improving our public school system. He joined

the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club in

1967 and in 1975 he was elected as the 39th

Assembly District’s State Committeeman, a

position he held until his death. Elected to the

New York State Assembly in 1986, Anthony J.

Genovesi was the Chairman of the Assembly

Oversight, Analysis & Investigation Committee,

and served on the Education, Judiciary, and

Corporations and Public Authorities Commit-

tees.

Anthony J. Genovesi lived his life by the

axiom ‘‘Help people. Help those without a

voice. Help those who no one else would have

the compassion to assist.’’ This philosophy led

him to become President of the Bergen Beach

Civic Association; a member of Community

Board 18; Jamaica Bay Citizens Committee;

Knights of Columbus; Canarsie Mental Health

Clinic; Rambam Canarsie Lodge of B’nai

B’rith, and an active parishioner at St. Ber-

nard’s Roman Catholic Church in Bergen

Beach.

Admired and respected by friend and foe,

Anthony ‘‘Tony’’ Genovesi possessed a great

passion for life, a keen wit, fine intellect, a tire-

less work ethic and an uncompromising sense

of honesty and fair play. He believed that the

acquisition of power was not an end unto

itself, but rather a vehicle through which to do

things for people who were unable to help

themselves.

Tony Genovesi was an innovator and bea-

con of good will to all those with whom he

came into contact. Through his dedicated ef-

forts, he helped to improve my constituent’s

quality of life. In recognition of his many ac-

complishments on behalf of our community, it

is fitting that the Environmental Center be

dedicated in this memory. In keeping with his

spirit, the Anthony J. Genovesi Environmental

Center will teach our children about their envi-

ronment and provide them with lessons in

ecology and hands on experience in dealing

with different life forms. This Center will exist

as one of the shinning examples of Tony

Genovesi’s legacy, a man who was a giant

among men and truly irreplaceable.

INTRODUCTION OF DRUG KING-

PINS BANKRUPTCY ACT OF 1999

HON. BILL McCOLLUM

OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, June 9, 1999

Mr. M

COLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am today

introducing the ‘‘Drug Kingpins Bankruptcy Act

of 1999,’’ which is intended to extend the

reach of United States sanctions to the world’s

most significant narco-trafficking organizations.

I am especially pleased to be joined in this im-

portant initiative by Representatives Rangel,

Goss, Gilman, and Mica; companion legisla-

tion was introduced recently by Senators

Coverdell and Feinstein.

The legal precedent for this legislation was

the successful application of sanctions in 1995

and 1996 against the Cali Cartel narco-traf-

ficking organization and its key leaders. Exec-

utive Order 12978, issued by the Clinton Ad-

ministration in October 1995, had the effect of

dismantling and defunding numerous business

entities tied to the Cali Cartel. Coordinated law

enforcement efforts by the U.S. and Colom-

bian Governments in support of these sanc-

tions put the Cali Cartel kingpins out of busi-

ness.

Unlike earlier and more limited sanctions ini-

tiatives, the ‘‘Drug Kingpins Bankruptcy Act of

1999’’ is global in scope and specifically fo-

cuses on the major cocaine, heroin, and am-

phetamine narco-trafficking groups based in

Mexico, Colombia, the Caribbean, Southeast

Asia, and Southwest Asia. If enacted, this leg-

islation will encourage U.S. law enforcement

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of RemarksE1192 June 9, 1999

and intelligence agencies to better coordinate

their efforts against the leaders of the world’s

most dangerous multinational criminal organi-

zations. This initiative will assist U.S. Govern-

ment efforts to identify the assets, financial

networks, and business associates of major

narcotics trafficking groups. If effectively imple-

mented, this strategy will disrupt thee criminal

organizations and bankrupt their leadership.

This ‘‘Drug Kingpins Bankruptcy Act of

1999’’ is intended to supplement—not to re-

place—the United States’ policy of annual cer-

tification of countries based on their perform-

ance in combating narcotics trafficking. This

bill will properly focus our Government’s ef-

forts against the specific individuals most re-

sponsible for trafficking in illegal narcotics by

attacking their sources of income and under-

mining their efforts to launder the profits gen-

erated by drug-trafficking into legitimate busi-

ness activities.

The bill requires the Secretary of the Treas-

ury—in consultation with the Attorney General,

the Director of Central Intelligence, the Sec-

retary of Defense, and the Secretary of

State—to prepare and submit a list of the

world’s most significant narcotics traffickers on

January 1st of each year. The Director of the

Office of National Drug Control Policy shall re-

view this list for submission to the President

by February 1st of each year. The President

then shall formally designate these major

narco-traffickers on March 1st of each year as

constituting an unusual and extraordinary

threat to the national security, foreign policy

and the economy of the United States. Individ-

uals and entities linked to major narcotics traf-

ficking groups may be added to the list by the

President at any time during the year.

The effect of this legislation will be to block

the assets of any specially designated drug

trafficker that come within the control of United

States law enforcement authorities. Second, it

will block all assets of any other individuals

who materially assist, provide financial or tech-

nical support, or offer goods and services to

such specially designated narcotics traffickers.

Third, it will block the assets of any persons,

who are determined by the United States Gov-

ernment as controlled by or acting on behalf of

specially designated narcotics traffickers.

Fourth, designation on this list will result in the

denial of visas and inadmissibility of specially

designated narcotics traffickers, their imme-

diate families, and their business associates.

The bottom line objective of these provi-

sions is to bankrupt and disrupt the major nar-

cotics trafficking organizations. The targets of

this bill are not only the drug kingpins, but

those involved in money laundering, in acquir-

ing chemical precursors to manufacture nar-

cotics, in manufacturing the drugs, in trans-

porting the drugs from the drug source coun-

tries to the United States, and in managing the

assets of these criminal enterprises.

The ‘‘Drug Kingpins Bankruptcy Act of

1999’’ establishes a precedent for the future

content and scope of the ‘‘Global Drug King-

pins’’ list by specifically identifying the first

group of 12 named individuals from Mexico,

Burma, Thailand, Colombia, and Haiti. This

‘‘Dirty Dozen’’ includes many of the world’s

most significant narco-traffickers, such as

Khun Sa of Burma, Ramon Arrellano Felix of

the Tijuana Cartel, Vicente Carrillo Fuentes of

the Juarez Cartel, and Wei Hsueh-Kang of the

United Wa State Army. Virtually all of these in-

dividuals are billion-dollar criminals with global

assets and organizations that threaten the se-

curity and freedom of all Americans.

The first ‘‘Global Drug Kingpins’’ list has

been developed with the close cooperation of

the Drug Enforcement Administration and the

Federal Bureau of Investigation. I am espe-

cially pleased to report that one of the king-

pins originally identified by the DEA and the

FBI for inclusion in this list was extradited to

the United States by the Mexican government

on June 1, 1999; as a result of this extradition,

we have now filled this vacancy with a major

money launderer from the Eastern Caribbean,

who has been sought for extradition on nu-

merous U.S. indictments.

I look forward to quick passage of this im-

portant crime-fighting legislation and hope that

the Clinton Administration would implement

this initiative on its own.

WEI HSUEH-KANG

@ PRASIT CHIWINITPARYA

@ CHARNCHAI CHIWINNITIPANYA

DOB: 06/29/52.

Criminal Organization: Commander of the

United Wa State Army (UWSA), Southern

Military Region. The UWSA is considered

the largest scale narcotics processing and

trafficking organization in Southeast Asia

and as such, poses the greatest threat to

Thailand, the U.S. and the international

community.

U.S. Pending Criminal Charges: August 30,

1993, Eastern District of New York, Con-

spiracy to Import Heroin into the United

States.

Wei Hsueh-Kang had been sentenced to

death (in absentia) by the Royal Thai Gov-

ernment for his involvement in a 1,496 pound

heroin shipment seized off the coast of Thai-

land in 1987. This sentence has since been re-

duced to life in prison.

Status: Thai fugitive. Currently residing in

Burma.

CHANG CHI-FU

@ KHUN SA

DOB: 02/17/33 (ALT: 02/12/32).

Criminal Organization: Former Head of the

Shan United Army @ Mong Thai Army.

U.S. Pending Criminal Charges: December

20, 1989, Eastern District of New York:

1. Conspiracy to Import Heroin into the

United States.

2. Operating a Continuing Criminal Enter-

prise (CCE).

3. Distribution of Heroin in Both Burma

and Thailand.

4. Importation of Heroin into the United

States.

5. Possession of Heroin with Intent to Dis-

tribute & Distribution of Heroin.

6. Attempted Distribution of Heroin in

Thailand.

7. Attempted Importation of Heroin into

the United States.

Status: U.S. Fugitive. Residing in Burma

under the protection of the Burmese Govern-

ment.

JOSE DE JESUS AMEZCUA-CONTRERAS

(AKA JESUS AMEZCUA-CONTRERAS)

DOB: 07/13/63 (alt 07/31/64), (alt 07/31/65).

Criminal Organization: Amezcua-Contreras

Organization.

U.S. Pending Criminal Charges:

February 11, 1993, Southern District of

California:

(1.) Conspiracy to possess cocaine with in-

tent to distribute.

(2.) Attempted possession of cocaine with

intent to distribute.

June 18, 1998, Southern District of Cali-

fornia:

(1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal En-

terprise to manufacture and distribute meth-

amphetamine.

(2.) Conspiracy to possess ephedrine.

Status: U.S. fugitive. Arrested June 1998 in

Mexico. Incarcerated in Mexico. Provisional

Arrest Warrant request—for purpose of ex-

tradition. Extradition on appeal in Mexico.

LUIS IGNACIO AMEZCUA-CONTRERAS

DOB: 02/22/64 (alt 02/21/64), (alt 02/21/74).

Criminal Organization: Amezcua-Contreras

Organization.

U.S. Pending Criminal Charges:

December 21, 1994, Central District of Cali-

fornia:

(1.) Conspiracy to manufacture, possess

with intent to distribute, and distribute

methamphetamine.

(2.) Possession with intent to distribute

methamphetamine.

(3.) Possession of a listed chemical with

reasonable cause to believe the chemical

would be used in the manufacture of meth-

amphetamine.

(4.) Conspiracy to launder money.

(5.) Money laundering.

June 18, 1998, Southern District of Cali-

fornia:

(1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal En-

terprise to manufacture and distribute meth-

amphetamine.

(2.) Conspiracy to possess ephedrine.

Status: U.S. fugitive. Arrested June 1998 in

Mexico. Incarcerated in Mexico. Provisional

Arrest Warrant request—for purpose of ex-

tradition. Extradition on appeal in Mexico.

RAMON EDUARDO ARELLANO-FELIX

DOB: 08/31/64.

Criminal Organization: Arellano-Felix Or-

ganization.

U.S. Pending Criminal Charges: September

11, 1997, Southern District of California: Con-

spiracy to import cocaine and marijuana.

Status: U.S. fugitive. Not arrested. Provi-

sional Arrest Warrant request.

VICENTE CARRILLO-FUENTES

DOB: 10/16/62.

Criminal Organization: Juarez Cartel, for-

merly known as Amado Carrillo-Fuentes Or-

ganization.

U.S. Pending Charges:

October 6, 1993, Northern District of Texas:

(1.) Conspiracy to possess and distribute co-

caine.

August 6, 1997, Western District of Texas:

(1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal En-

terprise (CCE).

(2.) Conspiracy to import and possess with

intent to distribute controlled substances.

(3.) Importation of controlled substances.

(4.) Possession with intent to distribute

controlled substances.

(5.) Money laundering.

Status: U.S. fugitive. Not arrested. Provi-

sional Arrest Warrant request.

ARTURO PAEZ-MARTINEZ

DOB: 08/31/67 (alt 11/22/66).

Criminal Organization: Arellano-Felix Or-

ganization.

U.S. Pending Charges:

June 27, 1997, Southern District of Cali-

fornia: (1.) Conspiracy to import cocaine.

December 19, 1997, Southern District of

California:

(1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal En-

terprise (CCE) to launder money.

(2.) Conspiracy to distribute and the dis-

tribution of cocaine.

(3.) Conspiracy to import and the importa-

tion of cocaine.

(4.) Aiding and abetting.

Status: Arrested in Mexico. Incarcerated in

Mexico. Provisional Arrest Warrant request.

OSCAR MALHERBE DE LEON

DOB: 01/10/64.

Criminal Organization: One of the key

leaders of the Juan Garcia Abrego drug traf-

ficking organization, also known as the Gulf

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E1193

Cartel. The Juan Garcia Abrego organization

is known by U.S. law enforcement agencies

for its importation of large quantities of con-

trolled substances, its propensity for vio-

lence, and its efforts to corrupt officials on

both sides of the U.S. Mexico border.

U.S. Pending Charges: May 1995, District of

Southern Texas:

(1.) Conspiracy to distribute and possess

with intent to distribute cocaine.

(2.) Conspiracy to commit money laun-

dering.

(3.) Operating a Continuing Criminal En-

terprise.

Status: Arrested in Mexico. Incarcerated in

Mexico. Provisional Arrest Warrant Request.

Extradition on appeal in Mexican courts. Ex-

tradition to U.S. may take place after com-

pletion of his sentence in Mexico for weapons

offenses.

LORQUET SAINT-HILAIRE

Criminal Organization: One of the key

leaders of a Colombian-Haitian drug traf-

ficking organization that has moved signifi-

cant quantities of cocaine from Colombia

through Haiti and then into Florida. On Oc-

tober 5, 1995, Saint-Hilaire and five of his as-

sociates conspired to rob and kill a federal

agent who was acting in an undercover ca-

pacity. Although the federal agent was shot

at by Saint-Hilaire, he was not injured. All

five of Saint-Hilaire’s associates were later

convicted on numerous drug and assault vio-

lations.

U.S. Pending Charges: October 1995, Dis-

trict of Southern Florida:

(1.) Conspiracy to commit narcotics of-

fenses.

(2.) Assault against a U.S. federal officer.

(3.) Attempt to rob mail, money or other

property of the U.S.

Status: Believed to be residing in the vicin-

ity of Port de Paix, Haiti. Provisional Arrest

Warrant Request. No extradition treaty in

effect with Haiti.

JHON RAUL CASTRO

DOB: 09/05/63

Criminal organization: One of the key lead-

ers of a major cocaine trafficking organiza-

tion based in Miami and Medellin, Colombia.

Castro’s organization is known by U.S. law

enforcement agencies for its importation and

distribution of large quantities of cocaine

from Colombia across the United States.

Since 1994, U.S. law enforcement authorities

believe that Castro has been responsible for

the importation and distribution of several

thousand kilograms of cocaine through cells

located in Miami, Boston, New York, Chi-

cago, Houston, and Los Angeles.

U.S. Pending Charges: February 1999, Dis-

trict of Southern Florida:

(1.) Conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

(2.) Other substantive drug charges being

prepared.

Status: Believed to be residing in the vicin-

ity of Medellin, Colombia. Provisional Arrest

Warrant Request. Extradition request pro-

ceedings have been initiated with the Colom-

bian Government.

RAFAEL CARO—QUINTERO

DOB: 10/24/52 (alt 11/24/55), (alt 10/24/55).

Criminal Organization: Caro-Quintero Or-

ganization.

U.S. Pending Criminal Charges:

April 29, 1987, Central District of Cali-

fornia:

(1.) Conspiracy to distribute and possession

with intent to distribute controlled sub-

stances.

(2.) Operating a Continuing Criminal En-

terprise (CCE).

(3.) Criminal forfeiture.

(4.) Possession of controlled substance.

(5.) Alien in possession of firearm.

(6.) Aiding and abetting.

(7.) False identification documents used to

defraud United States.

(8.) False statement.

(9.) Travel act conspiracy.

July 14, 1988, District of Arizona:

(1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal En-

terprise (CCE).

(2.) Conspiracy to import a controlled sub-

stance.

(3.) Importation of a controlled substance.

(4.) Bribery.

(5.) Exportation of currency.

(6.) Aiding and abetting.

July 30, 1991, Central District of California:

(1.) Violent crimes in aid of racketeering.

(2.) Conspiracy to commit violent crimes

in aid of racketeering.

(3.) Conspiracy to kidnap a Federal Agent.

(4.) Kidnapping of a Federal Agent.

(5.) Felony murder of a Federal Agent.

(6.) Aiding and abetting.

(7.) Accessory after the fact.

Status: U.S. fugitive. Incarcerated in Mex-

ico. Provisional Arrest Warrant request.

CHARLES MILLER AKA: EUSTACE

O’CONNOR

DOB: 03/29/60

Criminal organization: Is the leader of a

major Caribbean drug trafficking organiza-

tion based in St. Kitts that has moved sig-

nificant quantities of cocaine from Colombia

through the Eastern Caribbean and then into

Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and

Florida. In October 1994, Miller and six of his

associates conspired to murder the Super-

intendent of St. Kitts’ Police. Since May

1996, the U.S. Government has sought the ex-

tradition of Miller and two other notorious

St. Kitts’ drug traffickers who are wanted in

the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. In Oc-

tober 1996 and again in January 1999, a St.

Kitts magistrate ruled against the U.S. re-

quest for Miller’s extradition.

U.S. Pending Charges: October 1994, Dis-

trict of Southern Florida: Conspiracy to

commit narcotics offenses.

Status: Believed to be residing in the vicin-

ity of Basseterre, St. Kitts. Provisional Ar-

rest Warrant Request. Extradition request

under deliberation by St. Kitts Government

since May 1996.

WILLIAM BRIAN MARTIN

DOB: 08/02/63 (alt 08/02/62).

Criminal Organization: Martin Organiza-

tion.

U.S. Pending Charges:

May 4, 1993, District of Arizona:

(1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal En-

terprise (CCE).

(2.) Conspiracy to distribute and possess

with intent to distribute cocaine and mari-

juana.

(3.) Conspiracy to commit money laun-

dering.

February 23, 1994, District of Arizona:

(1.) Conspiracy to distribute over 1000 kilo-

grams of marijuana.

September 6, 1994, District of Arizona:

(1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal En-

terprise (CCE).

(2.) Conspiracy to possess with intent to

distribute cocaine and marijuana.

Status: Arrested in Mexico. Incarcerated in

Mexico. Provisional Arrest Warrant request.

Extradition from Mexico on June 1, 1999.

IN CELEBRATION OF MEDTRONIC,

INC.’S 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

HON. LOIS CAPPS

OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, June 9, 1999

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to cele-

brate the 50-year anniversary of Medtronic,

Inc. and to commend its sponsorship of the

Public Broadcast System (PBS) show, Fron-

tiers of Medicine.

Frontiers of Medicine, currently broadcast

on public television, has been underwritten by

the Medtronic Foundation to highlight many of

the ground breaking medical innovations that

are dramatically changing the nature of patient

care. In the short five months that Frontiers of

Medicine has been on the air, it has been an

enormous success. By the end of June 1999,

Frontiers of Medicine will be carried in over 75

percent of the country making it the most pop-

ular health show on public television today.

The show generated considerable support

from viewers and stations who e-mail and

phone daily requesting additional information

about the topics covered in each episode.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my warm congratula-

tions to Medtronic, Inc. for 50 years of medical

innovation, and commend their commitment to

providing valuable and innovative information

through their sponsorship of the Frontiers of

Medicine program. I am always pleased to see

private industry serving the public interest by

raising awareness and promoting education of

the critical issues facing our country.

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOP-

MENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMIN-

ISTRATION, AND RELATED

AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

ACT, 2000

SPEECH OF

HON. DEBBIE STABENOW

OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, June 8, 1999

The House in Committee of the Whole

House on the State of the Union had under

consideration the bill (H.R. 1906) making ap-

propriations for Agriculture, Rural Develop-

ment, Food and Drug Administration, and

Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending

September 30, 2000, and for other purposes:

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Chairman, I rise today

to address the Bass-DeFazio amendment to

the Agricultural Appropriations bill for Fiscal

Year 2000. The Bass-DeFazio amendment

sought to reduce the Wildlife Services budget

within the U.S. Department of Agriculture by

$7 million.

I object to the use of Wildlife Services funds

in the western states of our nation for the con-

trol of predators such as coyotes. I agree with

groups like the Humane Society that the prac-

tices used in the control of coyotes and other

predatory animals are inhumane and a misuse

of federal dollars.

Unfortunately, I could not support the Bass-

DeFazio amendment because the proposed

cuts did not specifically target predator control

programs in the west. As written, the amend-

ment could have made a $7 million across-

the-board cut to Wildlife Services—a crippling

blow to a program that is typically funded at a

level of $30 million. I would like to include for

the record a letter from Secretary Glickman

that describes how the proposed $7 million cut

would have impeded the public health and

safety efforts of Wildlife Services across the

nation.

Michigan is in the midst of a Bovine Tuber-

culosis (TB) crisis. A growing number of deer

have been discovered with Bovine TB that is