H3576 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 17, 1996 us to win the debate, for them to win never forget the day after this Con- forms that they have worked for, but the debate, because facts are our gress started, I was out in the hall, out- in trying to forge a bipartisan agenda, friends and, as John Adams said, side the House chambers, and a re- one that is going to make this Con- ‘‘Facts are stubborn things.’’ porter came up to DICK ARMEY, the ma- gress continue to be pro-jobs, pro-re- Mr. TAUZIN. You know, the fresh- jority leader of the House Republican form, anti-tax, and one that relies men, JON, all of you guys, have taken Conference, and she said to him, ‘‘How more on the individual responsibility a lot of heat in the press, being too does it feel now that the American peo- and relying on the fact that the Gov- hardnosed, too rigid, inflexible. The ple have given you all this power?’’ ernment does not run the country, the truth is, the freshmen came to this And he said something very important people do, and they do lend us that re- House with a very refreshing concept. and very profound. He said, ‘‘The sponsibility and that authority to act It was a concept that the Government American people did not give us power. in their behalf. ought to be our servant, not our mas- They gave us responsibility. They So while we want to see term limits, ter. And you came with a simple notion loaned us power.’’ we want to make sure the time we are that we needed to make Government That is part of the attitude I think here is made valuable, because what we user friendly again. It needed to be re- reflected in this Congress. The Amer- have done is made positive changes. sponsive to people and helpful to peo- ican people have given us responsibil- That will always be our guiding ple, instead of control and mandating ity. For as long as we have that respon- thought. and, indeed, inaccessible to people be- sibility, I think particularly speaking I thank you for letting us have this cause its formularies and regulations on behalf of the freshmen, we are going time period, Mr. Speaker, to have this were too difficult for people to under- to do everything we can to give the dialogue. We will return again to give a stand. It is a very refreshing attitude. power back to them, because we know further review in the future. We appre- I often comment to folks back home, that ultimately here in the United ciate the input of our colleagues, from thank God we have a huge crop of States it is the people who are sov- our constituents and the American freshmen that have that attitude. I ereign. For too long, they felt as if people. think it is great that we have the infu- there was a government that had the f sion of new ideas and new thought. We people, rather than a people with a b 2000 have seen it in the form of a willing- government. ness to tackle issues that sometimes Frankly, I think we are bringing TRIBUTE TO A TRUE PATRIOT, no one wanted to tackle before; to face fresh attitudes, I think we are willing RON BROWN head on the crush and calamity of Med- to tackle the tough issues. Have we The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. icare collapsing into bankruptcy and to done everything right. No. Have we METCALF). Under the Speaker’s an- try to deal with it, to face head on the made mistake? Yes. We may make mis- nounced policy of May 12, 1995, the gen- fact we have got a welfare system that takes in the future. But we are always tleman from New Jersey [Mr. PAYNE] is is condemning people to dependency, guided by the basic notion that it is recognized for 60 minutes. instead of rescuing them from depend- the people who are sovereign, and we ency; to face head on the fact that GENERAL LEAVE work for them, and ultimately we have Medicaid in our country is about to Mr. PAYNE of new Jersey. Mr. a responsibility to this generation, but, cripple the ability of our States to take Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that more importantly, to the next genera- care of people who are uninsured and all Members may have 5 legislative tion as well. days within which to revise and extend need the assistance of others for their So I want to thank Representative health care; and to face head on com- their remarks on and include therein TAUZIN and Representative FOX. It has extraneous material on the subject of plex issues like immigration policy, been a great special order. We need to and issues like, indeed, environmental the special order today by the gen- do this more often. As I said earlier, reform, which are very contentious and tleman from New Jersey [Mr. facts are our friends. PALLONE]. very difficult to debate sometimes. Mr. TAUZIN. I just want to reecho Freshmen, in my view, have added a The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there that thought, that this is the people’s great deal to this Congress, and I am objection to the request of the gen- House, and in this House the people glad you are here. tleman from New Jersey? Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Congress- rule. That is an awfully statesmanlike There was no objection. approach to take, and it is surprising, Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. man TAUZIN, we certainly appreciate the fact you are an honorary freshman, indeed, that more folks do not realize Speaker, as chairman of the Congres- you have joined us in that regard, be- that in this Chamber. sional Black Caucus, I wanted to take cause your enthusiasm to find biparti- In the end, when we go back to the some time this evening to pay tribute san solutions and work to make a posi- town hall meetings back home, we are to a man so many of us knew as a great tive difference is what I think all the asked a simple question: Have you ad- friend and a real true patriot. Sec- Congress is about. vanced an American agenda? Not a retary of Commerce Ron Brown was a You would not be here and would not Democrat or Republican agenda. Have person we all knew and loved. So many have the privilege of serving if you you advanced the cause of this coun- people across this Nation have been in- could not make a positive difference. try? Have you made it a place where spired by Ron Brown, it is fitting that The thing we have to do is make sure there is more liberty, instead of less we celebrated his remarkable life and we continue listening back home. Back liberty? Have you made it a place legacy. home are the best ideas on keeping where we can advance our family’s fu- Even in the midst of our grief over costs down, on keeping government ac- ture more easy instead of more dif- his untimely passing, we recognize that countable for what they want, and to ficult. Have you made this a place Ron was the kind of person who would make sure we in fact have a govern- where indeed our children can have a want to be remembered for how he ment that is user friendly. In that re- brighter future than we ourselves lived his life rather than how he died. gard, for any final comments Congress- have? It has been said that a man’s reach man GUTKNECHT may have? If we can say yes to all of those ques- should exceed his grasp. Throughout Mr. GUTKNECHT. I thank the gen- tions, then we can go home proud and Ron Brown’s wonderful life he kept tleman from Pennsylvania and Louisi- pleased with the work we have done reaching, seizing each challenge with ana for the special order. I appreciate here. I think we are well on the way. boundless confidence, with enthusiasm, the opportunity to participate. I want We have accomplished a lot. We have a with energy, with vision. Both in the to thank you for the kind words about lot left to do. But I think this ‘‘do private sector and in the public life he the freshmen. I think in many respects, something’’ Congress will be heard displayed that all-American can-do at- though, the freshmen just represent from much more in the days ahead. titude, refusing even to entertain the the common sense values and views of Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. I want to thought that any obstacles would be the American people. thank Congressman GUTKNECHT and insurmountable. This Congress started with a lot of Congressman TAUZIN for their leader- It was this spirit that won him so excitement and fanfare, but I will ship, not only in presenting the re- many firsts. First black fraternity April 17, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3577 member at Middlebury College. First Judiciary, he served as director of the for having this special order. I rise to black to hold the position of Chief California for Kennedy committee and add my voice to the multitude of voices Counsel of the U.S. Senate. First black later organized for Jesse Jackson’s run singing the praises of Ron Brown. With partner at Patton, Boggs & Blow, and for President. all that has been said about him in the then on to becoming the first black Another point that needs to be made, last 12 days, some may feel that all chairman of the Democratic Party be- in this era when it is popular in some that needs to be said has already been fore being appointed by President Clin- quarters to bash those who work for said; but as we frequently say, all that ton as the first black Secretary of the Federal Government, that Ron need to say it have not already said it. Commerce. Brown and those who perished with The fact is that we have all been af- Yet it was typical of Ron Brown that him out there, risking their lives under fected by Ron Brown’s life in general even as he built racial coalitions, he very dangerous conditions on a mission and in unique ways, and feel the need downplayed the significance of race as to improve the lives of people in Bosnia to ensure that the record of his life and he sought to take on new challenges in and to promote American products, his good works reflects some of those his life. He said that race was not im- American business opportunities in unique contributions. portant as an obstacle. He simply said order to create American jobs. For example, Mr. Speaker, the New- he can continue to move on up a little Secretary Brown and his staff worked port News shipyard in the Third Con- higher. tirelessly over the years bringing in gressional District of Virginia, which I I remember back in 1988, when I was billions and billions of dollars of con- represent, was a beneficiary of his good a member of the Newark City Council tracts to Americans. Let us hope that works. Even before the collapse of the and seeking election to the house of out of respect for the victims and their cold war, the shipyard knew it needed Representatives, Ron Brown was cam- families this unfair debasing of Federal to diversify its business portfolio be- paigning at that time to become chair- employees for cheap political mileage yond just military shipbuilding, so it man of the Democratic National Com- will cease. began to revive its commercial ship- mittee. I traveled to Washington with Let me take a moment to pay tribute building program. the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce to the victims of the tragedy who were Ron Brown stood ready when called early in February 1988 to their annual connected to my home State of New upon to help the Newport News Ship- legislative visit, when we talked to leg- Jersey who were on that ill-fated trip yard, just as he had helped so many islators here and talked about policies that day. We are proud of their service other businesses before. For the New- for our State. During my stay I intro- and extend deepest sympathies to their port News Shipyard, he took Pat Phil- duced our State Democratic chairman, families. lips, the former president of the ship- Ray Durkin, to Ron Brown, knowing Lee Jackson, who was born in yard, to the Middle East to meet with that Ron was seeking the office of Montclair, NJ, part of my district, was business and government leaders in Is- chairman of the Democratic National Executive Director of the European rael, Egypt, Kuwait, and the United Committee. Bank for Reconstruction and Develop- Arab Emirates to market the frigate After hearing Ron’s ideas and observ- ment at the Treasury Department. He ship program, and they were very suc- ing his enthusiasm and his approach to was a young, bright African-American cessful. Bill Fricks, the current presi- problem solving and his enthusiasm fellow whose father was a former news- dent of the shipyard, stated upon the and his approach to problem solving paper person, who, as a matter of fact, news of Ron’s death that, and I quote: and his vision, the State Democratic was a very close friend of my Newark Ron Brown was a great advocate of our chairman, Ray Durkin, made a decision district office manager. We sat, Rick yard and voiced his support for Newport right on the spot to support Ron Thigpen and myself, watching the tele- News Shipyard and other Tenneco subsidi- Brown. He said this is the man we need vision, very saddened, awaiting the aries during numerous trade missions over- to lead our party. news from over in Croatia. seas. Not only an advocate of stronger inter- I was pleased when our New Jersey Another person on that flight from national ties, Brown was also a friend of U.S. Senator, BILL BRADLEY, imme- New Jersey, Claudio Elia, was chair- Newport News Shipyard. He will truly be diately came on board to join in for the man and chief executive of Air and missed. backing of Ron Brown to become the Water Technologies Corp. in Mr. Speaker, there have been a lot of chairman of the Democratic National Branchburg, NJ. words used to describe Ron Brown and Committee. In fact, New Jersey was Walter Murphy was vice president of his life: trailblazer, bridgebuilder, the first State to endorse Secretary global sales at AT&T Submarine Sys- fence mender, power broker, coalition Brown when he made his run for the tems in Morristown, NJ. builder, energizer, visionary, humani- chairmanship of the Democratic Na- Our State also lost two young people tarian, public servant, crusader, law- tional Committee. who were serving our country in the yer, businessman, politician, husband, Ron Brown did not run a narrow cam- military, as Secretary Ron Brown had father, friend; all extraordinaire. And paign based on race, he reached out to done as a young U.S. Army captain to this descriptive list I have to add a wide range of Americans, as he al- early in his life. S. Sgt. Robert shipbuilder and a friend of the Third ways did in his life, ultimately con- Farrington, Jr., was from Brierfield, Congressional District of Virginia. We vincing the electorate to return the NJ; and T. Sgt. Cheryl Turnege lived in are all grateful for his life and his con- White House to the Democratic party Lakehurst before she joined the Air tributions and for the lives and con- for the first time in over a decade. As Force. tributions of those who were with him a matter of fact, our State of New jer- Ron Brown left us too soon. He had on that fateful trade mission. sey went overwhelmingly for President so many gifts and yet he was not to Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown will truly be Clinton for the first time in almost have the gift of long life. We do not un- missed. three decades. It was because of Ron derstand how life is given out, it is be- Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. I thank Brown and his vision, his imagination, yond us. Yet we can take comfort in the gentleman very much. I really ap- his creativity, his gumption, his stick- the fact that his spirit, his zest for liv- preciate the gentleman from Virginia to-itiveness. He embodied the power of ing, and his monumental achievements for those kind remarks. Let me at this positive thinking, always looking will definitely live on. time recognize the gentlewoman from ahead, assuredness, and optimistic. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the great State of North Carolina, who Secretary Brown became involved in his loving family, his wife, Alma, his has been doing special orders and has politics in 1971, when he was a district son, Michael, his daughter Tracey, and been talking about Ron Brown for the leader in Mount Vernon, NY, in the his grandchildren. We will keep them last day or two, the gentlewoman from Democrat party there. He made a name in our thoughts and in our prayers. North Carolina, Mrs. EVA CLAYTON. for himself in the Urban League with At this time, I would yield to the Mrs. CLAYTON. Thank you, Mr. his innovative ideas and creative ap- gentleman from Virginia, Representa- PAYNE. proaches. He loved both public service tive BOBBY SCOTT. I am indeed grateful to Mr. PAYNE for and politics. Before working for Sen- Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I want to organizing this special order. I wanted ator KENNEDY on the Committee on the thank the gentleman from New Jersey to participate in this special order H3578 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 17, 1996 under the guidance of the Black Cau- They are there, at the Department of deputy assistant secretary for inter- cus, because I think it is appropriate in Commerce, at Democratic National national trade. He was a long time aide this leadership that we also have an op- Headquarters, in the public sector and of Ron Brown. He graduated from portunity to have a special order. in the private sector—the next Ron Georgetown University, a native of Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown was a Browns. Colorado, was always there when Ron bridgebuilder, a peacemaker, a soldier He was a fisher of young men and Brown had to go. Did not like to fly at for souls, a fisher for young men and young women. all, did not like travel at all, but he young women. Whether he was building bridges or felt that it was his responsibility to his Out of the ashes and wreckage of closing divides, fighting the good fight boss, Ron Brown. it was the respon- that faraway mountain in Bosnia— or making peace, reaching with a help- sibility to his country, and he went something remains—a blade of grass, ing hand or bringing others along—he when called and did not want to go on an idea. always did his duty with dignity, pride, that trip to Bosnia, but he was there. The idea—Ron Brown’s living leg- graciousness, vision and boundless en- These are the types of Americans acy—is that you can grow up in Har- ergy. He filled each unforgiving minute who are the unsung heroes, people who lem, and progress in Washington. with 60 seconds of long distance run. dedicate their time, their life, their en- He left with us a prototype to follow, Our thoughts and prayers go out to ergy, time away from their family. The a style, a design, a mold, a model that his lovely wife Alma, his loyal son Mi- Bill Mortons of the world are the type we may never duplicate, but we can chael and his darling daughter Tracey. that makes this country run, that certainly replicate. They have every reason to be proud. make it as great as it is. Under the careful counsel of his fa- Ron was a trailblazer, a tireless There were a number of people on ther and mother, he learned that it is champion for all, a role model for role that flight. Duane Christian, who was far better to build bridges than to burn models. He has left his permanent im- Ron Brown’s chief security officer, a them. He knew that a bridge could arch print on the sands of time. God’s finger person who had been in this govern- a flood. has touched him, and he now sleeps. ment for many years, used to work for And so, he built bridges between the the Office of Personnel Management, a b 2015 rich and poor, between people of every former school teacher. hue, between cherished views and fresh Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Thank On that trip was Adam Darling, just beliefs. Perhaps that is why his motor- you for those remarks. a 29-year-old person, a confidential as- cade journey to his resting place in Ar- As you know, we are talking about sistant for the Deputy Secretary of lington was as appropriate on U Street the life of Ron Brown, but there were a Commerce. He worked in international as it was on Constitution Avenue. number of people. I mentioned several trade, wanted to make America strong, Ron Brown was a bridgebuilder. of those who lived in my great State of wanted to increase our balance of His time spent in service to America, New Jersey who lost their lives on that trade, wanted to reduce the balance of as an officer of the U.S. Army, appar- mountainside in Croatia and return trade deficit, a young 29-year-old per- ently taught him that the best way to flight from Bosnia. There were other son was there serving our country. Gail Dobert, acting director of the of- preserve world peace and avoid war is people who worked for the government. fice of business liaison, a person who by doing business. As we talked about the fact that all had worked many years on the Hill, That is why he travelled to China, too often it is made trite about work- ing for the government, we hear people who was there serving our country. journeyed to India, took a trip to Tur- Carol Hamilton, the press secretary key, and voyaged to Africa. And, that saying that Americans should not have to pay taxes. Why should we be in- for Ron Brown, who was a person who is why he risked a rainstorm to get to had worked in business and industry, Tuzla. volved in such things? What right do we have to take their money? We heard worked for Chase Manhattan Bank, but He was opening doors, cementing re- decided to give her time, her talents to some of that dialog earlier here to- lationships, serving his country, and the United States Government and night. promoting peace, even in a region torn came to work in the Commerce Depart- Well, because we live in a country by war. ment so that the work that that great that is great. We live in a country Ron Brown was a peacemaker. department was doing could be better where you can get on a road and the His rapid rise to the top was by meas- told. ured steps from the bottom. road will take you where you need to We have Kathryn Hoffman, a special He worked by day and attended law go, with pavement, with utilities, with assistant to Ron Brown who was a per- school by night. He was a welfare so- lights. We live in a place where you can son who was interested in politics, cial worker, a leader with the Urban drink clear water and not worry about worked in the Clinton campaign during League, a brilliant political strategist, having bacteria in it. We live in a place 1992, and actually was the person that a lawyer, the pilot of the Democratic that you can call the authorities or go produced the first African-American Party and the architect of one of the to a courtroom and find that you can inaugural gala and leadership forum at greatest Presidential campaign vic- have your cases heard. And that is why the inauguration of the inaugural com- tories in history. it is a responsibility of Americans to mittee for President Clinton, a person Through it all, he never lost the com- have a responsibility. who worked for Sony Pictures and in mon touch. As a matter of fact, at some other the past for Senator BIDEN and Julian He was as comfortable playing pick- time we will get on to this subject, but Bond. A person with tremendous up basketball in the Shaw neighbor- people make it seem that here in amount of ability, also lost her life. hood of Washington, DC as he was con- America we are overtaxed. We pay We have Stephen Kaminski, who was versing with Kings and Queens and about 29 percent. Japan used to pay 19 a senior commercial officer who trav- Prime Ministers. percent; they paid 29 percent. In the eled a great deal, who tried to see that Ron Brown was a soldier of souls. Western Europe countries, most pay 38 the market access of American compa- But, perhaps the mark that he made to 39 percent. We should take a look at nies could be enlarged in places like that is most worthy of note is his the global situation, and I say that to Japan, and worked in capitals of Ham- mentoring, wherever he went, he took say that Ron Brown was a person who burg and Dusseldorf and Vienna, and others with him, especially young men had to take this unnecessary bashing. was a person, a real world leader. and women. People in government took unneces- Kathryn Kellogg, a confidential as- Ron knew how tough it was for an Af- sary bashing. We heard people criticize sistant, office of business liaison, who rican-American to move from 125th the Department of Commerce, but bil- came to that office from a background Street in the heart of Harlem to the lions of dollars worth of business have with the Jay Rockefeller office and did Commerce Building at the center of been brought back to this country. a tremendous amount. power in Washington. There were other people who gave And we had a very senior person with With each career step he took, he em- their life for this country. us on that trip with Ron Brown, braced young people, forming and fash- Bill Morton was a fellow who was al- Charles F. Meissner who was the As- ioning the Ron Brown’s of the future. ways at Ron Brown’s side. Bill was a sistant Secretary of Commerce for April 17, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3579

International Affairs, has been very ac- Mbeke, Vice President AL GORE country, we make the best products, tive in government, and his wife was cochaired this trade development that once we put our minds to it. He felt the Immigration and Naturalization will increase imports and exports from that all we had to do was to get an op- Service commissioner, Miss Doris these two great countries. portunity to introduce our business Meissner, and certainly our heart goes Ron Brown went to Asia and was people to foreign markets, and that out to her, a person who is still con- very popular. they would really jump on board on tributing to our Government. The Japanese trade officials enjoyed getting our products. Also a part of our Government team working with Ron Brown. They felt So as we wind down on our com- was Lawrence Payne, a special assist- that he was very astute, and he did memoration of Ron Brown, the man, ant, office of domestic operations. He outstanding business in Japan. He was Ron Brown, the leader, Ron Brown, the was a person who added a great deal to one, and we heard of Mickey Kantor father, Ron Brown was a person that the mission. and his debates in Geneva with the even when he was under attack, and I Naomi P. Warbasse, who was a dep- auto parts, but Ron Brown would go sat at a hearing of the Committee on uty director of Central and East Eu- over to Japan, and it was, they call it, International Relations where there rope Business Information Center. the ‘‘bad cop, good cop,’’ Mickey was the move to abolish and eliminate We had James M. Lewek, who was an Kantor being the bad cop, tough guy, the Department of Commerce. Some intelligence analyst who worked on Eu- mean guy, never smiled, and Ron mean-spirited questions were asked, ropean economic issues. He was a per- Brown would come with his smile. He and the manner in which some of the son who was an analyst, a very bright was a good cop. But Ron would always questioners on the other side of the individual who served very well. get the signature on the dotted line. aisle were lashing out at the Secretary So these were people who worked for So, as we have recently heard, the tre- of Commerce. He answered every ques- our government who felt it was impor- mendous increase in the amount of tion. He answered the questions well. tant, who felt they had a contribution autos and auto parts being sold to He had the facts. to make, who felt that this great Na- Japan, a record for this country. Part As a matter of fact, when the hearing tion of ours could do better. They of that success for our big three auto ended, most of the Members who start- never accepted enough was enough. makers is because of Ron Brown and ed out with this mean-spirited slash They went on to move to higher the work that he has done. and burn type of philosophy had to heights. He went to the People’s Republic of admit that the Department of Com- Ron Brown had gone on a mission to China and was ready to do business all merce had done an outstanding job; India. No one ever looked at India as a over the place. It was just that it was had to admit that, truly, this is the place where we should take trade mis- so large, Ron just took a little piece of first Department of Commerce Sec- sions. It was never on the radar screen. it, but billions of dollars’ worth of Peo- retary that the American people can But Ron Brown looked at the popu- ple’s Republic of China. say the name of the person. This is a lation, a population of over 900 million And so I mentioned these various Commerce Department person that people, a country that in the next 20 missions that he took. He was inter- people felt was doing the job. But in their fallacy, their preconceived notion years will have a population in excess ested in the whole relationship between was to eliminate the Department of of the population of the People’s Re- Mexico and the United States. He felt Commerce. I think that that started to public of China. that Mexico has tremendous potential, sort of slow down once Ron Brown real- It is estimated by the year 2020 the but that the human rights of people in ly gave the facts to people. population of India will exceed 1 billion Mexico must be observed better. He 250 million people—1 billion 300 million We are here to say, Mr. Speaker, that talked about changing over the type of we hope that we will remember Ron. people. This is awesome. government, making it more people The People’s Republic of China cur- We will once again say that he was a oriented, and he was a person that saw great American. We will once again say rently has 1 billion 100 million people. that one way that we could stop illegal The population of the United States is that he is the type of person that we immigration is that Mexico itself be- can have young men and women, Afri- 250 million. comes a place that people feel they Ron Brown looked at India and said, can-American, Caucasian, native should stay, their country. Most people American, whatever, point to and say after analysis, that India has as many prefer living in their own country. middle-income people as the entire that he is the measure of a man. Any- They do not like traveling to other one can succeed if you try hard enough, population of the United States of countries. They do not want to learn a America. He was one that looked that all you have to do is to have a vi- foreign language. They do not want to sion, have creativity, and be ready to around and saw the poverty and saw be put in substandard jobs. They do not the problems, but he also looked at the step up to the plate. want to be pointed out as the problem. Once again, I would like to thank the aggregate number, 900 million people, So most people, wherever they live in Speaker for this time, and to express to and found out that 250 million were the world, prefer to stay where their my colleagues who came out tonight middle-income people in India. And so home country is. that I appreciate their participation he took a trade mission and, in less Ron Brown felt that, with Mexico de- this evening. I also appreciate the par- than a week, did over $7 billion worth veloping, with opportunities in Mexico ticipation of many, many Members of business on that trip. It was Ron for Mexicans, that would be the biggest who have expressed their views during Brown conceiving that there is oppor- way to slow down and eventually stop the past week that we have been back tunity in that great country of India. illegal immigration and actually have here, Monday, Tuesday, and today. He took trade missions to South Af- people emigrate back to Mexico once As a matter of fact, concluding, it rica, worked with Mr. Mandela. As a opportunities developed there. But he was going to be on a week from today matter of fact, Ron Brown was one of also said that, as Mexico developed, that he was going to visit the Congres- President Nelson Mandela’s favorite that there would be markets for the sional Black Caucus’ weekly meeting. persons. Mr. Mandela, who, as you United States, there would be trade op- We talked before his trip, and April 24 know, is probably one of the greatest portunities, that it would not be a one- was the date that he was scheduled to leaders in this world, has tremendous way street, but we would be able to come to talk about women’s opportuni- insight, and he was a person that solve a tremendous social problem in ties, small business, the census. So we opened his doors to his personal home our country of illegal immigration. will certainly even more remember to Ron Brown because of the camara- b 2030 him next week when we meet in our derie between the two. Of course, Presi- weekly Wednesday meeting. He is a dent Mandela, being much older than So Ron Brown’s policies really af- true American, a real American hero. Ron Brown, Ron just looked up to him fected the world, whether it was in the f and went to South Africa, and through Far East, the Pacific rim, whether it Ron Brown’s creativity the Mbeke- was in the new independent States, or LEAVE OF ABSENCE Gore Bilateral Commission for Trade, in Africa. He was a person who felt By unanimous consent, leave of ab- directly the deputy president, Tabo that we could do things best in this sence was granted to: