December 14, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2315 their constituents. These State and local offi- combined efforts of Federal and non-Federal MIDDLE EASTERN TERRORIST cials are the first responders to emergencies. law enforcement agencies. INCIDENTS They need access to critical information on ‘‘(6) The chiefs, commissioners, sheriffs, or potential threats within their jurisdictions. The comparable officials who head each State, territorial, and local agency that partici- HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN ‘‘Intergovernmental Law Enforcement Sharing pates in a working group, task force, or simi- OF NEW YORK Act of 2001’’ will enhance their ability to get lar activity described in paragraph (5). IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that information. ‘‘(c)(1) The Attorney General may charge Thursday, December 13, 2001 I urge my colleagues to support this bill. State, territorial, and local governments, in H.R. 3483 whole or in part, for the costs of carrying out Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, on September A bill, to amend title 31, Code, security clearance investigations and grant- 11th, the U.S. suffered the most destructive to provide for intergovernmental coopera- ing security clearances under this section. terrorist attack on its soil by Middle Eastern tion to enhance the sharing of law enforce- Such charges may not exceed the amounts terrorists with the suicide bombing of the ment information. charged for carrying out such investigations World Trade Center in New York City and the and granting such clearances for Federal em- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- Pentagon in Washington, D.C., which killed resentatives of the United States of America in ployees. ‘‘(2) The Attorney General may waive any over three thousand Americans and wounded Congress assembled, many more. This was the highest casualty toll SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. charges that would otherwise apply under paragraph (1) to a State, territorial, or local ever recorded for a single terrorist incident This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Intergovern- anywhere. Yet the U.S. is by no means the mental Law Enforcement Information Shar- government if such government agrees to ing Act of 2001’’. promptly provide Federal officials, without only country to feel the wrath of Middle East- charge, access to the criminal databases of SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS. ern terrorists in recent months. such government for the purpose of con- The cancer of terrorism that has plagued Congress finds the following: ducting personnel security background in- (1) Governors and mayors are responsible the Middle East for decades has now trans- vestigations for military, civilian, and con- for the protection of their constituents, and formed into new and more deadly forms that tract employees. State and local agencies are typically the ‘‘(d) To the maximum extent practicable, pose grave challenges to the United States first responders to emergencies. Therefore, the Attorney General shall ensure that infor- and our allies. Middle Eastern terrorists are State and local officials and agencies must mation systems, including databases, are now striking outside their home region, boldly be able to receive information regarding po- configured to allow efficient and effective attacking high-profile targets, and killing in a tential threats within their jurisdictions. (2) Most State and local law enforcement sharing of information among appropriate more indiscriminant manner. authorities currently have mechanisms in Federal, State, territorial, and local officials Nonetheless, the Middle East is a hotbed of place to receive and protect classified infor- and agencies.’’. state-sponsored terrorism. Five of the seven mation provided by Federal officials. These SEC. 4. STUDY BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. states that have been branded by the U.S. mechanisms must be supplemented to in- (a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Attorney Gen- government as sponsors of international ter- clude elected officials and additional senior eral shall conduct a study of methods to en- rorism—Iran, Iraq, , Sudan, and — law enforcement officials in every State. hance the sharing of sensitive Federal law are part of the troubled Middle East region. (3) Expanding the issuance of security enforcement information with State, terri- The Middle East is not only infested with more clearances, consistent with all applicable torial, and local law enforcement officials. Federal standards and investigative require- The study shall review— terrorist groups than any other region, but the ments, is an important means of improving (1) appropriate safeguards to protect con- Middle East remains the world’s foremost ex- information sharing among Federal, State, fidential sources and methods; porter of terrorism, with most of the spillover and local officials. (2) mechanisms for determining the credi- afflicting Western Europe and the United (4) There is a need for a comprehensive re- bility of information relating to potential States. These state sponsors of terrorism are view of procedures within Federal law en- threats; concerned with furthering their national goals forcement agencies in order to identify and (3) restrictions on access to Federal data- only through the use of their terrorist networks. remedy unnecessary barriers to information bases by State, territorial, and local elected It remains imperative, therefore that the United sharing among Federal, State, and local law officials and law enforcement personnel; and enforcement agencies. States and our allies track down and destroy (4) any other matter that the Attorney these terrorist groups and their global reach SEC. 3. SECURITY CLEARANCES AND ENHANCED General considers appropriate. INFORMATION SHARING. whereever they may be. (b) PARTICIPATION.—The Attorney General Chapter 65 of title 31, United States Code, Accordingly, in wanting to bring to the atten- shall ensure that officials from State, terri- is amended by adding at the end the fol- tion of my colleagues a list of the significant torial, and local law enforcement agencies lowing new section: participate in the study. Middle Eastern terrorist incidents from 1961Ð ‘‘§ 6509. Intergovernmental cooperation to en- (c) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after 2001 based on the findings of the State De- hance the sharing of law enforcement in- the date of the enactment of this Act the At- partment’s Office of the Historian, I request formation torney General shall submit a report con- that this terrorism list be printed at this point ‘‘(a) The Attorney General shall expedi- taining the findings and recommendations of in the RECORD. tiously carry out security clearance inves- the study to the Committee on Government SIGNIFICANT MIDDLE EASTERN TERRORIST tigations for the persons identified in sub- Reform and the Committee on the Judiciary INCIDENTS: 1961–2001 section (b), and shall grant appropriate secu- of the House of Representatives and the rity clearances to all such persons who qual- Committee on Governmental Affairs and the 1961–1982 ify for clearances under the standards set Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. Munich Olympic Massacre, September 5, forth in applicable laws and Executive or- SEC. 5. DISCLAIMER. 1972: Eight Palestinian ‘‘’’ terrorists seized 11 Israeli athletes in the ders. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to ‘‘(b) The persons referred to in subsection Olympic Village in Munich, West Germany. limit the authority of the head of a Federal (a) are: In a bungled rescue attempt by West German agency to classify information or to con- ‘‘(1) Every Governor of a State or territory authorities, nine of the hostages and five ter- tinue the classification of information pre- who applies for a security clearance. rorists were killed. viously classified by an agency. ‘‘(2) Every chief elected official of a polit- Ambassador to Sudan Assassinated, March ical subdivision of a State or territory with 2, 1973: U.S. Ambassador to Sudan Cleo A. a population exceeding 30,000 who applies for f Noel and other diplomats were assassinated a security clearance. at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Khartoum ‘‘(3) At least one senior law enforcement PERSONAL EXPLANATION by members of the Black September organi- official for each State or territory, as des- zation. ignated by the Governor of such State or ter- Entebbe Hostage Crisis, June 27, 1976: ritory. HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY Members of the Baader-Meinhof Group and ‘‘(4) At least one senior law enforcement OF ILLINOIS the Popular Front for the Liberation of Pal- estine (PFLP) seized an Air airliner official for each political subdivision de- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES scribed in paragraph (2), as designated by the and its 258 passengers. They forced the plane chief elected official of such subdivision. Thursday, December 13, 2001 to land in Uganda, where on July 3, Israeli ‘‘(5) Law enforcement officers from State, commandos successfully rescued the pas- territorial, and local agencies that partici- Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, during sengers. pate in Federal counter-terrorism working rollcall vote No. 494 on December 12, 2001 I , November 4, 1979: groups, joint or regional terrorism task was unavoidably detained. Had I been After President Carter agreed to admit the forces, and other activities involving the present, I would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ Shah of Iran into the U.S., Iranian radicals

VerDate 112000 05:22 Dec 15, 2001 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13DE8.089 pfrm04 PsN: E14PT1 E2316 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 14, 2001 seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took ican servicemen were injured in a Libyan Dizengoff Center Bombing, March 4, 1996: 66 American diplomats hostage. Thirteen bomb attack on a nightclub in West Berlin, and the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) hostages were soon released, but the remain- West Germany. In retaliation, U.S. military both claimed responsibility for a bombing ing 53 were held until their release on Janu- jets bombed targets in and around Tripoli outside of Tel Aviv’s largest shopping mall ary 20, 1981. and Benghazi. that killed 20 persons and injured 75 others, Grand Mosque Seizure, November 20, 1979: 1988 including two U.S. citizens. 200 Islamic terrorists seized the Grand Kidnapping of William Higgins, February West Bank Attack, May 13, 1996: Arab gun- Mosque in Mecca, , taking hun- 17, 1988: U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. W. Hig- men opened fire on a bus and a group of Ye- dreds of pilgrims hostage. Saudi and French gins was kidnapped and murdered by the Ira- shiva students near the Bet El settlement, security forces retook the shrine after an in- nian-backed Hizballah group while serving killing a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and wound- tense battle in which some 250 people were with the Truce Supervisory ing three . No one claimed responsi- killed and 600 wounded. Organization (UNTSO) in southern Lebanon. bility for the attack, but Hamas was sus- Assassination of Egyptian President, Octo- Naples USO Attack, April 14, 1988: The Or- pected. ber 6, 1981: Soldiers who were secretly mem- ganization of Jihad Brigades exploded a car Zekharya Attack, June 9, 1996: Unidenti- bers of the Takfir Wal-Hajira sect attacked bomb outside a USO Club in Naples, Italy, fied gunmen opened fire on a car near and killed Egyptian President Anwar Sadat killing one U.S. sailor. Zekharya, killing a dual U.S./Israeli citizen during a troop review. Pan Am 103 Bombing, December 21, 1988: and an Israeli. The Popular Front for the Assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister, Pan American Airlines Flight 103 was blown Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) is suspected. September 14, 1982: Premier Bashir Gemayel up over Lockerbie, Scotland, by a bomb be- Khobar Towers Bombing, June 25, 1996: A was assassinated by a car bomb parked out- lieved to have been placed on the aircraft in fuel truck carrying a bomb exploded outside side his party’s Beirut headquarters. Frankfurt, West Germany, by Libyan terror- the U.S. military’s Khobar Towers housing 1983 ists. All 259 people on board were killed. facility in Dhahran, killing 19 U.S. military Bombing of U.S. Embassy in Beirut, April personnel and wounding 515 persons, includ- 1991 ing 240 U.S. personnel. Several groups 18, 1983: Sixty-three people including the Attempted Iraqi Attacks on U.S. Posts, CIA’s Middle East director, were killed, and claimed responsibility for the attack. January 18–19, 1991: Iraqi agents planted Bombing of Archbishop of Oran, August 1, 120 were injured in a 400-pound suicide truck- bombs at the U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia’s bomb attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, 1996: A bomb exploded at the home of the home residence and at the USIS library in French Archbishop of Oran, killing him and Lebanon. The Islamic Jihad claimed respon- Manila. sibility. his chauffeur. The attack occurred after the Bombing of Marine Barracks, Beirut, Octo- 1992 Archbishop’s meeting with the French For- ber 23, 1983: Simultaneous suicide truck- Bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Argen- eign Minister. The Algerian Armed Islamic bomb attacks were made on American and tina, March 17, 1992: Hizballah claimed re- Group (GIA) is suspected. French compounds in Beirut, Lebanon. A sponsibility for a blast that leveled the PUK Kidnapping, September 13, 1996: In 12,000-pound bomb destroyed the U.S. com- Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Iraq, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) pound, killing 242 Americans, while 58 causing the deaths of 29 and wounding 242. militants kidnapped four French workers for French troops were killed when a 400-pound 1993 Pharmaciens Sans Frontieres, a Canadian United Nations High Commissioner for Refu- device destroyed a French base. Islamic World Trade Center Bombing, February 26, gees (UNHCR) official, and two Iraqis. Jihad claimed responsibility. 1993: The World Trade Center in New York 1984 City was badly damaged when a car bomb 1997 Kidnapping of Embassy Official, March 16, planted by Islamic terrorists explodes in an Egyptian Letter Bombs, January 2–13, 1997: 1984: The Islamic Jihad kidnapped and later underground garage. The bomb left six peo- A series of letter bombs with , murdered Political Officer William Buckley ple dead and 1,000 injured. The men carrying , postmarks were discovered at Al- in Beirut, Lebanon. Other U.S. citizens not out the attack were followers of Umar Abd Hayat newspaper bureaus in Washington, connected to the U.S. Government were al-Rahman, an Egyptian cleric who preached New York City, London, and Riyadh, Saudi seized over a succeeding 2-year period. in the New York City area. Arabia. Three similar devices, also post- Hizballah Restaurant Bombing, April 12, Attempted Assassination of President marked in Egypt, were found at a prison fa- 1984: Eighteen U.S. servicemen were killed, Bush by Iraqi Agents, April 14, 1993: The cility in Leavenworth, Kansas. Bomb dis- and 83 people were injured in a bomb attack Iraqi intelligence service attempted to assas- posal experts defused all the devices, but one on a restaurant near a U.S. Air Force Base in sinate former U.S. President George Bush donated at the Al-Hayat office in London, in- Torrejon, Spain. Responsibility was claimed during a visit to . In retaliation, the juring two security guards and causing by Hizballah. U.S. launched a cruise missile attack 2 minor damage. months later on the Iraqi capital Baghdad. Empire State Building Sniper Attack, Feb- 1985 ruary 23, 1997: A Palestinian gunman opened TWA Hijacking, June 14, 1985: A Trans- 1994 Hebron Massacre, February 25, 1994: Jewish fire on tourists at an observation deck atop World Airlines flight was hijacked en route the Empire State Building in New York City, to Rome from Athens by two Lebanese right-wing extremist and U.S. citizen Baruch Goldstein machine-gunned Moslem worship- killing a Danish national and wounding visi- Hizballah terrorists and forced to fly to Bei- tors from the United States, Argentina, rut. The eight crew members and 145 pas- pers at a mosque in West Bank town of He- bron, killing 29 and wounding about 150. Switzerland, and France before turning the sengers were held for 17 days, during which gun on himself. A handwritten note carried one American hostage, a U.S. Navy sailor, Air France Hijacking, December 24, 1994: Members of the Armed Islamic Group seized by the gunman claimed this was a punish- was murdered. After being flown twice to Al- ment attack against the ‘‘enemies of Pal- giers, the aircraft was returned to Beirut an Air France Flight to Algeria. The four terrorists were killed during a rescue effort. estine.’’ after released 435 Lebanese and Pales- Israeli Shopping Mall Bombing, September tinian prisoners. 1995 4, 1997: Three suicide bombers of Hamas deto- Soviet Diplomats Kidnapped, September Jerusalem Bus Attack, August 21, 1995: nated bombs in the Ben Yehuda shopping 30, 1985: In Beirut, Lebanon, Sunni terrorists Hamas claimed responsibility for the detona- mall in Jerusalem, killing eight persons, in- kidnapped four Soviet diplomats. One was tion of a bomb that killed six and injured cluding the bombers, and wounding nearly killed, but three were later released. over 100 persons, including several U.S. citi- 200 others. A dual U.S./Israeli citizen was Achille Lauro Hijacking, October 7, 1985: zens. among the dead, and seven U.S. citizens were Four Palestinian Liberation Front terrorist Saudi Military Installation Attack, No- wounded. seized the Italian cruise liner in the eastern vember 13, 1995: The Islamic Movement of Yemeni Kidnapping, October 30, 1997: Al- Mediterranean Sea, taking more than 700 Change planted a bomb in a Riyadh military Sha’if tribesman kidnapped a U.S. business- hostages. One U.S. passenger was murdered compound that killed one U.S. citizen, sev- man near Sanaa. The tribesman sought the before the Egyptian Government offered the eral foreign national employees of the U.S. release of two fellow tribesmen who were ar- terrorists safe haven in return for the hos- Government, and more than 40 others. rested on smuggling charges and several pub- tages’ freedom. Egyptian Embassy Attack, November 19, lic works projects they claim the govern- Egyptian Airliner Hijacking, November 23, 1995: A suicide bomber drove a vehicle into ment promised them. They released the hos- 1985: An EgyptAir airplane bound from Ath- the Egyptian Embassy compound in tage on November 27. ens to Malta and carrying several U.S. citi- Islamabad, Pakistan, killing at least 16 and Tourist killings in Egypt, November 17, zens was hijacked by the Group. injuring 60 persons. Three militant Islamic 1997: Al-Gama’at al-Islamiyya (IG) gunmen 1986 groups claimed responsibility. shot and killed 58 tourists and four Egyp- Aircraft Bombing in Greece, March 30, 1986: 1996 tians and wounded 26 others at the A Palestinian splinter group detonated a Hamas Bus Attack, February 26, 1996: In Hatshepsut Temple in the Valley of the bomb as TWA Flight 840 approached Athens Jerusalem, a suicide bomber blew up a bus, Kings near Luxor. Thirty-four Swiss, eight Airport, killing four U.S. citizens. killing 26 persons, including three U.S. citi- Japanese, five Germans, four Britons, one Berlin Discoteque Bombing, April 5, 1986: zens, and injuring some 80 persons, including French, one Colombian, a dual Bulgarian/ Two U.S. soldiers were killed, and 79 Amer- three other US citizens. British citizen, and four unidentified persons

VerDate 112000 05:22 Dec 15, 2001 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13DE8.094 pfrm04 PsN: E14PT1 December 14, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2317 were among the dead. Twelve Swiss, two Cathie Ann Ong-Herrera. Betty was a woman honorees, who included bureaucrats, attor- Japanese, two Germans, one French, and of remarkable courage who was one of the neys, a teacher and a Seattle Police Depart- nine Egyptians were among the wounded. many to die in the act of war perpetrated on ment deputy assistant chief. Six of the hon- 1998 orees are from California. our country on September 11, 2001. His Jan. 14 story, ‘‘Fresno County may U.S. Embassy Bombings in East Africa, Betty Ann Ong was born in San Francisco house foster children illegally,’’ told how August 7, 1998: A bomb exploded at the rear on February 5, 1956 to Harry Ong, Sr. and Fresno County had been housing some of its entrance of the U.S. embassy in Nariobi, Yee Gam Oy Ong. Betty was the youngest of most difficult foster children in two area Kenya, killing 12 U.S. citizens, 32 Foreign motels, a practice that some legal advocates Service Nationals (FSNs), and 247 Kenyan four siblings, Harry Ong, Jr., Cathie Ann Ong- say violates state law. citizens. About 5,000 Kenyans, six U.S. citi- Herrera, and Gloria Ann Ong-Woo. Betty grew The California Department of Social Serv- zens, and 13 FSNs were injured. The U.S. em- up in San Francisco’s Chinatown where she ices, which found out about the situation bassy building sustained extensive structural attended Jean Parker Elementary School, through inquires by The Bee, notified Sal- damage. Almost simultaneously, a bomb det- Francisco Middle School, Washington High vador Montana, then director of Fresno onated outside the U.S. embassy in Dar es School, and the City College of San Fran- County’s Department of Children and Family Salaam, Tanzania, killing seven FSNs and cisco. She excelled in volleyball and bowling. Services, that housing the children in motels three Tanzanian citizens, and injuring one Later in life, Betty also loved to travel, collect was not allowed. U.S. citizen and 76 Tanzanians. The explo- The county quit the practice after the sion caused major structural damage to the antiques and carousels, and had an extensive state stepped in; the children were moved to U.S. embassy facility. The U.S. Government collection of stuffed animals and dolls. foster-care group homes. held Usama Bin Ladin responsible. Betty began her career in the airline industry as a baggage handler and a ticket reserva- The sponsoring Youth Law Center is a na- 2000 tional nonprofit organization that focuses on Attack on U.S.S. Cole, October 12, 2000: In tions agent with PSA and Delta Airlines. In the problems and needs of children who are Aden, , a small dingy carrying explo- 1998, Betty joined American Airlines as a flight placed out of home in foster care or juvenile sives rammed the destroyer U.S.S. Cole, kill- attendant and later became a flight attendant justice systems. ing 17 sailors and injuring 39 others. Sup- purser. Betty loved her job and the people she porters of Usama Bin Ladin were suspected. worked with, and she was voted Flight Attend- Mr. Speaker, I congratulate John Ellis both for his dedication to journalism and child wel- 2001 ant of the Year five time by her peers. fare. I urge my colleagues to join me in wish- Bus Stop Bombing, April 22, 2001: A mem- Betty’s colleagues always described her as ber of Hamas detonated a bomb he was car- a very loving, caring, and always friendly per- ing John the very best. rying near a bus stop in Kfar Siva, Israel, son, both to her co-workers and to the pas- f killing one person and injuring 60. sengers she served. Betty received numerous PERSONAL EXPLANATION Tel-Aviv Nightclub Bombing, June 1, 2001: written compliments from her passengers. Hamas claimed responsibility for the bomb- On that tragic date of September 11, Betty ing of a popular Israeli nightclub that caused was serving as a flight attendant on American HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY over 140 causalities. OF ILLINOIS Hamas Restaurant Bombing, August 9, Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles. 2001: A Hamas-planted bomb detonated in a As terrorist hijackers took over the plane, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Jeruselum pizza restaurant, killing 15 people Betty and her colleagues calmly reported to Thursday, December 13, 2001 and wounding more than 90. the ground grew vital information about what Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, during Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Homeland, Sep- was taking place. She identified some of the rollcall vote No. 495 on December 12, 2001 I tember 11, 2001: Two hijacked airliners hijackers’ seat locations, which helped inves- was unavoidably detained. Had I been crashed into the twin towers of the World tigators later identify the individuals respon- Trade Center. Soon thereafter, the Pentagon present, I would have voted ’’yea‘‘. sible, and asked the ground crew to pray for was struck by a third hijacked plane. A f fourth hijacked plane, suspected to be bound the passengers aboard. Under over-whelming for a high-profile target in Washington, circumstances, Betty’s primary concern was DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF- crashed into a field in southern Pennsyl- the safety of her passengers. FAIRS HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS vania. More than 5,000 U.S. citizens and Up until the moment her life was tragically ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2001 other nationals were killed as a result of taken, Betty Ann Ong was a true professional these acts. President Bush and Cabinet offi- who performed beyond her call of duty. Betty SPEECH OF cials indicated that Usama Bin Laden was Ann Ong acted heroically under trying cir- the prime suspect and that they considered cumstances, and her heroism should be a HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN the United States in a state of war with OF NEW YORK international terrorism. In the aftermath of sterling example of service to us all. Mr. the attacks, the United States formed the Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Global Coalition Against Terrorism. in paying tribute to Betty Ann Ong, celebrating Tuesday, December 11, 2001 Downtown Jerusalem Bombing, December her heroic legacy, and wishing her family Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 2, 2001: Two suicide bombers blew themselves peace for their loss. up in downtown Jerusalem killing ten people strong support of H.R. 3447, the Department and wounding more than 130. Hamas claimed f of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs En- responsibility for the attack. HONORING FRESNO BEE hancement Act of 2001. I urge my colleagues Haifa Bus Attack, December 3, 2001: A REPORTER, JOHN ELLIS to join me in supporting this important meas- Hamas suicide bomber blew himself up on a ure and I commend the distinguished chair- public bus in the northern Israeli city of man of the Veterans Committee, the gen- Haifa, killing at least 15 people and wound- HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH tleman from New Jersey, Mr. SMITH. ing dozens of others. OF CALIFORNIA West Bank Bus Attack, December 12, 2001: This legislation provides a number of signifi- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Palestinian gunman killed eight people and cant enhancements to veterans health care wounded 30 in a grenade and shooting am- Thursday, December 13, 2001 programs, with the purpose of both expanding bush on an Israel bus in the West Bank just those services offered to veterans, and im- Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise minutes before 2 suicide bombers struck in proving the manner in which those services today to honor Fresno Bee reporter, John the . are delivered. Ellis. Mr. Ellis was recently presented the Un- Specifically, the bill makes a number of f sung Heroes Award given by the Youth Law changes in the policies governing VA nursing Center. A TRIBUTE TO BETTY ANN ONG staff. It enhances eligibility and benefits for the The following is the story printed in today’s employee incentive scholarship and education Fresno Bee celebrating John’s award: HON. CALVIN M. DOOLEY debt reduction programs by enabling VA Fresno Bee political reporter John Ellis re- OF CALIFORNIA nurses to pursue advanced degrees while ceived a national award Wednesday night continuing to care for veterans, in order to im- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that honors individuals for their work re- prove recruitment and retention of nurses with- Thursday, December 13, 2001 garding child welfare and juvenile justice systems. in the VA health care system. Furthermore, Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I The Youth Law Center’s annual Unsung the bill establishes a 12-member National rise today to pay tribute to the late Betty Ann Heroes Awards were presented to seven peo- Commission on VA Nursing that would assess Ong, the sister of my constituent and friend ple. Ellis was the only journalist among the legislative and organizational policy changes

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