6824 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE May 4, 2000 I think it is absolutely correct to agreement, because of how bad China INTRODUCTION OF THE HIGGINS look around the world and say what has treated Taiwan; and I agree that GOLD MEDAL RESOLUTION can we do to help improve human there have been many bad actions by The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a rights, to help improve labor stand- China towards Taiwan. The Taiwanese, previous order of the House, the gen- ards, to help make sure that the entire the recently elected president, an out- tleman from Louisiana (Mr. JEFFER- globe protects the environment. And I spoken advocate for independence for SON) is recognized for 5 minutes. think these issues need to be brought Taiwan, someone who has run against Mr. JEFFERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise up more often in international discus- China many, many times strongly sup- today to announce that I have intro- sions, not just involving trade, but in ports the U.S. favoring PNTR for duced a resolution on behalf of the en- all discussions with other countries. China, because he understands that en- tire Louisiana delegation that will Mr. Speaker, what can we do to help gagement is the policy that will best honor some long-forgotten and over- improve those things? I rise today just protect him from Chinese aggression if looked heroes of World War II. to remind people that even though they choose to go that route. These heroes were not soldiers or those issues are important, we cannot He wants China to be connected to sailors or aviators. These silent heroes forget the importance of open markets. the rest of the world so that they can- were hard-working men and women It starts with the simple fact that 96 not afford to act in a way that forces from Louisiana. However, according to percent of the people in the world live the rest of the world to back away President Dwight Eisenhower who someplace other than the United from them. So you can have a good served as Supreme Commander of the States of America, while at the same trade agreement and also improve Allied Forces, the ingenuity and hard time, here in the U.S., we manage to human rights, labor conditions, and work of these unsung heroes played an account for 20 percent of the world’s the environment; but this argument enormous role in winning World War II. consumption. goes beyond the specifics of the China Mr. Speaker, this legislation will If we are going to grow economically, Trade Agreement, even though I think award a Congressional Gold Medal to if we are going to create more jobs, it will be a watershed moment in this the late Andrew Jackson Higgins and those statistics make it abundantly country to see whether or not we are another Congressional Gold Medal to clear that we are going to have to get going to go forward and embrace en- his workforce of 20,000 at Higgins In- access to some of those other 96 per- gagement and embrace overseas mar- dustries in New Orleans, Louisiana. cent of the people in the world. kets or drift back into a dangerous iso- These medals will recognize their con- We need to get access to their mar- lation that could push us into a bipolar tribution to the Nation, to the Allied kets. We need to reduce barriers, open world. victory in World War II and to world It is a basic philosophy of whether or access to trade to help grow the econ- peace. not opening markets is open and bene- omy. And I do not think people under- Let me briefly explain why the late ficial. I think there is a lot of statistics stand completely the benefits that Mr. Higgins and the employees of Hig- out there that show that access to trade have brought and the role they gins Industries deserve this long-over- trade helps improve the economy have played in the strong economy due recognition. across the board. This is not an iso- that we now enjoy. Andrew Jackson Higgins designed lated few who benefit from it. When we I just think that while we are work- and engineered high-speed boats and have an economy with 4 percent unem- ing to improve labor conditions, work- various types of military landing craft, ployment, 2 percent inflation, and ing to improve human rights and envi- later to be known as ‘‘Higgins boats.’’ growth as high as 6 or 7 percent, that Higgins boats were constructed of ronment, we can also open up other benefits everybody in this country. wood and steel and transported fully markets to our trade. And the best ex- Mr. Speaker, we cannot lose sight of armed troops, light tanks and other ample of this, and I support the com- the importance of opening overseas mechanized equipment essential to all ments of the gentleman from Cali- markets to our goods. And it goes be- Allied amphibious landing operations, fornia (Mr. DOOLEY), my colleague who yond economics. It is also a matter of including the decisive D-Day attack at came before me, is the China PNTR national security. We should be con- Normandy, France. trade agreement. cerned about the rest of the world, Mr. Higgins also designed, engi- All of the concerns we have heard whether or not countries like Vietnam, neered, and constructed four major as- about trade in previous agreements, a Sub-Saharan Africa, other countries in sembly plants in New Orleans for mass lot of them focus on the fact that it is the Third World grow and prosper. If production of Higgins landing craft and a one-sided trade agreement. We open they do not have access to our mar- other vessels vital to the Allied forces’ our markets, but other countries do kets, their people will never be able to conduct of World War II. not open theirs. This is actually the rise out of poverty. They will never be Higgins Industries employed more first trade agreement that goes the able to generate the type of economy than 20,000 workers at his eight plants other way. China opens their markets that they need in order to have any in New Orleans. They worked around by reducing their barriers across the level of prosperity whatsoever. the clock over 4 years. At peak produc- board in a wide variety of goods and This is important for two reasons. tion, they built 700 boats per month. services that will increase our access One, if we can grow a vibrant middle By the end of the war, they had built to the single largest market in the class in places like Sub-Saharan Africa 20,094 landing craft of all types, and world, 1.3 billion people. and beyond, they are in a position to trained 30,000 Navy, Marine, and Coast This is a great trade agreement that buy our stuff and help our economy Guard personnel on the proper oper- actually will help us here in the U.S., grow as well. If they are in poverty, we ation of these boats. and we need to recognize it for that. cannot get access to those markets be- The slogan at Higgins Industries was: We also need to recognize how engage- cause there is no one to buy. ‘‘The guy who relaxes is helping the ment helps move us forward. Beyond economics, it is also impor- Axis.’’ Mr. Speaker, turning down PNTR for tant to keep the peace. If countries are Beyond his genius in the design and China will not do one thing to improve impoverished, that is what leads to engineering of the ‘‘Higgins boats,’’ human rights, labor conditions or envi- revolution and war. We have to help Andrew Jackson Higgins possessed a ronmental standards in China. In fact, them grow up so that we can keep foresight and a social conscience un- if you listen to the human rights activ- peace and stability in the world. Trade heard of more than half a century ago. ists over there, and if you listened to is important. Labor, human rights, en- Long before the United States had people over in that corner of the world, vironment, absolutely important. But entered World War II, the late Mr. Hig- isolating China will send them in ex- let us not forget the importance of gins began to stockpile the materials actly the opposite direction. opening our markets for global sta- needed to produce the thousands of Taiwan, in particular, we have heard bility and for a strong economy in the landing craft and PT boats. His fore- a lot about how we cannot support this U.S. sight contributed greatly to America’s VerDate jul 14 2003 13:15 Aug 24, 2004 Jkt 029102 PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR00\H04MY0.003 H04MY0 May 4, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE 6825 readiness when it finally did enter the CONGRATULATING THE CHICAGO parade is sponsored by the Chicago De- war. DAILY DEFENDER ON ITS 95TH fender Charities and is second in size For example, Higgins bought the en- ANNIVERSARY only to the Tournament of Roses Pa- tire 1940 Philippine mahogany crop, an- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a rade. In 1997, John Sengstacke passed, ticipating a need for a stockpile of previous order of the House, the gen- leaving behind Sengstacke Enterprises, wood to build landing craft when tleman from Illinois (Mr. DAVIS) is rec- which includes the Chicago Defender, American entered the war.