CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2199 Teatro della Pergola and various other thea- For too long Antonio Meucci has been only THANKS TO THOSE WHO HELP ters as a stage technician until 1835. From a footnote in our history books. At many local KEEP THE CAPITOL FUNC- there he accepted a job as a scenic designer libraries, a search for Meucci in the card cata- TIONING II and stage technician at the Teatro Tacon in logue yields nothing. His legacy deserves Havana, Cuba. more. Remember that a federal court in the HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER Fascinated by technical research of any 1880's found that Meucci's ideas were signifi- OF ILLINOIS kind, Meucci read every scientific missive he cant to the invention of the telephone and the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES could acquire. He spent a great deal of his Secretary of State at the time issued a public Friday, December 15, 2000 spare time in Havana on research and he soon gained notoriety for his creative and pro- statement that ``there exists sufficient proof to Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, ductive mind. His purported inventions in- give priority to Meucci in the invention of the on October 24, I rose to thank all of the peo- cluded a new method of galvanizing metal, telephone.'' ple that make this great institution work. I wish which was applied to military equipment for Mr. Speaker, many people from many dif- I could have mentioned all of our extended support staff by name. Peggy Sampson has the Cuban government. He continued his work ferent nations have contributed to the great- been with the Republican staff almost as long in the theater, but science had become his in- ness of America. Antonio Meucci was indeed as I've been in Congress. She does a fan- domitable passion. one such person. He is an example of some- One day, in his home, Meucci heard an ex- tastic job playing Mother Superior to all our one who worked for the benefit of all. It is fit- clamation of a friend, who was in another pages, watching over them, helping to educate ting that his efforts are recognized here today. room of the house, over a piece of copper them, and generally herding them. This has become an infinitely more complex job when wire running between them. He realized imme- f diately that he had something that was more Republicans became the House majority, with the right to name so many more pages on our important than any discovery he had ever IN HONOR OF TOM SHORT made. With that realization also came the un- side. But Peggy not only does her job and derstanding that to succeed as an inventor, he does it in exemplary fashion, but she also would need an environment that truly fostered HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH helps the cloakroom staff in so many ways. his inquisitive mind and vibrant spirit. He She has been and is absolutely invaluable and would come to America, to explore this new OF OHIO irreplaceable. I also want to mention the ga- rage attendants who are so friendly and help- communication possibility. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES He left Cuba for New York in 1850, settling ful to all of us: Tommy, Dennis, Scotty and so in the Clifton section of Staten Island, a few Friday, December 15, 2000 many others are always there on the job and miles from New York City. Though poor fi- make our tour here safer and more enjoyable. nances and limited English plagued Meucci, Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, President f Thomas Short of IATSE, the International Alli- he worked tirelessly in his endeavor to bring TRIBUTE TO FATHER JAMES E. ance of Theatrical and Stage Employees, long distance communication to a practical HOFF stage. ranks as one of the City of Cleveland's favor- In 1855, when his wife became partially par- ite sons. Cleveland is proud of his strong, dis- HON. ROB PORTMAN alyzed, Meucci set up a telephone system ciplined, patient leadership which has earned which joined several rooms of his house with OF OHIO him the gratitude of the rank and file of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES his workshop in another building nearby. This IATSE, the appreciation of all international was the first such installation anywhere. In Friday, December 15, 2000 labor leaders, and the respect of those who sit 1860, when the instrument had become prac- across the table from his I/A team. Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tical, Meucci organized a demonstration to at- recognize Father James Hoff, a friend, educa- tract financial backing in which a singer's As a member of the labor committee of the tor and community leader, who will step down voice was clearly heard by spectators a con- United States Congress and as a member be- from his service as President of Xavier Univer- siderable distance away. A description of the longing to IATSE Local 660 (when you are in sity on December 31, 2000. apparatus was soon published in one of New politics it is always good to have another Over the past ten years, Father Hoff has led York's Italian newspapers and the report with trade) I know first hand the powerful and posi- Xavier to great new heights. In 1992, he a model of the invention were taken to Italy tive impact Tom Short has had in protecting began Xavier 2000 which led to the Century with the goal of arranging production there. and advancing the economical, social, and po- Campaign, the most ambitious fundraising Unfortunately, the promises of financial sup- litical rights of working men and women. Presi- campaign in the school's history, raising the port, which were so forthcoming after the origi- dent Short achieves success for his members endowment from $24 million to $89 million. He nal demonstration, never materialized. through making the use of principle, a prac- has also significantly strengthened the univer- Antonio Meucci refused to let this set back tical and pragmatic goal. sity's curriculum, advanced the quality of its destroy his vision. Though the years that fol- faculty and created a more unified, attractive lowed brought increasing poverty, he contin- As a veteran of both labor and politics, I am campus. ued to produce new designs and specifica- aware of the challenges which confront my Perhaps most telling of Father Hoff's work is tions. Unable to raise the sum for a definitive brothers and sisters in the entertainment the success of Xavier's students. In the patent, Meucci filed a caveat, or notice of in- world. Surely this, the most dynamic of all in- 1990's, the average high-school grade-point tent, that was a preliminary description of his dustries, with so many exceptional individuals average of its incoming students rose from 2.9 invention with the U.S. Patent Office. His blessed with depth of talent and breadth of vi- to 3.49 for the current class. And, in 1998, the teletrofono was registered on December 28, sionÐsurely you can call upon the limitless school ranked first in the nation for student- 1871 with the requirement that he file for con- reservation of spiritual and creative energies athlete graduation rates (100 percent). verting it into a patent in 1874. Fate would always available to you, to design an environ- In 1995, Xavier was recognized for the first deal Meucci a cruel blow, however, as he fell time by U.S. News and World Report as one ment of benevolence and co-operation where victim to a near fatal boat explosion. While he of ``America's Best Colleges,'' placing fifteenth all are winners in the collective bargaining lay in hospital, destitute and ill, Meucci al- among Midwest schools. In its 2001 ranking, lowed the provisional patent to lapse. process. Xavier climbed to seventh among regional in- Two years after the expiration of Meucci's Over thirty years ago, when I began my ca- stitutions in the Midwest. Xavier has also re- caveat, Bell took out a patent for his voice reer in public service, I worked closely with ceived recognition from Money magazine and transmitting electrical device, which he called Tom Short's father, Adrian, who led Cleve- the John Templeton Honor Roll. the telephone. It is possible that sometimes land's stage hand union. Adrian Short intro- Although Father Hoff surely deserves much several inventors have the same idea at the duced me back then to his sons, Dale, a labor of the credit, he is modest and quick to recog- same time. In this case, however, what has leader in his own right, and Tom, our honoree. nize Xavier's faculty and staff, Board of Trust- mattered is not who had the idea for the tele- ees, administration and studentsÐall of whom phone first, but who first turned the idea into How very proud your father would be of this have helped to raise the level of excellence at a viable commercial enterprise. As we all well deserved moment of grace, Tom, for you the school. know, it was Bell who succeeded in that re- embody every dream he hadÐin your quest to He says his greatest accomplishment during spect. elevate the dignity of all working people. his tenure is defining the school's mission: ``to E2200 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 15, 2000 prepare students intellectually, morally and These threats were not only directed at the ance. Armenia, having endured a major earth- spiritually to take their places in a rapidly United States, but also at Armenia and Arme- quake years before, has developed an exper- changing global society and to work for the nians living in Turkey. In Istanbul, Turkey, tise in earthquake response and recovery. De- betterment of that society.'' He certainly has people threw rocks at the windows of the Ar- spite Armenia's offer, Turkey initially rejected done that, and all of us in the Cincinnati area menian Church of Samatia, an Armenian assistance. In fact, it was reported that Tur- thank him for his vision and goodwill. We look priest was subjected to physical attacks, an- key's Minister of Health, Osman Durmus, re- forward to his continued leadership in our other priest was arrested for referencing the jected offers of blood from Armenia because area. Armenian Genocide, True Path Party leader he didn't want Turkish blood mixed with theirs. f Tansu Ciller called for the deportation of More recently, Armenia offered earthquake as- 30,000 Armenians, military activities increased sistance to Azerbaijan. To date, Azerbaijan RECOGNITION OF THE RETIRE- along the border, and this shocking list goes has not accepted Armenia's offer. Finally, Ar- MENT OF PAUL SELDENRIGHT on. menia's President, Robert Kocharian has pro- I regret that the Republic of Turkey opted to posed the creation of a regional security sys- HON. DAVID E. BONIOR use coercion to make its case. However, it is tem that will facilitate long-term peace and re- OF MICHIGAN even more regrettable that the United States gional cooperation. President Kocharian stat- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES succumbed to such tactics. I believe that we ed, ``the creation of such a system will allow Friday, December 15, 2000 must remain vigilant in the fact of threats and the states of the region to cast away the cur- those who continue to deny the Armenian rent concerns and to overcome the atmos- Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to Genocide. phere of distrust. It will allow [the settlement honor a good friend of mine, Michigan State While the resolution was aborted in Con- of] the current conflicts, to avoid the emer- AFL±CIO COPE Director Paul Seldenright gress, internationally the pace of Genocide af- gence of new dividing lines, to establish long- upon his retirement. Paul Seldenright has firmation continued. During November alone, term peace, and to think about prospects of been standing up for working men and women despite Turkish threats, the European Par- development and [a] prosperous future.'' Tur- for over 40 years, beginning in 1960 as a liament, along with France and Italy, all adopt- key did not take President Kocharian up on steelworker in Trenton. Every day during that ed resolutions affirming the Armenian Geno- his offer. 40 years, the working families of Michigan cide. In addition, Pope John Paul II recognized Time and time again, Armenia has shown have had a champion in Paul. The political the Armenian Genocide. Today I am submit- its willingness to normalize relations with its battles Paul has fought in Lansing and in the ting copies of these documents for the record. neighbors. However, Armenia's offers have State of Michigan have had a direct impact on Many experts have called for a dialogue be- fallen on deaf ears. In my view, if Congress is the standard of living for the working people in tween Turkey and Armenia on this subject. In unwilling to recognize and affirm the U.S. our State. fact, on October 3rd, the State Department of- record in response to the Armenian Genocide, Paul's interest in politics led him to the posi- fered to broker a dialogue between these two why would Turkey feel any obligation to enter tion of chairman of his local PAC in 1962. In countries. While Armenia has repeatedly into a dialogue with its weaker neighbor Arme- 1973, after associating himself with several agreed, Turkey has refused. During his ad- nia when it has successfully silenced the successful political campaigns in Michigan, he dress at the Assembly of Turkish-American United States? It is my hope that we can con- began working for the Michigan AFL±CIO. He Associations in Washington, DC last month, tinue to work on these important human rights is a member of the A. Philip Randolph Institute Anthony Blinken, U.S. National Security Coun- issues during the 107th Congress and create as well as the Coalition of Labor Union cil European Director, indicated that Turkey an atmosphere in the Caucasus region where- Women and a lifetime member of the NAACP. had the responsibility to take the first step to by the security of all countries is not at issue I want it to be known that Paul Seldenright start a dialogue with Armenia. Blinken said ``as and people can exchange views without the has dedicated his life to the betterment of the a small, landlocked country suffering from eco- fear of retribution. working men and women of the State of Michi- nomic problems, Armenia sees Turkey as of- ITALIAN RESOLUTION gan. While I know Paul's retirement is well-de- fering a fist, not a hand.'' The Italian Chamber of Deputies has ob- served, his passion for politics and his dedica- I agree with Mr. Blinken on this point. From served that on November 15, 2000 the Euro- tion to working families will not let retirement Armenia's perspective, Turkey's ongoing hos- pean Parliament approved by a large major- take him from the causes he believes in and tile actions and continued violations of inter- ity a proposal deriving from the Periodic Re- view on the progress made by Turkey to- has fought for all his life. national human rights laws and treaties rep- Please join me in honoring the career of wards admission to the European Commu- resent a significant security threat. Turkey's one of Michigan's working heroes as Paul nity, a review completed by the European defense spending is the highest of any NATO Commission in 1999. The Turkish govern- completes his final days as Michigan State country as a percentage of its Gross National ment has been encouraged to intensify its ef- AFL±CIO COPE Director. Paul, we wish you Product (GNP) and over the next 25 years forts towards democratization, especially in all the best. Turkey plans to spend $150 billion modern- the fields of criminal law reform, independ- f izing its armed forcesÐagainst whom is un- ence of the judiciary, freedom of expression, and the rights of minorities. THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE clear. Armenia simply does not have the re- The Italian Chamber of Deputies has also sources to defend its own borders, especially observed that the recent resolution deals HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG given Turkey's military superiority and defense with questions concerning the Armenian spending. Turkey's blockade, refusal to estab- people in three paragraphs of particular sig- OF MICHIGAN nificance: ‘‘we urge recognition of the geno- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES lish normal relations, military superiority, re- fusal to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, cide inflicted upon the Armenian minority Friday, December 15, 2000 [within the Ottoman Empire] committed be- and complete solidarity with Azerbaijan's de- fore the creation of the modern Republic of Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, in the mands regarding the Nagorno Karabagh con- Turkey (paragraph 10); improvement of rela- closing days of the 106th Congress, I rise flict has only served to reinforce Armenia's tions with Turkey’s neighbors in the today to add perspective to the issue of the view and has forced Armenia to rely on third Caucasus, as proposed by the Turkish gov- Armenian Genocide. Like many, I was deeply parties to buttress its security capacity. As my ernment itself (paragraph 20;’’ and, in sup- disappointed that the House did not consider colleagues know, Armenians faced genocide port of the suggestion put forward in para- H. Res. 596, the Armenian Genocide Resolu- at the beginning of the 20th Century and the graph 21 by the Hon. D. Cohn-Bendit, Presi- tion. Armenians of Nagorno Karabagh suffered an- dent of the Bipartisan Parliamentary Com- mission on UE-Turkish relations, ‘‘invites As my colleagues are well aware, the reso- other attack during the end of the 20th Cen- the Turkish government to open negotia- lution was not considered because the Repub- tury. It is incumbent on us to ensure that Ar- tions with the Republic of Armenia, restore lic of Turkey decided to turn a sense of the menians and others around the world are not diplomatic relations and trade between the House Resolution about the extensive U.S. subjected to genocide in the 21st Century. two countries, placing an end to the block- record on the Armenian Genocide into a litmus I would like to point out to my colleagues ade currently in place.’’ test of its relationship with the United States. that since gaining its independence Armenia The Chamber of Deputies therefore urges In an effort to stop the resolution, Turkey has consistently reached out and sought to the Italian Government, in concordance with the proposals described above, to pursue en- made repeated threats. In fact, many news- normalize relations with Turkey only to be ergetically the easing of all tensions between paper articles covering the progress of H. Res. rebuffed at every step. Last year, when Turkey peoples and minorities in that area, [i.e. the 596 cited Turkey's numerous threats should suffered a devastating earthquake, Armenia Caucasus], in order to create, with due ob- this body move forward. was one of the first countries to offer assist- servance of the territorial integrity of the