CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2031 prison. Not only are the inmates encouraging box of his new Big Dawg Crunch cereal. Big has ensured that these activities were carried and inspiring each other to become better citi- Dawg has even earmarked royalties from ce- out in an efficient and instructive manner. zens, but they are also taking active roles in real sales to go toward the American Diabetes General Paul has set a high standard for oth- the lives of our Nation's youth by discouraging Association and the Lomas Brown Jr. Founda- ers to emulate. His total devotion to the Corps them from repeating the same mistakes they tion. Congratulations to Big Dawg for his chari- is evident in every action that he has taken, made by joining gangs or using drugs and al- table services, his devotion to his family, and and he is to be commended on his more than cohol. for being the Cleveland Browns' number one thirty years of exemplary service to our Nation. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, fan. Keep the tradition alive! I would like to wish General Paul and his love- 35 to 40 percent of all released prisoners are My fellow colleagues, join me in honoring ly wife, Sharon, much continued success in re-arrested within the first 12 months of re- John Big Dawg Thompson. their future endeavors. lease. Of the LeBlanc Toastmasters' 55 re- f f leased alumni, 2 have been re-arrested, which is one tenth of what the statistics would have TRIBUTE TO BRIGADIER GENERAL HONORING LARRY PISTORESI predicted. I would like to applaud the Sabine TERRY LEE PAUL, UNITED River Toastmasters for helping these 53 men STATES MARINE CORPS HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH who have built new lives for themselves after OF CALIFORNIA being released from prison. HON. FLOYD SPENCE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask that you join OF SOUTH CAROLINA Tuesday, October 5, 1999 me and our colleagues in celebrating the week IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. Speaker, I rise of October 17, 1999, as Toastmasters Week Tuesday, October 5, 1999 and recognizing the many opportunities in today to honor Larry Pistoresi, Sr. for 50 years communication and public speaking that Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, it is with pleas- of perfect attendance at the Chowchilla Rotary Toastmasters International, and specifically ure that I rise to recognize Brigadier General Club. the Sabine River Toastmasters, have pro- Terry Lee Paul, the Legislative Assistant to the Larry Pistoresi, Sr. has been a member of moted and realized for East Texans and Commandant of the United States Marine the Chowchilla Rotary Club since the day it Americans all across the nation. Corps. General Paul retired from active duty was chartered in 1946. Pistoresi is an active f on Friday, October 1st, after 30 years of ex- auto retail salesman, but has been able to ceptional service in the Corps. keep perfect attendance for 50 years. Perfect IN HONOR OF JOHN BIG DAWG For the last 10 years, General Paul has attendance did not mean that you had to at- THOMPSON been in charge of the Marine Corps Office of tend all the local Rotary meetings. It you had Legislative Affairs. During this time, many to miss a local meeting, you could make that HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH Members of Congress and staff have come to meeting up at another Rotary club in a dif- OF OHIO know General Paul as a very reliable and ar- ferent town. Through the years, Larry Pistoresi IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ticulate spokesman for the Corps. His straight- has attended Rotary meetings in 20 different forward approach and extensive knowledge of states. In fact, planning a vacation for the Tuesday, October 5, 1999 policy and programs has especially been of Pistoresi's was quite an ordeal. Vacations Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to great benefit to those of us on the Armed were planned around Rotary meetings. Larry honor John Big Dawg Thompson. Services Committee. Through the effective would get the Rotary director out to see where John Big Dawg Thompson, legendary communication efforts of General Paul, the and when the Rotary meetings were to be Cleveland Browns superfan, is the heart and Congress has become familiar with the details held. soul of the Cleveland Browns and the Cleve- of important programs, which are essential to Pistoresi also has a family history of perfect land Browns' Dawg Pound. Nationally recog- the mission of the Marine Corps, such as, the attendance in the Rotary. His dad, Pete nized, Big Dawg's passion for the Cleveland V±22 Program, the Advanced Assault Amphib- Pistoresi, a charter member of the Chowchilla Browns has touched the spirit of football fans ious Vehicle, the KC±130J, and the Maritime Rotary Club, also received the perfect attend- everywhere. Members of Congress have even Pre-positioned Force-Enhancement, among ance award. Pistoresi said when he first felt Big Dawg's devotion when he testified be- others. General Paul has tirelessly endeav- joined, his dad kept after him to have perfect fore a House committee as the Browns fan ored to inform Members and staff on issues attendance. After the first two years of perfect who could best convey the trauma to fans ranging from the capabilities, technological ad- attendance he was challenged to keep on from the teams' sudden move to Baltimore. vances, concepts of operations, and funding going. The father and son team are the only Driven by heartfelt emotion and determina- requirements of necessary programs, to the tow in the local club to receive the award. The tion, Big Dawg served further as a crucial basic needs of Marines in the field and of their former president of the Chowchilla club said player in saving the team's name and colors families on base. his goal is to keep his perfect attendance to and in bringing the Browns back to Cleveland. Although, General Paul is well known for his the day he is forced to quit. Big Dawg's big heart was never silenced in-depth knowledge of the legislative issues Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to honor throughout the years Cleveland was deprived and operational requirements of the Marine Larry Pistoresi for his perfect attendance at of a team. Due in large part to his efforts, the Corps, he is also greatly respected as a dedi- the Chowchilla Rotary Club. I urge my col- Cleveland Browns are now back. cated leader, who possesses a deep and leagues to join me in wishing Larry many Celebrated as one of football's most famous abiding passion for what it means to be a Ma- more years of continued success. fans, Big Dawg was inducted this year into the rine. General Paul is, above all, a Marine of f Visa Hall of Fans at the Pro Football Hall of unquestionable devotion to duty, impeccable Fame in Canton, Ohio. Big Dawg's role integrity, absolutely sound character, and dedi- NATIONAL PARKS AIR TOUR evolved back in 1985 when he donned a dog cation to professionalism. Through his assign- MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1999 mask after Browns players Hanford Dixon and ments as a Senator Liaison, a Special Assist- Frank Minnifield coined the term Dawg Pound ant to the Commandant, and, finally, as the SPEECH OF to refer to the barking bleacher fans at the old Legislative Assistant to the Commandant, HON. PATSY T. MINK Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Soon thereafter, General Paul has always effectively commu- OF HAWAII the media discovered Big Dawg influencing nicated the message of ``making Marines and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Browns backers everywhere to wear, not only winning battles.'' Because of the efforts of orange and brown, but dog masks and dog General Paul, the United States Marines Monday, September 27, 1999 collars. With a new meaning to Cleveland's Corps is better equipped and more prepared Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise to home field advantage, the Dawg Pound be- to carry out its mission in these demanding express my support for H.R. 717, the National came an explosive force in leading the Browns times. Parks Air Tour Management Act of 1999. to victory. As Chairman of the Committee on Armed Although this bill does not go as far as I Not just a football fan, Big Dawg also serves Services, I have a special appreciation for the would like, particularly with respect to over- as a community leader and a devoted family outstanding work that General Paul has done. flights in National Parks in Hawaii, H.R. 717 is man. As a kid-friendly fellow, Big Dawg has His involvement in briefings and hearings be- a step in the right direction. made numerous appearances at local schools fore the House, as well as in Congressional For years I have received complaints fom and local events. He is also featured on the Delegation travel to points around the world, people who visit National Parks in Hawaii E2032 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 5, 1999 seeking to appreciate its serenity and ambi- Month. I rise today to call attention to the process that led to the consideration of the ance only to be agitated by the pesky and thousands of cooperatives in the United States Conference Report for H.R. 1906 in the House noisy buzzing of aircraft overhead. In re- and to the thousands of Americans who ben- of Representatives today. While I intend to sponse, I introduced legislation, H.R. 482, to efit from membership in a co-op. vote for this legislation, the leadership in the limit the adverse impacts of commercial air Some 40 percent of all Americans belong to House has chosen to ignore the wishes of this tour operations on National Parks in the State a cooperative of one kind or another. Co- body on two counts. of Hawaii. My bill establishes specific guide- operatives bring people together to meet a First, we selected conferees, knowledgeable lines, setting minimum altitudes and standoff common goal or need. There are cooperatives Members who have proven themselves in this distances, for National Parks in Hawaii. I be- to provide electricity and telephone service to lieve certain parks must be declared flight- rural areas, cooperatives to help farmers mar- process, who should have been allowed to free, spared from intrusive noise, and main- ket their goods, consumer cooperatives, and represent the House during the conference on tained as calm refuges for the enjoyment of credit union cooperatives, to name but a few. H.R. 1906. In the end, however, the conferees all. In Missouri, electric co-ops serve approxi- were shut out of the process and the final I strongly encourage all of my colleagues to mately 450,000 meters, representing over version of the conference report was devel- cosponsor my bill, H.R. 482, and establish 1,380,000 people. Nearly 20 small, rural tele- oped by House leadership, behind closed certain flight-free zones over National Parks in communications providers have received fi- doors. Hawaii so that we may all enjoy the whole ex- nancing from a cooperative to ensure that all Second, this House voted just last week, by perience of visiting a National Park. rural Missourians have access to reliable tele- an overwhelming majority, to mandate the Op- In the meantime, H.R. 717 will make several phone and other telecommunications services tion 1A pricing scheme for dairy. H.R. 1402, improvements upon the current situation of at an affordable price. There are also more the bill that I strongly supported and was overflights in National Parks. than 1 million credit union cooperative mem- proud to cosponsor, passed this House on H.R. 717 requires the National Park Service bers in Missouri. September 22, 1999, by a vote of 285 to 140. to work with the Federal Aviation Administra- Cooperatives allow people to band together While many other elements of the farm crisis and through the strength of numbers achieve tion and with the input of both the public and were addressed in the conference report, and air tour operators, to prepare air tour flight what individuals could not accomplish alone. I am pleased that over $8 billion has been di- management plans at each national park. Air Members gain access to specific services, to rected for disaster assistance, why was the tours would be prohibited unless the operators marketing power, or to purchasing power. Un- dairy crisis ignored? Why wasn't the issue of comply with the park's air tour overflight man- like other businesses, cooperatives operate at dairy even allowed to be brought to the table agement plan. To insure that the plans are fair cost and income that is not retained for coop- during conference negotiations? I am dis- and comprehensive, the bill also calls for a erative operations is returned to the members. study of the effects overflights have on park In recognition of National Cooperative appointed that H.R. 1402 is not included in the visitors on the ground. Month, I congratulate our nations' coopera- conference report. Our dairy farmers deserve Our National Parks should be enjoyed by tives for their continued service to members in more. all. For many, noise pollution ruins the Na- Missouri and throughout the nation. Mr. Speaker, despite these problems, I am tional Park experience just as spare tires and f pleased to announce that several special empty soda cans littered beneath the trees grants that are critical for Michigan agriculture CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1906, would. I support cleaning up the noise at Na- will be funded again this year at their Fiscal tional Parks and urge immediate passage of AGRICULTURE, RURAL DE- VELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG Year 1999 levels. The following grants, many H.R. 717, the National Parks Air Tour Man- of which are executed at the world-class land agement Act of 1999. ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS grant institution in my district, Michigan State f ACT, 2000 University, have been funded at their Fiscal NATIONAL COOPERATIVE MONTH Year 1999 levels: Improved Fruit Practices, SPEECH OF Wood Utilization, Potato Research, Apple Fireblight, and Sustainable Agriculture. Over- HON. IKE SKELTON HON. DEBBIE STABENOW all, the positive provisions included in the con- OF MISSOURI OF MICHIGAN ference report allow me to support it, but the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES process that brought us to this point has been Tuesday, October 5, 1999 Friday, October 1, 1999 deeply flawed and I am very disappointed that Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, October 1999 Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today the House has not included H.R. 1402 in this has been designated as National Cooperative to express my extreme disappointment in the legislation