July 28, 1999 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 18353 dreams. I am very afraid because I do not Menem appoint an independent committee to True to their mission, community spirit is ex- know how much longer we will have the investigate and report on the integrity and actly what the city has shown. Since the first strength to continue this fight against op- competence of Argentina’s system of justice. formal meeting on September 20, 1991, until pression—a fight for our very survival, a I invite my colleagues to cosponsor this res- today, the Flag Committee has obtained 687 fight for freedom for the Argentine people. I wonder, how long can we and must we en- olution. flags, all of which have been flown over our dure? We beg of your great Nation, America, f Nation’s Capitol and their final goal is 1,000 that you help us make our dreams of a demo- flags. Many local businesses have donated cratic Argentina come true some day. I can- PERSONAL EXPLANATION supplies, while local community organizations not thank you more deeply from my heart like Rotary, Kiwanis, Moose, Elks, Smokey- for your help. HON. ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR. RVFD, Boy Scouts, Veterans of Foreign Wars, f OF MARYLAND American Legion, Chamber of Commerce and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the City Council have kept the program going INTRODUCTION OF H. CON. RES. 163 Tuesday, July 27, 1999 with their support. CALLING FOR THE FULL INVES- On Saturday, July 31, the City of Redmond TIGATION OF THE BOMBING OF Mr. EHRLICH. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, July will receive their 700th flag, a tremendous THE JEWISH CULTURAL CENTER 26, 1999, I missed several votes because my milestone on their way to the final goal of IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA wife Kendel and our new baby boy were re- 1,000. I am happy that I will be a part of leased from the hospital. Specifically, I missed Redmond’s celebration in achieving this mile- HON. ANTHONY D. WEINER the following two rollcall votes: 335 (Hoeffel stone. OF NEW YORK amendment to H.R. 1074); and 336 (passage Patriotism has rarely been more apparent IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES on H.R. 1974). If I had been present I would than when you drive down the main streets of have voted ‘‘no’’ on rollcall No. 335 and ‘‘aye’’ Tuesday, July 27, 1999 Redmond on one of the special occasions on rollcall No. 336. when the 700 flags are flown. Each time I see Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, today is the Likewise, I would have voted ‘‘aye’’ on Mr. this display, a strong sense of pride in my Tisha B’, 5759 by the Hebrew calendar, the MCINTOSH’s en bloc amendments to H.R. country and those who have served to protect most important day of mourning in the Jewish 1074; S. 604; H.R. 2565; H. Res. 172; H.R. our freedom is renewed. I know of no other year. It is the anniversary of the most tragic 457; S. 1260; S. 1259; and S. 1258, all of city in the United States that comes close to events in Jewish history, for it was on the this which were agreed to by voice vote. matching Redmond’s efforts to honor our flag day, in 3338 that the first temple in f and American pride. I am proud to say that I was destroyed by the Babylonians, and in FLAG CITY USA represent ‘‘Flag City USA’’ in the United 3828 that the was destroyed States Congress. by the Romans. f Although this day is primarily meant to com- HON. GREG WALDEN memorate the destruction of the Temple, it is OF OREGON PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS appropriate to consider on this day the many IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES other tragedies of the Jewish people, many of Tuesday, July 27, 1999 HON. JOHN J. LaFALCE which occurred on this day, the expulsion of OF NEW YORK Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, in the from Spain, , the last fortress to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES hold out against the Romans during the Bar the vast Second Congressional District of Or- Kochba revolt, fell, and so many others. egon lies a city named Redmond, also known Tuesday, July 27, 1999 But the tragedies of Jewish history are not as ‘‘Flag City USA.’’ Redmond is called ‘‘Flag Mr. LAFALCE. Mr. Speaker, today, I am an- all so ancient. This past Sunday marked the City USA,’’ because currently it proudly dis- nouncing my intention to co-sponsor H.R. 864, 5th anniversary of the bombing of the Jewish plays 687 flags that have been flown over our the ‘‘State and Local Investment Opportunity Cultural Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Nation’s Capitol. I would like to commend the Act of 1999.’’ This legislation would accelerate On July 18, 1994, the Jewish Cultural Center citizens of Redmond for this great project that the increase in the private activity bond cap so in Buenos Aires, Argentina was destroyed by shows a strong sense of community spirit and that it would take effect at the beginning of a terrorist bomb. Eighty-six people were killed. patriotism. next year, and index that cap in subsequent Over 300 people were wounded. The Argen- The first display of flags was on July 4, years for inflation. tina Mutual Aid Association’s archive of com- 1991, the day that our nation officially wel- I take this step in recognition of the value of munity records, which dated back to 1894, comed home all veterans from Desert Storm expanding low interest rate financing for was destroyed. and prior wars. The initial display was the con- projects which include affordable housing, sin- While this bomb destroyed the building, and cept of Mr. Mac McShannon. With the help of gle family mortgages, student loans, environ- the records, and the lives of so many—Jews City Councilman Randy Povey, it became a mental cleanup, and manufacturing job cre- and non-Jews alike—it has not dampened the reality. The flags displayed included 180 flags ation, and in recognition that politically, at spirit of the Jewish population of Argentina, that had once draped the caskets of fallen vet- least for the present, this may be the only way which at 250,000 is second only to the United erans, which were made available by Amer- to accomplish these desired results. states in this hemisphere. ican Legion Post 44. However, I also feel compelled to express What is dispiriting is that today, five years When Mr. McShannon and Mr. Povey my reservations about expanding this and after that tragic bombing, we still have not learned that the flags from the previous year other tax-oriented mechanisms without a more brought the terrorists to justice. Though we would not be available to display in the future, extensive Congressional review of the merits have recently seen the arrest of more sus- The Downtown Redmond Flag Committee was of using the tax code for these purposes. Spe- pects, there is still no resolution, no closure for born. A representative of almost every civil or- cifically, the issues of efficiency and account- the families that still grieve for their loved ganization of Redmond met with the American ability need to be addressed much more fully. ones. Legion, and a mission statement was devel- Every dollar of foregone tax revenue im- That is why I am choosing today, Tisha oped and it reads as follows: pacts the federal surplus or deficit in the exact B’Av, the ninth of Av, to introduce a concur- It is the feeling of this committee that same way as does an increased dollar of rent resolution calling upon the Argentine Gov- flags should be flown on our city streets dur- spending. Yet, the combination of tight discre- ernment to fully support and devote all re- ing appropriate holidays and other special tionary spending caps and the popularity of sources necessary to the efforts of Judge occasions. Therefore, the acquisition, dis- tax cuts seems to have convinced lawmakers Juan Jose Galeano and to fully investigate, play, and perpetual care of the flags are now that the easiest route to increase resources for apprehend, and prosecute those responsible points we must address. Since this should be a community endeavor, we would like all important priorities is through a tax credit or for the bombing; requesting that the Argentine area organizations, clubs, businesses and in- tax expenditure. security forces and the judiciary of Argentina terested individuals to join us in a plan to The serious drawback to this approach is not impede this independent investigation; and perpetuate Americanism, the display of our that it is a very inefficient and costly way to requesting that Argentine President Carlos flag and the Redmond Community Spirit. achieve the desired purpose. For every dollar

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