E1514 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 3, 1998 TRIBUTE TO CARL SMITH lowed taxpayers to handle homestead exemp- defense programs, which serve a national as tions by mail. opposed to parochial purpose. It must also be HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE In Matthew 5, it is written, ``Let your light so recalled that when Alaska was made a state- OF TEXAS shine before men, that they may see your hood, it had to forego the benefit of reclama- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES good works and give glory to your Father who tion projects such as those found in the lower is in heaven.'' Carl Smith's light still shines, 48. In addition, the federal government owns Friday, July 31, 1998 even now. And we should bask in the memory and controls two-thirds of Alaska's lands, but Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, of his accomplishments. has awfully slow to show rural Alaskans any once said, ``[T]he death Carl Smith revolutionized the operations of benefit this had brought them. of friends will inspire us as much as their lives. the Harris County Tax Office. The office now For these reasons, the Denali Commission . . . Their memories will be encrusted over works as an efficient, yet cordial entity, and it is justified, necessary, and vital to the well- with the sublime and pleasing thoughts, as will serve as Mr. Smith's continuing legacy. being of Alaska's rural people. monuments of other men are overgrown with I offer my sincerest condolences to Mr. f moss; for our friends have no place in the Smith's family and friends. We will miss his graveyard.'' Carl Smith was such a friend to wisdom and his honorable achievements. But CONTINUING OUTRAGES IN BURMA the citizens of Harris County, and we should we will never forget him. memorialize him in our thoughts today for his f HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER tireless work and remarkable dedication. OF ILLINOIS APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON As the Tax Assessor-Collector of Harris IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES County, Texas, Mr. Smith advocated tax ex- H.R. 4060, ENERGY AND WATER emptions for deserving members of society DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS Friday, July 31, 1998 such as Senior Citizens and the Disabled. He ACT, 1999 Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to also strove to pass the four-year term bill. express my outrage about the treatment of An astute member of the government, Mr. SPEECH OF winner Suu Kyi Smith drafted necessary legislation that pro- HON. DON YOUNG by the corrupt and repressive Burmese military vided a pension system for elected County OF ALASKA junta. For six days this week Daw Suu sat in- and District Officials. In addition, he obtained IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES side her car in the middle of a highway in a the requisite support for the Constitutional defiant stand-off with the ruling junta because Wednesday, July 29, 1998 Amendment that also provided a pension for they refused to let her meet with members of County and District Officials. Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, this her political party. Yesterday, the military Carl Smith's value to the Harris County motion is an attempt to obstruct an effort to re- ended the stand-off by forcibly taking her to community was not limited to his post as Tax dress some of the most abject poverty and liv- her home in Rangoon. Assessor-Collector. He somehow found the ing conditions of people living in rural Alaska. This is the third time in recent weeks that time and resolve to hold other public roles of The motion makes no sense whatsoever, un- the military has attempted to stop Daw Suu equal worth. Such endeavors included his po- less proponents are contending the federal from meeting with supporters. Once again, the sitions as the Past President of the Tax As- government has no role to play in fostering Burmese military has shown that there is no sessor-Collector's Association of Texas, the public works projects and iniatives to improve length to which it will not go to suppress the Past President of the International Association the life of our rural areas. forces of and freedom inside of Assessing Officers, a member of the Texas Many communities in Alaska, most of which Burma. This ongoing campaign of harassment Association of Assessing Officers, and a are Native villages, do not have public works of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League former member of the Tax Assessor Examin- projects such as those taken for granted by for Democracy has again focused attention on ers Board of Texas. most communities in other states. The pro- the plight of the Burmese people. I hope that Carl Smith's exemplary service has not posed commission will complement Alaska's all of my colleagues will join me today in gone unrecognized. He has received a citation ongoing work to alleviate the nearly Third standing with our fellow duly-elected rep- for Meritorious Service by the President's World conditions brought on by the absence of resentatives in Burma and join their call to Committee on the Employment of Physically basic infrastructure, such as modern water take their rightful places in parliament. The Handicapped and an award for Meritorious and sewage treatment or safe and environ- Burmese people have been denied their rights Achievement by the Houston Committee for mentally sound bulk fuel storage. for too long. The time is now for freedom, de- Employment of the Physically Handicapped. In Because of the magnitude of the problemÐ mocracy and human rights to come to Burma. 1990, Mr. Smith was named ``Governmental unsafe water, lack of modern sewage treat- I submit the attached editorial from the Employer of the Year'' by the Harris County ment, infant mortality, alcoholism, suicide, lack Washington Post, July 29, 1998, to be in- Commission for the Employment of Disabled of job opportunityÐa commission chartered by cluded in the RECORD. Persons. He also was the recipient of ``The Congress will advance efforts to grant a shim- [From , July 29, 1998] Book of Golden Deeds'' Award by the Ex- mer of hope to those who know only hope- change Club of Houston. lessness in these rural areas. BURMA’S DESPERATE GENERALS We should not overlook the fact that Carl Let me offer just one example of why the Since last Friday a seemingly frail but Smith was not only a sagacious Tax Asses- Denali Commission is necessary. Forty per- spiritually indomitable woman has been blockaded inside her car on a rural highway sor-Collector, but he was also a knowledge- cent of rural Alaska lacks flush toilets. Resi- in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi, 53, rightful able academic and legal authority. Mr. Smith dents of these areas literally haul raw human leader of her Southeast Asian nation, had set studied night school at the University of Hous- waste in honeybuckets and dump them in a out from her home in the capital to meet ton Law School and South Texas, and he community lagoon sometimes leading to out- with a political supporter in the provinces. passed the bar in 1934 upon his graduation. breaks of viral minengitis. Americans should But the general-thugs who have hijacked the Eventually, he would serve a great many not be living in these conditions in this day leadership of Burma, fearing her popularity years as Chairman of the Jurisprudence Com- and age. and the serene certainty with which she bat- mittee of the statewide County Assessor's As- These problems have not been ignored by tles for democracy, have blocked the road. They refuse to let her move forward, and sociation. He also was a member of the Texas any stretch of the imagination: Congress and Aung San Suu Kyi—insisting on her right to State Bar Association and the Houston Bar the State of Alaska have been cooperating for travel and meet with colleagues—refuses to Association. several years to devote resources to correct- go back. As I stand here before you to eulogize Carl ing these problems. However, these efforts She would no doubt be surprised to learn, Smith, I am reminded of his ingenuity and cre- have the effect of a ``scattershot'' approach to then, if the message could reach her isolated ativity, as well as his dedication to the tax- solving a $1 billion problem. The Denali Com- vehicle, that she ‘‘is not a captive.’’ This is payers. In an effort to provide greater conven- mission is a single entity that can bring a uni- one of the contentions of the junta’s rep- ience for the taxpayers, as a newly-appointed fied direction and approach needed for some resentative to Washington in a letter to the editor published on this page today. It is no Tax Collector-Assessor, Mr. Smith established of the poorest areas of the country. surprise that the letter is full of half-truths sub-stations and branch offices throughout There has been a lot of talk on the Floor about the extent of her freedom, the ability Harris County. He was the first Tax Collector- about how generous the government has been of foreign diplomats and journalists to visit Assessor to have substations issue license to Alaska. In fact, it has not been very gener- her and so forth (yes, she could leave the plates and voter registrations. Moreover, he al- ous. Many of the funds Alaska receives are in country, but the thugs would undoubtedly August 3, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1515 prevent her return). Nor is it new that the fect an operational split between enforcement States Air Force. OSI was established at the generals vilify her in personal terms; back and services which would result in distinct, suggestion of Congress in 1948 by Secretary home, in the domestic press they totally clear lines of authority from the field and head- of the Air Force Stuart Symington, who con- control, they have called this devout Bud- dhist mother ‘‘deranged,’’ a ‘‘modern-day quarters, with the INS Commissioner continu- solidated and centralized the investigative ogress’’ and a sexual predator. ing to the responsible for overall agency oper- services of the new Air Force to ensure a ca- What is interesting is the desperation re- ations; eliminate the current field structure in pability for independent and objective criminal flected in their decision to bring their slan- which district offices serve both enforcement investigations. The OSI of today is charged derous campaign overseas. Interesting, but and service functions and replace it with sepa- with a varied and complex mission that in- again not surprising, for the generals have rate enforcement and service offices that bring cludes conducting criminal and fraud inves- driven their country (which they call an appropriate mix of staff and skills to local tigations, protecting our air forces from terror- ) virtually into the ground. What service caseloads and enforcement needs; im- ism and espionage, hunting down military fugi- was once one of ’s most promising na- tions, rich in natural resources and blessed prove the quality of the workforce by creating tives and tracking people who hack into Air with an educated and hard-working popu- separate enforcement and service career Force computer systems. lation, is a disaster, with an average annual paths for INS employees to allow the best em- Although OSI has adapted to meet the income of maybe $200 to $300 per person. Uni- ployees to move up the ladder and be re- changing needs of the Air Force, there has versities are shuttered because the rulers warded for high performance; restructure man- never been a change in the fundamental na- fear their own students. The junta can buy agement operations to ensure effective ture of the organizationÐan independent, high the services of public relations firms in ``shared services'' operations for records and performance investigative agency, key and in- Washington and the loyalty of U.S. oil and data management, technological support, dispensable to the Air Force. The modern OSI timber companies eager for contracts, but it knows that it has no legitimacy at home. training and administrative support, that will is made up of more than 2,000 people operat- This is true above all because Burma con- serve both the enforcement and service sides ing from over 150 offices throughout the U.S. ducted an election in 1990, and Aung San Suu of the agency; and establish a Chief Financial and in over a dozen countries overseasÐbasi- Kyi won. Although she was already under Officer to improve financial, accounting and cally, wherever you find Air Force interests or at the time, her National budget systems. resources. League for Democracy won four out of every The overall mission of immigration is best Over the past half century, OSI has played five parliamentary seats. Most people in served by coordinating benefits and enforce- a central role in the history of the Air Force. Burma, in other words, apparently did not ment in a single entity like the INS. Both bene- It was the OSI commander in Korea who first deem her a ‘‘disgruntled housewife,’’ nor was alerted General MacArthur's headquarters in her marriage to an Englishman considered a fits and enforcement are critical components stain on her character. It is the generals, re- to enforcing effectively our immigration laws. Tokyo of the North Korean invasion in June, fusing to honor the election results, who can This bill sets forth a structure for the INS to 1950. During the 1960's and early 1970's, OSI be accused of ‘‘coveting power at all costs.’’ improve the Nation's immigration system. gathered early warning threat information on Remarkably, though, despite nearly a dec- f sabotage and surprise attack in support of air ade of confinement and harassment, of see- base defense in . As terrorism be- ing her colleagues imprisoned and tortured, IN TRIBUTE came a household word in the 1970's, OSI re- sometimes to death, Aung San Suu Kyi has sponded with investigative tools and programs never returned the insults. Consistently, she SPEECH OF calls for dialogue and compromise; contrary that enhanced the protection of Air Force peo- to the ambassador’s letter, she insists only HON. BOB FRANKS ple and resources. In 1978, OSI became the on the rule of law. Now, in keeping with that OF NEW JERSEY first organization in the federal government to principle, she is calling for the true par- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES establish a computer crime program. OSI's liament to be convened by Aug. 21. Alone in counterintelligence efforts contributed to the Tuesday, July 28, 1998 her sun-baked vehicle on that country road, victory in the by identifying and neu- she is in the right, and she deserves support Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, tralizing foreign intelligence operations target- for her campaign. ``To everything there is a season, and a time ing the American Air Force. f to every purpose under the heaven; a time to There will be many new challenges in the be born, and a time to die . .. '' next 50 years. For instance, the U.S. military IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZA- For Officer Jacob Joseph (J.J.) Chestnut is beginning to feel the impact of the cyber- TION SERVICE RESTRUCTURING and Detective John Michael Gibson, the time threat and earlier this year the Pentagon ACT OF 1998 to die came too soon. These two brave men tapped OSI to run the Defense Department's sacrificed their lives so that others might live. computer forensic training and laboratory pro- HON. MELVIN L. WATT Our Nation will never forget their acts of brav- grams. Also, the terrorists of the OF NORTH CAROLINA ery and courage. will be more deadly and OSI will be faced with IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES On behalf of all the citizens of the Seventh the need to help protect an air and space Friday, July 31, 1998 Congressional District of New Jersey, I ex- force that will be committed to going anywhere press our sadness and grief to the families of in the world, anytime. Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I these two heroes. While words cannot mend A legacy of service, integrity and excellence am introducing the Immigration and Natu- their broken hearts, our thoughts and prayers marches on today in the footsteps of the ralization Service Restructuring Act of 1998, are with them. 11,000 men and women who have served in which contains provisions to implement dra- Officer Chestnut, Detective Gibson, you the OSI, including two members of the 105th matic and fundamental reforms within the Im- showed us what courage really is. God Bless Congress, myself and my honorable col- migration and Naturalization Service (INS). You and God Bless the United States of league, Senator ARLEN SPECTER. Mr. Chair- Significant management weaknesses, poor America. man, it is with a great deal of pride that the services, overlapping organizational relation- f Air Force OSI celebrates its fiftieth anniversary ships, and inadequate border control are prob- and remembers its motto: ``Preserving our leg- RECOGNITION OF THE 50TH ANNI- lems that have plagued the INS for many acy, protecting the future.'' VERSARY OF THE AIR FORCE years. Many Members and their office staffs f receive calls daily from constituents unable to OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGA- get assistance with immigration related prob- TIONS CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STU- lems from their local INS' office. We need to DENTS OF THE BEECHWOOD change the way the INS does business. HON. HERBERT H. BATEMAN SCHOOL After careful consideration of all pending re- OF VIRGINIA structuring proposals, I believe the proposal IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS offered by INS is the best alternative. This bill Friday, July 31, 1998 OF NEW JERSEY will untangle the INS' overlapping and confus- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ing organizational structure and replace it with Mr. BATEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in two clear organizational chains of commandÐ recognition of the Air Force Office of Special Friday, July 31, 1998 one to accomplish its enforcement mission InvestigationsÐOSI. On Saturday, August 1 of Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to and the other to provide immigration related this year, OSI will celebrate its golden anniver- salute a group of pre-kindergartners who are services. Key provisions of the bill would: ef- sary as the investigative arm of the United on their way to educational achievement in the