18970 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS October 5, 2001 1991 opened the door for tremendous gains in culture (USDA) accountable for the gaps in records such as ending a 2632 consecutive the world of women’s soccer for the United service to disadvantaged farmers and ranch- games-played winning streak in 1998, scoring States. A few such achievements include; a ers. This amendment will set a system in his 400th home run in 1999, and hitting his first Women’s world championship tournament place that will allow the public to routinely 3000th career hit in 2000. These moments will and World Championship title, the addition of monitor any failures of the Department to pro- never be forgotten. women’s soccer as an official Olympic event vide equitable service. In addition, this amend- His greatest contribution has been the ability played for the first time at the 1996 Olympic ment makes county level data on USDA pro- to take this success off the diamond and out- Games in Atlanta, a foundation for the most gram participation of disadvantaged producers side the walls of Memorial Stadium and Cam- successful women’s sporting event in history- available to the public. The amendment also den Yards by contributing significant time and the 1999 Women’s World Cup hosted in the requires the release of similar data on partici- energy towards various charitable organiza- , and last but far from least, the pation in Farm Services Agency (FSA) county tions within the greater Baltimore area. Along creation of the first women’s professional soc- committee elections, and requires that the with his wife, Kelly, he established the Kelly cer league in the U.S.—the Women’s United process of opening and counting ballots in and Cal Ripken, Jr. Foundation which sup- Soccer Association (WUSA) which is in its in- county committee elections be open to the ports adult and family literacy, youth rec- augural season. public. reational, and health-related programs. They On this tenth anniversary of the unprece- Mr. Chairman, because of my role as Chair have also been greatly involved in the Balti- dented accomplishment of a group of 18 of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I have more Reads Ripken Learning Center and American soccer players, their coaches and been approached by Hispanic farmers across other organizations within the area. support staff at the first ever Women’s World the country who are alleging discriminatory I was fortunate enough to be able to attend Championships in , the National Soccer practices by the USDA and the FSA. The opening day in Baltimore this season, and saw Medal of Honor will be presented once again USDA claims that no discrimination has taken firsthand the all star abilities of this great to the 1991 U.S. Women’s National Team: place, but the stories that I have personally baseball player. Cal Ripken is a winner in Michele Akers, Amy Allman, Tracey Bates- heard from these farmers lead me to a very every sense of the word and his contribution Leone, Debbie Belkin, , Joy different conclusion. In fact, I am so con- to our national pastime will live in the minds of Fawcett, , Wendy Gebauer, Linda cerned by what I have heard, that I have re- fans forever. He deserves the nation’s rec- Hamilton, , , April quested a General Accounting Office (GAO) ognition today. He is truly a living legend. Heinrichs, , Shannon Higgins- audit with my good friend and colleague, Con- f Cirovski, Carin Jennings-Gabarra, Kristine gressman JOE BACA. This audit, which is cur- IN HONOR OF MIKE BYRNE Lilly, Megan McCarthy, Kim Maslin- rently underway, asks, among other things, Kammerdeiner, , Head Coach how much time it has taken the USDA and HON. GREG WALDEN , Coach Tony DiCicco, Coach FSA to process loans for Hispanic farmers as OF OREGON . compared with the non-Hispanic population. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES This honor is to be awarded at the Soccer According to my constituents, the slow turn Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York. The new around time of loans from the USDA makes it Friday, October 5, 2001 $7 million museum opened in 1999 on the impossible for them to plant their crops until it Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise Hall’s 61 acre soccer campus to rave reviews. is too late. The lateness in planting the crops today to recognize the selfless contributions of The highly interactive, youth-oriented museum leads to the failure of the yield, and ultimately one of the Oregonians I am privileged to rep- tells the story of soccer in the USA from the to the default on their loans. In addition, I have resent, Mike Byrne of Malin, Oregon. I am earliest games played on the Common heard stories of corruption in regard to county also pleased to observe his 50th birthday to the latest scores and standings. They have committees and the elections of committee of- today and offer up my sincere hope that he is been host to international teams from the ficers that greatly exacerbate the problem. blessed with another half century among his USA, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, New Zealand, These issues need to be addressed now. and family. Canada, Chile and Saudi Arabia as well as I know that the Small and Disadvantaged Mike Byrne is a long-time rancher on the local collegiate and high school champion- Farmer Access and Accountability Amendment southern Oregon—northern border. ships. The Hall of Fame also offers a summer is not going to address all of these issues, but He is a devoted husband and father and a long tournament series for premier and club it is a start. I am hopeful that passage of this tireless servant of his fellow Oregonians. But teams in every age category. Mr. Speaker, I amendment will lead to a more equitable situ- Mr. Speaker, he is much, much more. He is a have visited the National Soccer Hall of Fame ation for Hispanic and other minority farmers, patient confidant, a visionary, and a man of numerous times. With each return visit, I en- and I urge all of my colleagues to vote for the uncompromising principle. Perhaps most im- counter something new and exciting. amendment offered by Mr. CONYERS. portantly, to me and to the people of his com- Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to bid all f munity, he is simply a good friend. those who will attend this ceremony and the Mr. Speaker, in April of this year the Bureau honorees my best wishes for the success of HONORING CAL RIPKEN, JR. of Reclamation announced that, based on bio- their event and applaud their desire to honor logical opinions rendered by the National Ma- such a phenomenal group of athletes—the SPEECH OF rine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wild- 1991 U.S. Women’s National Team. HON. JAMES T. WALSH life Service, the farmers and ranchers of the f OF NEW YORK Klamath Basin would be denied irrigation IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES water for agriculture from Upper Klamath FARM SECURITY ACT OF 2001 Lake. This decision, coming on the heels of a Tuesday, October 2, 2001 SPEECH OF severe drought, has subjected the local agri- Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I also rise in sup- culture community to extreme financial hard- HON. SILVESTRE REYES port of H. Res. 247 sponsored by Representa- ship. The combination of drought and mis- OF TEXAS tive EHRLICH that recongnizes the outstanding guided decision-making by the federal govern- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES contributions Cal Ripken, Jr. has made both ment has literally put the future of their way of Thursday, October 4, 2001 on and off the baseball field. He is an Amer- life in doubt, as farming as it has existed in ican icon symbolizing integrity, team spirit, and the Basin for over 100 years has virtually The House in Committee of the Whole discipline, and has exemplified true leadership ceased. House on the State of the Union had under throughout his twenty-one season baseball ca- Before the ink on the government’s decision consideration the bill (H.R. 2646) to provide reer. was dry, Mike Byrne was hard at work raising for the continuation of agricultural pro- grams through fiscal year 2011: Since 1978, Mr. Ripkin has been honored awareness about the Klamath crisis and ral- with several prestigious awards including lying the local community. He has been in the Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, trenches everyday, Mr. Speaker—in town hall strong support of the amendment offered by Golden Glove, Lou Gehrig Award, and Most meetings, in negotiations with federal, state my colleague, Mr. CONYERS. It is time that we Valuable Oriole. Baseball’s ‘‘Ironman’’ has bro- and local authorities, and around kitchen ta- hold the United States Department of Agri- ken several significant American and personal bles throughout the Basin—to lend what help

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