April 9, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E11 unique Georgian alphabet, 1 of only 14 in use western have hunting the bowhead tivity that is of considerable cultural, religious, in the world today. whale for thousands of years. The Inter- and subsistence importance to those native While Georgia was annexed by Russia in national Whaling Commission [IWC] has ac- people. In expending the amounts claimed, a 1801, it never gave up its fight for independ- knowledged that ``whaling, more than any captain is donating those amounts to the com- ence. In 1918, those efforts were successful other activity, fundamentally underlies the total munity to carry out these functions. as Georgia regained its independence and re- lifeway of these communities.'' Similarly, the expenditures can be viewed linquished its ancient monarchy for a demo- Today, under the regulatory eye of the IWC as donations to the Inupiat Community of the cratically elected government. Sadly, this new- and the U.S. Department of Commerce, these North Slope [ICAS], to the AEWC and to the found independence was to be short-lived. In Natives continue a sharply restricted bowhead communities' participating churches. The ICAS 1921, the Communist Iron Curtain descended subsistence hunt out of 10 coastal villages. is a federally recognized Indian tribe under the over this small yet proud country. Georgia suf- Local regulation of the hunt is vested in the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (48 Stat. fered terribly under the heavy hand of Soviet Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission [AEWC] 984). Under the Indian Tax Status Act, dona- communism and its centrally planned econ- under a cooperative agreement with the De- tions to such an Indian Tribe are tax deduct- omy. Through it all, the Georgian people never partment of Commerce, National Oceanic and ible (28 U.S.C., 7871(a)(1)(A)). The AEWC is gave up their desire for independence. Atmospheric Administration. a 501(c)(3) organization. Both the ICAS and On April 9, 1989, Soviet troops broke up a The entire Native whaling community partici- the AEWC are charged with the preservation throng of 10,000 Georgian nationalists who pates in these hunting activities. However, Na- of Native Alaskan whaling rights. were peacefully demonstrating for independ- tive tradition requires that the whaling captains Also, it is important to note the North Slope ence in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi. More than are financially and otherwise responsible for Borough of Alaska, on its own and through the 200 people were injured and 19 killed, many the actual conduct of the hunt; meaning they AEWC, spends approximately $500,000 to of them women and children. Some were bru- must provide the boat, fuel, gear, weapons, $700,000 annually on bowhead whale re- tally beaten to death with shovels. This tragic ammunition, food, and special clothing for their search and other Arctic marine research pro- event marked both the beginning of the end of crews. Furthermore, they must store the whale grams in support of the ' efforts Soviet domination and the rebirth of Georgia. meat until it is used. at the International Whaling Commission. This After 70 years of Soviet domination, Georgia Each of the approximately 35 bowhead is money that otherwise would come from the officially redeclared its independence on April whales landed each year provides thousands Federal budget to support the U.S. represen- 9, 1991. Thus, it is April 9 that is observed as of pounds of meat and muktukÐblubber and tation at the IWC. both a commemoration of a tragedy and as skinÐfor these Native communities. Native Given these facts and internationally and the anniversary on which Georgia's long- culture dictates that a whaling captain whose federally protected status of the Native Alas- fought-for independence was again regained. crew lands a whale is responsible for feeding kan subsistence whale hunt, I believe expendi- Over the last few years, under the leader- the community in which the captain lives. Cus- tures for the hunt should be treated as chari- ship of President Eduard Shevardnadze, tomarily, the whale is divided and shared by table donations under section 170 of the Inter- Georgia has made remarkable strides toward all of the people in the community free of nal Revenue Code. I ask my fellow Members a free market economy and democracy. A charge. to join with me in clarifying the Federal Tax constitution grounded in democracy values In recent years, Native whaling captains Code to make this a reality for these Native has been adopted and free and fair Presi- have been treating their whaling expenses as whaling captains. dential and Parliamentary elections have been a deduction against their personal Federal in- f held. A new generation of leaders, including come tax, because they donate the whale THE ERISA CHILD ABUSE Zurab Zhvania, the 34-year-old Chairman of meat to their community and because their ex- ACCOUNTABILITY ACT the Parliament who just last month visited us penses have skyrocketed due to the increased here in Washington, has begun to emerge. On costs in complying with Federal requirements the economic front, Georgia's new currency, necessary to outfit a whaling crew. The IRS HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY the Lari, has remained stable since it was in- has refused to allow these deductions, placing OF NEW YORK troduced in the fall of 1995. The International an extreme financial burden on those who use IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Monetary Fund has praised Georgia's eco- personal funds to support their Native commu- Wednesday, April 9, 1997 nomic initiatives and our own State Depart- nities' traditional activities. Currently five whal- Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, ment has noted the significant progress Geor- ing captains have appeals of these disallow- I rise today in support of child abuse victims gia has made in restructuring its economy. ances pending before the tax court of the IRS. everywhere. The legislation I have introduced, Several major United States corporations have The bill I am introducing today would amend the ERISA Child Abuse Accountability Act, already established a presence in Georgia. section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code to H.R. 1142, empowers people in a system that Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide that the investments made by this rel- seems to be set against them. commemorate the sixth anniversary of Geor- atively small and fixed number of subsistence Abuse survivors may have moved past the gian independence. I urge my colleagues to Native whaling captains are fully deductible as physical pain, but the scars, and emotional join in congratulating Georgia on its progress charitable contributions against their personal turmoil remain. Some have turned to the judi- toward democracy and a free market econ- Federal income tax. Such an amendment cial system to hold their abusers accountable omy. should also retroactively resolve the disallow- for their crimes. They endure traumatic trials, f ance and assessment cases now pending reliving the years of torment, and dredging up ALASKA NATIVE SUBSISTENCE within the statute of limitations. suppressed memories, in order to put their WHALING EXPENSE CHARITABLE The expenses incurred by these whaling pasts behind them. TAX DEDUCTION captains are for the benefit of the entire Native But too often, a court battle is only the be- community. These expenses are vital contribu- ginning of the struggle. Even if a court finds HON. DON YOUNG tions whose only purposes are to provide food the abuser guilty and awards the victim com- to the community and to perpetuate the ab- OF ALASKA pensation, the money can be elusive. The log- original traditions of the Native substance IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ical target might be the abuser's pension. whaling culture. However, although private pensions are at- Wednesday, April 9, 1997 Each Alaskan Native subsistence whaling tachable for child support or alimony settle- Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise captain spends an average of $2,500 to ments, current law protects private pensions to introduce a measure that would provide $5,000 in whaling equipment and expenses in from court ordered monetary awards in child critically needed tax relief to a few Alaskan a given year. A charitable deduction for these abuse cases. Native whaling captains who otherwise may expenses would translate into a maximum rev- Under legislation authored by Representa- not be able to continue their centuries-old tra- enue impact of approximately $230,000 a tive Patricia Schroeder and passed during the dition of subsistence whaling. In brief, this bill year. 103d Congress, victims of child abuse are per- would provide a modest charitable deduction Such a charitable deduction is justified on a mitted to collect awards from Federal pen- to those Native captains who organize and number of grounds. The donations of material sions. The ERISA Child Abuse Accountability support traditional whaling hunt activities for and provisions for the purpose of carrying out Act is a natural extension of the original bill, to their communities. subsistence whaling, in effect, are charitable include private pensions. The Inupiat and Siberian Yupik Eskimos liv- contributions to the Inupiat and Siberian Yupik Those who would commit a crime against a ing in the coastal villages of northern and communities for the purpose of support an ac- child must be held accountable. We cannot E12 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 9, 1997 allow abusers to hide behind the law. I urge through the center to get a certificate in spend on food, clothing, transportation, and my colleagues to support this bill and put the graphics. He goes to the center daily with shelter. Further, every American will spend at law on the side of the victims. the help of his brothers and sisters who push least 120 days of this year to pay his or her him more than a mile in a wheelchair.’’ share of taxes. Only after that point can an f In India, UNICEF has promoted schools for American begin to enjoy the rewards of a hard ‘‘THERE IS HOPE FOR THE children who otherwise would be working in factories. Peel’s report includes a wonderful day's work. I think it's time to let American CHILDREN’’ picture of two beautiful girls, Shabana and families keep more of what they earn. Sudesha, who worked in the bangle industry My tax freedom resolution will send a re- HON. for years before finally being enrolled in minder to the American taxpayer that we hear OF school. Shabana hopes to be a doctor. their cries for tax relief. As April 15 is around Jon Rohde, UNICEF’s country representa- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the corner, many Americans are wondering tive in India, told Peel that the 2 million what their Federal tax pays for. Families need Wednesday, April 9, 1997 deep well water pumps used throughout the real, permanent tax relief, and they need a world were invented by UNICEF in India. He smaller Federal Government that spends less. Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to said the pumps, which provide safe drinking the attention of my colleagues the following ar- water, along with oral rehydration therapy I believe that my tax freedom resolution will ticle, ``There is Hope for the Children'' by Judy for diarrhea, have saved millions of lives. unite the House of Representatives under the Mann in on Friday, The Agency for International Development cause of serving the American people. March 14. This article ably describes how chil- financed the basic research that led to oral Mr. Speaker, I urge that we work on a bipar- dren are helping themselves through programs rehydration therapy and used its marketing tisan basis to enact real, permanent tax relief funded by UNICEF and the U.S. Agency for experience to educate parents and health for the American family in the coming months. International Development. The article also workers. The therapy is widely used in Ban- I look forward to working with you on this im- gladesh, and experts from there took it into presents an excellent summary of the UNICEF portant issue, and urge that the tax freedom Rwandan refugee camps, where it helped pre- resolution be brought to the House floor so report, ``America's Partnership with UNICEF,'' vent mass deaths during cholera outbreaks. written by former House Appropriations Com- that Americans know that we are working for In its report, AID estimates that the therapy them. mittee staff member Terry Peel. Terry's efforts saves 1.5 million children a year. It was criti- to promote child survival have given tens of cal during a cholera outbreak that began in f thousands of children around the world a Latin America in 1991. CHICANO FAMILY CENTER 25TH AID’s Lessons Without Borders program chance for a decent life. I commend this im- ANNIVERSARY portant article to your attention: has taken practices developed to increase child immunization in Kenya to Baltimore— [From the Washington Post, Mar. 14, 1997] and the city’s immunization rate has risen HON. GENE GREEN THERE IS HOPE FOR THE CHILDREN from 62 percent to 96 percent for school-age OF TEXAS (By Judy Mann) children. At a program marking Inter- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES national Women’s Day at the U.S. State De- Ten years ago, less than 40 percent of the Wednesday, March 9, 1997 children in Uganda and Kenya were immu- partment yesterday, first lady Hillary nized. Twenty percent of them were dying of Rodham Clinton referred to the program: Mr. GREEN. Mr. Speaker, for as long as I preventable diseases. Today, the immuniza- ‘‘We can learn from our neighbors around the have been representing Houston in the Texas tion rate has reached 80 percent. Uganda’s world,’’ she said. ‘‘Countless lives can be im- House and Senate and now in the U.S. House under-5 mortality rate has dropped from 218 proved, and we can improve lives here at of Representatives, our community has bene- per 1,000 live births in 1960 to 185 in 1995, and home.’’ fited from the presence of the Chicano Family Clinton, who leaves this weekend for Afri- Kenya’s has dropped from 202 to 90. Center. This success story is one of many included ca, said she hoped her trip would give ‘‘American people a renewed sense of the im- This month, the Chicano Family Center in two new reports that chronicle a decade of celebrates its 25th anniversary. April 17 will genuine progress in child survival led by portance of our commitment to Africa.’’ ‘‘In this time of interdependence and inter- mark one-quarter of a century of the center's UNICEF and the U.S. Agency for Inter- connection, we all have a stake in each commitment to providing family counseling, in- national Development. In the pictures of the other,’’ she said. ‘‘American interests are at children at health centers and schools, in the take and referral services, emergency food stake. Far more importantly, America’s val- faces of mothers, fathers, health care work- and clothing, substance abuse prevention and ues are at stake.’’ ers and teachers, there is hope and a deter- intervention programs for children and fami- One of those values is a commitment to mination to beat malnourishment and dis- lies, afterschool and summer programs, recre- the welfare of children. Through AID and its ease. ation and sports activities, juvenile delin- support of UNICEF and other international The UNICEF report was written by Terry child and family health organizations, the quency and teen pregnancy prevention, HIV/ R. Peel, a former staff director of the House United States has prevented millions of child AIDS education and English as a second lan- Foreign Operations Committee, who traveled deaths and improved the quality of life for guage instruction. to Latin America, Africa and Asia to find millions of children. In the last decade, AID The Chicano Family Center has left an in- out how U.S. support for UNICEF—which has has spent $2.4 billion for child survival. delible imprint on the lives of families through- amounted to $840 million during the last dec- Americans can take heart from these two re- ade—is being used. He found story after out Houston through these meaningful pro- ports: story of children being lifted out of appalling grams. Though the center serves a predomi- This is taxpayers’ money well spent. and hopeless situations. nantly Hispanic community, its doors are open In El Salvador, where more children were f to any person who asks for help or who seeks dying of preventable diseases than of all the LET’S MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE to participate in its programs. The Chicano war-related causes combined, warring fac- Family Center's simultaneous empowerment tions stopped shooting on designated days so ARE UNITED IN PROVIDING TAX RELIEF FOR AMERICAN FAMI- of the Hispanic community and fostering of children could be taken safely to clinics and cross-cultural interaction and understanding LIES vaccinated. El Salvador’s under-5 mortality have enriched the lives of Houston area resi- has dropped from 210 per 1,000 births in 1960 to 40 in 1995. dents from all ethnic backgrounds. In Uganda, Peel found a Catholic priest, HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS In recognizing Houston's Chicano Family the Rev. Steve Collins, who works with a OF PENNSYLVANIA Center today, I am echoing the words of UNICEF center that helps children whose IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES praise the center has earned from the Hous- parents are dying of AIDS complications get Wednesday, April 9, 1997 ton Chronicle, the United Way, Governor the technical and vocational training they’ll George Bush's office and the mayor of the city need to sustain the families. He introduced Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced of Houston Robert Lanier, among others. Peel to Katherine Nambudye, 20, who lost a House resolution calling upon the Congress Thank you, Chicano Family Center, for your her parents to AIDS two years ago and is and the President to come together to enact 25 years of service to our community, inspira- raising five younger siblings. ‘‘Because of the permanent tax relief of American families. I tion to our citizens and promotion of the high- training program, she has graduated from urge you and the rest of my colleagues to join school and is studying to be a teacher,’’ Peel est ideals. wrote. me in a bipartisan effort to give tax relief to [From the Houston Chronicle] ‘‘Katherine also runs a chicken business, those who need it most; the hardworking SERVING HOUSTON—THE NEED IS THERE, AND makes sure her brothers and sisters are in American family. COMMUNITY SERVICE CAN MEET IT school and cares for her 14-year-old brother Mr. Speaker, according to a recent study, Serve Houston, this city’s chapter of the who has polio. This brother is also working American families pay more in taxes than they national AmeriCorps program, today will