March 3, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H695 Association of University Business and Eco- However, in spite of all the many percent or even more, want to become nomic Research, National Asian Pacific good things there are about Puerto citizens. We certainly do not need to American Legal Consortium, Association of Rico and its people, I do not believe add a State where almost half of the Public Data Users, Americans for Demo- Puerto Rico should become a State at people do not want it. cratic Action, National Community Action Foundation, Asian Pacific American Labor this time. First and foremost to me, Puerto Rico should vote first. They Alliance, Consortium of Social Science Asso- the American people do not support can hold a referendum without our per- ciations, and AFL–CIO. this expansion. In every poll or survey, mission. The Congress should not take Labor Council for Latin American Ad- the people of my district hold opinions a vote that as a practical matter we vancement, Leadership Conference on Civil almost identical to the national aver- cannot get out of unless, and until we Rights, League of United Latin American age. I have not received even one phone have a truly fair, accurate assessment Citizens, Mexican American Legal Defense call, comment, letter or postcard in of how many Puerto Ricans really and Education Fund, NAACP, National favor of this from my district. Every want this. Council of La Raza, National Urban League, Organization of Chinese Americans, Teach- local contact has been against this. For all of these reasons, Mr. Speaker, ers of English to Speakers of Other Lan- This is very important to me. I believe we should maintain our guages, California Rural League Assistance, Second, according to the Congres- present friendly, close relationship and American Association of State Highway sional Research Service, Tennessee with Puerto Rico as a U.S. Territory. and Transportation Officials. would potentially be one of six or seven f States to lose a House Member if Puer- f PEACE CORPS DAY 1998 to Rico becomes a State. This would b 1245 not have much effect on me because The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- STATEHOOD FOR PUERTO RICO most of the growth in our State has been in and around Knoxville and uary 21, 1997, the gentleman from Cali- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Nashville, so my district will be about fornia (Mr. FARR) is recognized during SNOWBARGER). Under the Speaker’s an- the same or even possibly shrink in morning hour debates for 5 minutes. nounced policy of January 21, 1997, the size for the foreseeable future. How- Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. DUN- ever, it would definitely hurt our State it has been 35 years since I joined the CAN) is recognized during morning hour if we lose the equivalent of 11 percent American Peace Corps, and I rise today debates for 5 minutes. of our House delegation. to celebrate this month and this very Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise Third, the GAO and others have esti- day, the 37th anniversary of the Peace today to speak on the question of mated this could cost American tax- Corps. whether Puerto Rico will become our payers $3 to 5 billion a year in added It was started on March 1, 1961, when 51st State. Last year I was the only costs to the Federal Government. We President Kennedy signed legislation member of the Committee on Re- are not in nearly as strong a shape eco- passed by this Congress creating the sources who voted against this bill on nomically as some people think with Peace Corps. the final committee vote. I did not the stock market at record levels. Also Today there are more than 150,000 re- speak against this bill at the time or in about 8 to 10 years when the baby- turned volunteers in the United States, try to get anyone else to vote against boomers begin retiring, we are about to five of whom serve in the House of Rep- it, primarily due to my great respect face some of the greatest costs we have resentatives and two in the United for and friendship with Chairman ever seen in the history of this coun- States Senate. Young, the primary sponsor. Chairman try. With national debt of $5.5 trillion Today, because of the anniversary of Young and I agree on almost all issues, right now and a debt almost quadruple the Peace Corps, there are more than particularly on the need to open up a that when you figure in future pension 6,000 returned volunteers that are pres- very small portion of Alaska to further liabilities, we really cannot afford to ently, as I speak, working in schools oil production. do this until Puerto Rico strengthens throughout the United States to bring After I cast this lone dissenting vote, its economy significantly. a program called World Wise Schools. I was asked to visit Puerto Rico by its Fourth, when I went to Israel 3 or 4 They bring the cross-cultural aware- government and some of its leading years ago, our group met, among many ness of these countries that they citizens, and in an attempt to be as fair others, with the woman who headed served in to the school children of as possible, I went there for a weekend Israeli immigration. She told us they America. visit 8 or 9 months ago. While there, I gave all immigrants to Israel up to 2 I just participated in a program like met some of the nicest people I have years of intensive language training if that downtown at the Peace Corps met anyplace in this world. I was they needed it because Israel felt that headquarters, where we had life inter- greatly impressed with the beauty of it was very important to have a com- action with students from South Afri- the island and the great progress that mon, unifying national language. ca, that was being taught by an Amer- is being made toward freedom and a It is fine with me if everyone in this ican Peace Corps volunteer from Wash- strong economy and away from the country learns Spanish or some other ington, D.C. shackles of socialism. second language, but I think all U.S. Today there are 84 countries in the I was impressed with the close ties citizens need to be truly, honestly flu- world that have invited the Peace and favorable feelings most Puerto ent in English. We need a unifying na- Corps to be in them. There are 6,500 Ricans have with and for the United tional language. Look at the problems volunteers that are now serving over- States. I was told that Puerto Rico had Canada has now with many in French- seas. They are addressing the critical sent more soldiers and sailors to the speaking Quebec wanting to split Can- development needs on a person-to-per- U.S. military than any other State per ada in the middle. English is and son basis, helping spread and gain ac- capita, and I really appreciate this. should be our national language, even cess to clean water; to grow more food; I had never thought much about this if some do not like it. to help prevent the spread of AIDS; to before I went there, but Puerto Rico is I am told that a little over 20 percent teach English, math and science; to closer to Washington, D.C., and the of the people in Puerto Rico are fluent help entrepreneurs start new busi- Southeastern United States than are in English. I believe Puerto Rico nesses; and to work with nongovern- some of our Western States. I believe should greatly emphasize the English mental organizations to protect our en- that Puerto Rico is fast on its way to language training if they want to be- vironment. becoming an island paradise. Some of come a part of our Union. In fact, the demand for Peace Corps it already is. Fifth and finally, some say only a lit- far exceeds the supply. For my conserv- Puerto Rico has a great future, if it tle over half of Puerto Ricans want to ative friends on the other side of the continues moving even further toward become a State of the United States if aisle, I wanted you to recall that the a free market economy and lower they are given a truly free choice with President has asked for expansion of taxes. The island is in a strategic loca- fair definitions. I do not believe we the Peace Corps in his address to the tion and could be a valuable asset to us should add any State unless an ex- Congress here just last month. In his militarily. tremely high percentage, at least 75 1999 budget request, he wants to put H696 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 3, 1998 10,000 volunteers, up about 35,000 more Currier. However, before Martha and time, Garner spent a lot of his time volunteers, serving overseas by the Garner had a chance to begin raising a taking care of the direct needs and con- year 2000. The demand for their service family, World War II pulled Garner cerns of his constituents back in Kan- is there, the supply is not, and the only away from home for 3 years. He en- sas. As a senior member of the power- thing that stands between that is the listed in the Navy, but after only 10 ful House Appropriations Committee, United States Congress and its ability months he received a commission as Garner was in a unique position to pro- to appropriate the funds. I encourage Lieutenant, leaving the Navy after 3 tect the vital interests of both the 4th my colleagues to do so. years as an officer. During his tour in Congressional District and the State of The proposed expansion of the Peace the Navy, Garner commanded a boat Kansas. Corps comes at a time when the inter- group in the Pacific by the end of the When Garner left Congress in 1977, he est in serving as a volunteer is particu- war. was ranking member of the Appropria- larly high. Last year, more than 150,000 Not long after the war ended, Garner tions Foreign Operations Subcommit- Americans contacted the Peace Corps made his first attempt at elected of- tee and the third ranking Republican to request information on serving as fice. His wife Martha Jane recently re- on the full committee. In that impor- volunteers, an increase of more than 40 counted the story in the Wichita Eagle tant capacity, Garner was able to make percent since 1994. of how Garner first got into politics. sure Kansas was never overlooked dur- The value of the volunteers and their She noted that ‘‘he figured he didn’t ing the Federal budget process. experience is not restricted to overseas have anything to lose,’’ so in 1946, Gar- On a more personal level, I want to service. I can testify that the best serv- ner ran for the Kansas House of Rep- express my heartfelt thanks again to ice that is given to the Peace Corps is resentatives. She continued, ‘‘When we Garner for his advice and counsel upon the domestic dividend that we all bring went to bed that election night, we my appointment to the Appropriations when we come home. didn’t know anything about elections. Committee after my reelection last I urge all of those Members of Con- We woke up the next morning to find year. Before my appointment last year, gress that they ought to think some- out he had won by 222 votes.’’ 20 years had passed since a Kansan had day even when they retire, that Peace So began the long and distinguished served on the important committee in Corps has no limit to the age that one career of a great Kansas politician. either the House or Senate. Seeking to can enter. Remember President After serving only 2 terms in the Kan- understand the first thing about the Carter’s mother who entered the Peace sas House, Garner set his sights higher Appropriations Committee and how it Corps in her elderly years. I encourage and was elected to the Kansas State operated, I was fortunate to be able to on this 37th anniversary of the Peace Senate, where he served two terms. receive the sage counsel of Garner on Corps that we all be proud of what was During his 12 years of service in the the ins and outs of this committee. created here in the House of Represent- Kansas legislature, Garner championed After leaving Congress in 1977, Gar- atives and what has served its country many worthwhile causes, including ner returned home to Wichita, Kansas, well, the United States Peace Corps. education for handicapped and retarded where he resumed the practice of law and spent the rest of his life alongside f children, getting and keeping reckless his lovely and dedicated wife, Martha drivers off the highways, creating the A TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN Jane. Today, it is only appropriate State Park Authority, important flood GARNER E. SHRIVER that we remember and celebrate the control legislation, and setting up the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under life and accomplishments of Garner E. 4–H livestock show. the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- Shriver. In 1960, Garner left State politics to uary 21, 1997, the gentleman from Kan- Garner Shriver will be missed, not run for Congress. Winning what was sas (Mr. TIAHRT) is recognized during only by his family, but by me and a lot characterized as a very spirited race, morning hour debates for 5 minutes. of other Kansans, Kansans who consid- Garner became the new representative Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, today I ered him a friend, an American hero, of the 4th Congressional District. At come to the floor of the House both to who lived his life with courage, char- that time the district included Sedg- commemorate and honor the life of a acter and integrity. former Member of this distinguished wick and 14 other counties and was So long, Garner. May God bless your body, Garner E. Shriver. Garner died considered to be heavily democratic. soul and your family. this past Sunday, March 1, at age 85. Garner went on to win 8 consecutive Mr. Speaker, I include for the record Both my wife Vickie and I were deep- races before losing in a narrow defeat, a copy of a letter to Mrs. Martha Jane ly saddened when we learned of Gar- 3,200 votes, in 1976, to former Congress- Shriver signed by the entire Kansas ner’s death. Over the past couple years, man and now Secretary of Agriculture delegation. Garner had become a personal friend Dan Glickman. U.S. CONGRESS, and someone whom I admired greatly. I During his 16 years in Congress, Gar- Washington, DC, March 2, 1998. speak for the entire Kansas delegation ner became an influential voice on sig- Mrs. MARTHA JANE SHRIVER, in Congress when I say our thoughts nificant issues of the day, including Wichita, Kansas. health and education benefits for our DEAR MRS. SHRIVER: We were deeply sad- and prayers are with Garner’s wife, dened when we learned of Garner’s death yes- Martha Jane, and their three children, Nation’s veterans, and landmark civil rights legislation. Garner served on the terday morning. We want you and your three Kay, David and Linda. children, Kay, David and Linda to know that Born on July 6, 1912, in Towanda, committee that drafted the the Civil our thoughts and prayers are with you dur- Kansas, Garner’s family later moved to Rights Act of 1964. His family is very ing this difficult time. We wish we could be Wichita in 1925, where he attended pub- proud of the fact that they have one of with you this Wednesday for Garner’s fu- lic schools and graduated from East the pens LBJ used to sign the historic neral. However, Congress will be in session High School. legislation into law. that day. Representative Tiahrt has reserved Garner stayed in Wichita to receive Elected in the same class as fellow time on the floor of the House of Representa- his undergraduate degree from the Uni- Kansan Bob Dole, Garner quickly be- tives for this Tuesday, March 3, to allow us came a close friend and political con- the opportunity to commemorate the distin- versity of Wichita, now Wichita State guished life of Garner. University, in 1934. Today his Congres- fidant of Senator Dole. Upon learning During the nearly 30 years of elected public sional papers, amounting to over of Garner’s death, Senator Dole stated office the name of Garner Shriver became 180,000 items, are kept at the Wichita that ‘‘Garner was one of my closest po- synonymous with Wichita and south-central State Ablah Library. litical friends when we served together Kansas. Indeed, Monday’s headline in the In 1940, Garner graduated from in Congress. I, like many others, Wichita Eagle obituary for Garner summed Washburn Law School in Topeka, Kan- learned a lot from Garner, who was it up well: Garner Shriver was a political sas. Garner put himself through both known as a quiet and effective legisla- giant. While most of us were too young to re- member back 50 years ago when Garner undergraduate and law school by work- tor, and someone who kept his word. began his political career, everyone can be ing odd jobs, including serving as a He was an exemplary husband and fa- proud of the many accomplishments he doorman. ther.’’ achieved during the 12 years he served in the In 1941 Garner married his wife of While Garner worked on various Kansas Legislature and the 16 years he now 56 years, the former Martha Jane issues of national concern during his served in the United States Congress.