H3018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 11, 1998 on Education and the Workforce and bility in distributing these funds, while V. Lewis, Drexler and his future NBA ordered to be printed: ensuring that the most needy school teammate, , took the To the Congress of the United States: districts receive a fair share. Cougars to the NCAA’s Final Four in I am pleased to transmit today for Moreover, because my proposal would 1982, with Clyde averaging 15.2 points your immediate consideration and en- actually appropriate the funds needed and 10.5 rebounds per game. actment the ‘‘Class-Size Reduction and to carry out the program, States and In 1983, Drexler earned first-team All- Teacher Quality Act of 1998.’’ This leg- local communities could count on America honors after leading the Cou- islative proposal would help States and these funds without the need for sepa- gars to their second straight NCAA local school districts recruit, train, and rate congressional appropriations each Final Four in the first national cham- hire 100,000 additional well-prepared year. This proposal is fully paid for pionship game. The Cougars, known as teachers in order to reduce the average within my Fiscal Year 1999 Budget, and Phi Slamma Jamma, ended the year class size to 18 in grades 1 through 3 in therefore would not reduce the budget 31–3 and won their first Southwest Con- our Nation’s public schools. It is an es- surplus. ference regular season championship sential part of our overall effort to School districts would use these with a perfect 16–0 record, and were strengthen public schools throughout funds to reduce class sizes in grades 1 ranked atop the national polls. Drexler the Nation. through 3. Just as importantly, these is the only Cougar to amass more than As schools across the Nation struggle funds would also be available for a va- 1,000 points, 900 rebounds, 300 assists, to accommodate a surge in enroll- riety of activities to ensure that stu- and 250 steals in a career. His 268 career ments, educators and parents have be- dents in the early grades receive sound steals remain as a UH record. come increasingly concerned about the and effective instruction, such as mak- A first round selection of the Port- impact of class size on teaching and ing sure that teachers know how to land Trail Blazers in 1983, Drexler led learning, particularly in the critically teach reading and other subjects effec- the team to two NBA finals and made important early grades, where students tively in small classes. the playoffs in each of his 15 seasons. A learn reading and other basic skills. This proposal includes strong ac- member of the original Olympic Dream This concern is justified: rigorous re- countability for results. Participating Team, Drexler won a gold medal in search confirms what parents and school districts would produce ‘‘report Barcelona in 1992. teachers have long believed—that stu- cards’’ documenting reductions in class Clyde was reunited with Olajuwon dents in smaller classes, especially in sizes and the achievement of their stu- when he was traded to the Rockets on the early grades, make greater edu- dents in reading, based on rigorous as- February 14, 1995, and helped lead the cational gains and maintain those sessments. Schools whose students fail Rockets to their second straight NBA gains over time. These gains occur be- to make gains in reading would be re- championship. Drexler was named one cause teachers in small classes can pro- quired to undertake corrective actions. of the NBA’s 50 all-time greatest play- vide students with more individualized In addition, the Department of Edu- ers in 1997 and made five all-NBA attention, spend more time on instruc- cation would undertake a comprehen- teams. tion and less time on discipline, and sive national evaluation of this pro- Drexler, , and John cover more material effectively. More- gram and its impact on reading Havlicek are the only players in league over, the benefits of smaller classes are achievement and teaching. history to post more than 20,100 points, greatest for poor, minority, and inner- I urge the Congress to take prompt 6,000 rebounds, and 6,000 assists. His city children, the children who often and favorable action on this proposal. 2,963 clear playoff points put him at face the greatest challenges in meeting Its enactment would help school dis- number 15 on the all-time playoff scor- high educational standards. tricts reduce class sizes in the early ing list. He also grabbed the 1,000th Smaller classes will have the great- grades and improve instruction and playoff of his career on this est impact on student learning if the achievement in reading, issues that are past Sunday, when he finished his ca- new teachers brought into the class- of major importance to parents and to reer in the NBA. room are well qualified to teach read- the Nation. On May 18, 1998, Drexler announced ing and to take advantage of smaller WILLIAM J. CLINTON. his retirement plans as he accepted the learning environments. For this rea- THE WHITE HOUSE, May 8, 1998. job as the head coach for the men’s son, my proposal emphasizes not just f program at the University class-size reduction but also profes- of . While the Rockets’ season sional development for educators, and SPECIAL ORDERS ended on a disappointing note, I’m sure it will give school districts adequate The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the City of Houston is extraordinarily time to recruit and train staff while the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- proud of the career of one of their own, phasing in smaller classes. Further- uary 7, 1997, and under a previous order Clyde Drexler. As the next chapter of more, all new teachers hired under the of the House, the following Members his career begins, what better place to program would be required to pass a will be recognized for 5 minutes each. share his talent, heart, and determina- State teacher competency test and f tion than with the Cougars and the would also have to be certified to teach City of Houston. IN RECOGNITION OF CLYDE or be making satisfactory progress to- I know that I join with all sports fans DREXLER ON HIS RETIREMENT ward full certification. in the City of Houston in looking for- FROM THE We can help all of our students learn ward to many more years of basketball AND THE NBA to read independently and well by the excitement from Clyde Drexler, and third grade, get a solid foundation in The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a wish him all the best in his new en- basic skills, and reach high educational previous order of the House, the gen- deavor. standards if we start them off with tleman from Texas (Mr. BENTSEN) is f small classes and well-prepared teach- recognized for 5 minutes. ers in the early grades. Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in THE FREEDOM FROM RELIGIOUS Under my proposal, the Department proud recognition of a great athlete PERSECUTION ACT of Education would provide $20.8 billion and legend in the City of Houston, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a in mandatory appropriations over a 10- Clyde Drexler, on the occasion of his previous order of the House, the gen- year period (beginning with $1.1 billion retirement from the Houston Rockets tleman from Virginia (Mr. WOLF) is in fiscal year 1999) to States. The and the National Basketball Associa- recognized for 5 minutes. States would then distribute the funds tion. Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I want to to local school districts based on their Clyde ‘‘the Glide’’ Drexler had an im- spend a moment talking about the relative class sizes in grades 1 through pressive 15-year career in the NBA, but Freedom from Religious Persecution 3, as well as on their ability and effort many people in Houston remember him Act, H.R. 2431, which will be on the to finance class-size reductions with first from his days with the University floor for debate at the end of this week. their own resources. The bill would of in the early 1980s. The bill is bipartisan, it has over 131 provide States with considerable flexi- Under the leadership of head coach Guy cosponsors, and it was reported out of May 11, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3019 the Committee on International Rela- equal, endowed by their creators with when the accident occurred. While tions by a vote of 31 for, only 5 against. certain unalienable rights; that among crossing the river and pushing a small Why is this legislation needed? these are life, liberty, and the pursuit group of cattle ahead of him, Jim’s In the past decade, the Government of happiness. horse stumbled and fell, crushing him of Sudan has killed or allowed to When this bill passes, in small vil- underneath it, under the water. The starve over 1 million of its own people. lages in southern Sudan, people with horse struggled back to its feet, waded Starvation is that government’s weap- their little crystal radio sets, people in to a nearby island, and turned back to on of choice, liberally spiced with high- villages in China with their crystal wait for his master. The cows wandered altitude bombing and mass murder, sets, when they hear that the United on. Jim’s dog waited near the horse, and even selling Sudanese boys and States Congress, the people’s House, but their master did not emerge from girls as slaves. the House of Representatives, has the river. In China, as we all know, Catholic voted for this legislation, it will send a The horse and the dog were still priests and bishops are imprisoned, message to the people who are being waiting there on the island a day later some for decades, simply for practicing persecuted around the world that this when family and friends came in search their faith. Protestant pastors are Congress and this country stands with of the missing man. When they saw the thrown in jail just for holding house them. dog and the horse, they knew what church services. Muslims suffer perse- f happened to Jim. They knew from that cution, as do Buddhist monks and rugged country and the ways of that nuns. TRIBUTE TO JIM ANDERSON rugged country that you always believe My office adopted Bishop Zeng The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the animals. Five days later, divers Jingmu. Sunday’s Washington Post re- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- found Jim Anderson’s body miles down- ported that the Bishop was released 6 uary 7, 1997, the gentlewoman from stream in the river, drowned. Even months early by the Chinese Govern- Idaho (Mrs. CHENOWETH) is recognized though Jim was raised there beside the ment in anticipation of President Clin- for 60 minutes as the designee of the river and was a heck of a horseman, he ton’s June visit. Bishop Zeng is cur- majority leader. never learned how to swim. I just pray rently out of prison, yet remains not Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I that he did not die in pain. But he did completely free, but under house ar- lost a very good friend a little while die alone, far, far from the family he rest, and is allowed to see no one but ago, in a very, very tragic accident. loved, from his friends and from any his close relatives. Still, the fact that Jim Anderson was a man that I have help. I pray that he died without know- he is out of prison is a good develop- known for about 25 years. He was a ing what happened. ment, and a sign that pressure on re- good man, a good father to his two Jim’s death was very tragic and in- pressive governments works. children, a good husband, a good stew- comparably lonely and saddening to his Mr. Speaker, this legislation is sup- ard of the land, and a heck of a horse- family and friends and every one of us ported by a large number of broad- man. who knew him. Yet every one of the based groups in the Nation. It is sup- It was my honor to have known Jim people who knew Jim had a tremen- ported by the National Association of Anderson, to be his friend, and it is my dous respect for the man that he was, Evangelicals, by the U.S. Catholic honor to tell you a little bit about Jim the life that he led and the way he Bishops Conference, by the Family Re- Anderson today. Jim Anderson was a died. search Council, by the Anti-Defama- rancher. It wasn’t only what he did as You see, Jim died doing what he tion League, by the Southern Baptist a rancher, but it was who he was. loved. He loved his family but he also Convention Ethics and Religious Lib- He was killed in a tragic accident on loved his work, and he loved the land erty Commission, by the International his ranch on the border of Malheur that he worked. He always knew that if Campaign for Tibet, by the National County in Oregon and Owyhee County we are good to the land, the land will Jewish Coalition, by the Christian Coa- in Idaho, in the southwestern edge of be good back to us. Many people do not lition, by the Religious Action my congressional district in Idaho. understand this today, when we do not for Reformed Judaism, by Empower Jim’s grazing allotment was far, far live on the land and when we try to America, by Prison Fellowship Min- out in the Owyhee Desert, in a wide- live our lives as comfortably as pos- istries, by the Union of Orthodox Con- open, sweeping land of grasses, of sage- sible and eliminate every danger, in- gregations of America, by Concerned brush, a few hardy juniper trees, a convenience and hardship; but incon- Women of America, by Campus Crusade whole lot of rattlesnakes, but a land venience and hardship and danger was for Christ, by the Seventh Day Advent- that cut deeply into the Owyhee River Jim’s way of life. ist Church, by the Christian Legal So- Canyon. It is a rugged, beautiful, bru- That morning, like every morning, ciety, by the Catholic Alliance, by the tal country far, far from the nearest Jim had gotten up before the sun and Ethics and Public Policy Center, by the cities. he went outside into the cold morning National Religious Broadcasters, by The grassland, the hills, valleys, and saddled up his horse, called his dog B’nai B’rith, by the American Family creeks, are heartbreakingly beautiful. and loaded his animals into the truck Association, by the Salvation Army. The Owyhee River Canyon is one of the for a long, bumpy rough drive out into So we can see this has broad-based sup- most magnificent wonders of my dis- his grazing allotment. Jim unloaded port. trict and of this Nation. It carves his horse at dawn and began a wide On Thursday the House will take up through this beautiful high desert for sweep of his range alone, through some the bill, and this bill will set up a sys- hundreds of miles, cutting a deep, of the most beautiful, most brutal and tem to monitor religious persecution straight-walled gorge into the desert. unforgiving country on God’s earth. around the world; and when egregious The Owyhee can appear benign to the Physically the work is very hard, de- acts are found, limited sanctions will casual observer, but it can suddenly manding, tiring and rough, but that be imposed unless waived by the Presi- change from a meandering stream to a was the life that Jim Anderson wanted dent. Again, under this legislation, the raging torrent, and from a foot deep to and he accepted this hard work with it President has total, complete ability to a bottomless pit. and did not complain. He was college waive everything and anything in the b educated and had a high intelligence. bill. 1415 Jim could have been anything he In closing, Mr. Speaker, when this Jim loved this country with his wanted to be, a teacher, a physician, a bill becomes law, America will reaffirm whole heart. It was in his blood. It was stockbroker, a lawyer. He certainly again, as it has so many times in the where he was born and raised, and could have been a Congressman. But he past, for all the world that we still where he had lived his entire life. It chose the way of life of a rancher. honor those ringing words in the Dec- was where he wanted to raise his two Jim never stopped learning nor did laration of Independence, authored by sons, Patrick and Jeff. he stop teaching others around him. He Thomas Jefferson, where he said, We Jim was riding the Owyhee River read the Wall Street Journal every sin- hold these truths to be self-evident, alone 3 weeks ago, gathering his cattle gle day, and other magazines such as that all men and women are created and pushing them onto spring range National Review and Forbes magazine