CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E480 HON
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E480 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks March 18, 1999 That is why we must respond forcefully tween our economy and our salmon, which is His ear for music that is outside the main- when foreign firms are dumping their products precisely what those advocating the removal stream, and his willingness to dedicate himself in the United States at prices under the fair of dams are asking us to do. Instead, I believe to it and the musicians who perform it, has en- market value. That is why we must respond we can have both a strong economy and abled him to be successful for over 36 years. forcefully when huge import surges threaten healthy fish runs. With his son at his side, Steve will undoubt- American jobs. This bipartisan measure dem- This Congress must make it clear that de- edly continue to help all types of great music onstrates to the rest of the world that there is stroying the dams on the Columbia and Snake find an audience. a right way and a wrong way to pursue Rivers is not a ``silver bullet'' solution to restor- Ladies and gentlemen please join me in globalization. ing salmon runs. Losing the flood control, irri- honoring Steve Popovich. The plight of Birmingham Steel, which oper- gation, clean power generation, and transpor- THE POLKA PUNK ROCKER ates a mini-mill in the Ninth District of Ten- tation benefits of these dams would be a By Laura Demarco nessee, is an example of how the current cri- grave mistake, and one not easily corrected. Steve Popovich made Meat Loaf a main sis is affecting working families in our country. Instead, the federal government and the peo- course and helped tell the world ``Cleveland In Memphis, Birmingham Steel employees ple of the Pacific Northwest must work to- Rocks.'' Now, he's looking to strike gold manufacture steel that is eventually fashioned gether to address the entire range of factors again with the ethnic music of his rootsÐ into wire rods. Since 1993, wire rod imports impacting fish populations: habitat, harvest polkaÐand the DIY spirit of his son's pas- from non-NAFTA nations have increased 60 levels, hatcheries, dams, predators, and nat- sionÐpunk rock. The walls of Steve Popovich's office don't percent, and in the past 18 months these im- ural climate and ocean conditions. Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the people have to talk to tell his story. Mixed in ports have increased by 16 percent. Surely, among the rows of gold and platinum records we need to rectify this situation. of the Northwest will save our salmon. But we hang ``I love kieska'' and ``polka naked'' We also need to be wary of the macro- must do so in a realistic and comprehensive bumper stickers. A ``Cleveland Rocks'' stick- economic effects of the surge in imports. A re- way, and not by grasping for easy answers. I er decorates the window. His son's high cent Business Week article noted that the encourage all my colleagues to who believe school class photo hangs near a backstage merchandise trade deficit widened by 25 per- that we can balance human needs with the snapshot of Bruce Springsteen and Billy cent in 1998, to a record $248 billion. Most of needs of endangered and threatened species Joel. A huge, psychedelic poster of Meat to support this resolution. Loaf is framed near a smiling reproduction this can be attributed to surging imports, such of Frankie Yankovic. f as the steel surges from Brazil, Russia, and It's a scene as colorful and complex as the Japan. Economists agree that while the U.S. IN HONOR OF STEVE POPOVICH man himself. Each memento stands for a economy continues to prosper and grow, a part of Popovich's life: Music mogul. Proud ballooning current account deficit could prompt ethnic. Even prouder father. Genius Meat a correction in stock prices, a weaker dollar, HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH Loaf marketer. Polka promoter. The man and possibly even a recession. In other words, OF OHIO who helped Ian Hunter tell the world ``Cleve- our unprecedented record of high growthÐ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES land Rocks.'' Thursday, March 18, 1999 He's also the busy head of two new subsidi- while keeping inflation and unemployment aries of his Cleveland International Record lowÐis jeopardized by import surges. Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to label, the ethnic/polka Our Heritage * * * About two decades ago, the U.S. steel in- recognize Steven Popovich, founder of the Pass It On line and the punk/metal offshoot, dustry was widely criticized for lagging com- Cleveland International Record label. Grappler Unlimited. petitiveness, excessively high prices, and low Over the past 36 years Mr. Popovich has Why polka and punk? Like the other music labor productivity. Both management and labor achieved considerable success in the music Popovich has championed through his 36- realized that they had to reinvent the way business by taking chances on artists and year music industry career, they're styles that often get overlooked. Both have a de- steel was produced in the United States. They music at the fringes of the mainstream. For voted core of fans who buy the records, wear did so through reinvestment, streamlining, and example, Popovich signed Meat Loaf to the the fashions and seek out the shows. Neither hard work. The steel industry has since turned Cleveland International label after Meat Loaf gets radio play nor respect in mainstream itself into one of the most admired, productive had been rejected by several record compa- media. Then again, neither did a certain sectors of U.S. business. nies. After signing Meat Loaf, Popovich hefty singer, until Popovich made Meat Loaf Now, as world trading rules are being flaunt- launched what is considered one of the most a household name. ed, it is time for us to come to the aid of this successful marketing campaigns ever. Popovich may look like anything but a music mogul in his jeans, Cleveland Inter- proud industry, an industry that is crucial to Popovich mixed the powerful CBS marketing national T-shirt and Pat Dailey's baseball our national defense and our American herit- department with grassroots efforts to make cap, but he has struck gold more than once age. Our steel workers deserve better. The Meat Loaf a national icon. by betting on the underdog. Today, he's try- world trading system deserves better. For Popovich's success with Meat Loaf provides ing it again. these reasons, I am proud to be a cosponsor just one example of how and why Popovich COAL MINER'S SON of the Bipartisan Steel Recovery Act of 1999. has been successful. Once he believes in Popovich doesn't like to talk about the f someone he puts everything he has into mak- past. He's rather discuss what he's working ing that person successful. This dedication on nowÐexpanding Our Heritage * * * Pass INTRODUCTION OF A SENSE OF has worked for Popovich regardless of the art- It On and promoting Grappler's first band, CONGRESS RESOLUTION RE- ist or type of music he is promoting. Porn Flakes. GARDING THE DAMS ON THE CO- In 1986 Popovich applied this formula to But to understand how Popovich got to LUMBIA AND SNAKE RIVERS this cluttered, homey midtown office, you Polygram Nashville and turned the label into a have to look at where he came from. success. Acts like Johnny Cash, Kris Born in 1942 to a Serbian father and Cro- HON. DOC HASTINGS Kristofferson, the Everly Brothers, and Kathy atian-Slovenian mother in the coal-mining OF WASHINGTON Mattea signed with Popovich and Polygram town of Nemacolin, Penn., Popovich's early IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Nashville. life was a long way from the Manhattan of- Popovich also signed polka legend Frankie fice buildings he would find himself in years Thursday, March 18, 1999 Yankovic, the Polka King, to the label. later. His father was a miner who opened a Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, the people of Yankovic won a Grammy for his 1986 album grocery store in the last two years of his life. the Pacific Northwest are currently engaged in It was from him and another father figure, ``70 Years of Hits'', which Popovich co-pro- Popovich's lifelong friend, Father Branko a debate on the best way to ensure the sur- duced. Yankovic and his polka music were Skaljac, that his love for music began. vival and recovery of endangered and threat- quick hits in Nashville. Popovich has since ``My dad played in a tamburitza band with ened salmon and steelhead. These fish are started Our Heritage, a polka and ethnic music his two brothers and a couple other guys. very important to the people of our region, and subsidiary of Cleveland International. They always played music around the house we are dedicated to ensuring their survival. In the fall of 1998 Popovich, along with his and sang. Fr. Branko came and taught us However, Mr. Speaker, ongoing studies by son, Steve, Jr., Ed Shimborske, and Michael tambura [a stringed Balkan instrument] the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Na- Seday, formed another subsidiary of Cleve- every Thursday.'' Looking back, Popovich sees the impor- tional Marine Fisheries Service into the feasi- land International, Grappler Unlimited. With tance of music for people in a place like bility of removing federal dams to enhance fish Grappler Unlimited, once again, Popovich is Nemacolin. runs have focused the fish recovery debate focusing on music that is perhaps outside the ``I really believe polka was our people's too narrowly.