9540 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 152, Pt. 7 May 24, 2006 2006. Over and over again, the Vietnam Vet- grandchildren, two sisters, and is the uncle of Hawaii, I used to get the Giants games on erans Memorial Fund, under the leadership of our colleague, Congressman Bill Shuster. In- the radio. Or maybe it’s because in my first Jan Scruggs, has complied with all the dead- ternment will be at the Shuster Family Ceme- year of seminary in the Bay Area, I watched pitch and the two Willies, lines and requests of the NCPC and other tery near Everett, PA. Mays and McCovey, homer—my first live governing organizations throughout the ap- f Major League game! So I will admit to a bias proval process. Yet, for some reason ground in my following rumination. has yet to be broken on the construction of WELL WISHES TO IN HIS BID FOR THE HOME I have watched with some dismay as slug- the site. ger Barry Bonds has been vilified in the While the approval of the site awaits action RECORD media and by fans as he nears the from the NCPC, a series of actions have been milestone of 714 home runs, the record the taken on the proposal’s behalf. In December HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL immortal Babe Ruth held until eclipsed it. Most of the discussion has cen- 2005 the Resources Committee and National OF NEW YORK Parks Subcommittee began an inquiry of the tered on the purported use of steroids by IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Bonds. Although there has not been any sub- actions of the National Capitol Planning Com- Wednesday, May 24, 2006 stantiation of steroid use in the legal arena, mission due to delays engineered on an effort Bonds has been tried and convicted in the approved by Congress in 2003. In February Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in media. Television commentary will show pic- Congressman POMBO, chairman of the Re- recognition of one of baseball’s most success- tures of Bonds as a younger player and then sources Committee, requested that all internal ful stars, Barry L. Bonds. An all-star outfielder pictures of him in his present manifestation, documents from the NCPC, including emails for the , Bonds has had and then conclude: now who can say he and attorney client materials for review. After a stellar career. Since entering the major hasn’t used steroids? Huh? What would hap- a careful review of the facts, Congressman league in 1986, Bonds has created quite a pen if we put pictures of all of us in our twenties and then put them side-by-side with POMBO informed the NCPC Chairman on name for himself. As a young man growing up in California our pictures in our forties and jump to the March 2, 2006 that the NCPC appeared to be same conclusion? intentionally ignoring the will of the Congress during the 60s, Bonds discovered his talent for sports. Not only did Bonds play baseball, but I believe Minnesota Twins outfielder Tori with unnecessary internal delays. In response, Hunter hit on a reality when he observed: Congressmen POMBO and RAHALL, introduced he played football as well. With a former all- ‘‘They can say what they want, but there’s H.R. 4882 to end the delays on this important star player as a father, Bobby Bonds, Barry no way they would launch an investigation if project. I cosponsored the bill, which came out was destined for athletic greatness. Barry Bonds was not about to break Babe of committee with great support and was Considered as one of the greatest baseball Ruth’s record. It is so obvious what’s going brought to the House floor. On March 28, players of all time, Bonds has both created on. He has never failed a drug test and said records and broken them alike. Bonds has he never took steroids, but everybody keeps 2006 the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. trying to disgrace him. How come nobody 4882. A companion bill, S. 2419 was later in- won 8 Gold Glove Awards for his defensive might in left field, and he is a 13 time All-Star. even talks about Mark McGwire anymore? troduced in the Senate by Senators KERRY, Or (Rafael) Palmeiro (who tested positive for STEVENS and HAGEL, and is currently awaiting He is the only player in baseball history to steroids in 2005?) Whenever I go home I hear legislative action. have hit at least 500 home runs and stolen at people say all of the time, ‘Baseball just I urge the NCPC to proceed expeditiously in least 500 bases, no other player has reached doesn’t like black people. Here’s the greatest accordance with the express wishes of Con- even 400–400. This is all a mark of Bonds’ hitter in the game, and they’re scrutinizing gress so that America’s youth will soon have true athletic dominance, him like crazy.’ It’s killing me because it’s about race.’’ the opportunity to learn about citizenship and He is now only trailing the great Hank Aar- on’s 755 home run record, while currently tied It may not be all about race, but race cer- duty to our country at the Vietnam Veterans tainly is a rain cloud over the whole issue. Memorial Visitors’ Center. with Babe Ruth’s 714. Even though Bonds’ record has been questioned due to alleged Race has been a specter over sports for as f long as I have been alive, and much longer. steroid use, it seems to not have affected Remember Jesse Owens in Germany? Jack TRIBUTE TO DR. FRANK LYON such a trailblazer. Johnson? Jackie Robinson? Even Hank ROMMEL I want to wish Barry Bonds all the best in Aaron received death threats as he ap- his pursuit of the home run record, for it is proached the beloved Babe’s record. HON. MICHAEL F. DOYLE only in arms reach. He needs to know that he Those who would claim that sports is a OF PENNSYLVANIA should keep pushing on and playing the game level playing field, that anyone with talent that he loves so much and the game we love can make it in sports, need to take their IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES to watch him play. heads out of the sand. Race matters, as Wednesday, May 24, 2006 We must be careful to not let the racial prej- Cornel West simply put it. Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to udice and bias of others take away from the Globally speaking, sports serves as a mi- phenomenal achievements of such a remark- crocosm of American society. The insidious honor the memory of a Western Pennsylvania reach of racism is always near the surface of native and pioneer in the field of Physical able athlete. Bonds has achieved all his ac- the dynamics of human interaction, if it is Medicine, Dr. Frank Lyon Rommel, who complishments because of his work ethic and not overtly present. Whether it is in the New passed away on I April 28, 2006, at the Mora- extraordinary performance. Please let us ac- Orleans debacle, or the immigration debate, vian Manor in Lititz, PA. knowledge the good that Bonds has done and economic globalization, or whatever, you Dr. Rommel, a Board Certified specialist in to not let the bad overshadow the good. None don’t have to look far to find race lurking. Physical Medicine was the founder of the of us are saints in this world, but we do our We will never make progress toward a more Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Department best to put the best foot forward. just society until we own up to that, and move forward. at the McKeesport Hospital, and is credited Please allow me to enter into the RECORD this song of praise for one of the best athletes So my defense of Barry is more than just with rehabilitating hundreds of injured veterans about being a Giants fan, much more. It’s at the V.A. Harmarville Rehabilitation Center in this generation has ever seen. Bonds has for- about needing to name the sin. When we do suburban Pittsburgh as well as countless pa- ever solidified his name and place in the his- that, we can start to do better. And we do tients in hospitals throughout Western Penn- tory books and he belongs there. He belongs need to do better as a society, much better. sylvania between 1961 and 1988. there for not only his love of the game, but for The United Church of Christ has more than He was born in Glassport, PA on May 5, the fact that his commitment is unmatched by 5,700 churches throughout the United States 1925, was a graduate of Glassport High so many. and Puerto Rico, Rooted in the Christian School, St. Vincent College and the Stritch [From the Witness for Justice No. 268, May traditions of congregational governance and School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chi- 15, 2006] covenantal relationships, each UCC setting speaks only for itself and not on behalf of RACE MATTERS cago. He served overseas during World ’War every UCC congregation. UCC members and II as a cryptographer in the Army Air Corps. (By Wallace Ryan Kuroiwa) churches are free to differ on important so- Dr. Rommel was married for 51 years to Okay, I’ll admit it: I am a San Francisco cial issues, even as the UCC remains prin- Barbara Bonde Rommel who survives him Giants baseball fan. Always have been, al- cipally committed to unity in the midst of along with five children, their spouses, 10 ways will be. Maybe it’s because living in our diversity.

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