CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1643 HONORING MIKE CHESNICK options for my constituents and as such has I am honored to be asked to participate in been an asset to Northeast Indiana. Between this program. Supreme President Kove has HON. SCOTT McINNIS 1985 and 1995, the number of branches in- worked hard all her life for the benefit of oth- OF COLORADO creased from one to eight with the umber of ers. As a small business owner, volunteer at IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES membership soared from 15,000 to 65,000 the John Dingel VA Medical Center in Detroit plus. and nursing home visitor, she has always Monday, October 2, 2000 Along the way, Mr. Mills worked to promote been there to service the needs of others. Her Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with im- the growth of the community as well as the rise through the ranks of both the Ladies Aux- mense sadness that I take this moment to Credit Union. In 1995, Three Rivers FCU was iliary of the VFW and the MOCA shows her honor the remarkable life of Mike Chesnick. able to secure Indiana's first Community De- remarkable sense of dedication and the great For two decades, Mike served the community velopment Credit Union Expansion Charter to amount of respect others have for her. of Grand Junction, Colorado with valor and open the filed of membership and provide fi- Please join me in congratulating Colette distinction, retiring as Chief of Police in 1974. nancial services to less served parts of the Kove on her election as Supreme President of He was a role model for his community and community. This innovation was the result of the Women's Auxiliary to the Military Order of an example of what a police officer can and his near two-years of work with local city offi- the Cootie. should strive to be. As family, friends, and fel- cials, the economic development offices of f low officers remember this great American, I Fort Wayne, and the National Credit Union Administration. Most recently, Mr. Mills facili- THOMASENA AND EUGENE would like to take this time to honor this truly GRIGSBY ART GALLERY remarkable human being. tate an initiative in the areas of inner city fi- Chief Chesnick began his distinguished ca- nancial literacy training for an under-served reer of service to America when he joined the group that also happens to be a new part of HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY 10th Mountain Division in 1946, where he the FCU's field of membership. I strongly com- OF MISSOURI served in Italy and Austria during WWII. After mend him for his efforts to empower those IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES returning a proud veteran and serving his who are less economically advantaged Monday, October 2, 2000 county well, he began his illustrious career in through knowledge and the hroadening of fi- Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I wish to take this law enforcement. In 1954 he joined the Grand nancial services. opportunity to express my sincerest congratu- Junction Police Department as a patrolman. In the role of Chairman of NAFCU, Mr. Mills lations to Dr. and Mrs. J. Eugene Grigsby on His remarkable intellect and outstanding lead- will be lending the trade association that rep- the occasion of the dedication of the ership abilities rapidly shot him up the ranks of resent federal credit unions. I look forward to Thomasena and Eugene Grigsby Art Gallery the department. In 1961, he was promoted to working with him and America's credit unions in Phoenix, Arizona. Sergeant and in 1966 he began his role as as we work to benefit families and commu- This is an honor which Thomasena and Eu- Chief. nities, and congratulate him on this national gene richly deserve for they have been life- Chief Chesnick's leadership was well re- recognition. long supporters and contributors to the field of spected and inspired other officers under his f art. Together they have made innumerable leadership to serve with dedication, dignity IN HONOR OF COLETTE KOVE contributions to the arts community. I am and integrity. Beyond his widely regarded ef- NEWLY ELECTED SUPREME pleased that under the sponsorship of the forts as a police officer, Mike also worked with PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN’S George Washington Carver Museum Dr. a number of other community based organiza- AUXILIARY TO THE MILITARY Grigsby's first art studio in Phoenix, Arizona tions, including the local Elk's Lodge where he ORDER OF THE COOTIE has been dedicated in their honor. The was a lifetime member. Grigsby Art Gallery will serve as a permanent Chief Chesnick served his community, HON. DAVID E. BONIOR facility for the exhibit of creative works, by State, and Nation admirably and he his serv- present and future artists. OF MICHIGAN Among their many projects, the Grigsbys ice at home and abroad was an inspiration to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES us all. Mr. Speaker, as a former police officer, helped to establish the Hewitt collection of Af- Monday, October 2, 2000 I ask that we take this time to honor an indi- rican American art. I recently had the oppor- vidual that has set the standard for excellence Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to tunity to view this collection on exhibit in St. as a member of the law enforcement commu- recognize the accomplishments of one of my Louis. It is a marvelous collection which I high- nity. On behalf of the State of Colorado and district's favorite daughters. Colette Kove is a ly recommend and which I was happy to find the US Congress, I would like to thank Chief graduate of Utica High School, wife of William includes some of Gene Grigsby's own works Chesnick for his immeasurable service to his Kove, mother of five, grandmother of thirteen, of art. community. His leadership and compassion and great-grandmother of six. On Saturday, I commend Dr. and Mrs. Grigsby for their went far beyond the line of duty and his mem- September 30th, her friends and family gath- many years of devotion to artistic endeavors. ory will long live in the hearts of all that knew ered to honor her dedication to our veteransÐ Their contributions will benefit and inspire fu- him. especially her leadership in the Women's Aux- ture generations of artists. My heartfelt best Mike Chesnick will be greatly missed. iliary of the VFW and the Military Order of the wishes to Gene and Tommy on this momen- tous occasion. f Cootie (MOCA). Colette first joined the Ladies Auxiliary of f RECOGNITION OF JAMES G. MILLS, the VFW in 1960, but left to spend the next 18 HONORING CONGRESSMAN MIKE NEWLY ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF years traveling with her children in the Drum McKEVITT THE BOARD FOR THE NATIONAL and Bugle Corps. She returned in 1980 to the ASSOCIATION OF FEDERAL Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post #1146 in St. Clair CREDIT UNIONS Shores. She took the group by storm serving HON. SCOTT McINNIS as Auxiliary President, County Council Presi- OF COLORADO IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. MARK E. SOUDER dent, 5th District President, and has served as Monday, October 2, 2000 OF INDIANA Secretary of the Auxiliary for the past 18 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES years. Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great In 1981, she joined the Womens' Auxiliary sadness that I rise to honor the life of the Monday, October 2, 2000 to the Military Order of the Cootie #35. Since Honorable James D. ``Mike'' McKevitt. Con- Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, today I would then, she has held the position of President gressman McKevitt recently passed away after like to reorganize James G. Mills of Fort ten times and has served in all offices in the a sudden heart attack at the age of 71. His Wayne, Indiana in my district for his recent Grand of Michigan (state) MOCA. In 1995, at devotion to helping others was remarkable election as chairman of the board for the Na- the MCOA National Convention in Arizona, and he will be greatly missed. As family, tional Association of Federal Credit Unions. Colette was elected Supreme Guard, and has friends, and colleagues mourn the loss of this Mr. Mills was elected on June 17, 2000 and served all offices leading to President. Just remarkable statesman, I would like to pay officially took over in late July. this past August, she was elected to that high- honor to his service to this great nation. In 1985, Mr. Mills joined Three Rivers Fed- est position and today serves as the Supreme Congressman McKevitt spent his youth in eral Credit Union as president and chief exec- President of the MOCA for the entire United Spokane, Washington, before deciding to at- utive officer. Three Rivers provides important States. tend the University of Idaho. When it came E1644 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 2, 2000 time for young Americans to serve their nation travel, lower fares, and better service. But to compete for business and tourism over- in battle, Congressman McKevitt did just that, these changes won't come overnight. The seas. These communities will benefit from the serving admirably and with distinction in the problem caused by underinvestment have new passenger demand that will be stimulated Korean War with the United States Air Force. been festering for decades and will take years by the combined network. For example, United After graduating from the University of Denver to fix. In fact, air service may get worse before has projected that demand for service to Pitts- with a Law Degree, Congressman McKevitt it gets better. burgh will increase by 33 percent from Allen- began his distinguished political career as It is against this background of an overbur- town, 10 percent from Harrisburg, 16 percent Denver District Attorney in 1967. He went on dened aviation system that the proposed from Albany, and 10 percent from Syracuse. to win reelection the following year and served merger of United and US Airways would ap- This increased yield will make short haul two more years before running for Congress. pear to some as further hurting consumers. routes to smaller communities more profitable In 1970 he was elected to represent the 1st However, the opposite is true. It is the status and easier to continue. Congressional District of Colorado in the quo that will hurt consumers. And the merger Third, with the merger, a new low-cost car- United States House of Representatives. Al- will help them, not hurt them. Let me explain rier will be established, based in the Wash- though Congressman McKevitt only served why. ington, DC, area. This carrier will receive slots one term in Congress, his career in public In June, the U.S. House of Representatives at Ronald Reagan National Airport, and be service was far from over. Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc- able to compete against United and the other In 1973, he became Assistant Attorney Gen- ture, which I chair, held 2 days of hearings on carriers. eral for Legislative Affairs, under President the proposed merger. We heard from the That is why the proposed United/US Air- Nixon. He soon moved on to becoming Coun- chairmen of United, US Airways, and the new ways merger is so important. In the best case, cil to the Energy Policy Office in the White D.C. Air as well as the U.S. Departments of the merger will provide tremendous opportuni- House. After serving his country in these im- Justice and Transportation, plus several oppo- ties for growth and improved service. But even portant capacities, he moved on to the private nents of the merger. These hearings and our if not all of these opportunities materialize, sector where he became head of the Wash- subsequent review have yielded much infor- consumers will still be far better off than they ington Office of the National Federation of mation. otherwise would have been under a re- Independent Business, where he worked for Should this merger not go forward, con- trenched or bankrupt US Airways. over a decade. sumers will almost certainly suffer under the One final point: United's recent labor woes While serving our country in many different status quo. US Airways is headed for financial should not be a factor in evaluating the merg- ways, Congressman McKevitt experienced a trouble in the next few years. It will be unable er. These problemsÐsimilar to problems ex- number of successes. But his greatest accom- to support its current system. There will be no perienced by American and Continental in the plishment is one that he held very dear to his alternative but to downsize. Retrenchment pastÐare not unusual in the aviation industry heart: the Korean War Memorial. Congress- probably won't be enough. Bankruptcy is the and are transitory in nature. man McKevitt is credited with being one of the most likely outcome, with its devastating im- In conclusion, we need to be realistic about driving forces behind getting the legislation pact on consumers and service. the prospects for US Airways. Consumers will passed in order for the memorial to be con- Consider these facts: US Airways' labor cost be better off hitching their wagon to a big and structed. His devotion to this project was so of 14 cents per available seat mile is 40 per- strong United Airlines than a financially endan- evident that it soon caught the attention of cent higher than the 9.0 to 9.5 cent cost for gered US Airways. President Reagan, who acted quickly and ap- other major carriers and almost double the 7.5 f pointed the Congressman to a position on the cent cost of low-cost carriers like Southwest. ALTERNATIVES TO OIL SHOULD Advisory Board. At a time when other airlines have been mak- BE PURSUED Congressman McKevitt served his commu- ing record profits, US Airways has been hem- nity, State and Country admirably. His dedica- orrhaging losses. Prior to the second quarter tion and devotion to serving his fellow citizens of this year, it lost about $370 million over a HON. DOUG BEREUTER was truly remarkable. He was a truly great 9-month period. During the 1990's, US Air- OF NEBRASKA American and his many accomplishments will ways has lost almost $1 billion. All of the other IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES live on in the hearts of all who knew him. mid-sized, mature-cost carriers like US Air- Monday, October 2, 2000 Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the State of Colo- ways have either gone out of business (e.g., Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rado and the US Congress, I ask that we now Eastern, Pan Am) or have gone through mul- commends to his colleagues the following edi- pay tribute to this remarkable human being. tiple bankruptcies (e.g., Continental, TWA). torial from the September 24, 2000, Lincoln He may be gone, but his spirit of service and US Airways has a growing list of unprofit- Journal Star. The editorial expresses concern sacrifice will live on for years to come. able routes and is losing passengers at its about some of the proposals which have been f hubs. During the latest calendar year, only 46 percent of its routes were profitable, down offered to address rising oil costs. As the edi- THE UNITED/US AIRWAYS from 69 percent and 62 percent in the two torial emphasizes, the U.S. should encourage MERGER: A MATTER OF SURVIVAL previous years. And while other airline hubs alternatives to oil such as wind energy and were growing, US Airways' three hubs in Pitts- other renewable sources. Clearly, ethanol pro- HON. BUD SHUSTER burgh, Philadelphia, and Charlotte were vides an attractive alternative which helps the rural economy while helping to meet energy OF PENNSYLVANIA among only seven major airports that lost pas- needs. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sengers in 1999. Should the merger be approved, on the [From the Lincoln Journal Star, Sept. 24, Monday, October 2, 2000 other hand, consumers will likely realize sig- 2000] Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, America's nificant benefits. First, consumers would have OIL PRICES GENERATING BAD IDEAS aviation system has been hurtling toward grid- for the first time single-carrier access to all More than a quarter century has passed lock and potential catastrophes in the skies. corners of the country. Airline service will be since Americans waited in lines to buy high Flight delays, cancellations, high fares, and improved by combining United's primarily east- priced gasoline. complaints about customer service have been west flight network with US Airway's north- There was plenty to time to find new en- all too common. The problem is an aviation south network. United also plans to improve ergy efficiencies and develop diversified en- ergy resources. Now we’re paying the price system that has not expanded to keep up with service by offering 64 new non-stop domestic for letting things slide. demand. flights and 29 non-stop international flights a You’d think the view of the future should Fortunately, help is on the way. Taking ef- day, as well as by creating 560 new city-to-city have been a little better from those high fect in October, the recently enacted Aviation routes. And their frequent flyer programs will seats in gas-guzzling SUV’s. Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Cen- be merged. United is committed to doing all of Gas prices have spiked to their highest tury (AIR 21) will provide over the next 3 years this while continuing to serve all cities cur- level in the past 10 years. A barrel of crude $40 billion primarily from the Aviation Trust rently served and capping fares for the next has tripled in price to almost $40 in the past Fund for new runways, gates, and terminals to two years. American concern might not have two years. reached the emotional levels in Europe, promote expanded competition and meet the Second, smaller cities, particularly those where truckers blocked roads in protest, but demands of the next century; it will also accel- served by US Airways, will benefit from the it won’t take much for panic to spread. erate efforts to modernize our antiquated air greater international access they will receive Before oil price hysteria takes away good traffic control system. The result will be safer through United, improving their opportunities judgment, a few bad ideas need to be spiked.