25730 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS October 18, 1999 THE TRAGIC DEATH OF MATTHEW IN HONOR OF RONALD J. TOBER our region’s riverboat heritage. Nineteen river- SHEPARD boats from across the nation—including sev- HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH eral classic steam-powered vessels—came to OF OHIO Greater Cincinnati to recreate a bygone era. HON. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES And many thousands of visitors came to our region to take a step back in time and to OF CALIFORNIA Monday, October 18, 1999 share in this celebration. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Through its inclusion in the Local Legacies honor Ronald Tober for his many years of project, Tall Stacks will receive additional na- Monday, October 18, 1999 service to the Greater Cleveland Regional tional recognition for its role in commemo- Transit Authority. He plans to celebrate with rating an important chapter in our regional and Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, with great sad- friends and family at a farewell dinner on Oc- ness I rise to recall that 1 year ago, Matthew national history. And, through the National tober 22, 1999. Digital Library Program, people from across Shepard, a college student, was mur- Robert Tober has had a very successful ca- the country and throughout the world will be dered. We should all deplore his tragic death. reer in the public transit industry. Mr. Tober able to share the excitement of Tall Stacks He was a lovely young man and was coura- has served as the General Manager and Sec- through the Library of Congress website geously willing to be open about who he was. retary-Treasurer for the Greater Cleveland Re- (http://www.loc.gov). He suffered because of who he was. This is gional Transit Authority since May, 1988. Prior We have a rich and distinguished history in simply wrong. It is a tragedy when a young to this appointment, Mr. Tober served as Di- Southwest Ohio. From our region’s active in- man has the courage to be open about who rector of Transit for the Municipality of Metro- volvement with the Underground Railroad to he is, and his life is taken for it. politan Seattle for six years. For two years he the Suspension Bridge, Fountain Square and was Deputy Transportation Coordinator for Unfortunately, Mathew is not alone. His our many well-preserved historic areas, we Metropolitan Dade County in Miami. He also have a tremendous heritage of which we can tragic death and violence toward others point served as Assistant Director of Operations and all be proud. The riverboat era is an important out the need for hate crimes legislation. Ac- Chief Operations Planning Officer for the Mas- part of that heritage, as Tall Stacks reminds cording to the National Coalition of Anti-Vio- sachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in us now and into the future. lence programs, in 1998, 33 were Boston. f murdered because they were gay or lesbian. Robert Tober is recognized nationally as In the last year, there were at one of the top transit managers in the country, TRIBUTE TO AMBASSADOR E. least 2,552 reports of anti-gay or lesbian inci- having served over twenty-eight years in the WILLIAM CROTTY dents. The number of serious assaults in public transit industry. Mr. Tober has carried his dedication to transportation into leadership which victims sustained major injuries grew by HON. CARRIE P. MEEK positions for several transit organizations. OF FLORIDA 12 percent. How many more deaths, how While serving as President of the Ohio Public IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES many assaults on the personal integrity of Transit Association, he helped develop better people, need to happen before this Congress transportation for the citizens of the state of Monday, October 18, 1999 will see the need for hate crimes legislation? Ohio. He also has been noted for promoting Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is The statistics and Matthew’s individual per- and hiring women and minorities in the indus- with great honor that I rise to pay tribute to sonal story demonstrate that these incidents try. one of our Nation’s exceptional diplomats, E. are not isolated. Harassment of gays, les- Mr. Tober has been a great asset to the William Crotty, Ambassador to Barbados, Anti- state of Ohio and city of Cleveland. His inno- bians, and bisexuals is not isolated to one ge- gua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. vating ideas and leadership have guided the ographic area nor to any one factor. As our Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the development of the public transit industry. His country knows all to well, hate crimes take Grenadines. This able facilitator of American wife, Terry and four children are so proud of diplomacy passed on Sunday, October 10, many forms and affect many different kinds of him. 1999. He is survived by his loving wife, Valerie victims. We all remember the 1996 horrible I urge my fellow colleagues to please join Kushner, and several outstanding children. of James Byrd, Jr., an African-Amer- me in congratulating Mr. Tober on his many Ambassador Crotty was nominated by ican man in Texas. We all remember earlier accomplishments and commemorate him for President William Clinton on April 28, 1998. this year, when a gunman opened fire at a his dedication to the public transit industry. Prior to this appointment, Ambassador Crotty Jewish Community Center and then singled f was an attorney in Daytona Beach, FL. Am- out an Asian-American and shot him. These HONORING CINCINNATI’S 1999 TALL bassador Crotty served as a senior managing harsh stories are troubling and unfortunately, STACKS CELEBRATION partner of one of the top law firms in the recent shootings are a constant reminder of United States, where he was recognized as a the hate that still exists in our society. leading lawyer in his area of practice, which HON. ROB PORTMAN included corporate and business transactions, The Hate Crimes Prevention Act would pro- OF OHIO banking and finance law, and taxation and real IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES vide law enforcement officials with needed estate law. tools, and would serve as a lasting tribute to Monday, October 18, 1999 Ambassador Crotty served appointments to the lives of Matthew Sheppard, James Byrd, Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to at least 11 different commissions, including Jr., and the others who have been honor Cincinnati’s 1999 Tall Stacks celebra- the Commission for the Preservation of Amer- victimimized by hate crimes. The Hate Crimes tion and the special national recognition it is ica’s Heritage Abroad by President Clinton in Prevention Act would not end all violence receiving from the Library of Congress. This 1996 and the Judicial Foundation Board by against people because they are gay, or Afri- year, the Library of Congress is celebrating its Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell in can-American, or Jewish, or come from an- bicentennial with an exciting new Local Leg- 1989. He was quite active in the Democratic other country. Nonetheless, this legislation acies Project, which will document America’s Party, serving on the National Finance Board would allow the Federal Government to inves- heritage by preserving unique cultural events of the Clinton-Gore Campaign, as a Demo- tigate and punish crimes motivated by hate. and activities across the country. cratic National Party Trustee, and as the From the earliest days of recorded history in Chairman of the Executive Committee of the The murder of Matthew Shepard is the man- Southwest Ohio, our traditions and culture Democratic National Committee Board of Di- ifestation of the enduring bigotry that still pre- have been shaped by the Ohio River. That’s rectors from 1984 to 1988. vails in our society. Our Nation should take why I was delighted to nominate the recent Ambassador Crotty was quite active in civil action and pass this responsible legislation Tall Stacks celebration as our region’s con- affairs, serving as chairman or member of the which would enable Federal law enforcement tribution to this project. board of directors for numerous charitable and officials to fight these crimes and punish the The Tall Stacks event, which took place last educational organizations, including the United perpetrators. week in Cincinnati, was a great celebration of Way of Volusia County, the Embry-Riddle

VerDate May 21 2004 11:10 Jun 14, 2004 Jkt 039102 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR99\E18OC9.000 E18OC9 October 18, 1999 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 25731 Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, the while purposes, the program does entail a siz- 2756 by denying tax-exempt financing for cer- Father Lopez High School Board, and the able commitment on the part of the American tain facilities that compete directly with existing Volusia County Easter Seals. His indefatigable taxpayer. According to private sector facilities in the same community. civic service earned him the title of Out- in 1997, tax-exempt interest income was re- Specifically, it accomplishes this by deeming standing Citizen of the Year and Young Man ported on about 4.9 million individual returns, as nonexempt any ‘‘private activities bond’’ of the Year from the Daytona Beach Chamber and total tax-exempt interest amounted to within the meaning of Section 141 of the Inter- of Commerce. $48.5 billion. nal Revenue Code, any bond issuance, a sig- Born in Claremont, NH, Ambassador Crotty Because there is a sizable commitment nificant amount of which is used to finance the exemplified leadership at an early age. He here, Congress and the Treasury have devel- construction, expansion, or substantial recon- was an exceptional high school student at Bel- oped complex and carefully crafted rules to struction of a facility which would be rented to lows Falls High School in Vermont where he assure that these bonds are used for bona businesses which could otherwise be served was a three-time state champion in tennis and fide pubic purposes and not for private use of by an existing competing private facility. graduated salutatorian of his high school the Federal subsidy in tax-exempt bonds. As a clarification, Mr. Speaker, let me say class. Ambassador Crotty graduated from These rules are intended to protect the tax- again that the bill does not affect bonds issued Dartmouth College, where he again excelled payers’ interest and preserve a level playing for traditional functions of government: roads, in athletics, making captain of his tennis team field for concerned businesses. bridges, schools, etc. To make this perfectly while also playing varsity squash and basket- A couple of instances have come to my at- clear, it specifically exempts from its provi- ball. Ambassador Crotty received his law de- tention in the last few months which suggest sions educational institutions, hospitals, or gree from the University of Michigan and ob- that there may be some misunderstanding of similar facilities which provide educational tained a master of law in taxation from New the very complex rules governing tax-exempt services or medical care to members of the York University Law School. bonds and the intent behind these rules which general public. The people of the United States, as well as have led local authorities to consider use With one minor exception, the bill will not the people of Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, these bonds to enter into direct competition apply to ‘‘qualified bonds’’ that Congress has Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, with the private sector. The instances to which previously exempted from restrictions on ‘‘pri- and St. Vincent and the Grenadines will miss I refer include one in Las Vegas, where a local vate activity’’ bonds. This includes bonds used my friend—a great American and personal authority reportedly wishes to build a large ad- for so-called ‘‘exempt facilities’’ under Section representative of the President of the United dition to its convention center, and another in 142 of the Code, which includes such projects States. San Diego, where a local authority is report- as airports, water treatment plants, dockets f edly looking at building a large hotel. and wharves, local power plants, etc. An ex- In cases like these, the taxpayer-subsidized PRIVATE ENTERPRISE ception is made for certain lodging facilities lo- facility can offer customers prices well below PROTECTION ACT OF 1999 cated in markets which could be served by pri- those that could be offered by a private facility vate owned facilities, and these would gen- financed at higher market rates. This strikes erally be covered by my bill. HON. MARSHALL ‘‘MARK’’ SANFORD me as blatantly unfair, particularly in those Furthermore, the bill include language to as- OF SOUTH CAROLINA cases where a taxpayer-subsidized facility is sure that projects, where physical construction IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES not a new enterprise, but instead siphons off has both already commenced in a material Monday, October 18, 1999 business from already existing private busi- fashion (other than site testing, site prepara- Mr. SANFORD. Mr. Speaker, should tax-ex- ness. Closing this loophole is the principal tion or similar activities) and is substantially empt bonds, subsidized by our constitutents— goal of my bill. underway, are not impacted. In fairness to be used by local authorities to enter into direct Obviously, my concern is with situations those who may be planning transactions which competition with private enterprise, outside the where the government is acting as a business fit within the parameters of this legislation, and traditional functions of government? I don’t be- and attracting customers. This legislation will to assure those local authorities, in an attempt lieve so, and I would imagine most Americans have no effect on bonds used to build, main- to ‘‘beat the clock,’’ do not rush through bond would agree. tain, or repair schools, hospitals, roads, or offerings before this bill is enacted, the bill in- But that, Mr. Speaker, is the question ad- other facilities performing functions which pri- clude a clear effective date for all provisions dressed by the legislation I am introducing vate enterprise cannot or will not perform. with the exception of those addressing lodging today, the Private Enterprise Protection Act of Mr. Speaker, it is bad enough that the gov- facilities, which carry a date of enactment ef- 1999. This legislation will help protect tax- ernment can impose unnecessary and costly fective date. payers from having the U.S. Treasury sub- regulatory burdens on the private sector. But, Mr. Speaker, the legislation will protect busi- sidize local government efforts to engage in when that same government uses tax-exempt nesses from having the Federal Government unfair competition with private businesses. bonds to engage in competition with business, grant local government facilities an unfair ad- As my colleagues are aware, tax-exempt it raises a question of basic fairness. vantage over them in the marketplace. Fur- bonds enable State and local governments to It also blurs the lines of the role of govern- ther, it will protect all taxpayers from having borrow at below market interest rates in order ment. Is it a wise use of taxpayer dollars to their tax dollars used to subsidize local gov- to finance public projects. This is generally a subsidize local government competition with ernment efforts to enter into, or expand its good program allowing State and local govern- business? I would again argue that my con- presence in, non-traditional business functions ments to reduce borrowing costs and enabling stituents would not support this notion or many already being performed by private enterprise. them to build public facilities for fewer tax dol- other taxpayers. f lars. Mr. Speaker, these are serious, national pol- However, while the program has all good in- icy issues which need to be addressed on a RECOGNIZING PARTICIPANTS OF tentions, I would imagine that a vast majority bipartisan basis so that we can protect both ‘‘VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE: A of the American people would agree that tax- private enterprises from subsidized govern- CONGRESSIONAL TEEN CON- exempt bonds should be limited to use for ment competition and the taxpayer interests. FERENCE’’ projects which directly benefit the public good, It should be made clear at this point that the but not to help the government engage in idea that federal tax subsidies and tax exemp- HON. MICHAEL F. DOYLE competition with private enterprise. tions should not be used to create such an un- OF PENNSYLVANIA I was pleased to see my colleague from fair competitive advantage is already in the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Texas, Mr. HALL, introduce H.R. 2756 this current tax code. To prevent unfair competi- Monday, October 18, 1999 summer. His bill also aims to fix the problem tion, for nearly 50 years, there have been laws I raise. In fact, the bill I introduce today is very that have taxed businesses conducted by Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to similar to the Hall bill, but it incorporates sev- charities if the activity of that business is the recognize three wonderful teenagers from my eral changes to reflect comments received on type normally conducted by private taxable en- Congressional District. Miss Ashley Cole, a H.R. 2756. terprises. junior at Woodland Hills High School; Mr. It is important to keep in mind that while tax- Keeping in line with this precedence, the Aniruddha Chatterjee, a senior at Fox Chapel exempt bonds are generally used for worth- legislation I introduce today closely tracks H.R. High School and Mr. Jonathan Hobaugh, a

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