E1782 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 28, 1996 104th Congress. In fact, my colleagues on the veterans from taking advantage of JTPA serv- this time in international fora as the Former other side of the aisle have talked endlessly ices. Additionally, we are in the midst of a Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia [FYROM], about our national responsibility to support major redesign of our national labor exchange has defied the odds and emerged as a viable and assist veterans in their efforts to obtain and job training programs. My bill would en- state. FYROM has a democratically elected employment and training. However, to quote sure that our country's long-standing commit- government, and with international assistance the Bard, their rhetoric is largely ``much ado ment to providing priority services to veterans seems to have avoided much of the turmoil about nothing,'' and their legislative commit- seeking employment and training assistance that has afflicted the rest of the former Yugo- ment to veterans in no way matches the pas- would be protected and strengthened. H.R. slavia. sion of their words. 3938 would also establish, for the first time, an The United States can justifiably take some For over 50 years the House of Representa- effective appeals process for veterans who be- pride in Macedonia's success. For the past 3 tives deemed veterans' issues as near sa- lieve their rights have been violated under cer- years, American troops have served in the credÐand far too important for partisan bick- tain veterans' employment-related programs. international peacekeeping force that monitors ering and cynicism. Expecting that this biparti- Finally, I introduced H.R. 4080, the Veter- the border with Serbia. Together with Danish san tradition would continue, I introduced ans' Entrepreneurship Promotion Act of 1996. and Swedish troops, these forces have served three bills to protect, strengthen, and expand The purpose of this measure is to promote as an important deterrent to ensure that the employment opportunities for our Nation's vet- and assist the creation, development, and Bosnian conflict did not migrate into the south- erans. Unfortunately, the Republican chairman growth of small businesses owned by disabled ern Balkans. American diplomats helped re- of the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Edu- veterans and other eligible veterans. Under solve, or at least dramatically reduce, the cation, Training, Employment, and Housing, this bill, a Governmentwide procurement pro- longstanding differences the Government of which has jurisdiction over these measures, gram would be established to assist eligible Greece has had with the Skopje government. chose not to act on any of this legislation. veteran-owned small businesses to receive American foreign aid and technical assistance, H.R. 3538, the Veterans' Job Protection Act, Federal Government contracts. For the first including assistance provided by the University H.R. 3938, the Veterans' Training and Em- time, certain veteran-owned small businesses of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business Ad- ployment Bill of Rights Act of 1996, and H.R. would have a real opportunity to become sup- ministration, has provided an important cata- 4080, the Veterans' Entrepreneurship Pro- pliers of needed goods and services through lyst to develop entrepreneurs in Macedonia. motion Act of 1996, are all significant bills that access to contract award opportunities in the Many obstacles remain. Greeks and Mac- would make significant differences in the lives multi-billion dollar Federal market. Additionally, edonians continue to have a number of dif- of thousands of veterans. These bills are seri- because the availability of adequate capital for ferences, including the final name of the coun- ous businessÐthey are not ``much ado about business startup and expansion can be an ob- try. Ethnic Albanians has serious concerns nothing''Ðand I hope that in the 105th Con- stacle to the development and growth of vet- that their special needs are not always ade- gress they will not fall victim to the hypocrisy eran-owned small businesses, my bill would quately considered. And, there always is the surrounding veterans' matters we have experi- establish a guaranteed loan program for these grave risk that a crisis in Kosovo would spill enced this year. concerns in the Small Business Administration over into Macedonia. It is important that our veterans fully under- [SBA]. H.R. 4080 would also provide eligible These potential problems notwithstanding, stand and appreciate what they have lost as veteran small business owners with entre- Macedonia rightfully deserves praise. As Cord a result of the destruction of the historical bi- preneurial training, counseling, and manage- Meyer noted in a recent editorial, ``For the first partisan support for veterans. Accordingly, I ment assistance. I believe our Government time in many years, it is possible to look with will briefly describe the bills which the Repub- has a responsibility to help the veterans of this some optimism at the future of the southern lican leadership chose not to support. First, I country because of the sacrifices they have Balkans.'' This Member would ask that Mr. introduced H.R. 3538, the Veterans' Job Pro- made in the service of their country. I also be- Meyer's editorial entitled ``Achieving Stability tection Act. This measure responded to a re- lieve that the men and women who have Macedonia's Way'' from the September 26, cent Supreme Court ruling which inadvertently served in our Armed Forces are a valuable 1996, edition of the Washington Times be in- eliminated job protections for veterans and national resource whose skills and abilities cluded in the RECORD. members of the Selected Reserve whose civil- must be absorbed by, and integrated into, the [From the Washington Times, Sept. 26, 1996] ian employment is with a State government. civilian workforce. In order to facilitate this ACHIEVING STABILITY MACEDONIA’S WAY My bill would restore reemployment rights for transfer of talent, however, we must provide these individuals. It would clarify that States (By Cord Meyer) our service members the tools, training, and On September 8, Macedonia celebrated the must abide by the Federal law which requires job protection they need to reenter the non- employers to reestablish veterans in their fifth anniversary of its vote for an Independ- military workplace. Finally, I believe veterans ent and sovereign Macedonia, as opposed to former jobs when they return from military are special and unique members of our Amer- remaining part of the Socialist Federal Re- service. Because H.R. 3538 has not been en- ican family. They have defended us all and public of Yugoslavia. It is the only former acted, members of the Selected Reserve who have protected the freedoms we all value. I member of the Yuguslav Republic that man- were activated for service in Bosnia could hope that in the next Congress we can work aged to declare independence peacefully and have problems when they return home and at- together as Americans, not as Republicans or without bloodshed. Even Slovenia had 10 tempt to reclaim their civilian jobs if they are days of war before it broke free. Democrats, to develop responsible, effective, Having survived an attempt to assassinate State employees. We hope and expect that meaningful policies affecting our Nation's vet- the Selected Reservists now in Bosnia will him last October, the 79-year-old president, erans. Kiro Gligurov, has made an extraordinary re- soon return to the United States. It will be a f covery from his serious wounds, is now back dismal ``welcome home'' if their civilian jobs in full control of the presidency, and presides are not available to them because some in FORMER YUGOSLAVIAN REPUBLIC over a coalition government. Having sur- Congress chose not to protect them. OF MACEDONIA: NATION-BUILD- vived the glancing blow of United Nations Under H.R. 3938, the Veterans' Training ING IN A HOSTILE NEIGHBOR- sanctions aimed at Serbia and a year’s em- and Employment Bill of Rights Act of 1996, HOOD bargo on its trade with Greece, the Macedo- disabled veterans and veterans who have nian economy is beginning to feel results served in combat areas would have the oppor- from the rigorous privatization program that HON. DOUG BEREUTER Mr. Gligorov has insisted upon. tunity, for the first time, for the first time, to OF NEBRASKA Mr. Gligoruv can also claim a large share fully participate in all federally funded training IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of the credit for the timely deployment in programs. Too often, veterans have been un- Friday, September 27, 1996 1993 of the U.N. peacekeeping forces in Mac- derserved by these national programs. For ex- edonia’s Northern border with Serbia. The ample, although veterans accounted for ap- Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, as the 104th assignment of 500 U.S. troops and 600 Nordic proximately 24 percent of all dislocated work- Congress comes to its conclusion, this Mem- forces as an effective tripwire to discourage ers, only 14 percent of those trained under the ber would take a moment to point out a major, aggression remains a classic example of Job Training Partnership Act [JTPA] program unsung success story in American foreign pol- timely preventive diplomacy. It would be a serious mistake to withdraw these forces icy. For 5 years the Former Yugoslav Republic for dislocated workers were veterans. Veter- prematurely, as some of Congress are urging. ans' service organizations have told us that has survived in a fragile and tenuous manner. Another example of effective diplomacy some program managers mistakenly assume Surrounded by adversaries and facing an em- was the agreement reached last September veterans receive similar services from the De- bargo from Greece, the tiny Balkan State of by Macedonia with its southern neighbor, partment of Veterans' Affairs and discourage Macedonia, which is formally recognized at Greece. By agreeing to change its flag and September 28, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1783 modify its constitution, Macedonia with the HONORING SAMMY YUKUAN LEE Grand in their home, he followed Dr. Grand's help of Cyrus Vance as U.N. negotiator, man- professional advice to the letterÐtotal rest and aged to lift the damaging embargo on trade HON. DAVID FUNDERBURK inactivity. For an energetic and ambitious with Greece. The name issue was set aside young man, the treatment was drastic. Fortu- for future negotiation and both countries OF NORTH CAROLINA claim to be enjoying profitable and peaceful IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nately, he completely recovered and was able to return to work in the antique shop. relations. Friday, September 27, 1996 After World War II, Sammy Lee and David Perhaps the most serious and difficult un- Mr. FUNDERBURK. Mr. Speaker, I rise resolved problem. Macedonia now faces is Wang decided to expand the business to today to honor Sammy Yukuan Lee, a world the status of its 23 percent Albanian minor- Nanjing and Shanghai; and, of course, Mr. ity. In addressing that issue, we are fortu- renowned scholar of Chinese antiquities, who Lee was always ready to take on new chal- nate to have available a number of rec- has been a United States citizen since June lenges. However, because of the political tur- ommendations made this week by a working 28, 1984. Even in his youth Sammy Lee was moil in China, Mr. Tenberg, a close friend, group appointed by the Council on Foreign strongly principled and highly disciplined. Gift- strongly advised him to leave China. in 1947, Relations to promote stability in the South- ed with extraordinary foresight, he was able to the Lee's and the Wang's moved from Shang- ern Balkans. They urge as the first priority take advantage of the many opportunities he hai to Hong Kong along with several friends maintaining the U.N. force on Macedonia’s encountered. His accomplishments dem- and a few of their employees. border with Serbia, as proof of U.S. commit- onstrate that hard work and discipline can be Relying upon their own resilience and deter- ment to Macedonia’s territorial integrity a formula for success. and to minimize military expenditures by mination, Sammy Lee and David Wang cap- the Balkan states. A native of Da Lao Wa village in Zhaoyuan italized on their knowledge of Chinese art and county of Shandong province, China, Sammy became partners in a new enterprise, the Second, the working group urges support Lee is the youngest of five sons in a rural of economic recovery in Macedonia, because Sammy Y. Lee and Wang's Company Limited, farming family. Village life offered little chance no effort to reduce ethnic conflict is likely specializing in Chinese antiques and the man- to succeed if economic conditions deterio- of obtaining a higher education and few pros- ufacture of furniture. rate. They recommend international support pects for earning a good livelihood. Armed Foreseeing an opportunity for expansion, for ‘‘construction of an East-West transpor- with a sixth-grade education, Sammy Lee who Sammy Lee ventured to Tokyo, Japan, and tation corridor that would link Bulgaria to was then in his teens, was sent by his father, established the Oriental House Limited, pro- its Adriatic ports via Macedonia.’’ They urge Lee Quande, to Beijing to learn a trade from viding Chinese carpets, furniture, tablecloths, other efforts at economic integration of the Mr. Teng, the owner of Ji Zhen Xiang, an an- and artifacts to American Armed Forces sta- region. tique shop. There, Sammy Lee met a fellow tioned in Japan. Mr. Lee moved his family to Thirdly, the group found two key areas apprentice, David Techun Wang, with whom Tokyo, while Mr. Wang and his family re- where reforms could make a difference: edu- he developed a life-long partnership and close mained in Hong Kong to manage Sammy Y. cation and the political system. They urge friendship. Lee and Wang's Co. the Macedonian government to end its oppo- In China in the 1920's, most of the workers During the mid-1950's, leaving his eldest sition to Tetovo University, where the Alba- were illiterate. Sammy Lee and David Wang, son, King Tsi, in control of his interests in nian language is taught, and the expansion fortunate enough to have a basic education, of Albanian language instruction at Skopje Tokyo, Sammy Lee eagerly explored new University. They call on the United States looked beyond their immediate environment. markets in Germany and America. Having a ‘‘to accompany efforts to facilitate the satis- In Beijing, they saw the need for communicat- loving wife to take care of their home and four faction of Albanian cultural needs with ef- ing with the many foreign residents to expand younger sons in Tokyo, Sammy Lee was free forts to support Macedonian cultural devel- their business. Therefore, besides their daily to travel throughout the world expanding his opment.’’ work activities, they also taught themselves business contacts and searching for art ob- Finally, the working group heard several English, German, and Japanese from what- jects. In 1957, he organized an exhibition and conflicting arguments about the ethnic com- ever books or methods they could obtain. sale in Lempetz Gallery in Koln. In 1964, Mr. position of public sector employment with In the early 1930's, through his skill and Lee held his first lacquer collection exhibition the Albanian minority claiming discrimina- knowledge in Chinese antiques, Sammy Lee at the Royal Scottish Museum. tion. In the long run, the conclusion was met Dr. Hans Bidder, the First Secretary of the By this time, the Japanese economy was that economic progress in Macedonia will de- German Embassy; Dr. Grand, Chief of Staff of well on its way to recovery, enabling many pend on the growth of the private sector. Peking Union Medical College Hospital; and Japanese to rekindle their love of collecting On the issue of electoral reform, they Drs. Ecket and Huwer, who were on the staff Chinese works of art. Oriental House was able found a consensus that reforms should be de- of the German Hospital. They were all very to thrive by meeting the demands of the Japa- signed ‘‘to equalize the population of elec- much interested in Chinese antiques including toral districts and introduce some element of nese for art objects. proportionality in the distribution of seats.’’ carpets, bronzes, ceramics and furniture. De- Sammy Lee devotes his spare time to re- The hope is that the probable increase in di- spite his limited command of foreign lan- searching and writing about Chinese antiq- versification of ethnic Albanian participa- guages, Sammy Lee was able to interact well uities. His knowledge of and experience with tion in parliament would encourage Alba- with his customers. He established an endur- Chinese lacquer, blue and white porcelain, nian participation in coalition politics and ing friendship with each of them built upon and carpets have been incorporated into one legitimate the Macedonian political order in mutual trust. His relationships with Europeans catalog, four books, and three articles and the Albanian community. The group sug- and Americans exposed him to Western cul- monographs, some of which are listed below. gested permitting the use of minority lan- ture and opened his mind to new opportuni- Sammy Lee has always emphasized the im- guages in the conduct of local business in state offices. ties. portance of education because he felt the in- Sammy Lee's quest for knowledge and his adequacy of his own formal training. A forward Finally, Macedonia’s political stability is desire to satisfy his customers prompted him thinker, he insisted that his children attend to some extent at the mercy of events in to travel throughout China in search of Kosovo on its northern border. The 90 per- American schools. In the late 1980's, to honor cent Albanian majority in Kosov has been sources of antique carpets. In those days, any their father, his five sons established and en- kept under a brutal suppression by the 10 place outside of Beijing proper was beyond dowed the Sammy Yukuan Lee Foundation for percent Serbian minority, and the danger of the reach of most Chinese merchants, who the purposes of promoting the study of Chi- a violent revolt has been real. However, on maintained a traditionally centric view of nese culture and providing financial assistance Sept. 3 Slobodan Milosevic, the president of China. Sammy Lee endured considerable to qualified students of Chinese descent. Serbia, seems to have reached a deal with hardship during these days, but found his trav- Sammy Lee lives in southern California with Ibrahim Rugova, the longtime leader of eth- els into adjacent provinces to be rewarding. his youngest son, King Yang (John), near his nic Albanians in Kosovo, to end the six-year The most difficult time for Mr. Lee was prob- second son King Hao (Howard), and third son Albanian boycott of state schools. Motivat- ing Mr. Milosevic may have been the Amer- ably the years between 1935 and 1938, when King Sum (Sam). One of Sammy Yukuan ican warning to him that he could not expect he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, a preva- Lee's sons, Dr. Sam K. Lee, taught Inter- to join the International Monetary Fund lent disease at that time. Before the develop- national Relations and Government at Camp- until he improved his treatment of the Alba- ment of the miracle drug for this infectious dis- bell University in North Carolina's Second Dis- nian population. ease, most of its victims had little hope of re- trict, and today works in my office as a foreign For the first time in may years, it is pos- covery. Sammy Lee, true to his character, was policy adviser. sible to look with some optimism at the fu- determined to overcome this dreadful obsta- At least twice a year, he travels to Tokyo to ture of the Southern Balkans. cle. Under the personal care of Dr. and Mrs. see his oldest son, King Tsi, and to Hong