Congressional Record—House H4023
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June 7, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE H4023 he returned home from the military Mr. Speaker, let me get back to the ness administrator, Ms. Aida Alvarez, and moved to Gary, Indiana, and then focus of my short message tonight. came to open up this shop. I had the to Hammond. Mr. Belanoff went to That is that the Indiana Pacers for the mayor of Los Angeles, Richard Rior- work for Inland Steel, joined the union, first time in history are going to be dan. became involved, and ultimately be- playing in the finals of the NBA. They I even received an award, Mr. Speak- came president of his local. are going to be playing the over- er, on my legislation from pediatric From 1977 to 1981, he served as full- whelming favorite, the Los Angeles asthma from the Asthma Foundation. I time director of District 31 of the Lakers and Shaquille O'Neil, that titan went to Sacramento to talk to the United Steelworkers of America. He of a man who is so tough to defend. Governor and its people about funding developed his labor and community ac- But I want to tell a little story. I had for higher education. tivist interests from his father who an opportunity to talk to Jack Nichol- So I thought it was a good week until owned a grocery store, but who always son, the outstanding movie star, about the moment came where I got the call was involved in civic and community another issue on the phone. He has won that one of our young women again had life. Mr. Belanoff graduated from Roo- several Academy Awards. Mr. Nichol- fallen to gun violence. This young sevelt University with a bachelor's de- son, the first time I called him was at woman, Lori Gonzalez, was the grand- gree and was elected to two terms to a Lakers game and I mentioned it to daughter of our chief of police Bernard the Hammond Indiana City Council. him. He said, ``Yes, I go to all the Parks. Standing up for the common person Lakers games.'' And I said, ``You know, I guess I stand tonight once again to was a trademark of Mr. Belanoff and Mr. Nicholson, it is a shame that the remind this Congress how important it that tradition has been embraced by is to pass meaningful gun safety re- other members of his family as they Los Angeles Lakers are going to be playing the Indiana Pacers, because we form. Because of the recent death of too have become involved in public Lori Gonzalez, 20 years old, had not service. are going to beat their tail.'' And here reached her adult life, and of the many His sister, Mariam, served as a Cook is what he said: ``Not in your life, County judge and as a member of the Dan.'' who have fallen to gun violence, I urge Illinois General Assembly. His nephew, I do not know if that imitation was this Congress to swiftly move to pro- Clem, is a former State representative very good. ``Not in your life, son.'' tect our Nation's children and its com- and 10th Ward Democratic committee- So all I want to say tonight to Mr. munities by approving common sense man. Mr. Belanoff's son, THOMAS, is Nicholson, if he happens to be watching gun safety provisions. President of Local 73 of the Service in California, Mr. Speaker, is, ``You do Just a few weeks ago, I joined with Employees International Union and on not know anything about Hoosier other mothers in my community in Los the State Council of the Service Em- pride, because we are going to win. We Angeles and the thousands and thou- ployees Union in Illinois. are going to win. We are going to kick sands of mothers across this Nation In addition to his son Tom, Mr. the tail of the Los Angeles Lakers.'' Go who marched in Washington and 71 Belanoff leaves to mourn his wife, Pacers. other cities to call on this Congress to Betty, two sons, James Junior and Jo- f finally enact common sense gun legis- seph, a daughter, Katherine Robinson, lation. four brothers, John, Clem, Theodore, ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER On Mother's Day, we paused to re- and William, and seven grandchildren. PRO TEMPORE member the thousands of children who Mr. Speaker, Mr. Belanoff and the The SPEAKER pro tempore. The have been killed by gunfire and to pray Belanoff family represent the very best Chair must remind Members not to ad- that our message would finally move of what America can be: Common folks dress the television viewing audience. Congress to address this very critical doing uncommon things, always rep- f issue before another day passes and an- resenting themselves and their neigh- other one of our Nation's children bors and their friends. So I am pleased COMMON SENSE GUN LEGISLA- would be lost to gunfire. to have had this moment to pay tribute TION AND THE DEATH OF LORI In the weeks since Mother's Day, to not only a giant of a man, but a tre- GONZALEZ, GRANDDAUGHTER OF Congress has continued to sit idle, re- mendously civic-, community-, and po- LOS ANGELES POLICE CHIEF fusing to answer the prayers of, not litically active family. I wish for them BERNARD PARKS just the Nation's mothers, but of the the best as they mourn their father, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a majority of Americans who favor the their uncle, their grandfather, and a previous order of the House, the gentle- passage of common sense gun legisla- friend to all of humanity. woman from California (Ms. tion. Today and every day gun violence f MILLENDER-MCDONALD) is recognized continues to plague our communities INDIANA PACERS HEAD TO THE for 5 minutes. and has taken the lives of innocent vic- NBA FINALS Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Mr. tims like Lori Gonzalez. Speaker, I would like to give a tissue With the ineptitude and stagnation The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. that has infiltrated the halls of Con- previous order of the House, the gen- BURTON) after the last game of the Pac- gress, I would unfortunately be fooling tleman from Indiana (Mr. BURTON) is ers and Lakers, when that happens. myself if I thought the death of one in- recognized for 5 minutes. dividual, Lori Gonzalez, could once Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speak- Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight because I again get this Congress to take up er, for the first time in history of the think we were all excited last week as meaningful gun legislation. NBA, the Indiana Pacers are going to we went to our districts for our Dis- This is the Congress that has done be playing in the finals starting to- trict Work Period for a week. And I nothing in the wake of the horrible night. They are the Eastern Division was excited because first, I received champions and we are just so pleased the President and CEO of Amtrak com- shootings in Columbine High School in in Indiana that that happened. The In- ing in to Los Angeles to show the high- Littleton, Colorado. This is the same diana Pacers. Remember, they played speed rail that we are trying to get to Congress that has ignored every shoot- the New York Knicks. They said it was move people and goods throughout the ing in the past years simply accepting the hicks versus the Knicks. State of California and all across the shootings as a part of daily life in Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gen- Nation. America. Lori Gonzalez, as I said, the daughter tleman yield? b 2030 Mr. BURTON of Indiana. I yield to of Los Angeles Chief Bernard Parks the gentleman from Wisconsin. All of California was quite excited was gunned down over the Memorial Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, is that the about that. weekend outside of the fast food res- team where the best player is still the I also had the privilege of opening up taurant in Los Angeles. This could be guy on the bench doing the coaching? a one-stop capital shop for small busi- any child because our kids do like to go Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Larry Bird nesses to grow, to expand, and to have to fast food restaurants, Mr. Speaker, was a great player, but he is also a job creation through the Small Busi- even my grandchildren and even my great coach. ness Administration. The small busi- adult children. VerDate 01-JUN-2000 06:26 Jun 08, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K07JN7.195 pfrm02 PsN: H07PT1 H4024 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE June 7, 2000 Ms. Gonzalez was a Saddleback Col- allowing that step up in basis is quite of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age lege English student, was killed one significant, even when compared to the Discrimination in Employment Act of week shy of her 21st birthday. Her total revenue generated by the estate 1967, the Americans With Disabilities friends and family have spoken about tax. Act of 1990, the Vocational Rehabilita- Ms. Gonzalez's high spirit and bound- I would point out that, if we want to tion Act of 1973, and the Civil Rights less energy. They spoke of a young abolish double taxation, let us start by Act of 1991. woman who, with huge ambitions, providing a credit for every working Essentially, the bill mandates medi- urged smaller kids to reach for the family equal to the sales tax that they ation as an alternative to litigation of stars and have hope in her small acts of have to pay, so that somebody who is employee claim under these statutes.