E588 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks April 13, 2000 THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE (RDEA), which is an important step in ensur- for all our children. The Reading Deficit Elimi- ing that every American has the ability to read. nation Act is an important step in that direc- SPEECH OF I am also pleased that Senator PAUL COVER- tion. HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN DELL (R±GA) is introducing an identical bill f OF MASSACHUSETTS today in the Senate. According to statistics from the National As- TRIBUTE TO U.P. LABOR HALL OF IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 74 FAME CHIESTER F. SWANSON Wednesday, April 12, 2000 percent of third graders remain poor readers Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to com- when they reach the ninth grade. Overall, 40 HON. BART STUPAK memorate the 85th anniversary of the Arme- percent of fourth-graders are reading at the OF MICHIGAN nian Genocide. The actual date the anniver- ``below basic'' level. The National Adult Lit- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sary will be observed is April 24, but I rise eracy Survey, as many as 50 million adults Thursday, April 13, 2000 have only minimal reading skills. This situation today while we are in session to pay my sol- Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I pay tribute to is absolutely unacceptable. emn respects to the innocent fallen and add the late Chester F. Swanson, one of that great Yesterday, we passed a resolution in my my words to history's record of one of the breed of dedicated, lifelong union activists who committee to make good on our commitment most terrible tragedies known to mankind. help ensure a good quality of life for the work- to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities On April 24, 1915, a group of Armenian reli- ing men and women of northern Michigan. I Education Act (IDEA). This legislation is con- gious, political, and intellectual leaders were offer these remarks on the occasion of Ches- sistent with our efforts to provide funding for arrested in the city then known as Constanti- ter's election to the Michigan's Upper Penin- special education. It is estimated that as many nople, taken to the interior of Turkey, and mur- sula Labor Hall of Fame. as 2 million students who are placed in special dered. What followed from there was nothing At age 15 in 1921, Chester began working education are there simply because they less than the systematic deprivation of Arme- for a famed gunmaker in my district, Marble haven't been taught to read. nians living under Ottoman rule of their Arms Corp. in Escanaba, Mich. He retired The National Institute for Child Health and homes, property, freedom, and lives. The trag- from the corporation after 50 years of service, Human Development tells us that 90 percent ic toll of its dark period in world history in- but he returned many times after this retire- to 95 percent of these students could learn to cludes the death of 1.5 million Armenian men, ment to help with the set-up of machines used read and be returned to their regular class- women, and children and the deportation of to make gun sights. rooms if they were given instruction based on 500,00 others. Before their tragic deaths, In 1945 a charter was issued by the United the finding of scientific research. countless Armenian women were subject to Auto Workers for Local 126 at Marble Arms. Just this morning, the National Reading unspeakable cruelties, in the form of sexual Proud that the union had come to his shop, Panel released its report on ``Teaching Chil- abuse and slavery. Chester made the drive across northern Michi- dren to Read,'' in both the Senate and the History is not condemned to repeat itself. gan and took the ferry across the Straits of House. The message we heard confirms what We can prevent future tragedies by acknowl- Mackinac to pick up the charter. He never we have known for years: Teaching children to edging, remembering, and commemorating stopped being a union advocate from that mo- read is essential if they are to be successful yesterday's tragedies. Unfortunately, the Turk- ment on, serving as the local's financial sec- in life. We now have scientific research that ish Government still refuses to admit its in- retary and union steward. shows us the way once again. volvement in the Armenian Genocide, and Although Chester died almost 30 years ago, Based on findings of more than 35 years of even the current U.S. administration has not Mr. Speaker, one can still hear many wonder- research, the Panel reports the following in- fully acknowledged the extent of the wrong- ful stories that paint a picture of a man who gredients of what students need to learn if doing between 1915 and 1923. That is why took joy in each day, who made great friend- they are to read proficiently: we must make our voices heard. History's Phonemic AwarenessÐletters represent ships, who was respected by his co-workers, record must reflect the truth of what the Arme- sounds. even the younger workers who remember him nians experienced: mass murder and geno- Systematic phonics instructionÐa necessary, so fondly. cide. If it does not, only then are we con- but not sufficient, component of learning to Gary Quick, UAW International Representa- demned to a future littered with more in- read. tive for Region 1±D, recalls that when Chester stances of unspeakable wickedness and cru- Reading Fluency±rapid decoding of words, traveled, he called his mother each day, and elty. practiced until it is automatic. when he completed the call he would return to My congressional district contains a large Spelling±accurate spelling, not the invented his group and announce, ``All is fine with and vibrant Armenian-American community, kind. Mum!'' which has contributed so much to the Writing Clearly±which leads to developing Gary also recalls one icy winter nightÐa Merrimack Valley's economic vitality and cul- good reading comprehension skills. black, black night with the temperatures about ture. When today's Armenian-American com- I believe if we are to eliminate the reading 30 below zeroÐwhen the union leadership, in- munity commemorates the Armenian Geno- deficit, then it is necessary for students to be cluding Chester, found itself traveling home cide, they convey the message to the world taught all of these necessary skills. from a meeting about 60 miles away. A side that only the continued vigilance of people of Complimentary to the legislation being intro- trip was required to take one of the members good conscience stands between peaceful duced today is the Literacy Involves Families home in the small community of Rock, a trip human coexistence and another instance of Together (LIFT) Bill, which I am pleased is on back roads with snowbanks higher than the genocide. part of the Reading Deficit Elimination Act. In automobile. Chester wondered aloud if the My respect for my Armenian-American con- addition, Republicans pushed to pass the gang would survive the trip, should they run stituents and for their commitment to remem- Reading Excellence Act, which was signed into trouble. For years afterward, Gary says, bering past tragedy and preventing future trag- into law by the president in 1998. It is helping Chester would be sure to say, ``We made it edy compels me to rise and speak today. It teachers in low-income areas and in schools that cold night to drop off Red in Rock, so I compels me to add my voice to those who where there is a high illiteracy rate to apply guess we will make it wherever . .'' speak out against hatred and fear. It should the scientific principles of reading instruction in Friends recall that Chester, even at the age compel us all to remember past horrors, lest the classroom. of 90 years young, would eat his three good they happen again. When President John Kennedy launched meals every day, would be ready to stay out f Project Apollo in 1962, and set a goal of send- with the younger fellows until late at night and ing a man to the moon by the end of the dec- would be ready to go again in the morning. READING DEFICIT ELIMINATION ade, all America cheered. That goal was met They recall that Chester never forgot his ACT when Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon in camera for important events, recording friends July of 1969. and sharing the prints, and maintaining a HON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING Our determination to eliminate the reading photo record of area youth participating in OF PENNSYLVANIA deficit is no less challenging than going to the local sports. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES moon, and it is equally achievable. For the Most of all, Mr. Speaker, friends remember sake of our children, and the future of our na- Chester as a union man, who cared about his Thursday, April 13, 2000 tion, we must not let them down. fellow workers, his community, and who cared Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, today I intro- I hope we can come together as a nation to about the job he performed with pride for more duced the Reading Deficit Elimination Act cheer on the elimination of the reading deficit than half a century. VerDate 14<APR>2000 05:06 Apr 15, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13AP8.102 pfrm03 PsN: E13PT2 April 13, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E589 RECOGNIZING CARLISLE AND recorded for NASA, Disneyland, and a mul- A TRIBUTE TO REPRESENTATIVE MCCORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS titude of commercials, television shows, and STEPHEN CHEN movies.