Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the sesquicentennial of one of the greatest educational institutions in my district of upstate New York, Elmira College. Elmira College turned 150 years old on October 2, just a couple of days ago this year.

Elmira College was the first college for women with a course of study and degree requirements equal to those of the Nation's finest colleges.

On October 23, 1853, the Regents of the University of the State of New York granted a charter to the college, and the cornerstone of the building that would later come to be known as Cowles Hall was laid in June of 1854.

In October of 1855, Elmira College opened its doors to its first students, and the great, historical Cowles Hall still stands as a monument to women's college education in Elmira and the United States.

Elmira College is sometimes known as ``the mother of women's colleges.'' The official college colors, purple and gold, were taken from the colors adorning the banners of the women's suffrage movement and from the college flower, the iris, which is also the name of the college yearbook published each year since 1896.

Its location in Elmira, the commercial and cultural center of the Finger Lakes region, was through the efforts of Simeon Benjamin, the college's earliest benefactor, often referred to as ``The Founder.'' Benjamin was instrumental in the selection of the college's first president, Dr. Augustus Cowles, after whom the college's original building was subsequently named.

Another of the college's founding trustees was Jervis Langdon, whose daughter Olivia, an alumna of the college, later married Samuel Clemens, to most of us also recognized as Mark Twain. To this day, Elmira college has been closely associated with Mark Twain, who wrote many of his best known novels in Elmira, in a structure, the Mark Twain Study, which was relocated to the Elmira College campus in 1952.

Elmira college became coeducational in all of its programs in 1969 and quickly achieved an even gender balance. Entering its 15th decade, Elmira College continues its commitment to provide a sound liberal arts education while strengthening its professional programs. Its standards of academic excellence resulted in the award of a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 1940.

College traditions are cherished. The Sibyl, one of the oldest student-literary magazines in the country, has been published continuously since 1876. Mountain Day, faculty and administration ``Patron Saints,'' the Midnight Breakfast, and the Holiday Banquet are among the many traditional activities which enrich college life.

While academics are a priority at Elmira College, school spirit emanates from its students through athletics. Elmira College offers 26 varsity and junior varsity teams and intramural sports as well. Elmira College strives for excellence both in the classroom and on the field by embracing the student athlete. Fifty-six percent of the students maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better. National rankings and post-season tournament play have also been annual traditions for the Soaring Eagles. Most recently, the women's ice hockey team has made four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including winning the National Title and sporting an undefeated season in its inaugural season.

On the one hand, Elmira College is securely rooted in the local community by a tradition of excellence, ``town-gown'' relations and reciprocal sharing of resources. A good example of this is the public lectures presented by the internationally known Mark Twain scholars who are bought to Elmira by the college's Center for Mark Twain Studies. Another example is the college's community service program, which has been commended by the President of the United States.

At the same time, the college expands its worldwide view with opportunities such as its various innovative projects offered in an intensive 6-week spring term made possible by the distinctive academic calendar. While proud of its history and traditions, Elmira College looks ahead to the future.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to encourage my senior colleagues in the upcoming conference on the highway bill to agree to a provision which will appear in the Senate highway bill to more cost effectively use funding under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program--the so-called CMAQ program.

CMAQ is a program which has been used in the past to fund air quality improvements. It's a good program, but I think we can make it a lot better. Here's how.

Congress asked the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to examine the cost-effectiveness of the CMAQ program. The Council reported that CMAQ funding could be used more cost effectively in the future to reduce pollution caused by fine particulate matter. This pollution is the most serious threat to human health. It has also been found to be 10 to 20 times more damaging to human health than other pollutants, like ozone, that have been historically the focus of CMAQ. And, EPA has found that excessive amounts of fine particulate matter are causing air quality problems for over 100 million people throughout the country.

The Senate amendment recognizes this reality and rebalances CMAQ toward the use of technologies which will reduce fine particulate matter. This change will focus CMAQ on the right issue. And, as importantly, it will result in a far more cost-effective use of limited government resources. The National Research Council found in its study commissioned by Congress that CMAQ is currently being used to fund projects that cost as much as $252,000 per ton of pollution reduction. In the future, CMAQ can be spent on diesel retrofit technologies, made in my district, which can reduce pollution for a maximum of $5,300 per ton--nearly a 50 times improvement in cost effectiveness. In fact, diesel retrofits, in many circumstances, are the most cost-effective way to use CMAQ funding.

In light of these facts, I strongly urge my senior colleagues who will be involved in the upcoming conference on the highway bill to adopt the Senate amendment to use CMAQ to fund the installation of diesel retrofit devices on heavy duty diesel vehicles used on construction sites. This amendment was included in last year's Senate bill and, from what I understand, will very likely be included in Chairman Inhofe's bill for consideration in his Committee next week. And, significantly, the Administration strongly endorsed the amendment during the debate over the highway bill last year.

Reduction of fine particulate matter emitted by heavy duty diesel vehicles has been a centerpiece of the President's environmental policy. He spoke about this during the Presidential debate. And, in his FY06 budget, he proposed the appropriation of $25 million to deploy diesel retrofit technology on a range of heavy duty vehicles from school buses to dump trucks.

Mr. Chairman, I am very proud to promote the use of diesel retrofit technology because it was invented in my district by Corning Incorporated. As many of my colleagues know, Corning was founded by the great, great grandfather of our distinguished former colleague, Amo Houghton. Under the Houghton family leadership, Corning has been a technology leader. In fact, it will receive the Technology Medal of Honor next week by President Bush for its invention of the core element of a catalytic converter. Diesel retrofit technology was built on this core invention.

In closing, Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge the leadership to accept the Senate amendment in conference, because it will lead to the most cost-effective use of CMAQ, because it will advance the use of technology to clean up the biggest threat in the environment to human health, and because it is a centerpiece of the President's environmental policy.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, we all realize and want to make sure that when our crops are harvested that they do not spoil before they actually get processed.

The Transportation Reauthorization Act recognizes this potential problem and attempts to address it. H.R. 3 addresses this issue and has moved to try to resolve it. It would allow for an exemption for maximum driving and on-duty time for drivers of motor carriers transferring our food supplies at the time of planting or harvest for a 100-air mile radius to the distribution point or the source of commodities.

In my district, a very large, rural district, it is larger than 6,000 square miles which is larger than the State of Connecticut, many of the processing centers for agricultural goods fall right outside the 100- mile radius, but fall within a 150-air mile radius, so my amendment does something very simple. It simply raises that 100-mile air radius to 150-air miles, which will take care of the problem of having grapes which are a very, very precious commodity in my area being able to be processed on time and in a way which will not be deleterious to the final product. I hope Members will support my amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I was kind of hopeful that the gentleman from Minnesota would be here because I know that he opposed the previous amendment I offered on the floor, and I thought that this was perhaps one of those amendments that he would join with me in supporting.

This amendment would name part of Interstate I-86 in Upstate New York around the community called Corning, New York, which is currently known as the Corning Bypass, after my predecessor, the former gentleman from New York, Congressman Amo Houghton, who retired from Congress just this last year.

The amendment is identical to H.R. 795, a bill I introduced along with 108 co-sponsors in this House to name that section of I-86 the Amo Houghton Bypass.

Amo was elected, as many of you may know, to represent the 34th Congressional District way back in 1986, and was sworn in as a Member of the 100th class and then reelected to each succeeding Congress.

Amo was known to just about everyone in this Chamber as a man of principle, statesmanship, patriotism, moderation, bipartisanship, and perhaps most notably civility.

It will surprise no one that Amo was a Boy Scout as a child. He then started his lifelong career in the public service by volunteering as a Marine during World War II. Amo followed in the footsteps of many Houghtons by pursuing a bachelor's degree and MBA from Harvard University. After Harvard, Amo joined the family business, Corning Glassworks in Corning, New York, now known as Corning, Incorporated. Amo eventually rose to the head of the company as chairman and CEO, and under his leadership the company invented and invested in fiber optics technology, among other technological breakthroughs.

Amo is fondly remembered in the city of Corning for his assistance in the community after the devastating flood of 1972 caused by Hurricane Agnes. Through Amo's help and leadership, the company stayed in Corning and helped rebuild the community to be what it is today. Amo has spent continuous time and energy in helping to bring people together to think about ways to improve the upstate economy and certainly the economy in this country and the world.

One of Amo's first and most important projects after being elected to Congress in 1986 was fighting for the money to construct Route 17, the Corning Bypass, a project that alleviated massive safety problems in the city and also a tremendous amount of congestion.

This project and Amo's other efforts to complete the twining of the roads in Chautauqua County to Pennsylvania paved the way to Route 17 being designated as Interstate 86 today.

In Congress, Amo was a champion of tax, of trade, of health issues and served on the House Committee on Ways and Means. He was involved in numerous international issues and projects through his service on the House Committee on International Relations. He also served on the House Committee on the Budget.

Amo deeply cared for his colleagues here in the House, and he sends his regards as I make this statement to you today, as having just talked with him a couple days ago.

As evident certainly are his efforts to form the Bipartisan Retreat Committee, his service on Members and the Family Room Committee, and as co-chair of the Faith and Politics Institute with our colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis). Naming this bypass the Houghton Bypass is but a

small tribute to a great man, but it will serve as a permanent honor to this Congressman, to Amo Houghton, and to his tireless service to the community and to the Nation.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. This is a right and fitting thing to do.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).

Mr. Chairman, if there are not any Members who wish to speak, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 52, on passage of H.R. 841--The Continuity in Representation Act--I was absent due to circumstances beyond my control. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 45) recognizing the benefits and importance of school-based music education, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 45.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 45, which highlights the benefits and importance of school-based music education. I would like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper), and my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham), for their leadership on this issue and for introducing the resolution we are considering here today.

Research has shown that students' involvement in their school music program is crucial to a complete education. Musical study develops critical thinking and self-discipline skills and improves a child's early cognitive development, basic math and reading abilities, self- esteem, SAT scores, ability to work in teams, spatial reasoning skills, and school attendance.

In an analysis of the United States Department of Education data on more than 25,000 secondary school students, researchers found that students who report consistent high levels of involvement in instrumental music over the middle and high school years show ``significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade twelve,'' regardless of students' socio-economic status.

A 1999 report by the Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse found that individuals who participated in band or orchestra reported the lowest levels of current and lifelong use of alcohol, tobacco, and elicit drugs. So it is not surprising, Mr. Speaker, that children involved with music education are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college and are less likely to be involved with gangs and substance abuse.

In fact, many colleges and universities view participation in the arts and music as a valuable experience that broadens students' understanding and appreciation of the world around them. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I support House Concurrent Resolution 45 that recognizes the benefits and importance of school-based music education.

This resolution before the House today is simple and straightforward. It states that it is the sense of this Congress that music education grounded in rigorous instruction is an important component of a well- rounded academic curriculum and should be available to every student in every school. It also recognizes the International Music Products Association for their efforts to designate a Music in School Month in order to highlight an important role that school music programs play in the academic and social development of children.

Music in Our Schools Month began as a single statewide celebration in 1973 and has grown over the decades to encompass a day, a week; and in 1985 March was designated as a month-long celebration of music in our schools.

Music education is important to our children. It can broaden and strengthen their education and improve their lives. I join my colleagues in commending music educators and organizations across the country for the key roles they play in helping our children succeed in school and throughout life.

As former President Gerald Ford said, ``Music education opens doors that help children pass from school into the world around them, a world of work, culture, intellectual activity, and human involvement. The future of our Nation depends on providing our children with a complete education that includes music.''

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support music education in our schools and House Concurrent Resolution 45, which highlights the benefits and the importance of school-based music education.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter), a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper), and certainly the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), and my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) for lending their melodious vibes to support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.