"Additionally," LaHood said, "this bill ensures that taxes collected under the Aviation Trust Fund are used for their intended purpose: to improve air transportation. By taking this trust fund "off budget" we are able to provide more dollars for aviation without affecting other programs.

"With air travel increasing every year we must enable our area airports to meet the needs of those travelers. This bill will give airports the means to deal with the increased demand.

"This bill also adjusts the slot exemptions at the four airports that have restricted flight access (O'Hare, LaGuardia, JFK, Reagan National). This allows underserved communities to provide increased access to these important airports."

Since the GI Bill was enacted in 1944, it has become one of the most significant pieces of legislation passed by Congress.

It has given the opportunity of education to millions of veterans. The GI Bill allowed a grateful nation to repay its veterans through giving them the chance to obtain what they were not able to when they served. By laying the foundation for continued education of our veterans, the GI Bill laid the foundation of unprecedented economic opportunities. The American middle class, which has driven the economic engine of the United States for several generations, was largely created with the help of the World War II GI Bill.

But today's GI Bill is in dire need of upgrading and the Department of Veterans Affairs is dragging its feet on implementing changes. The VA still wants more analysis and study of benefits programs, even though the agency has had since January the results of the most comprehensive program review in almost half a century.

The current program, the Montgomery GI Bill, has not been updated since the mid-1980's. When it was passed, the Montgomery bill was far-sighted. It is the program for individuals who have entered active duty since July of 1985. Currently, the benefits under Montgomery constitute 78 percent of the total VA educational assistance for veterans. The idea behind Montgomery was to help service members readjust to civilian life, while at the same time supporting the concept of the all volunteer force.

Since the Montgomery bill was enacted, the face of education and employment has changed dramatically. We need an education benefit that keeps pace in the "information age."

To address the need to update veterans benefits, Congress established the Congressional Commission on Service Members and Veterans Transition Assistance in 1996. The panel had two years to study current programs and recommend changes.

The transition from military to civilian life can often be difficult. This commission was created to propose recommendations to ensure that benefits would meet the needs of veterans into the next century. In the Commission's own executive summary, it stated that "Congress called for this review, not because it questions the need for benefits, but rather because it knows the importance of 'doing it right.'"

This Commission triggered the most comprehensive review of veterans benefits since the 1956 Bradley Commission. One of the major findings of the Commission was the need to update the Montgomery GI Bill.

The Commission proposed that "Congress truly empower veterans to 'be all they can be' by enhancing the Montgomery GI Bill to create an additional benefit for individuals who complete 48 months of honorable active duty. The enhanced benefit would pay for full tuition, fees, and books and would also provide a monthly subsistence allowance to attend any institution of higher learning in America for which they qualify."

Inspired by the Commission's findings about the current state of education benefits, House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Stump has introduced legislation to update the Montgomery GI Bill.

Chairman Stump's bill, H.R. 1182, The Servicemembers Educational Opportunity Act, is a much-needed update of the GI Bill. It would enhance benefits for persons who enlist for four years of active-duty service or reenlist for four years effective October 1, 1999. The bill would provide such enhanced assistance as: paying 90 percent of the cost of tuition and fees; pay a sum equal to the reasonable cost of books and supplies; and pay a monthly stipend of $600 for full-time enrollment (or proportional amount for less than full-time enrollment).

One of the most important elements of the legislation is the repeal of the onerous $1,200 reduction-in-pay that military personnel must pay in order to be eligible for the benefit.

I was very disappointed with comments by a department official at a recent House Veterans' Committee hearing on updating the GI Bill.

Five times in the VA official's testimony more analysis of the current situation was recommended. This comes after the VA has had the Commission's report for over four months. In addition, the VA had access to the Commission's deliberation's and findings during the entire time the Commission was in existence with an Under Secretary serving as an ex-officio member of the Commission.

Issues such as an increase in the monthly educational assistance allowance, giving veterans a GI Bill with real purchasing power, accelerated payments, and exempting the Montgomery GI Bill from student financial aid computation under the Higher Education Act are not new issues. Yet, the Department says more analysis is needed.

As we move into the 21st Century, our military is having an increasingly hard time recruiting and retaining individuals. To most high school graduates, military service is not even on their radar screens. According to the Commission's report "the DoD Youth Attitude Tracking Survey confirms that college attendance is a dominant goal for high school graduates and their parents, and that military service is increasingly viewed as a detour around college enrollment, not as a way to achieve it...A veterans' education benefit conditioned on military service must offer a substantial advantage over programs available to all Americans if the benefit is to influence the decisions of college-bound high school graduates."

In other words, we must offer very good incentives that go beyond what is available through other federal programs in order to attract high school students who would like to go to college. To achieve this goal, the VA must stop its insistence that more analysis of the situation is needed. We know what needs to be done, we now must do it.

The legislation now under consideration in the House Veterans' Affairs Committee is good legislation that makes education a priority for service members. It also recognizes the reality that today's high-quality education is becoming ever more focused on information technology.

We can analyze the situation to death, but it is not going to help our veterans adjust to life after the service. I believe we need to act now to update the GI Bill.

I am deeply honored to be with you today.

In your 1999 Undergraduate Catalog, I came across a sentence that seems to me to sum up why your institution is drawing so much favorable attention:

"The American University in Dubai was founded...on the premise that universities should transcend the bounds of the traditional theoretical approach to education..."

That commitment to innovation and action has well prepared you for a future, filled with sudden change, that you will shape.

At the outset of my remarks, I want to assure the graduating class I am aware of the three rules for commencement speakers:

Be prepared. Be brief. And be gone.

I am prepared--and I promise to obey the other two rules.

At last year's commencement, your speaker was the distinguished former American Secretary of State, James Baker. His topic--globalization--was well-suited to a university which has such an internationally diverse student body.

My Congressional district knows about the virtues of a global economy. We export 48% of what we manufacture. In Peoria, we know--in practical terms of jobs and education and family life--what global free trade can mean to a community.

Today, however, I'd like to say a few words about two topics that may seem light-years removed from the problems and the hopes of today. But I think you'll agree with me that each of these points has immediate relevance to the modern world.

My first point concerns the importance of community in our lives.

Community is a word that has a special, personal meaning to me.

Perhaps the best way of showing why, is to tell you a story. It concerns a young man who, in 1895, left his native land of Lebanon to go to the United States. He was seventeen years old.

It took him three months to reach Ellis Island, in New York Harbor, where immigrants first had to land.

It took him another month to make it to the city of Peoria, in the state of Illinois, the last stop on the railroad.

So there he was, after four grueling months of travel, in Peoria, among the first Lebanese immigrants to that city.

He spoke no English. He had no connections. He had no influential, powerful friends. He had left behind all that was familiar, reassuring, and comforting. He was a stranger in a strange land.

All he had was faith in God, faith in himself, and a capacity for hard work.

These assets proved to be enough. He married, and his family worked and prayed and grew and prospered and put roots deep into the Peoria community. He became part of the Peoria community by being a good citizen, by taking care of his family, and by instilling in each new generation the values he had brought to the United States.

That man was my grandfather.

He could not have begun to conceive that one day his grandson would be a Congressman, or that in 1999 I can journey from America to the Middle East in twelve hours. He never heard the word "globalization." But his life demonstrated his belief that great values transcend all borders.

In his meager baggage, he brought to the United States the love of family, the willingness to work and the faith in God that had sustained his people in Lebanon. He knew a community is defined not merely by where it is, but by what it is--and what a community is, depends on the values that sustain it.

That was 1895. This is 1999. I know you have different problems, different goals, and different challenges. Amidst all the talk of free trade and market share and capital flow and direct investment, the world you are entering might seem a bit intimidating.

But perhaps in years to come, my grandfather's story can help you. After all, economies, local or global, simple or intricate, still depend upon transcendent values like honesty and integrity and the courage to quietly say "No" when others are loudly shouting "Yes."

In the words of the old popular song: "The fundamental things apply, as time goes by."

As you pack your carry-on luggage for the flight into your future, make sure you find room for the fundamental things, for they are what build a true community.

The second point I want to make concerns how we act when values clash.

I am no Pollyanna. I am a legislator and involved in politics. I know from daily experience that people disagree on which values should be used to solve our most important social, educational, and economic ills. These debates can quickly become bitter partisan arguments and then just as quickly degenerate into fierce personal struggles. We cannot dismiss this tough, unyielding fact of political and person life.

The question is: how best can we approach these disagreements?

I believe one way is to restore to our public and private lives the virtue of civility.

Civility?

What can such an old-fashioned concept have to do with our modern world of the internet and nuclear power and globalization? The very word evokes a less efficient world of powdered wigs and a slower pace of life. What can such a word mean to the class of 1999, eager to conquer a fast-moving world of economic inter-dependence?

I believe that how we treat each other when we disagree on serious issues is a relevant to our times as the computer.

What do I mean by civility?

Instead of offering you a dry, dictionary meaning, let me define it as I have seen it in action, on the floor of the House of Representatives, and in political debate generally:

--Civility means knowing that raising the level of your voice doesn't raise the level of the discussion.

--Civility means reaching peaks of uncommon progress by paths of common courtesy.

--Civility means disagreeing with being disagreeable, being principled without being prejudiced, and making your case without making a scene--or an enemy.

In short, civility means the public, formal, consistent recognition of the human dignity of those with whom we strongly disagree, whether they be individuals, groups, or nations.

I know that opponents can often be infuriating, and that not everyone argues with good intentions. But it is precisely in situations like this that we most need to practice civility. It is easy to discuss issues with people we like and admire--but the real test of civic and personal maturity is to debate unlikeable opponents without denigrating their personalities.

This is not a theoretical issue for me.

When I first came to the House of Representatives, in 1995, I found that many of our debates were filled with personal rancor and bitter partisanship. I joined with a few other members, of both parties, to see what we could do to restore civility to our debates.

We instituted a retreat at the beginning of every Congress to which every member of the House is invited, with his or her family. Our goal is to get members to know each other as well as they know the issues. It is hard to demonize a political opponent if you have held his two-year old daughter on your knee, or shared a friendly meal with your family and his.

A wise man once wrote that mercy has a human heart and pity has a human face. It is this belief in each other's fundamental humanity that has been at the heart of our retreats.

Have they worked? Well, we have yet achieved utopia. We rarely do in politics, in case you haven't noticed. We still disagree, strongly, on many issues, personally, with deep emotion. But I think a commitment to civility, while it has not solved all our problems of debate, has at least made finding such solutions easier.

We in the House of Representatives have learned that how we disagree can often determine when we might come to agreement, and what that agreement might look like. That is form of progress.

And so there they are--community and civility, two values I hope you will remember in the years ahead.

In conclusion, let me say you may have noticed I managed to get through my remarks without once mentioning the millennium. I have a feeling that you are suffering from information-overload about the event, as I am.

I have only this to say about the millennium:

There are two great lessons we can learn from the past one-hundred years:

First, national power must be guided by transcendent values or else incredible horror is the result. That is not just a pious statement that is an established, documented fact.

Second, national and international harmony must be rooted in recognition of each other's human dignity, at home and abroad.

And so, as we enter this new century, keep in mind the words of an old saying:

--On issues we agree upon, let us have unity and progress.

--On issues we disagree upon, let us have freedom and debate.

--But in all things, agreed or disagreed, let us always have respect for each other's human dignity.

That was good advice in 1895, when a young man of seventeen left Lebanon to go on the adventure of his life--and it is good advice in 1999, as you prepare to go on yours.

Again, thanks for sharing this happy time with me. My heartiest congratulations go to you and your families!

Last November I wrote in this same space that our military is in need of serious upgrading. "Base closings, troop reductions, and the end of the Cold War have all led to this deterioration. But the single biggest factor working against our national defense is the current administration's unwillingness to make a strong commitment to a strong defense."

This was before the conflict in the Balkans took center-stage. For evidence of this dangerous situation, we need only consider the effect that the Kosovo mission has had on our ability to carry out other missions.

Kosovo is about half the size of New Jersey. It's logical to think that the world's only superpower would have the ability to carry out an operation in such a small place without hampering its ability to carry out operations in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, that's not the way it is.

The Kosovo mission has forced us to divert planes from their patrols over the Iraqi No-Fly Zone in order to enter the fray in the Balkans. It has also threatened to exhaust our supply of cruise missiles, which in the past have proven to be among our most effective weapons. We are pulling aircraft carriers out of important patrols in the Pacific to cover the Mediterranean. Perhaps most significantly, just a few weeks into this "small operation," President Clinton is already calling up 25,000 reservists.

The dramatic effect the situation in the Balkans has had on our military only serves to highlight what was already a frightening lack of military readiness. Since the end of the Gulf War, our military has shrunk by forty percent. Each of the four branches has paid the price in terms of capability and preparedness.

The mission capability of the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy has shrunk by ten to fifteen percent in that time. The Army has reduced its ranks by over 630,000 soldiers and civilians and closed over 700 installations. The Air Force has shrunk form 36 to 20 fighter wings. The Navy, which once had 546 ships, now has only 333.

To make matters worse, much of the equipment and weaponry our military does have is old or unfit to use. Half the B-1 Bombers at Ellsworth Air Force Base can't even get off the ground because they lack basic spare parts. The average age of the Amphibious Assault Vehicle is 26 years old. The list goes on.

On top of highlighting these readiness problems, the Yugoslavian war is being conducted under an ill-conceived policy. The administration has no exit strategy. In fact, it could be said they did not even have an entrance strategy.

In the Gulf War, the allies had a clear mission. All military options were considered. We did not leave the decision to Sadam Hussein to "cry uncle" as this administration is doing with President Milosevic.

The situation certainly has not improved since the air war began.

We are currently presented with a situation in which we have assisted in driving ethnic Albanians out of Kosovo because of our air strikes. We have bombed a sovereign country, destroying much of its infrastructure which we will most likely be asked to rebuild with U.S. tax dollars. We have alienated Russia and the People's Republic of China. The President should have doggedly pursued all diplomatic options--like he has done in Israel and Northern Ireland--before engaging in this conflict.

In addition, the President has asked that we pay the billion-dollar-a-week price tag for this mission out of the Social Security surplus. I am adamantly opposed to using our country's Social Security system to fund a war that is not needed and I have voted that way in the House.

Since my first campaign, I have addressed tha danger of reducing our national defense and the need to restore our forces. The Kosovo situation has made this case all too clearly. America's security and the safety of our sons and daughters in uniform demand that we take this opportunity to begin rebuilding our military.

In order to remain a superpower, the United States must maintain its national defense at a level sufficient to protect its citizens and to conduct military operations overseas when our national interst is at stake.

The world's strongest military is the legacy of those who we celebrate this Memorial Day weekend. It is a shame that our current level of readiness does not fulfill that legacy.

(PEORIA)---Coming in the wake of news that Illinois' welfare-to-work efforts are the best in the nation, Peoria's Gateway Building will be the site for the Central Illinois Welfare-to-Work Summit Tuesday, June 1, 7:30 a.m.

The summit is an opportunity for businesses, social service agencies, and clients to learn about the status of welfare reform in the Peoria area. The summit will focus on benefits for businesses that hire welfare recipients, training and support provided by social service agencies, and how business can recruit and retain welfare-to-work employees. The summit will also kick-off a local plan coordinating job development, community information, and job referrals out of the new Wokforce Network Career Center in One Technology Plaza.

"This is a great opportunity for everyone who has a stake in a successful welfare-to-work program," said Congressman Ray LaHood. "Business has played a vital role in welfare reform and the purpose of the summit is to encourage more business professionals to become involved by providing good job opportunities for those who are striving for self-sufficiency."

The summit is a collaboration of businesses, legislators, service agencies, welfare recipients, educators, and faith-based organizations. It is hosted by Congressman LaHood, State Senators Carl Hawkinson and George Shadid, and State Representatives David Leitch, Don Moffit, Ricca Slone, Mike Smith, and Keith Sommer.

Governor George Ryan is tentatively scheduled to address the summit at 9:15 am. Other sessions will include speakers from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Edge Systems Inc., and Vonachen Service and Supply. An afternoon session will have legislators and summit participants discussing how government can continue to assist in making welfare reform a success.

The event will conclude with the unveiling of the Peoria Area Strategy for welfare-to-work.

Interested local organizations are invited to participate, but space is limited. To participate, contact the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce at 309-676-0755.

(WASHINGTON)--U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) today announced that the City of Beardstown will be receiving an $18,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Agency. The grant will assist in the development of a comprehensive economic strategy for Beardstown.

"This grant is an investment in future growth and opportunity," Durbin said. "Federal dollars used to help communities make the most of their natural and economic assets are dollars well spent."

"I applaud Beardstown in their effort to enhance the downtown and riverfront area," said LaHood. "This grant will help develop a long-term plan that will promote the economic revitalization of the community. My staff and I look forward to continuing our work with the city in efforts to attract new business and develop existing facilities in Beardstown."

The grant will cover over half of the $30,000 price tag of writing the plan, which aims to develop a broad approach to enhancing business opportunities in Beardstown.

(WASHINGTON)--Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) today voted for legislation which would fight sedimentation and improve navigation on the Illinois River. Lake Springfield and Lake Decatur water quality improvement is also addressed in the bill. The House overwhelmingly passed the Water Resources Development Act by a vote of 418-5. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

"Water quality is one of the most important central Illinois issues," said LaHood. "This bill will improve water quality, reduce sedimentation in the Illinois River, and improve navigation for recreation and commerce."

The central Illinois projects are:

*Illinois River Dredging Technology--authorizes $2 million for the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to review innovative dredging technology and test the technology on the Peoria Lakes region of the Illinois River.

*Illinois River, Havana Project--authorizes $6 million for ACOE to improve the Illinois River in the vicinity of Havana to provide for a safe harbor for boats. There is currently no safe harbor between Peoria and Grafton.

*Illinois River, Mud Island/Chautauqua--instructs ACOE to improve tto improve the navigation on the Illinois River in the vicinity of Chatauqua Park. Sedimentation in the area has led to a dangerous navigation situation.

*Illinois River and Upper Mississippi Levees--instructs ACOE to study erosion damage to levees and infrastructure on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

*Water Quality for Lake Springfield and Lake Decatur--instructs ACOE to assist Springfield and Decatur with the improvement of water quality of the two municipal water sources.

*Hunter Lake, Springfield--instructs ACOE to provide assistance to the city of Springfield to ensure the city will not incur additional expenses in developing a final environmental impact statement for the proposed development of an additional water supply reservoir.

(WASHINGTON)--The House Transportation Committee today approved legislation which would fight sedimentation and improve navigation on the Illinois River. The bill also aims to improve water quality in Lake Springfield and Lake Decatur.

Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) said this bill goes a long way in achieving his goal of protecting the Illinois River and improving water quality in Illinois.

"One of my top priorities is maintaining the Illinois River as a viable environmental, recreational, and commercial resource," said LaHood, "and this legislation addresses that priority head-on. I have also worked to reduce the nitrate level in Lake Springfield and I am pleased that we can provide resources for the improvement of that water resource."

The central Illinois projects in The Water Resources Development Act of 1999 are:

*Illinois River Dredging Technology--this instructs the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to review innovative dredging technology and test the technology on the Peoria Lakes region of the Illinois River.

*Illinois River, Havana Project--instructs ACOE to improve the environment of the Illinois River in the vicinity of Havana to provide for a safe harbor for boats.

*Illinois River, Mud Island/Chautauqua--instructs ACOE to improve navigation on the Illinois River in the vicinty of Chautauqua Park. Sedimentation in this area has led to a dangerous navigation situation.

*Illinois River and Upper Mississippi Levees--instructs ACOE to study erosion damage to levees and infrastructure on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

*Water Quality for Lake Springfield and Lake Decatur--instructs ACOE to assist Springfield and Decatur with the improvement of water quality of the two municipal water sources.

*Hunter Lake, Springfield--instructs ACOE to provide assistance to the city of Springfield to ensure the city will not incur additional expenses in developing a final environmental impact statement for the proposed development of an additional water supply reservoir.

(WASHINGTON)--On the anniversary of the death of Abraham Lincoln, Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) today introduced legislation which would celebrate the life of the 16th President by establishing the "Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission."

Noting there is only a decade until the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, LaHood proposes establishing the commission to research and recommend "activities that are fitting and proper" to celebrate the bicentennial of the "Great Emancipator's" birth.

"Abraham Lincoln, arguably, is the greatest President who has ever served our nation," said LaHood. "Today's emerging democracies often look to Lincoln as a role model and the eyes of those countries and others will be upon us as February 12, 2009 comes near. With the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth fast approaching, this commission will assure that the United States properly honors one of her finest sons."

Both the centennial and sesquicentennial anniversaries of Lincoln's birth were celebrated with great fanfare throughout the country and around the world.

The commission will be composed of nine appointed members. Those members will be selected by the President, the Speaker of the House, and the Majority Leader of the Senate and serve for the life of the commission (approximately four years). Two of the presidential appointees shall be made with the recommendation of the Governor of Illinois.

Within four years, the commission is required to submit a final report to Congress which will detail the findings and recommendations of the commission. Congress can then take appropriate steps to mark this historic event.

"The legacy of Lincoln is so great, and his work in shaping this country is so immense, that it is only right we establish a group which will take a national view of celebrating his bicentennial. I look forward to this commission recommending exciting and unique activities to celebrate Lincoln's birth," LaHood added.

LaHood, who represents Illinois' 18th District, largely represents the same district Lincoln represented during his one term (1847-1849) in Congress.

(WASHINGTON)--Amid concerns that the Evironmental Protection Agency (EPA) might curtail the use of many pesticides which ensure healthy food production, Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) last night introduced legislation that directs the EPA to fairly implement the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA).

"When FQPA was enacted in 1996," said LaHood, "it was hailed as common sense reform of outdated pesticide regulations. But, as is often the case, Congress' best intentions can go awry when written into regulations by the Administration. My legislation would direct EPA to use sound science, not the whim of a Washington bureaucrat, to implement the FQPA."

Under the 1996 law, EPA has 10 years to reassess the safety of over 9,000 pesticide uses. One-third of these evaluations are to be completed by this August. Many growers are concerned that EPA, to meet this timeline, will unilaterally cancel many pesticides without reviewing their merits. It is possible that all organophosphates could be outlawed.

In Illinois, organophosphates are a commonly used corn rootworm insecticide. Nationwide, this chemical ensures the safety of 38 million crop acres, while also being used for public health as an effective mosquito control.

"If these chemicals are unilaterally eliminated," added LaHood, "millions of crop acres would lose effective pest protection. Without these tools, production on fields could drop dramatically, and, especially given agriculture's current financial crisis, some farmers could be forced from business."

LaHood's FQPA Implementation Act would:

*ensure sound science is used in implementing FQPA;

*direct the EPA to consider additional data before suspending the use of a pesticide;

*consider the overall public interest before suspending a pesticide;

*receive public input before suspending a pesticide;

*requires the Administration to issue a report on the resources needed to properly implement FQPA; and

*establishes a program to measure the competitive strength of U.S. agricultural commodity sectors in the international marketplace.

When Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) in 1996, the agriculture community widely supported its passage. The outdated "Delaney Clause" was in dire need of revision, and FQPA was a well-intentioned replacement.

But Congress' best intentions often go awry when they are written into regulations by the Administration. Congress never intended, nor expected, FQPA to result in major disruptions of U.S. agriculture. I now suspect that if agriculture knew of FQPA's implementation challenges, they would almost certainly rethink their support of the law.

Under the law, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has 10 years to reassess the safety of over 9,000 pesticide uses. One-third of these evaluations are to be completed by August. Many growers are concerned that EPA, to meet this time line, will unilaterally cancel many pesticides, possibly all organophosphates.

If this was the case, millions of crop acres could lose effective pest protection. In Illinois, organophosphates are a commonly used corn rootworm insecticide. Without these tools, production on fields could drop dramatically, and, especially given agriculture's current financial crisis, some farmers could be out of business.

Last month I introduced legislation that reaffirms Congress' commitment to fair FQPA implementation. I believe EPA should use the best science available to evaluate the safety of these pesticides and not outlaw pesticides just because the agency cannot get their work done.

My FQPA Enhancement Act will:

1. require EPA to use sound scientific principles to provide a more workable and fair procedure for revoking or modifying tolerances;
2. provide emergency use relief under Section 18 if exposure to a pesticide does not pose any significant dietary risk;
3. allow a reasonable transition period in order to allow for replacement chemicals and instruct the Administrator to set aside sufficient resources for processing of all registration applicants, petitions for tolerances, and Section 18 emergency uses requests, and;
4. direct USDA and EPA to monitor international trade to ensure that U.S. agriculture remains competitive in both the short and long-term.

The Food Quality Protection Act is intended to reduce the possible harmful health effects of pesticides by examining a broader array of exposure than had been required previously.

Unless EPA allows sound scientific data to drive the process, establishes a transparent public process for risk assessment, and devotes sufficient resources to approving new uses and products, congressional intent in the law will have failed to serve its vitally important public health mission. If EPA does not follow congressional intent, the agency could severely harm U.S. agricultural production by eliminating valuable resources--resources which might pose no health risk--that are available to farmers.

For most sectors of the U.S. business world, the late 1990's have presented the "Teflon" economy.

Inflation is low. Unemployment is low. Company profits are at all time highs. And the stock market toys with the 10,000 barrier.

Everything is great, right?

Not so in the agriculture community. Even though the country is continuing its unprecedented economic boom, there is a real recession--and in some cases a depression--in agriculture.

Central Illinois commodity farmers, who mostly grow corn and soybeans, are facing the lowest crop prices in well over 20 years. Because of low hog prices, the family-run hog farm is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

I recently sat down with a couple from Armington who raise hogs and farm about 1000 acres of corn. All the corn they grow goes to feeding the hogs. It costs the couple about $36 to raise each hog. That day, they were selling their hogs for about $25. That is a tremendous burden for a family farm to swallow.

We need to recognize the dire situation of farming. If the agriculture economy fails, it will certainly have a ripple effect throughout the country.

Some of that ripple can be seen already. Caterpillar and Deere & Co. are talking about temporary layoffs, partly because of reduced demand for agriculture equipment. Those layoffs certainly would effect the overall economy of Illinois.

Agriculture, more than any other segment of our economy, is feeling the effect of a world economy turned sour. Economic slumps in Asia, Russia, and South America have led to dramatically reduced agriculture exports from the United States. Our farm economy relies a great deal on what happens in other countries.

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I believe there are many steps we can take to assist the struggling farm economy.

When Congress passed the "Freedom to Farm" legislation a few years ago, we made the commitment that we would also pass "Fast Track" trade authority for the President. Unfortunately that has not happened yet.

Fast Track gives the President the ability to negotiate trade agreements with other countries without the threat of Congress amending the agreement. Congress must vote straight up-or-down on the agreement. This allows the President to negotiate better agreements by not having the threat of Congressional amendments hanging over the negotiations. The President needs to become engaged in the support of Fast Track so we can follow through on our commitment to farmers by assuring open foreign markets.

I have introduced legislation that aims to ease the crisis faced by hog farmers. My bill provides financial assistance to small, family operations who where hit by tremendously low prices in the fourth quarter of 1998. The bill also provides for mandatory livestock market reporting to the Department of Agriculture. This accurate and timely information will give producers another tool in making appropriate decisions about the markets.

I have also introduced legislation that provides for the fair implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act. The FQPA was passed as a common sense plan to update pesticide regulations. Unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency might use this law to unilaterally eliminate the use of many safe pesticides used in agriculture. Agriculture cannot afford to lose the use of pesticides that make our country's harvest the most productive--and healthy--in the world.

We also must give farmers adequate risk management tools. The crop insurance program must be reformed so it is affordable, and gives adequate protection, to small producers.

The new farm bill--Freedom to Farm--has been criticized by some who would like to overhaul the current system. I believe Freedom to Farm gives producers the flexibility needed to compete in the global economy and I feel we must allow the legislation to take full effect. If we need to make minor adjustments to it, we will, but we cannot scrap it before it is allowed to flourish.

Agriculture has always been the backbone of our nation's economy. Those of us on the Agriculture Committee realize we cannot turn a blind eye to problems faced by United States farmers. To keep the broad American economy steaming along, we must assist farmers through this current recession.

(WASHINGTON)--Congressman Ray LaHood will travel with a bipartisan group of Representatives this weekend (March 5-7) for a civil rights pilgrimage to Alabama.

Departing from the steps of the U.S. Capitol, the delegation will travel to several historic sites of the civil rights movement in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma, Ala.

"This is a rare opportunity to visit the cradle of the civil rights movement," said LaHood, "and bring to life the struggles of those who endured that period in our history. I will be able to listen to the recollections of those who experienced the movement, and I will be able to discuss with civil rights leaders the condition of race relations today."

The delegation, led by Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) and Fred Upton (R-MI), will visit sites such as the Civil Rights Institute, the 16th Street Baptist Church, and Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham; Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, the Civil Rights Memorial, and the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery; and the Voting Rights Museum in Selma.

LaHood, a leader of civility and bipartisanship in the House of Representatives, views this trip as an opportunity for Members from both parties to mutually experience issues that might not always be at the forefront of a Member's agenda.

"These are the kind of opportunities we need to realize that other Members represent constituents--and have life experiences--that could be vastly different than our own," LaHood added.

The pilgrimage is sponsored by the non-profit Faith and Politics Institute.

***NOTE--The delegation will participate in news conferences throughout the pilgrimage. Video, audio, or written reports could be available through local Alabama network affiliates or wire services. Contact Tim Butler for more information on the delegation's schedule.***

(WASHINGTON)--Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) has introduced legislation that could ease farmers' paperwork burdens by allowing forms to be filed electronically.

The "Farm Electronic Filing Report Act", H.R. 852, would give any producer--growing any crop--the ability to file Department of Agriculture (USDA) paperwork electronically.

"Producers have expressed to me their frustration with long waiting times at local USDA offices, particularly during the time-sensitive harvest period," said LaHood. "Farmers are highly skilled with computers and we should give them the increased flexibility of filing USDA paperwork electronically. This bill will allow farmers to spend more time in the field and less time at the county office."

A 1998 Novartis Seed survey showed that, of those surveyed, over 72 percent of farmers with 500 or more acres had personal computers. Overall, over 55 percent of farmers surveyed had computers.

The "Farm Electronic Filing Report Act" would require USDA to establish an electronic filing and retrieval system to enable the public to file all required paperwork electronically.

Additionally, the public would have electronic access to farm programs; quarterly trade, economic, and production reports; and other information. The bill would also establish an optional electronic payment system for payments made to producers.

(WASHINGTON)--Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) today introduced legislation that aims to ease the crisis faced by American farmers who raise hogs. Adjusted for inflation, the fourth quarter of 1998 registered the lowest live swine prices in the United States during the 20th Century and many small hog producers may be forced from business due to this crisis.

"Many central Illinois pork producers have contacted me with concerns about the financial difficulties in the industry," said LaHood. "Our farmers are facing some of the toughest times they have ever faced. Low prices, imported hogs, and concentration of packing facilities have all played roles in this crisis. The hardest hit have been the small, family operations and this bill attempts to bring some relief to those families."

The "Swine Producers Market Loss Assistance Act of 1999" provides for a Department of Agriculture (USDA) program to provide financial assistance to swine producers which would partially offset financial market losses they incurred on swine sold during the crisis period.

The bill defines the crisis period as the fourth quarter of 1998 (October 1-December 31) and allows for payments of up to $25.00 per swine and $9.00 per feeder pig sold during that period.

The bill also contains a provision requiring large-scale packers to submit mandatory livestock market reports to USDA. The provision requires reporting of information relating to prices, volume, and term of sale for cattle, sheep, and swine.

"Currently, almost half the livestock sold are not reported because they are sold under contract," LaHood added. "If we are to have free and fair markets, producers must know what the market prices are for all livestock. Accurate and timely information will give producers the tools they need to make the marketing decisions appropriate for their operations. This provision will allow for that."

Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria), a leading advocate of bipartisanship and civility, today said that a second bipartisan retreat will be even more successful than the 1997 retreat. House members and their families will gather in Hershey, PA March 19-21 for the event.

"The last few months have been difficult," said LaHood, "but I think there exists a genuine belief that the House must work together to solve our country's problems. that is the atmosphere fostered by the Hershey retreat."

At a Wednesday news conference, LaHood and Congressman Tom Sawyer (D-OH), both co-chairs of the event, as well as Democratic Whip David Bonior (D-MI), Republican Policy Committee Chairman Christopher Cox (R-CA), and other members of the event's steering committee, said House members are signing up for the retreat at a faster pace than in 1997.

They also announced that the retreat will feature three prominent speakers:

*John Hume, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last fall for his efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland.

*Doris Kearns Goodwin, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author.

*Sam Waterston, the crtically acclaimed actor who will present excerpts from Abraham Lincoln's speeches and letters.

"The spirit of Hershey means that we recognize the common experiences we share go beyond our partisan differences," said Rep. Sawyer.

In 1997, more than 200 House members attended the first bipartisan retreat in Hershey. The mission of this year's retreat remains to build a more civil environment on Capitol Hill and create an atmosphere of mutual respect and civil discourse.

The retreat is funded by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts and coordinated by the Aspen Institute. Logistical support and planning is provided by the Congressional Institute and the Democratic and Republican spouses' organizations.

(WASHINGTON)--Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) today introduced legislation that calls on the Congressional leadership and the President to formulate a plan to reduce the public debt of the United States.

As of February 1, the national debt stood at $5,588,099,467,924.97.

"Those who are espousing the 'politics of surplus' have ignored the most pressing problem facing our nation's budget," LaHood stated, "the unconscionable debt that our country's government has accumulated. I am deply disturbed that this issue is being swept aside in favor of more government programs, continued excessive spending, or tax cuts.

"If we do not address this issue now, while our annual budgets are in good shape, we will never have the courage to tackle this problem. For those of us who support eliminating estate taxes, leaving this tremendous debt for our grandchildren should represent the ultimate 'death tax.'"

LaHood's "sense of the House" resolution states that "this debt represents a significant fianacial burden that will require excessive taxation and lost economic opportunity for future generations."

The bill adds that "it is the sense of the House of Representatives that any comprhensive legislation that balances the budget by a date certain and that is agreed to by the Congress and the President should contain a strategy for reducing the public debt."

"I urge the President and our leadership to make reducing the national debt a top priority," LaHood added.

(SPRINGFIELD, IL)--At a Statehouse news conference today, 18th District Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) reiterated his call that the federal government's first priority should be reducing the national debt.

Last week, LaHood sent a letter to House Budget Committee Chairman John Kasich (R-OH) calling on the chairman to make reduction of the national debt a priority as the budget for FY 2000 is crafted.

"This last year of the millenium began with our national debt at $5.6 trillion and growing," LaHood said. "This is an enormous sum: a sum we cannot leave to our grandchildren. As national leaders we must, while we have the opportuity with the annual budget in good shape, formulate a plan to begin whittling down this debt.

"Leaders from both parties have turned a blind eye to this problem for far too long. The President came to Capitol Hill last week and proposed dozens of new programs that would eat away at the so called 'surplus.' The Republican leadership is set on tax cuts without addressing the debt. If we just focused on eliminating the debt we could do many of these things and more. But we first must reduce what is now the second largest expenditure in the budget--managing our debt."

LaHood also stressed that Congress and the President must address the long-term solvency of Social Security to ensure that it is in place for future generations.

"Equally as important as the debt is ensuring the solvency of the Social Security system," LaHood added. "The budget surplus we talk about today is actually a surplus of the Social Security Trust Fund, not a surplus of other federal programs.

"As the baby-boom generation begins to retire there will be a great shift of people away from those who pay into Social Security to those who will be receiving benefits from the system. This shift will create a tremendous shortfall of dollars into the system if we do not address the solvency issue. We must address this now, while we have a Social Security Trust Fund surplus of almost $100 billion.

"Congress has a unique opportunity this session to work with the White House to craft bipartisan solutions to the issues before us. I am pleased by Speaker Hastert's commitment to work with the other side of the aisle, as long as the Democrats believe that cooperation is a two-way street.

"With that in mind, I will once again be helping to organize the Bipartisan Congressional Retreat in Hershey, PA. This will be the second retreat in as many Congresses that aims to promote a higher sense of civility and bipartisanship in the House." The retreat is scheduled for March 19-21.

(WASHINGTON)--Congressman Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) today announced the nominees for United States military academies from the 18th Congressional District.

These students were nominated by Congressman LaHood for attendance at the mentioned academies after an interview process. Final determination is made by the individual academy.

AIR FORCE:

Jonathan Morgan Frary of Peoria. Jonathan is the son of Gregory and Linda Frary and attends Dunlap High School.

Bryon Charles Lenhart of Sherman. Bryon is the son of Charles Lenhart and Rhonda Halford and attends Williamsville High School.

Ethan A. White of East peoria. Ethan is the son of Royce and Julia White and attends the New Mexico Military Institute. He is a graduate of Metamora High School.

MERCHANT MARINE:

Preston Mark Killion Carnahan of Lincoln. Preston is the son of Mark and Miggy Carnahan and attends Lincoln Community High School.

Michael Joseph Herold of Mason City. Michael is the son of George and Stasia Herold and attends Illini Central High School.

NAVAL:

Andrea Lee Adams of North Pekin. Andrea is the daughter of Carl and Dorothy Adams and attends Peoria Notre Dame High School.

Sean Phillip Egan of Granville. Sean is the son of Terry and Bernadette Egan and attends the University of Illinois. He is a graduate of Putnam County High School.

Aaron Michael Mahaffey of Bloomington. Aaron is the son of Stephen and Lesa Mahaffey and attends Olympia High School.

Mark James Radlinski of Springfield. Mark is the son of Bill Radlinski and Teresa Niss and attends Springfield High School.

Brett Nikolas Ryan of Petersburg. Brett is the son of Dennis Ryan and Cynthis Brackett and attends Petersburg Porta High School.

Joseph L. Sronce of Springfield. Joseph is the son of John and Camille Sronce and attends Springfield High School.

WEST POINT:

Steven Robert Crews II of Princeville. Steven is the son of Steven and Pamela Crews and attends Princeville High School.

Michael Thomas Hutchinson of Peoria. Michael is the son of Thomas and Diana Hutchinson and attends Peoria Notre Dame High School.

Forest Jay Lightle IV of Peoria. Forest is the son of Forest Jay (III) and Elizabeth Lightle and attends Richwoods High School.

John R. Sauder of Morton. John is the son of John and Peg Sauder and attends Morton Community High School.

Brian Iler Ziegenbein of Pekin. Brian is the son of Terry and Esther Ziegenbein and atends Pekin Community High School.

(JACKSONVILLE, IL)--Congressman Ray LaHood's Jacksonville office has a supply of some of the most frequently used FEDERAL tax forms, instructions, and publications fmro the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These forms are available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

LaHood's Jacksonville office is located at 236 W. State Street and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The public can call 245-1431 to inquire about availability of forms. For people seeking hard-to-find forms, LaHood's office will soon have limited, reproducible forms that can be photocopied.

STATE OF ILLINOIS tax forms are not available from LaHood's office.

LaHood's office does not provide assistance with regards to questions and/or filing of tax forms. For those who have questions regarding the completion of tax forms, the IRS has a toll-free number, (800) 829-1040, for assistance.

The IRS also has several alternative ways to obtain tax forms and information.