THE OSE REPORT

California’s 3^rd Congressional District

AN ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN DOUG OSE

E-mail: doug.ose@mail.house.gov                                  Web Site: http://www.house.gov/ose

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1) HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSES McCLELLAN PROJECTS

At the request of Congressman Doug Ose, the House Appropriations Committee announced its approval of $14 million in project funding for the Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA) program at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento.

"I am pleased by the committee’s action," Ose said. "These projects are an important component for McClellan as it undergoes the process of transformation from military to civilian use." DMEA is a high-tech microelectronics laboratory that keeps military systems up-to date by using the latest state-of-the-art technology. The facility employs over 130 engineers. It is one of the few defense activities that will remain open at McClellan after the base closes next year. DMEA currently serves as the hub of McClellan’s high-tech component, and is crucial for the redevelopment of the base.

"Microelectronics technology plays a vital role in our weapons system, yet it is so dynamic and now obsoletes itself every 18 months," said DMEA Director Ted Glum. "These funds will allow us to generate solutions that enable us to support our weapons systems that rely on this technology now and in the future. Congressman Ose should be commended for his foresight in the DMEA issue." The approved projects will enhance DMEA’s ability to keep pace with the rapid changes occurring in the commercial semiconductor industry. DMEA provides the Department of Defense (DOD) with critical replacement components for some of the most modern weapons systems, saving millions of tax dollars. Besides its funding from the government, DMEA has also been actively involved in several cooperative relationships with local educational institutions and the small businesses. These projects will provide even great opportunities for these public-private ventures and help add to the already significant growth of high-tech companies in and around Sacramento. The Bill will be considered next by the entire House of Representatives.

2) CONGRESS GRANTS PNTR FOR CHINA

This week, the Congressman voted in support of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) for China, opening up vast new opportunities that will benefit farmers, consumers, companies and workers in California’s Third Congressional District. "International trade and investment play a prominent and critical role in improving the quality of life in California," Ose said. "In the Third District alone, exports support more than 2,660 jobs and over $322 million in exports originate in this area. The farmers, ranchers and small business of the Third District will benefit from this trade deal. With its market of 1.3 billion people, China will be a vital exporting partner for California." This week’s vote will ease the transition of China to the World Trade Organization, where as a member, China has agreed to slash barriers for the sale of American goods and services in the world’s most populous country. In addition, agriculture tariffs will be cut by more than half on U.S. agricultural products. The WTO Accession Agreement with China contains hundreds of concessions for American products, including those grown in the Third District. China agreed to initially accept 1,220,000 metric tons of medium grain rice under a tariff rate quota system. This level will increase to 2,660,000 metric tons in 2004. China also agreed to stop subsidizing its rice exports. In recent years, China has gained market share from the United States in terms of rice exports to Japan. The vast majority of U.S. rice that is exported to Japan is grown in the Sacramento Valley. The agreement also calls for China to slash tariffs in almonds from 30 to 10 percent, pistachios from 35 to 10 percent, walnuts from 30 to 20 percent, peaches from 30 to 10 percent, plums from 40 to 10 percent and pears from 30 to 10 percent by 2004. "This will bring China into the commercial world, not only in terms of trade, but also politically and legally," Ose said. "Normal trade relations will open a dialogue that advances religious freedom and human rights in China. I have no doubt that it will be a positive development for the U.S. and the entire world." The bill passed the House of Representatives by a 237-197 margin.

3) HOUSE ACTS TO REPEAL 102-YEAR-OLD TELEPHONE TAX

This week, the House voted in support of the Telephone Excise Tax Repeal Bill, which eliminates a three percent federal tax on telecommunication services for consumers.

"One thing about Washington is that once a tax is on the books, it’s hard to get rid of it. It’s time to hang up on the 102-year-old telephone tax once and for all," Ose said. "Just about every American has a phone, so this tax cut will go to everyone equally across the board. " Congress first enacted a telephone excise tax in order to help pay for the Spanish-American War in 1898. At the time, this "temporary" tax amounted to a penny on long-distance phone calls costing more than 15 cents. Over the years, the federal phone tax has survived efforts to phase it out and scale it back, and Congress made it a permanent three percent tax on telecommunications services from taxation. "Now that we’ve won the Spanish-American War, it’s time to move on. Repealing this tax removes one more restrictive barrier surrounding communications service," Ose said. "This legislation will give all Americans a break on their phone bills and cut down the cost of families logging on to the Internet." The bill, introduced by Rep. Matsui of Sacramento and co-sponsored by Ose, passed the House by a 420-2 margin.

4) OSE FIGHTS TO BRING AMERICAN CHILDREN HOME

All 416 Members of Congress present joined Representative Doug Ose in urging member countries to comply with the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction and return abducted American children back to their parents. "By adopting this resolution, Congress sends a message to the Administration that this country will not tolerate the abduction of our children," Ose said. "As a father, I cannot imagine going a day without them. It seems inconceivable that fighting to get back our children is not the first priority of our Administration. We can no longer stand idly by while parents are separated from their children." The Hague Convention establishes reciprocal rights and duties between its contracting states to expedite the return of children to the state of their habitual residence. The Convention also ensures that rights of custody are respected in other states without consideration of the merits of child custody disputes. However, in recent years, countries such as Germany, Austria, Honduras, Mexico and Sweden have hindered the effectiveness of this agreement by invoking an exception to the Convention rules that allows them to detain children without reasons. Just this month, Ose and fellow members of the Congressional Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children sent a letter to President Clinton asking that the President address specific child abduction cases in his upcoming meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on June 2^nd and 3^rd.

5) SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE GRANTS
Congressman Ose announced this week three separate education grants from the U.S. Department of Education.

1. The Butte County Office of Education is slated to receive $838,153 in Community Learning Center Grants. The Butte program will serve 425 students (K-12) and 120 community members. Activities in the program range from academic assistance to career preparation.
2. The San Juan Unified School District has been selected to receive funding under the Comprehensive School Grants Program to fund its "Operation Success" project. This grant will be in the amount of $213,222. It is anticipated that the grant will be a total of five years. The program will serve 497 Limited English Proficient students from over twenty different languages.
3. The Edwin Markham Elementary School in Vacaville is slated to receive $151,875 under the Development and Implementation Grants Program. The school will use the funds to fund its Alternative Child Education, Traditional Education, Structured English Immersion and Two-Way Immersion programs.

6) HOUSE COMMENDS ISRAELI ACTION

This week, the House of Representatives passed a resolution that commends Israel for its decision to withdraw its military forces from southern Lebanon and for taking the risks of pursuing peace in the Middle East. The measure calls for the United Nations to recognize Israel’s fulfillment of its obligations under Security Council Resolution 425, which calls for "strict respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized boundaries" and established a United Nations interim force to help restore Lebanese sovereignty. Also, the resolution calls upon the Security Council to provide the necessary resources for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to implement its mandate under Resolution 425, while also calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanese territory. Congressman Ose supported this legislation.

7) CONGRESS PASSES AGRICULTURAL RISK PROTECTION ACT

Congressman Ose, a member of the House Agricultural Committee, this week voted in support of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act. H.R. 2559 pumps 7.1 billion dollars into the Federal Crop Insurance Program. It also changes procedures in an attempt to increase ease of use for farmers and ranchers.

See the House Agriculture website for more info http://agriculture.house.gov/

8) COPS APPLICATION DEADLINES APPROACHING

Since May 12, 1999 the U.S. Department of Justice COP’s office has funded over 100,000 officers and has awarded more than $6 billion in grants to more than 11,300 state and local law enforcement agencies across the county since its inception in 1994.

Application deadlines:

• Universal Hiring Program (Deadline: May 31, 2000); this program is devoted to deploying additional officers on the streets and rural routes of the nation.

• COPS in Schools (Deadline: June 16, 2000); this program provides an incentive for law enforcement agencies to build working relationships with schools to use community policing efforts to combat school violence.

• COPS More 2000 (Deadline: July 14, 2000); this program is devoted to creating civilian positions in order to deploy more officers to streets instead of filling out paper work.

Applications for these programs are available on the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services’ website at www.usdoj.gov/cops/ If our office can assist you, please do not hesitate to call the chief of staff, Marko Mlikotin, at 202/225-5716.

9) RECESS PERIOD

Congressman Ose will be in the district for the Memorial Day recess period. The Ose Report will resume in two weeks. We hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend and be sure to look for Congressman Ose at the Vacaville Fiesta Days Parade (5/27) and at the North Highlands Memorial Day Parade (5/29).