James Traficant: “I thank the gentlewoman [Mrs. Kennelly] for yielding me this time. I would just like to say over the years I have been…”

“I thank the gentlewoman [Mrs. Kennelly] for yielding me this time. I would just like to say over the years I have been here there has not been a more aggressive advocate for children than the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Mrs. Kennelly], and I want to compliment her today on the achievement of bringing this bill to the floor. I want to compliment the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Camp] who has also done a fine job, and also the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Shaw] who has worked previously to try and help children all through our country. Two things concern me. Many people back in our district back in the Youngstown area have gone overseas and spent $30 to $40,000 to adopt a child from Russia or other countries. I think that we must do everything possible to promote the adoption of our own children, American children. Now, my amendment that I am offering to this bill today is pretty consistent with my focus here. And to make sure that everybody understands it, it is not a buy-American-child amendment. It just states, for any funds ultimately expended to procure products and goods pursuant to this act, that the Congress recommends, not mandates, that they buy American-made goods so our kids would have a home where the parent is getting a paycheck who could then pay taxes to keep this train coming down the track. That is simply what it is. It gives us a handle on the type of procurement we got. It does not mandate that we buy American kids. Mr.…”