Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, after five years of setting records for weak job creation, the President is giving us a rosy outlook for our economy. What he fails to mention in his economic pep talks is the elephant sitting in the room--this administration continues to set record debts and deficits, long-term, structural problems that will bog us down for generations to come.

What is our response as a Congress to this fiscal mess? A bill that would cost $81 billion over 10 years. A bill that would pile on to the deficit that is projected to be $3.5 trillion over 10 years. I suppose the thinking is compared to $3.5 trillion, what's another $81 billion? Only in Washington.

What's worse, the middle class--the foundation of our Nation and our economy will be largely ignored by the bill before us. It's bad enough that working Americans have already been left behind in our economic recovery.

But this bill will essentially raise taxes on 17 million American middle-class families by failing to protect them from the Alternative Minimum Tax. Make no mistake, they will not get real protection from yesterday's fig-leaf AMT bill, and they will get nothing from the bill before us today.

We are considering more of the same. More debt, more deficits, more working Americans who are ignored.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill and ``yes'' on the sensible Rangel substitute, which will allow us to really fix the AMT, help the middle class and help working Americans.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that the House is taking up this bill that Congressman Castle and I initiated, and I truly believe it is a win-win for taxpayers and the economy, the Presidential $1 Coin Bill.

As we recall, the House passed our version of this bill by an overwhelming bipartisan majority last April, and the Senate has now done the same with its version and sent it back here for final passage.

As our earlier vote reflects, this is an idea that we can all agree on. The Presidential dollar coin will begin in January of 2007 with the issuance of the George Washington dollar and continue at the rate of four Presidents a year until all Presidents who have completed their term of office have been honored, including President Bush and at least one successor.

The back of the coin has the Statue of Liberty, which is located in the harbor of the city I represent. It is recognized throughout the world as the image of the United States and the symbol of freedom and opportunity.

I am particularly pleased and thankful for discussions with Representative Pomeroy from North Dakota, Indian tribal chiefs and women's groups, on the provisions of the bill relating to the Sakakawea dollar coin that have been clarified, really strengthened, to make sure that Sakakawea will continue to be honored on the dollar throughout the program and after the program is complete. This is also true in the Senate version which we are voting on today.

This initiative builds on the remarkable success also led by my dear friend and colleague Congressman Castle of our 50 State quarter bill. Like the State quarters, the Presidential dollar coin will revive interest in and encourage use of the dollar coin, educate the public about our Presidents and their first ladies and make money for the taxpayers. After 5 years at the halfway point, the 50 State quarter program had made $4 billion for the United States Treasury, primarily from collectors taking the coins out of circulation so that the Federal Reserve then buys more from the Mint.

Over 130 million Americans, including children, adults and collectors, are collecting the quarters. I know from firsthand experience. My daughter is one of these collectors, and she has collected every single quarter, has books on them; her friends collect them. Teachers have told me that they use the quarter in their classrooms for educational purposes, and I believe that the Presidential dollar bill will likewise be used as an educational tool for collectors and for school children. We have similar hopes for the effect of the individuals collecting the Presidential dollar coins for them to be useful in the classroom and helpful to the Treasury.

In addition, this bill will revive interest in and encourage use of the dollar coin. The GAO has estimated that general use of dollar coins could save the government as much as $50 million per year because they last longer than the dollar bill.

I have received correspondence from small businesses, who are delighted that the bill will boost usage of the dollar coin in everyday commerce. As dollar coins achieve greater use in meters, fare machines, coin operated laundromats or car washes, these businesses will benefit and consumers will get faster and more efficient service.

We have done a great deal of research to make sure that this coin is successful. In the course of developing this bill, Congressman Castle reached out to the National Federation for the Blind to ask for the perspective of persons with visual impairments whom we might expect to have the most concern over problems with usage of a dollar coin and specifically with distinguishing it from a quarter. The NFB responded that so long as the edge of the coin was distinctive, persons with visual impairments would not have a problem, and we have accommodated that need. The legislation also leaves a great deal of flexibility to the Mint to

design the coins in such a way that they will be sufficiently distinctive, and we have made the Mint aware of this imperative.

I am also proud of the bill's provision for also honoring each first spouse. The bill provides for these to be issued both as gold bullion collectors items and also in a bronze version, making them more accessible to school children and the public.

This bill earns money for the government, benefits small businesses and consumers, educates all users of American currency about their Presidents and revitalizes interest in the dollar coin. I would call that a bill that clearly deserves our full support.

I would like to thank Congressman Castle for his initiative and steady work on this bill, a bill that should be supported easily by everyone. The fact is that it makes money for the Treasury, educates people and helps our economy, but we had many, many hurdles that we had to jump over, and his thoughtful and persistent work was absolutely critical for its success.

I also thank my good friend Representative Pomeroy for helping to make this a bill that continues to honor Sakakawea, both during the time that it is being minted and afterwards; and also our ranking member, Mr. Frank, for helping us to move this to the floor for a vote.

Of course, Congressman Oxley, we will miss you and miss your leadership in this body.

I would also like to thank Joe Pinder and Emily Pfeiffer on the majority staff of the Financial Services Committee for their assistance throughout this process.

And I would finally like to thank Jaime Lizarraga of the minority Financial Services Committee and Eleni Constantine for their work on it.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support it. It is not often that we have an opportunity to vote on something that will educate adults and children about our history, put money into the Treasury, save taxpayers money, help small business, and it is just plain fun to collect. So I am thoroughly in support of it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr.

Pomeroy), who was instrumental in the passage of this bill. We thank him for his leadership.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his leadership on so many other issues. Bringing this to the floor took a great deal of work and conversations and negotiations and Mr. Frank led that work in many ways.

I also want to really compliment the passion of Gary Miller from California, who has introduced this legislation in a number of Congresses. Before coming to Congress, he worked in urban areas in redevelopment and knows the problem that brownfields can cause to localities in holding back economic development. He has been really devoted to passing it, and it has been my pleasure to work with him on this for three Congresses.

The primary purpose of this legislation is to increase the flexibility of the HUD Brownfields Economic Development Initiative, the BEDI program, and make the program available to more local governments.

This is a very important initiative, particularly for upstate New York, a former industrial area. Many manufacturing jobs have left and left behind contaminated brownfields. Our localities, our villages, towns and cities desperately need this money to clean up these brownfields and return these economic centers to economic growth.

The Financial Services Committee has reported this legislation out by an overwhelming bipartisan vote in the past two Congresses, reflecting the bipartisan consensus that brownfields clean-up benefits the economic development of our entire Nation. The legislation eliminates the requirement that communities applying for BEDI grants must pledge their Community Development Block Grant funding as security for the loan. This requirement puts local governments, particularly smaller local governments, between a rock and a hard place.

Since its inception, the larger brownfields program has proven to be an effective government response to a serious environmental problem, and it is important that we maximize its use. Brownfields spot our country from coast to coast, especially in areas with high or formerly high levels of industrial activity, especially urban areas. These brownfields locations have a potential for economic development, but they have been held back by the environmental problems created by former or current users.

New York City and State, and I am sure probably every State and city, is full of them. The EPA program has successfully used a variety of financial and technical assistance to restore these sites which would otherwise be doomed to further decay.

I am very pleased that we are moving this legislation forward today, but very disappointed that the BEDI program appears to be under attack from the administration. The budget the administration put forward this year would have discontinued the BEDI program at HUD and shifted its function to Commerce. Therefore, this bill is especially important this year to preserve

the very survival of the brownfields initiative.

I truly do want to thank Gary Miller for his consistent and persistent leadership in introducing this legislation year after year and Ranking Member Frank for championing it, along with his staff; and of course Chairman Michael Oxley for his leadership on this and so many other issues.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for organizing this important Special Order.

Tonight, we stand to honor Michigan's most famous export, John Dingell. He has served and led in this body for many years. His partner in life, Debbie Dingell, has been an important part of his work and causes.

It is absolutely amazing how much he has helped improve people's lives through the legislation and causes he has advanced. Because John is so tenacious, determined, knowledgeable and effective, I always seek him out to help me with those causes nearest to my heart. There have been many, but one is the equal rights amendment which like-minded men and women have been trying to pass since the first women's rights meeting at Seneca Falls in New York in 1848.

John believed that the best way to advance women's rights was through an economic argument, so we commissioned and worked together on what became known as the Dingell-Maloney Reports. One called ``A New Look at the Glass Ceiling'' proved that women managers earned significantly less than their male counterparts. Another, ``The Glass Ceiling Under the Microscope,'' proved that this wage gap had persisted unchanged for 20 years. College professors and teachers tell me that they use the Glass Ceiling reports as part of their women's studies curriculum.

John, thank you for helping me on these reports, and for so many other issues, health care, campaign finance reform, energy policy, clean water, clean air.

John is known for many, many, many achievements. He is one of the most outstanding legislators this body has ever seen, but, above all, John cares. He cares about people, and he cares about quality public policy.

We thank Michigan tonight for her proud gift to the Nation, Congressman John Dingell. And as we say in New York, sto lat, sto lat: may you live 1,000 years, may you serve 1,000 years.

Mr. Speaker, today Representatives Maxine Waters (D- CA), Charlie Melancon (D-LA) and I introduced the Mortgage and Rental Assistance Reauthorization Act to give victims of Hurricane Katrina the same housing aid awarded to New Yorkers in the aftermath of 9/11.

Once fully implemented, the Mortgage and Rental Assistance (MRA) program was one of the most useful FEMA programs following 9/11. This grant program provided direct mortgage or rent payments for individuals still living in their home, but were experiencing difficulties in making payments. When FEMA administered the program in New York, recipients were required to have a loss of income of at least 25 percent to quality. Rent or mortgage payments lasted up to eighteen months. This program was particularly useful for people who lost their job as a result of 9/11 and could not afford to pay their rent or mortgage.

Unfortunately, 9/11 was the last disaster for which this program was available. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 eliminated this program because it was considered too costly and difficult to administer (the enactment date was 18 months and the attacks of 9/11 occurred after this act was signed into law, but before enactment). The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 merged temporary housing assistance with grants to individuals and families. This merge now limits the assistance FEMA is allowed to provide victims of disasters.

On December 1, 2005, the three-month mortgage suspension on mortgages for victims of Katrina expired and many individuals are now faced with mortgage bills they are unable to afford. This week the Bush Administration announced a limited loan program to assist victims having difficulty paying their mortgage.

This program was instrumental in stabilizing New York's economy after 9/11, it is beyond me why we are now refusing to get the people of the Gulf Coast the very same aid we got in New York. The offering of loans to pay off loans unfairly straddle Katrina victims with more debt. When Congress debated converting reconstruction aid to Iraq from grants to loans, the Administration threatened a veto. Why should reconstruction of the Gulf Coast be any different?

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the extraordinary achievements of an important member of the New York community, Dr. Alicia Zizzo.

Critics have described Dr. Zizzo as one of America's most important classical musicians, both for her skills as a pianist and her research on George Gershwin's body of work, celebrated and forgotten. Her pianistic artistry has brought her international acclaim and has been recognized on four continents.

Dr. Zizzo's musicological scholarship is focused on the research and restoration of the classical piano literature of George Gershwin. She has been able to enhance what was a remarkably small classical piano solo repertoire by working with the Library of Congress, Warner Brothers Publications, the Gershwin estate and other scholars.

Dr. Zizzo succeeded in researching, transcribing and inevitably recreating Gershwin's lost and forgotten classical solo piano manuscripts notated in his own hand. She approaches these manuscripts not with the objective of making yet another arrangement of his melodies as so many musicians have already done, but rather to literally reconstruct from fragments, sketches and partially completed scores that had been long neglected.

Critics have lauded her for the discovery of transitional scores which bring new life to classic Gershwin material. For example, the New York Times, Washington Post and many other widely recognized publications throughout the United States and the world have hailed Dr. Zizzo for her groundbreaking musicological analysis of the original manuscripts of Gershwin's famous Rhapsody in Blue. Dr. Zizzo was able to restore approximately 80 measures, mostly solos, that were deleted during editing--not done by Gershwin himself--for publication.

Dr. Zizzo has also been praised for unearthing material never known to exist. Her landmark, best selling CDs feature lost Gershwin classics like Seven Preludes, Blue Monday, Lullaby, Sleepless Night and other previously unpublished scores. She also created a brand new manuscript edition of Rhapsody in Blue and a piano solo suite on the background orchestral scores of the movie Shall We Dance (1937). Also published is a piano solo transcription of the symphonic work I Got Rhythm Variations.

In 1998, during the Library of Congress's four day celebration of the Gershwin Centennial, Dr. Zizzo was the only concert pianist invited to present a full recital and lecture. Later that year, she was recognized by Hofstra University with an Honorary Doctorate degree for her important contributions to American music.

Mr. Speaker, I request that my distinguished colleagues rise and pay tribute to a great New Yorker, Dr. Alicia Zizzo, for her accomplishments. Her many successes have brought to light music scores by our greatest American composer, George Gershwin, important scores that we may continue to enjoy for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the achievements of the Milbank Memorial Fund, on the occasion of its centennial celebration. The Milbank Memorial Fund is an outstanding organization which engages in nonpartisan analysis, study, research, and communication on significant issues in health policy, particularly for those people of greatest risk of disease and death. The Fund grew out of Elizabeth Milbank Anderson's philanthropic achievements during the Progressive Era, as she worked to prevent and remedy illnesses linked to poverty. Today, the Fund continues her legacy through an active approach to health care.

Elizabeth Milbank Anderson was committed to disease prevention and public health, recognizing improper sanitary conditions as a major source of disease affecting the poor. She founded the Milbank Public Baths on East 38th Street in New York City in 1904. Anderson made gifts to the National Committee for Mental Hygiene, in Manhattan, and Manhattan's Home Hospital for tuberculosis patients. As a strong supporter of women's education, she was one of the first trustees of Barnard College. She provided the funds for the college's first building, Milbank Hall, and purchased for the college three city blocks that became the Milbank Quadrangle. Acting on the suggestion of her cousin, Anderson created the Milbank Memorial Fund, named for her parents.

In accordance with Anderson's philosophy, the Fund recognizes that the public's health depends not only on conquering infectious diseases but also addressing the underlying causes and problems of these infections, such as housing, nutrition, health care, medical services and poverty. Accordingly, the Fund has been staunchly committed to evaluating and researching the causes of disease, focusing on prophylaxis and prevention in lieu of the more popular health care methods of treatment and suppression. After her death, additional bequests increased the fund's assets to about $10 million, or $110 million in 2005 dollars.

One of the Fund's earliest projects included creating models for agencies which would later become neighborhood health centers. Based on the premise that health must be conducted by the people not on the people, three local demonstration centers were erected. The last center to be established, the Bellevue-Yorkville center, on the East Side of Manhattan, for example, tested the effectiveness of organizing big-city public health services at the district level.

Today, the Milbank Memorial Fund undertakes projects in policy development with decision makers in public, private and nonprofit sectors in the U.S. and around the world. Their projects have addressed issues such as the implications for policy of the Americans for Disabilities Act; the adequacy of retirement income for the baby boom generation; the salience of health for foreign policy; and rapidly growing evidence about the effectiveness of health care intervention. The Fund also conducts policy reviews on topics ranging from Households and Health Services to Opportunities in Prevention Policy.

The Milbank Memorial Fund is also known for its philanthropic commitment. In total, the Fund has spent $465 million (in 2005 dollars) on charitable purposes. One example of the Fund's charitable work includes a Milbank Scholars Program, which provided five-year fellowships for epidemiology training and research to medical school junior clinical faculty, encouraging advancement of the work of young professionals in the field of community medicine.

Although the health care problems our world faces today are daunting, and at times, may seem insurmountable, it is the work of organizations like the Milbank Memorial Fund which help us understand and then properly combat the health care dilemmas which confront us. That the Fund manages to carry out such critical research and education, is a testament to the legacy left by Anderson, and to the present leadership of Samuel Milbank and Daniel Fox.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to request that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to the outstanding contribution made by the Milbank Memorial Fund, during its 100 years. May it continue to serve the community for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the achievements of the United Community Civic Association (UCCA) on the occasion of its annual holiday champagne brunch. I ask that my colleagues join me in saluting UCCA's distinguished honorees: Assembly Member Michael N. Gianaris, Council Member Peter F. Vallone, Jr., Gerald J. Walsh, and Dr. Arthur N. Gualtieri.

The United Community Civic Association is one of the Queens community's foremost neighborhood organizations. Deeply committed to the improvement of the Queens community, UCCA has remained vigilant on a variety of issues relevant to Queens residents, including airport pollution and health concerns. Furthermore, UCCA is an important catalyst for community pride and involvement. UCCA hosts a yearly candlelight ceremony honoring the firefighters who lost their lives on September 11 and organizes the annual Flag Day Parade in Queens. These events are moving tributes to the best America has to offer, and are always beautifully done.

UCCA is also known for its tradition of excellent leadership. UCCA's president, Rose

Marie Poveromo, has served as a pillar of the Queens community through her leadership and activism. She has contributed to community dialogue on issues of public concern and sustained the spirit of civic participation so important to our Nation's health and well-being.

The recipients of UCCA's ``Men of the Year'' awards, Assembly Member Michael N. Gianaris and Council Member Peter F. Vallone, Jr., have outstanding records of public service and community activism. Representing the 36th Assembly District in Queens, Assembly Member Gianaris has established himself as an effective and smart legislator, authoring many public safety measures to enhance New York's security after the attacks on New York on September 11, 2001. A lifelong resident of Queens, Assembly Member Gianaris has committed himself to improving the community in which he grew up and has provided the residents of Queens with impeccable leadership.

Council Member Peter F. Vallone, Jr., also has shown exemplary public service to our community. A tireless advocate for public safety issues, Council Member Vallone has led the fight to keep illegal guns off of the streets of New York City. Council Member Vallone has also been a strong advocate for environmental rights, introducing bills to curtail the carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

Gerald J. Walsh, this year's recipient of the Valerie Fisher Community Service Award, was born and raised in Queens and is a longtime community activist and leader. Currently the Deputy Director of Computer Operations Hardware and Financial Information Services for the City of New York, Mr. Walsh is the President of the Dutch Kills Civic Association and also serves as a member of the 114th Police Precinct.

Dr. Arthur N. Gualtieri, the Deputy Commissioner at The City of New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and former Medical Director of the Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens, is being recognized with the Special Award of Recognition. A devoted public servant, Dr. Gualtieri is both a physician and a lawyer and a member of both the Queens County Bar Association and the Queens County Medical Society. As a resident of Astoria, Dr. Gualtieri continues his devotion to the Queens community by serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Astoria Civic Association, SHAREing & CAREing, and UCCA.

Mr. Speaker, I request that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to the United Community Civic Association and its celebrated honorees: Assembly Member Gianaris, Council Member Vallone, Mr. Walsh, and Dr. Gualtieri.

Mr. Speaker, data released this Monday on productivity and wages show why the American people do not believe President Bush when he says our economic prospects are as bright as they have been for a long time.

Yes, productivity is strong, and the economy is growing. But the benefits of that growth are showing up in the bottom lines of companies, not in the paychecks of the American worker.

While productivity grew at a 4.7 percent annual rate in the third quarter, workers' pay, including their benefits, shrank at a 1.4 percent rate. Americans are working harder and harder and producing more and more, but they are getting paid less. This is not a bright economy.

Mr. Speaker, data released Monday on productivity and wages show why the American people do not believe President Bush when he says our economic prospects are bright and improving.

Yes, productivity is strong, and the economy is growing. But the benefits of that growth are showing up in the bottom lines of companies, not in the paychecks of American workers.

While productivity grew at a 4.7 percent annual rate in the third quarter, workers' pay, including benefits, shrank at a 1.4 percent rate. Let me repeat that important point. Workers' pay shrank by 1.4 percent.

Americans are working harder and producing more, but they are getting paid less.

President Bush is seizing on some recent favorable economic indicators to claim that the Nation's economic outlook is brighter than we have seen recently. I certainly wish that that were true for most Americans. The typical American family has a very different view because they know that they are still being left behind in the current economic recovery.

When I listen to the President recite the numbers he thinks show Americans are doing better, I am reminded of his speech in the Rose Garden several days after Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, when he recited the numbers of trucks, pounds of rice and the National Guardsmen he had ordered to New Orleans. Meanwhile, anyone with a TV set would see that Americans were still desperately struggling to survive with absolutely no Federal help.

The President seems equally out of touch on the economy. Ask your constituents how they are doing. Ask them if they have a secure job with benefits. Ask them if they are confident that they will have a job until they are ready to retire. Ask them if they think their children will have a job when they graduate from college.

In fact, a closer look at the numbers show that the administration has run a strong economy into the ground. Here are the facts. Under the Bush presidency, the economy has experienced the most protracted job slump in the postwar era. That is the worst record of any president since Hoover and the Great Depression.

The unemployment rate is nearly 1 percentage point higher than it was when President Bush took office. That is a 25 percent increase from where it was in the Clinton administration.

Over 1.6 million more people are unemployed. Twice as many people are long-term unemployed. Most people are actually earning less. The typical worker's earnings have barely kept up with inflation under President Bush, and real wages have been declining recently.

Under President Bush, real median household income is down $1,700, and 5.4 million more Americans live in poverty. That is the greatest decline in real household income and the second largest increase in the poverty rate of the last nine administrations. The most vulnerable among us are being hit the hardest. Under President Bush, real median family income has fallen for each fifth of the income distribution, but the largest decline has been in the poorest fifth of the distribution.

Because of the reckless economic policies of this administration, large projected budget surpluses have been turned into large actual deficits and the Federal debt is ballooning, rather than shrinking as it was at the end of the Clinton administration.

And here we see the numbers in blue of the surpluses during the Clinton years. Yet when the Bush Administration came to power, that surplus disappeared and we have had ever increasing deficits reaching the highest deficit recorded in our history of over $412 billion. It has come down to $319 billion, but it is still a structural problem.

We also have the largest trade deficit in the history of this country, of over $670 billion.

As Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan and many other economists repeatedly noted, our exploding deficits and debt are long-term structural problems that are rapidly getting worse. Only last week he repeated that warning: ``In the end, the consequences for the U.S. economy of doing nothing could be severe,'' and our allies have called our deficits ``unsustainable'' even as we continue to increase the amount of U.S. debt held by China and other Asian nations.

As Chairman Greenspan also warned recently, ``at some point, foreign investors will balk at further financing'' the growing U.S. deficit.

Thanks to the economic policies of this Administration, our national debt now stands at $8.3 trillion. That translates into over $27 thousand of debt for every man, woman and child in the country.

What is this Administration doing about this crisis?

They have increased the debt ceiling three times.

They have pushed for deficit-raising tax cuts for the very wealthiest while refusing to give tax relief to the middle class.

This Administration is continuing to set records for debts and deficits while turning its back on working Americans.

Mr. Speaker, part of our war against terror is putting our economic house in order, and this bill is essential to achieving that goal. Businesses and real estate and development tell me in New York City now that it is absolutely impossible to get insurance until this bill passes.

After 9/11, of all the aid that my colleagues gave which helped New York, in my opinion the absolute most important act was passing TRIA, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. We were not able to build anything or to move forward in any way until the insurance package was in place. So this bill today is tremendously important.

There are many important features in it. I would like to particularly point out that the House bill adds group life insurance, since it is not only property that is at risk in a terrorist attack but also human lives.

Secondly, the bill creates a commission of private sector experts to come forward with long-term private sector solutions. It gives the private sector the responsibility to develop a private sector solution for Congress to consider.

It also has a third year as a transition for a long-term solution that the commission will hopefully come forward with. Without the benefits and the flexibility provided in the House bill, I am afraid that in 2 years we will be at the same place we are now, having no new outside government thinking and no ability to implement new ideas or accommodate marketplace developments.

I urge my colleagues to support this; and I congratulate the leadership of Congress, the leadership of the committee, Mr. Oxley, who did a fantastic job on this. I regret that he will not be running for reelection again. He has been a tremendous leader along with Ranking Member Frank.

I hope that the features that are in the House bill will be preserved in the committee report.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2017, ``The Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2005.''

Torture can have devastating physical and psychological consequences for its victims. It is a worldwide health and human rights concern. The need for assistance for torture victims living in the United States is enormous. It is estimated that more than half a million survivors of torture, who fled persecution in their native countries, now live in the United States. Survivors of torture arriving in this country include students, academicians, religious leaders and political activists.

Programs funded through the Torture Victims Relief Act help torture victims heal and rebuild their lives. Because of this legislation, more than 30 organizations in more than 20 States are caring for refugees and asylum seekers who have been brutally tortured and traumatized in their countries of origin. Torture treatment programs funded by the Torture Victims Relief Act provide critical medical care, mental health care, and social services.

I am proud that one of the leading centers in the United States, the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture, is located in my district. This program is jointly sponsored by Bellevue Hospital, the nation's oldest public hospital, and New York University School of Medicine, a leader in medical education and research. Since the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture began in 1995, more than 1,800 men, women, and children (more than 600 in the last year alone) from more than 70 countries have received vital care. The Bellevue/NYU Program has established an international reputation for excellence in its clinical, educational and research activities.

One patient cared for through the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture is Samten. He is a gifted painter and was a leading artist in Tibet. After being arrested and imprisoned for writing poetry critical of the government, he was brutally beaten. During an interrogation session, he was told that he ``was causing nothing but trouble with his hands'' which were then forced into a coal oven. The severe bums caused significant scarring and disfigurement of his hands. He could barely hold a paintbrush and when he did, he had terrifying flashbacks of his abuse. Nightmares interrupted what little sleep he got.

At the time of referral to the Bellevue/NYU Program he did not have a regular place to stay. Through the Bellevue/NYU Program, he received primary medical care including pain management, treatment for exposure to tuberculosis as well as referral to hand specialists and subsequent hand surgery. Social service staff assisted him in finding housing and a pro bono attorney to represent him in his asylum case. He also attended a support group for Tibetan survivors which helped him to restore important social connections. Following surgery, he had marked improvement in the use of his hands. Recently, he was granted asylum, and he is again drawing and able to support himself.

The Bellevue/NYU Program and other treatment centers try to help torture survivors by restoring their dignity and their sense of trust. The centers also help them heal physically and psychologically, and assist them in getting on with their lives. Patients who have received care from the Bellevue/NYU Program and other torture treatment centers are now working, going to school, and again leading productive lives.

It is urgent that we continue to support torture treatment centers, both domestically and internationally, through the Torture Victims Relief Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Gifford Miller, Speaker of the New York City Council. Speaker Miller led the Council through four contentious years, winning on issues that are important to New Yorkers. He has been an exceptional City Council Speaker who has truly made New York City a better place to live. As a colleague, an ally and a friend, he has been one of the best public servants around.

Speaker Miller began his political career in my office. He rose quickly from an entry level position in my Washington office to running my New York district office. From the beginning his talents were obvious. He was hard-working and dedicated, drafting legislation to fund the development of pocket parks in urban areas and other matters. Recognizing his abilities, I soon promoted him to run my district office.

As Chief of Staff in my New York office, he established himself as a knowledgeable, committed leader in the community. Most of all, Speaker Miller clearly loves New York City, and wants to make this the best possible place to live. Thus, when he ran for City Council in a special election, he had enormous credibility and was able to defeat a well- known opponent.

I will never forget that election. Called for the dead of winter, petitioning took place on chilly street comers in dreadful weather. I joined Miller and his volunteers in standing out in freezing temperatures. People were impressed by his energy, drive and cheerfulness, even in appalling conditions. They saw clearly that he was going to work hard for his constituents, and he always has.

Miller quickly established himself as a smart and aggressive legislator, who was able to stand up for his district. He passed laws to reduce noise, increase voter participation and protect the environment.

On January 9, 2002, Miller was unanimously elected by his colleagues to the post of City Council Speaker. For the last 4 years, Miller has led the New York City Council, overseeing the passage of all new laws and the city's $47 billion budget. As part of the budget agreement for FY2005, Miller fought for and won $50 million in tax cuts for more than 700,000 workers through the passage of New York City's first Earned Income Tax Credit.

Under his leadership, the Council has passed more legislation than any previous council, including bills to extend a living wage to 50,000 workers, protect children from lead paint poisoning, provide training and education to people moving from welfare to work, require every city hospital to offer emergency contraception to sexual assault victims, provide more school nurses to more city students and establish tax credits to encourage greater energy saving and cleaner air.

Throughout his term as Speaker, Miller was forced to battle the mayor and Governor to preserve New York's priorities. He was remarkably successful. Miller led the Council in overturning mayoral vetoes 21 times, more

times than any previous Council. These mayoral overrides enabled much- needed legislation to become law, including measures to provide rape victims with emergency contraception, expand access to birth control, provide training for people moving from welfare to work, prevent homeowners from being unreasonably fined and protect our air and water. As a result of his efforts in budget fights, hundreds of millions of dollars have been restored to the City budget for health care, child care, college scholarships, libraries, senior citizens and HIV/AIDS prevention. In 2002, Miller's Education First campaign helped prevent hundreds of millions in proposed cuts to New York City's public schools.

Gifford Miller is an extraordinarily talented and hard-working public servant. Although term limits are bringing an end to his Speakership, I am hopeful that he will remain active in public life. New York city needs him.

Mr. Speaker, I request that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Speaker Gifford Miller, a remarkable public servant and community leader.

Mr. Speaker, after being derailed for generations, I am delighted to report to New Yorkers that the Second Avenue Subway is on track and moving with real momentum, thanks to hard-fought battles for funding in Washington and an unwavering coalition of support for the project in New York.

In the last two weeks alone, the Second Avenue Subway has taken two giant leaps forward.

First, New Yorkers passed the Transportation Bond Act, putting $450 million towards the project.

Combined with $1.05 billion in subway funds previously authorized by the State, New Yorkers have now put forward nearly half of the financing for the subway's first phase.

New Yorkers did their part, and now the focus has shifted to the Federal government to ante up for its share of the project.

Last night, the Congress said loud and clear that it will stand strong for the Second Avenue Subway: I'm proud to announce that we've secured another $25 million for the project--giving us five straight years of Federal funding for the subway.

Earlier this year, the Federal Transit Administration declared the Second Avenue Subway one of only two ``highly recommended'' projects in the Nation.

The other project is East Side Access, which also received a boost from the federal government last night--to the tune of $340 million dollars.

For far too long, New York City residents have been riding some of the most overcrowded mass transit lines in the nation.

So, to my fellow New Yorkers, I say: take heart. The Second Avenue Subway is coming.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable woman, Zoya Roisman Steinberg, whose son, Moshe Steinberg is a constituent.

Zoya Roisman Steinberg, who survived the Holocaust and was a pioneer of the State of Israel with her husband Jacob Steinberg, died on October 23, 2005, at nearly 100 years of age. After VE Day, Zoya joined the exodus of Jewish survivors en route from Eastern Europe to Palestine. Her guide was a decorated Russian officer, named Jacob Steinberg, who had fought with the Allies from Stalingrad to Berlin after his family was killed by Nazis in their Odessa home. Zoya and Jacob navigated through treacherous post-war Eastern Europe and endured two years in a Cyprus detention center for Jewish immigrants to Palestine before Israel's recognition as a State in 1948. They then entered Israel and built there a home, a family with their cherished son Moshe, and a country out of the desert and the ashes of war.