Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the late Keith Cylar, a fearless, passionate and extraordinarily effective advocate for persons with AIDS. Keith Cylar dedicated his life to the health and well-being of the most underprivileged and neglected elements of our society, and his passing at the age of 45 is a terrible loss to the city of New York and indeed to the entire Nation.

A social worker by training, Keith Cylar was the co-founder and co- President of Housing Works, one of the largest and most prominent non- profit organizations in the Nation dedicated to helping persons with AIDS. Through his leadership at Housing Works, Mr. Cylar helped to find housing for 15,000 New Yorkers. He also oversaw and managed the delivery of social services, such as job training and health care referrals, to thousands of our most underprivileged citizens, who often had few other resources upon which to draw.

Keith Cylar was also a leader of uncommon courage, an advocate who never hesitated to speak truth to power. Out of the fiery passions that drove the AIDS activist group ACT-UP, he and his partner Charles King forged a new kind of social service agency, one managed and operated by people who themselves were battling AIDS and HIV. Ultimately Keith Cylar helped transform Housing Works into one of the Nation's premier agencies providing housing to those afflicted by the AIDS epidemic. He accomplished this with caring and compassion, balancing a practical business acumen with a passionate advocacy that sometimes could be confrontational and uncomfortable for elected officials and bureaucrats alike. Indeed, because of the many demonstrations to protect City funding for programs serving people with AIDS that were organized in part by Housing Works, part of Park Row by New York's City Hall is still officially recognized to this day as ``People with AIDS Way.'' Passionate and uncompromising in his advocacy for the underprivileged and afflicted, Keith Cylar never wavered from his mission or failed to deliver for the clients who counted on him and Housing Works.

Because of his notable achievements on behalf of those battling disease and poverty and his indomitable and distinctive presence, Keith Cylar's spirit and determination have inspired us all. I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting his remarkable life and career, and recognizing him as a great American.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Billie Jean King, a true American hero. King single-handedly revolutionized women's tennis, bringing world attention to the excitement of the women's game and fighting to ensure that men and women compete for equal prize money. King's brilliant play and unyielding quest for equal opportunities opened doors for all women competing in sports.

A true star in her own right, King won a record 20 Wimbledon titles (winning women's singles 6 times, doubles 10 times and mixed doubles 4 times), 13 U.S. Open titles and 29 Virginia Slims singles titles. King is the only woman to win U.S. singles titles on all 4 surfaces on which it has been played (grass, clay, carpet and asphalt). She is one of only 8 players to hold a singles title in each of the Grand Slam events. In 1967, she won the triple crown of singles, doubles and mixed doubles championships at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

In 1968, King became professional and by 1971, she was the first woman athlete in any sport to earn more than $100,000 in a single year. Over the course of her career, she earned nearly $2 million in prize money. By the time she stopped playing competitively in 1984, she had won 71 singles championships and had been ranked in the world's top ten 17 times, number one in the world 5 times and number one in the U.S. seven times. Explaining her success, she has said, ``No one changes the world who isn't obsessed.''

King had been a strong advocate of women's tennis and women's rights throughout her career. She convinced her colleagues to form a players' union in 1973, the Women's Tennis Association. She was then the 1972 U.S. Open women's singles champion and had been outraged that her prize money was $15,000 less than the male champion. She threatened not to play unless the prize money was equalized by the following year and she persuaded U.S. Open organizers that the other women players would also sit out the game. In 1973, the U.S. Open became the first major tournament to offer equal prize money for men and women.

In 1973, she accepted a challenge from Bobby Riggs, former Wimbledon champion and self-professed male chauvinist pig. The prize was a winner-take-all $100,000. The heavily promoted match drew 30,472 spectators to the arena and attracted 50 million television viewers worldwide, a record for any tennis match. King played along with the theatrics: She was carried in on a litter by four men in short togas. Riggs was wheeled in on a rickshaw pulled by models he dubbed ``Bobby's Bosom Buddies.'' Once the game got underway, however, they were all business. King thrilled the crowd with an outstanding game of tennis, beating Riggs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 and 6-3. She proved that women's tennis was at least as exciting as the men's game, and that women deserved the same attention and prize money as their male counterparts.

King co-founded the Women's Sports Foundation, dedicated to promoting sports opportunities for women. In 1989 she helped found the coed World Team Tennis and served as its CEO. She is currently the director and official spokesperson for the organization, as well as a TV commentator.

Additionally, King coached the U.S. Olympic team, leading the U.S. squad to four Olympic medals. She also coached the U.S. Fed Cup teams to victory in 1976, 1996, 1999 and

2000. In 2003, she was awarded the prestigious Philippe Chatrier Award, the International Tennis Federation's highest honor. That year she was also one of six inaugural inductees in the Court of Champions at the USTA National Tennis Center.

In 1990, Life Magazine named her one of the 100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century--the only female athlete to win the honor. She is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the National Women's Hall of Fame. She was also named Woman of the Year by Time Magazine in 1976. On April 27, 2004, King is the recipient of the National Woman's Party's Alice Award, in honor of her groundbreaking work on behalf of women in sports.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the achievements of Billie Jean King, a sports legend, feminist, and champion.

Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, and the representative of a large and vibrant community of Armenian Americans, I rise today to join my colleagues in the sad commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

Today, we continue the crusade to ensure that this tragedy is never forgotten. This 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is an emotional time. The loss of life experienced by so many families is devastating. But, in the face of the systematic slaughter of 1.5 million people, the Armenian community has persevered with a vision of life and freedom.

Armenian Americans are representative of the resolve, bravery, and strength of spirit that is so characteristic of Armenians around the world. That strength carried them through humanity's worst: Upheaval from a homeland of 3,000 years, massacre of kin, and deportation to foreign lands. That same strength gathers Armenians around the world to make certain that this tragedy is never forgotten.

Without recognition and remembrance, this atrocity remains a threat to nations around the world. I've often quoted philosopher George Santayana who said: ``Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'' And to remember, we must first acknowledge what it is-- Genocide.

Tragically, more than 1.5 million Armenians were systematically murdered at the hands of the Young Turks. More than 500,000 were deported. It was brutal. It was deliberate. It was an organized campaign and it lasted more than 8 years. We must make certain that we remember.

Now, we must ensure that the world recognizes that Armenian people have remembered, and they have survived and thrived.

Out of the crumbling Soviet Union, the Republic of Armenia was born, and independence was gained. But, independence has not ended the struggle.

To this day, the Turkish government denies that genocide of the Armenian people occurred and denies its own responsibility for the deaths of 1.5 million people.

In response to this revisionist history, the Republic of France passed legislation that set the moral standard for the international community. The French National Assembly unanimously passed a bill that officially recognizes the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in Turkey during and after WWI as genocide.

Several nations have since joined in the belief that history should beset straight. Canada, Argentina, Belgium, Lebanon, The Vatican, Uruguay, the European parliament, Russia, Greece, Sweden and France, have authored declarations or decisions confirming that the genocide occurred. As a country, we must join these nations in recognition of this atrocity.

I am proud to join more than 100 of my colleagues in cosponsoring H. Res. 193, which emphasizes the importance of remembering and learning from past crimes against humanity. We must demand that the United States officially acknowledge the forced exile and annihilation of 1.5 million people as genocide.

Denying the horrors of those years merely condones the behavior in other places as was evidenced in Rwanda, Indonesia, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Iraq. Silence may have been the signal to perpetrators of these atrocities that they could commit genocide, deny it, and get away with it.

As Americans, the reminder of targeted violence and mass slaughter is still raw. We lost nearly 3,000 people on September 11. I cannot imagine the world trying to say that this did not occur. The loss of 1.5 million people is a global tragedy.

A peaceful and stable South Caucasus region is clearly in the U.S. national interest. Recognizing the genocide must be a strategy for this goal in an increasingly uncertain region. One of the most important ways in which we an honor the memory of the Armenian victims of the past is to help modern Armenia build a secure and prosperous future.

The United States has a unique history of aid to Armenia, being among the first to recognize that need, and the first to help. I am pleased with the U.S. involvement in the emphasis of private sector development, regionally focused programs, people-to-people linkages and the development of a civil society.

I recently joined many of my colleagues in requesting funding for Armenia including for Foreign Military Financing, for Economic Support Funds, and for assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia has made impressive progress in rebuilding a society and a nation in the face of dramatic obstacles. I will continue to take a strong stand in support of Armenia's commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and a market economy--I am proud to stand with Armenia in doing so. But there is more to be done. Conflict persists in the Nagorno- Karabakh region.

Congress has provided funding for confidence building in that region, and I will continue my support of that funding and the move toward a brighter future for Armenia. But in building our future, we must not forget our past. That is why I strongly support the efforts of the Armenian community in the construction of the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum. Because so many Armenians have spoken of the destruction, they have made certain that we remember.

Nothing we can do or say will bring those who perished back to life, but we can imbue their memories with everlasting meaning by teaching the lessons of the Armenian genocide to the next generation and help Armenia build its future.

Mr. Speaker, today we commemorate Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day. For 56 years, Israel has been forced by its neighbors and many in the international community to fight for the right to exist. As the only country in the region with a popularly elected democracy, Israel remains our staunchest ally.

In the face of continuous terror, citizens of Israel try to lead a normal life. However, they remain haunted by acts of violence that they have witnessed. Sadly, many have felt the anguish of knowing someone who has been murdered. Many are afraid to ride buses, sit in cafes, or visit outdoor markets. The pursuit of happiness, often taken for granted in the United States, is summarily abridged by those that seek to destroy Israel.

The majority of Israeli citizens desire peace with their neighbors. They want to be free from terrorist attacks and free from the constant fear that plagues them. On this day, Yom Ha'Atzmaut, we must pledge to work to further the goal of peace in the Middle East and ensure the continued existence of the lone representative democracy in the region, our friend and ally, Israel. Let us not forget that this is a day of celebration for Israelis who commemorate the establishment of Israel with great joy. Against all odds, the fledgling Jewish State has survived and grown into a stable, economically strong country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry of the New York National Guard, who are currently preparing to serve their country in Iraq. Additionally, I would like to extend my appreciation and gratitude to all of our brave National Guard and Reserve soldiers, whose time, energy and sacrifice do so much to ensure the safety of our nation and fellow citizens.

Today's National Guard soldiers are part of a rich tradition in American life that stretches back to the Revolutionary War. At that time, our Founding Fathers placed the country's security in the hands of citizen-soldiers who organized and trained in their home states. The members of our current National Guard, in addition to demonstrating leadership in private enterprise, public service and a variety of other professions, must also be ready to put their ordinary lives ``on hold''--often at a moment's notice--to serve their country.

The 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry has a distinguished history in both battle and disaster response. As part of the Irish Brigade during the Civil War, the 69th Infantry was famous for its tenacity on the battlefield and earned its nickname, ``The Fighting 69th,'' from Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The 69th also took part in the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II, where its soldiers fought in the battles of Makin, Saipan and Okinawa.

The regiment was initially formed by Irish-American residents of New York City; through the years, the unit has taken great pride in being a reflection of New York and its immigrant population. Today, the Battalion is an incredibly diverse group whose common goal is the protection of the American people.

The Fighting 69th are infantry soldiers--the ``guns on the ground''-- whose mission is to engage and destroy enemy forces in close combat. Upon deployment to Iraq, the Battalion will likely be asked to perform highly difficult and dangerous assignments. Despite the challenges that these men and women will likely encounter, their spirit and resolve is remarkable. Indeed, they are ready and eager to serve their country.

The Battalion has also mobilized during emergencies in their home state of New York. The Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Geoffrey Slack, informs me that the Fighting 69th was

the first National Guard unit to arrive on the scene following the attacks of September 11, 2001. In the hours after the attacks, the Battalion assisted medical teams treating the wounded and helped significantly in rescue and recovery operations. The Battalion worked through the night and into the morning of September 12th, when they were directed to secure the perimeter around Ground Zero. This mission continued for the next 315 days. During this time, Battalion soldiers were also deployed to secure the bridges and tunnels leading to and from Manhattan. Additionally, the unit's armory was the initial support center for family members of World Trade Center victims.

In closing, I ask that my colleagues also recognize and honor the tremendous courage of Lt. Gerard Baptiste, a Fighting 69th soldier who died on September 11th while on duty as a New York City Firefighter. Lt. Baptiste gave his life to help rescue those who were trapped in the north tower of the World Trade Center. I hope that Lt. Baptiste's friends, family and fellow soldiers will accept my sincere condolences for their loss.

Mr. Speaker, I request that my distinguished colleagues rise and pay tribute to the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry of the New York National Guard. All Americans should be grateful for the dedication demonstrated every day by both the men and women of the Fighting 69th and all of the brave soldiers serving in National Guard and Reserve units throughout our nation.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Yes, Mr. Chairman, I am.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Skelton amendment, and I am pleased to join my colleague and friend, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), in offering this amendment. He has always been a strong advocate for the men and women in the military. And the purpose of this amendment is to ensure that overseas voters, including the men and women who are risking their lives to protect our country, their dependents, and private citizens, will have an opportunity to vote in a continuity-of-government election.

I join my colleague in thanking the gentleman from California (Chairman Dreier) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) for working with us

to bring this amendment to the floor. While this is not the amendment that we originally offered before the Committee on Rules, we appreciate their good-faith efforts to reach this compromise.

The terrorist attacks of September 11 made us all aware of how vulnerable our government could be in the event of a catastrophe. The underlying bill provides for special elections if more than 100 Members of the House are incapacitated or killed. While there are many objections to the bill, it protects the tradition that Members of the House may only serve if they have been elected by the people.

Our amendment simply requires States to provide overseas voters 45 days to return their ballots from the date on which the ballot is mailed. If we are going to have elections to deal with disasters as envisioned by this legislation and which we hope will never happen, our amendment will ensure that overseas voters have the same opportunity that our voters at home have to cast their ballots.

For several years I have been working on making sure that overseas voters can participate in elections. In the Help America Vote Act, my colleague from the other side of the aisle, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds), and I were able to include provisions that will ensure that overseas voters have a better opportunity to vote in Federal general elections.

The Skelton-Maloney amendment is a continuation of this effort by helping overseas American voters participate in a continuity-of- government election if one should be necessary.

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the men and women who are serving our country. At the very least we must make the efforts to make sure that they are included in the basic right of participating in elections. This extends the number of days from the date that the ballot is mailed so that they have time to mail it back and be part of this election.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, having no other speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the more than six million Jews who died in the Holocaust. Among those that were killed were women and men, adults and children, young and old. They were killed not for committing heinous crimes, but because of their religion. The Nazis seized their homes and murdered them in the gas chambers of Treblinka and Auschwitz-Birkenau. Those who were not killed were worked until their bodies could no longer withstand the torture. Today, we remember all that they accomplished and the potential that remains unfulfilled. We also remember those whose lives were forever changed as a result of the Holocaust.

If you read towards the end of Jewish prayer services, you will find the Mourner's Kaddish. Although the Mourner's Kaddish does not speak of death, it has been interpreted to talk about the greatness of God and the desire for peace: peace between nations, peace between individuals, and peace of mind.

Unfortunately, the world in which we live is not one of peace. Every day, many Jews around the world face the injustice of anti-Semitism. Spurred on by propaganda and regimes that seek no less than the destruction of the Jewish people, anti-Semitism is gaining support around the globe. As we continue with the war on terror, let us remember those who have died and those who continue to be persecuted just because of their religion.

On this day, Yom Hashoah, we remember the more than six million Jews who died in the Holocaust and in the tradition of the Mourner's Kaddish, work for peace among nations, among individuals, and for peace of mind.

Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I rise to express my deep concerns with the final Annan plan to reunify Cyprus which will be voted on by both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots on Saturday.

I am very fortunate and privileged to represent Astoria, Queens--one of the largest and most vibrant communities of Greek and Cypriot Americans in this country. It is truly one of my greatest pleasures as a Member of Congress to participate in the life of this community, and the wonderful Cypriot friends that I have come to know are one of its greatest rewards.

Along with these friends, I have been monitoring the negotiations to reunify Cyprus very closely during the past few months. On July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, and to this day continues to maintain an estimated 35,000 heavily armed troops. Nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots, who fell victim to a policy of ethnic cleansing, were forcibly evicted from their homes and became refugees in their own country.

Despite the hardships and trauma caused by the ongoing Turkish occupation, Cyprus has registered remarkable economic growth, and the people living in the Government-controlled areas enjoy one of the world's highest standards of living. Sadly, the people living in the occupied area continue to be mired in poverty.

Last month, 46 members of the Hellenic Caucus joined in a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to express their hope that any agreement to reunify Cyprus would explicitly recognize, among other provisions, property rights, the demilitarization of Cyprus, the establishment of the legal obligations of the guarantor powers (Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom), and the presence of United Nations troops throughout a transitional period.

I also led a delegation of members of the Hellenic Caucus to meet with Secretary General Kofi Annan to discuss the negotiations regarding the reunification of Cyprus before it enters the European Union on May 1st. We expressed our support for the Secretary General's leadership in bringing the parties to the bargaining table, but expressed concerns regarding some of the issues that remained open: property rights, governance, free movement between Greek and Turkish areas of the island, and the pace of demilitarization of the island.

We stressed the importance of having a central government that has the ability to make decisions, and we expressed concern about limitations on the ability of Cypriots to travel unimpeded to all areas of the island.

Unfortunately, the negotiators were unable to reach a consensus, and Secretary General Annan was forced to step in to fill in the remaining gaps in the settlement. This final plan will now be voted on in two separate referenda by both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots on Saturday, April 24.

The Greek Cypriots, who have worked continuously to end the forcible division of the island through a viable and lasting settlement, have several valid and important concerns with this final plan, which may lead them to reject it.

First, the Annan plan allows the indefinite presence of Turkish troops in Cyprus with a gradual decrease to 650 troops over a period of 14 years. The presence of these troops will prevent the full and genuine independence of Cyprus.

Next, while the plan allows the guarantor powers (Turkey, Greece, UK) to intervene unilaterally to preserve the ``constitutional order'' of the United Cyprus Republic and its constituent states, it neglects to clarify that the Treaty of Guarantee does not empower military intervention. This omission is troubling especially because Turkey believes that it still has the right to intervene militarily in Cyprus.

Previous UN Security Council resolutions called for the withdrawal of all settlers from Cyprus that were brought from Turkey after 1974, since the colonization of occupied territories is a crime under international law. The final plan provides that 45,000 of the settlers will automatically become citizens of the United Cyprus Republic. It also allows a large number of additional settlers to remain in Cyprus as permanent residents and after four years to apply for Cypriot citizenship. As a result, the vast majority of approximately 115,000 Turkish settlers, who are now illegally in Cyprus, could stay in Cyprus.

Under the Annan plan, for the first 19 years or until Turkey's accession to the EU, the number of Greek Cypriots who wish to permanently live in the Turkish Cypriot Constituent State (TCCS) will not be able to exceed 18 percent of its total population. After that time, their number will be permanently restricted to not more than 33.3 percent of the total population. Because the Greek Cypriots who will be permanently living in the TCCS will have its internal citizenship status, they will not have the right to participate in the elections for its 24 representatives in the federal Senate. Therefore, the plan establishes a system based on permanent ethnic division, while denying fundamental democratic rights to a segment of the population.

Finally, according to the Annan plan, the one third of the compensation to legal owners (Greek Cypriot refugees), who will be losing their properties, shall be guaranteed by the Federal State. Because the Federal State's sources will derive from Greek Cypriots by nine tenths and only by one tenth from Turkish Cypriots, the Greek Cypriots will be compensating their own loss of property. Therefore, instead of Turkey, they will be paying for the results of the Turkish invasion of 1974.

It is clear that divisions among people create harmful, destructive environments. I am disappointed that more progress was not made on these issues prior to the completion of the final plan. No matter what the Greek Cypriots decide on April 24, I will continue to support them in every way possible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the achievements of Asphalt Green and its honorees, Stewart B. Clifford, Al Zesiger and Barrie Zesiger, on the evening of the Big Swim Benefit and Asphalt Green's 30th anniversary celebration. Asphalt Green is a wonderful nonprofit organization that offers a wide array of health and fitness facilities to New York City residents. Our community is truly fortunate to have such an enjoyable and necessary resource.

The Asphalt Green facility began in 1974 as one of the last city- owned open spaces on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. By 1976, the Asphalt Green campus included a one-and-a-half acre park, gardens and a wading pool, all of which were available for public use free of charge. Later that year, Stewart B. Clifford assisted the organization's successful efforts to persuade the City to designate the asphalt plant adjacent to the organization's park (Asphalt Green's namesake) as a New York City landmark and to convert the plant into a multi-use community center. In 1984, the former plant was renamed the George and Annette Murphy Center, in honor of the organization's founder, Dr. George Murphy.

The next phase in Asphalt Green's development began when Dr. Murphy enlisted the help of two of this evening's honorees, Al and Barrie Zesiger, to add an Olympic-sized swimming pool to Asphalt Green's already extensive facilities. The pool, along with a full-service sports and fitness complex, opened in 1993. These facilities have been of tremendous benefit to New Yorkers--and not just on hot summer days. Indeed, water exercise classes at the pool are available year-round, and are particularly well-suited to the fitness needs of the elderly, who are susceptible to the joint and muscle stresses associated with dry-land exercise. In all, more than 42,000 New Yorkers use Asphalt Green's facilities each year.

This evening, Asphalt Green will hold its annual Big Swim benefit, which will raise funds for the organization's Waterproofing program, a joint venture with the New York City Public School District to teach underprivileged children how to swim. Swimming ability is strongly linked with both socio-economic status and race: only 14 percent of those with annual incomes under $10,000 know how to swim, and the rate of drowning among African-Americans is significantly higher than that of other ethnic groups. The Waterproofing program is notable not only because it encourages a lifetime of fitness, but also because it helps to save lives.

The foregoing would not have been possible without Al and Barrie Zesiger's dedication to public service and financial support, and the leadership of Stewart B. Clifford, a member of Asphalt Green's Board for more than twenty years. All three of these great citizens of New York will be honored at this evening's benefit.

Mr. Speaker, I request that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to this fine organization and its honorees, Al and Barrie Zesiger and Stewart B. Clifford.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Philip Christopher and Caryn Schwab, who will be honored at the 2004 Charles J. Vallone Scholarship Dinner Dance. For the past seven decades, the Charles J. Vallone Scholarship Fund has helped deserving young people from the Astoria community attend the college of their choice. Additionally, each year, the Scholarship Fund acknowledges community members who have made outstanding contributions to the public good.

This year's honorees, Philip Christopher and Caryn Schwab, certainly deserve our appreciation. Ms. Schwab, the Executive Director of the Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens, has been a tireless and effective advocate for the health care priorities of New York residents for more than twenty years. During her distinguished career, Ms. Schwab has served as Health Care Advisor to New York City Mayor Ed Koch and as Vice President of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Under her direction, the Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens has demonstrated its commitment to community service. Ms. Schwab has presided over the expansion and modernization of Mount Sinai's emergency room and the creation of its new endoscopy and mammography facilities; additionally, during her tenure, the Hospital has greatly expanded its inpatient and outpatient services to those in need.

The Scholarship Fund's second honoree, Philip Christopher, is a philanthropist and champion of democracy and human rights. Mr. Christopher is the CEO of Audiovox Communications Corporation. Under his leadership, Audiovox has become a leader in the telecommunications industry.

Mr. Christopher, a native of Cyprus, immigrated to the United States when he was ten years old. Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, his ancestral home and property were confiscated by the Turkish Army. This tragedy inspired Mr. Christopher to become a passionate advocate for human rights. As President of both the Pancyprian Association of America and the International Coordinating Committee for Justice for Cyprus, Mr. Christopher has used most of his free time to fight for the liberation of his homeland. Additionally, Mr. Christopher serves on the Board of Directors of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association and is a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens, where he helped found the Kyrenia Cardiovascular Center.

Mr. Speaker, I request that my distinguished colleagues rise and pay tribute to the Charles J. Vallone Scholarship Fund and its honorees, Caryn Schwab and Philip Christopher. Their many accomplishments are a reflection of the vibrant and thriving community they so faithfully serve.

Mr. Speaker, today I, along with my colleagues Representative Tom Davis (R-VA) and Representative Corrine Brown (D- FL), introduce the ``Afghan Women Security and Freedom Act of 2004'' which would authorize $300 million each year from FY2005 through FY2007 for programs in Afghanistan that benefit women and girls. The funding would be directed toward legal assistance for women, enforcing provisions of the Afghan constitution pertaining to women's rights, encouraging the registration of women voters, and providing equipment to reduce infant and maternal mortality, among other provisions. This legislation was introduced earlier this year in the Senate by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

Women's rights in Afghanistan have fluctuated greatly over the years. Women have bravely fought the forces of extremism at various points in the country's turbulent history. At one time, women were scientists and university professors. They led corporations and nonprofit organizations in local communities.

While the new Afghan constitution guarantees equality for Afghan women, throughout Afghanistan, women continue to face intimidation, discrimination, and violence. The United States has an obligation to ensure that women and girls have the opportunities that they were denied under the Taliban and that the gains that have been made are not lost in the coming months and years. It is imperative that we provide the support needed to ensure that the rights of women are protected in the new Afghanistan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the voters in Taiwan, an astounding 80 percent of whom participated in the recent Presidential election, for once again demonstrating their commitment to exercising their democratic rights.

Taiwan's political system has undergone dramatic changes. Fifty years ago the country was ruled by an authoritarian dictatorship under martial law. Today it is a vibrant, multi-party democracy, having completed its third direct Presidential election. Taiwan has robust political parties with free and fair elections at all levels of government.

The margin of the Presidential victory in Taiwan was very small. However, recount issues and open demonstrations were part of the democratic process in which free expression is revered and protected. These impassioned times are the tests of true democracies.

Taiwan and the United States share a strong bond in their commitment to the ideals of a free society. Taiwanese-Americans, many living in the New York City area, are a vital part of that relationship. The Taiwanese-American community, which numbers in the hundreds of thousands, is actively engaged in our own political system, and its citizens are enthusiastically involved in the betterment of local communities across our country.

As we hope for dialogue and stability in cross-strait relations, we can also hope that one day the people of mainland China will be able to select their own leaders by democratic means.

Today, I commend the people of Taiwan for embracing democratic ideals and providing an important symbol of freedom in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr. Speaker, on March 29, 2004, I missed rollcall votes No. 94 and 95.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 94 and 95.

Mr. Speaker, at a time when our men and women in uniform are deployed overseas, it is especially appropriate to acknowledge the contributions of the institution that has trained so many of our Air Force leaders. I join my fellow Americans in celebrating the United States Air Force Academy on its 50th anniversary.

While the vast majority of cadets at this institution have gone on to distinguished careers of service that have made us all proud, it is unfortunate that the Academy's ineffective approach to the problem of sexual assault has tarnished the reputation of the Air Force Academy in the past decade. An investigation commissioned by Congress--chaired by former Congresswoman Tillie Fowler--made recommendations less than a year ago on how to improve the culture at the Air Force Academy to support victims of sexual assault.

Mr. Speaker, the report makes clear that the recommendations made in the report are only a beginning to solving the problem of sexual assault at the U.S. Air Force Academy. It states that the common failure in each of the many efforts made to address this problem over the past decade was the ``absence of sustained attention to the problem and follow-up on the effectiveness of the solution.''

It is essential that we, as Members of Congress, follow up on the recommendations made to ensure that the

culture of the Air Force Academy does not tolerate sexual assault, perpetrators are punished, and victims are supported. The reputation of such a distinguished institution should not continue to be frayed by its failure to effectively address this one important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Hank Carter, who has single-handedly transformed the Color-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility's Rehabilitative Medicine Department into one of the best-equipped in the nation. In honor of his remarkable achievements, the hospital has decided to rename the department the ``Hank Carter Rehabilitation Center.''

New Yorkers are truly fortunate that Henry "Hank" Carter chose to devote his life to raising money for wheelchairs and other equipment for the disabled, but it was a tragedy that led him to that decision. In 1968, his best friend Al Fogle was shot and left paralyzed from the waist down. Mr. Carter stayed with his friend through his recovery and rehabilitation. When he discovered how difficult it was for him to obtain a wheelchair, Mr. Carter raised the money to pay for it. For some, the effort would have ended there. Hank Carter looked around the hospital and saw dozens of other individuals whose lives had been struck by tragedy, and he made it his life's mission to help them.

To the surprise of the hospital administrators and doctors, he asked if the hospital could provide him with a space for his fundraising efforts. Asking nothing in return, he has selflessly raised millions of dollars to help the hospital and its residents. A large portion of the funding comes from the Wheelchair All-Star Basketball Classic he organizes at Madison Square Garden each year featuring top NBA basketball players.

Over the last 30 years, he has made the difference for thousands of people--helping them to become independent, and providing the means for them to connect with the world.

He has helped make Color-Goldwater Hospital one of the premier centers for rehabilitation. Thanks to Hank Carter, Color-Goldwater gives more wheelchairs to patients than any other facility in the country.

Realizing that rehabilitation requires more than wheelchairs, Mr. Carter branched out, raising funds for exercise and physical therapy equipment, computers that can be used by the severely handicapped, technology that enables machines to speak for those who have lost the capacity to communicate, four wheelchair accessible buses and a rehabilitative greenhouse. His enthusiasm and hands-on attitude toward philanthropy make him a beloved fixture at Coler-Goldwater, recognized by every patient and staff member in the hospital. Best of all, he has spent time with them and knows most of them.

It is truly an astonishing record--one all Americans should be very proud of. For the disabled, a wheelchair means independence, selfreliance and the freedom to explore the world. There is nothing more important than giving someone the gift of mobility or giving them back their voice.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise to pay tribute to Hank Carter. He is truly an American treasure.