Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, with great sadness I rise to pay tribute to Athanasios (Tom) Alafogiannis, a much admired and beloved leader of the Greek-American community in Queens. Unfortunately, Tom Alafogiannis passed away last week, leaving much of the community in mourning.

Tom was born in Dafno, Greece on February 28th, 1933. Talented with his hands, Tom completed the technical school of engineering. Although he was a hard worker who loved his family, he decided to leave Greece to seek a better life in America.

At the age of 36 he came to the United States, working his way over as a ship's engineer. In America, he attended school and became a licenced master plumber. His talents were quickly recognized and he built a successful business. In 1969 he married the love of his life, Rose Anne Benevento. They have four children: Apostolos (Paul), Jennifer, Joseph and Vasilios (Billy).

Understanding the responsibilities that come with prosperity, Tom devoted a great deal of time and attention to giving back to the community. His unwavering dedication and boundless energy made him a popular leader. He served as President of the Hermes Chapter of AHEPA, three time President of the Greek American Homeowners and President of Sterea Hellas. Concerned with the quality of life in Astoria, he became a member of Queens Community Board 1. As a successful business leader, he became a member of the Board of Directors of the Kiwanis Club.

Tom never became involved in anything halfway. In every organization in which he participated, he left his mark. Tom was, quite simply, a charming man of great energy and deep concern for others. He will be sorely missed.

I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and accomplishments of Tom Alafogiannis, a truly remarkable man.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Bob Wilson, whose commitment to various organizations has helped make the local community a better place to live. In honor of his contributions, Mr. Wilson will be honored by the Dutch Kills Civic Association on June 12th, 2003.

A lifetime New Yorker, Mr. Wilson was born and raised in the Bronx. As a young man, Mr. Wilson joined the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. After leaving the United States Navy, Mr. Wilson returned home and began a long and successful career of 38 years with Local 731 as a General Foreman, building and rebuilding many of New York City's highways and bridges.

An enthusiastic and dedicated community advocate, Mr. Wilson joined the Dutch Kills Civic Association upon his retirement, eventually becoming President of the organization.

As President of the Dutch Kills Civic Association for ten years, Mr. Wilson was dedicated to improving quality of life in the neighborhood. Through his efforts with Walter McCaffrey, a much-needed hockey rink was built in Dutch Kills Park. He worked with Tony Maloni in his fight to remove graffiti in the area. In addition, Mr. Wilson was a steady leader in calling the 114th Precinct to help rid the neighborhood of constant prostitution.

In typical fashion, Mr. Wilson was the `go-to' guy for many of the concerns raised by the organization, including such problems as catch basins not being cleaned in the area. Recognizing that the organization would benefit from a strong revenue stream, he envisioned holding an annual street fair. His vision is now a reality that brings revenue to the organization each year.

Mr. Wilson is described by his peers as a man of boundless energy and commitment to the community he has been a part of for so many years. In recognition of these outstanding achievements, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Bob Wilson for his spirit and dedication.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Evelyn Lauder, who will be presented tonight with The Alice Award by the Sewall Belmont House and Museum. As founder and chairman of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Mrs. Lauder has devoted her life to the fight against breast cancer. She is a shining example of how much one individual with unrelenting passion can accomplish.

A woman of boundless compassion and generosity towards others, Mrs. Lauder has touched countless lives through her efforts in leading The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. She has spearheaded the growth of what

is today the largest national organization dedicated exclusively to funding exceptional research relating to the causes, treatment, and possible prevention of breast cancer. Since 1993, the Foundation has raised $70 million for research funding that has fueled some of the most innovative work on breast cancer in the country.

In October of 2002, the Foundation awarded an outstanding $11.7 million to 63 researchers at 41 leading institutions in the United States and abroad. Originally conferring eight research grants in its founding year, the Foundation is now able to award grants of approximately $250,000 to each of their research institutions. The core of the Foundation's mission is to direct a minimum of 85 cents of each dollar donated to the purpose of clinical and genetic research on breast cancer.

Breast cancer is an issue that affects both men and women of all walks of life. Mrs. Lauder's inspired leadership is the driving force behind the Foundation's many gains in the treatment and prevention of this disease. Her remarkable vision led her to establish the Pink Ribbon as the now globally recognized symbol of breast health, putting breast cancer awareness at the forefront of public attention.

Mrs. Lauder has every expectation that we will achieve the goal of ``prevention and a cure in our lifetime.'' With boundless enthusiasm and extraordinary dedication, she has made it possible for top notch research and diagnosis to be done all over the country. One prime example is located in my district, the first of its kind, the comprehensive breast and diagnostic center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, which Mrs. Lauder was instrumental in creating. Mrs. Lauder was recently recognized by Rockefeller University with the Brooke Astor Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of Science for her incomparable role in creating the center as well as for the compassion and generosity with which she leads the Foundation in the fight against breast cancer.

In recognition of these outstanding achievements, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Evelyn H. Lauder for her indomitable spirit and tenacity in leading The Breast Cancer Research Foundation to fund the research that will conquer breast cancer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S.J. Res. 8, and I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the ranking member, and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green) for all of their hard work on this issue and this resolution and for their work in preventing sexual assault and rape.

The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green) and I introduced the companion legislation to this bill, H.J. Res. 36 in the House earlier. This April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, but it is important to remember that preventing sexual assault should be a top priority during each month of the year.

We must also remember that violence against women is not just a woman's issue, it is a man's issue, a family's issue, and an issue that is important to society at large.

According to the Department of Justice, someone is sexually assaulted in this country every 82 seconds. That translates to over 1,000 a day, and over 380,000 sexual assaults every year; yet we have the ability to help protect our daughters, our sisters, and our friends by putting rapists behind bars using DNA evidence. We know that DNA evidence is better than a fresh set of fingerprints, and we know it is often better than eyewitness testimony.

Earlier this year I reintroduced with the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner) an important piece of legislation that would take important steps to prevent sexual assaults from occurring. The Debbie Smith Act would provide critical funding for eliminating the backlog of unprocessed DNA evidence, for establishing sexual assault forensic examiner programs, and for training law enforcement and prosecutors about how to use DNA technology most effectively.

The bill also establishes a national standard for the collection of DNA evidence, thereby ensuring that the evidence is processed in a reasonable amount of time. I authored this bill after Debbie Smith testified before the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight. She spoke about the tool of DNA and how it can be used to convict rapists. She was raped near her home in 1989, and for 6\1/2\ years she lived in fear that her attacker would return to fulfill the threat he had made to her that day, that if she told anyone, he would kill her. Only on the day that her husband told her that the man that had raped Debbie had been identified through a DNA match and was in prison was Debbie able to breathe again.

Tragically, there are other Debbie Smiths out there, other women still living in fear because they do not know if their attacker will come back to them again. The Debbie Smith Act will help to bring justice and closure to the survivors of rapes and their families, and it will help prevent rapes by putting rapists behind bars.

This is an issue that both Republicans and Democrats agree on. Attorney General Ashcroft earlier this year stated that he supported a $1 billion initiative to process DNA evidence. This is clearly very important because there is an estimated 350,000 to 500,000 kits unprocessed around the country. It is no wonder that only 2 percent of women who are raped will ever see their attacker spend a day in jail, but each rape kit represents a life, the life of a person like Debbie Smith, and each rape kit represents a predator, a rapist who may strike again and again. Law enforcement tells us that most rapists, if not caught, will attack approximately, or at least, 8 times.

It is time to put DNA evidence to work stopping rapes and sexual assaults from occurring around the country, and I do believe that this year we will pass this bill. It is needed, it is important, and we will pass it because there is strong bipartisan support from the White House, from the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), from the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green), and many others. I thank everyone who has worked on it. There is no greater way to celebrate Sexual Assault Month than to pass legislation that will prevent sexual assaults in the future. I am hopeful this year we will be able to achieve that.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act. While I support the bill, I am disappointed that the legislation could not be further refined to satisfy the concerns of the Native American gaming community. I firmly believe that in its final form, any legislation must clarify the absolute legality of Native American gaming.

Last Congress, in response to 9/11, the Financial Services Committee passed significant new legislation curbing money laundering. During the course of hearings on the legislation, law enforcement testified that Internet gambling sites are often used for money laundering purposes by drug dealers and potentially by terrorists. As I've often said, criminals are like other business people in that they go out of business if you limit their money. This legislation will give law enforcement important new tools to cut off money laundering.

I also support the legislation because I fear that the explosion of the Internet and the access that young people have to it in their homes and schools creates an opportunity for them to fall victim to online gaming. The best way to keep young people from getting hooked on gambling is to limit their access to it. There is good reason that U.S. casinos do not permit individuals under 21 years of age from entering the premises.

While I support the bill, I am concerned that the concerns of the Native American gaming community have not been fully satisfied. Gaming has raised standards of living and provided economic development money to the Native American community that was missing for too long. Congress must not do anything to imperil gaming as a source of much needed jobs and commerce to reservations. I look forward to working with the Native American community on this issue going forward.

Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce legislation, the ``Revitalizing Cities Through Parks Enhancement Act,'' that would establish a $10 million grant program for qualified, non-profit, community groups, allowing them to lease municipally-owned vacant lots and transform these areas into parks.

These vacant lots often are areas of heavy drug-trafficking. Parks and gardens created with the grants will not only provide safe places to gather, but will increase property values as well. The grants will be available from the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to groups who have met standards of financial security, and who have histories of serving their communities. To further ensure that these grants are used to make lasting positive changes, land improved and made into open community space under this legislation must be available for use as open space from the local government for at least seven years.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Check 21 legislation that will modernize the Nation's check clearing system and benefit our constituents across the country. I thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ford) and the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders), along with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) for their hard work on this bill.

This legislation will increase electronic check presentment and lower the cost of check clearing, and it will make it easier for the payments system to proceed without breakdown in the event of another terrorist attack.

Today, the technology exists to allow customers to view images of checks on their own home computers so they do not have to wait until the end of the month to get their checks. This legislation complements this technology and will spur more financial institutions to offer these services to consumers.

As a practical matter, the ability of a consumer to see an electronic imagine of a check will allow them to more easily resolve disputed checks and combat fraud. The legislation also includes important consumer provisions that will allow customers to retrieve and properly debit funds.

Check truncation legislation will help prevent another post-9/11 situation where the grounding of the Nation's airplanes prevented checks from being cleared. Currently, checks that are not truncated have to be physically flown to their paying bank. With the planes grounded, massive float built up in the payment system after the terror attack and could have threatened a widespread economic interruption had flights not resumed.

Not only was this a problem after 9/11, but there is a long history of inefficiency in the transfer of checks by airplane, especially with respect to check-clearing services provided by the Federal Reserve. I have had a long interest in this issue, and I thank the sponsors of this legislation for including language in the bill that adds check transportation services to the Monetary Control Act.

I have had an interest in this issue and I thank the sponsors of the legislation for including language in the bill that adds check transportation services to the Monetary Control Act.

This provision will require the Federal Reserve the disclosure of costs related to check transportation and prevent further inefficiency.

This legislation is the product of years of work by the Federal Reserve and the Financial Services Committee. It represents contributions from many Members over the course of countless hearings.

I urge my colleagues to support the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me time and I congratulate him on his extraordinary leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I first would like to respond to my colleague on the other side of the aisle who referenced an article in the New York Times. I would like to place into the Record the

Times editorial from today, not only the New York Times editorial but the Washington Post editorial, both of which strongly came out against the Republican bill before us today.

The bill is extreme, it is vicious, mean-spirited, antiwoman, and it is unconstitutional.

We have heard a great deal of graphic rhetoric from the majority party today. But let me tell you what we have not heard and that is their true agenda, which is to roll back, chip away at a woman's right to choose. That is what this debate is about. That is totally what it is about. And since the Republican majority came to Congress in 1994, I have kept a score card on their antichoice votes. Today marks their 202nd vote against a woman's right to choose. It is on my Web site.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues today to stand in defense of a woman's reproductive health and to vote against this bill which deprives women of safe, quality medical care at a time when they need it most. The right to choose is meaningless without the access to choose. And this bill is so broadly written that it would, in effect, undermine a woman's legal right to abortion in this country.

When I go home, my constituents ask me about many things, but believe me, they have never asked me to be their doctor, nor do they want Members of Congress to be making medical decisions. It is unprecedented. It is wrong. It is unconstitutional. Vote against this Republican bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill. Again, we are facing a bill that deprives women of safe, high quality medical care at a time when they need it most. And yet again, this bill places undue burden on a woman's right to seek an abortion.

Let's put this bill in perspective. Since the majority party took power in 1994, I've kept a scorecard. This is their 202nd strike against reproductive rights, and you can check the list at any website www.house.gov/Maloney.

Language similar to this bill has already been struck down in Stenberg v. Carhart on the grounds that it fails to take the health of the woman into account.

What this bill is about is the right to choose. The bill is extreme, it's vicious, and it's unconstitutional. The Supreme Court, The New York Times and the Washington Post agree, and I ask permission to place a copy of the Times and Post editorials in the Record.

The fact is that this bill says it's banning intact dilation and extraction, a procedure acknowledged by the experts, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as safe to end late-term pregnancy--when it's necessary. The opposition shows horrible pictures and yells about how grotesque this procedure is. It is, but so are lots of medical procedures. But they're still good care. This bill flatly disrespects medical opinion.

My constituents ask my opinion on important things--like low income women asking where their child tax credit went; like the Federal Communications Commission's ruling to consolidate access to news in the hands of a few. That's important, that's dangerous. But, I gotta tell you, not one of my constituents has asked me to be their doctor!

The Supreme Court has said that neither the Court nor Congress may ban a medical procedure appropriate to save the woman's life and health. Period

The blatant disregard for this fact and for the rights of women to choose is astonishing. I urge you all to vote ``no'' on this measure.

[From the New York Times, June 4, 2003]

``Partial Birth'' Mendacity, Again

If the so-called partial-birth abortion ban now careering

toward almost certain approval by the full House this week

has a decidedly familiar ring, it is not your imagination

playing tricks. The trickery here belongs to the measure's

sponsors.

Although promoted as narrowly focused on a single late-term

abortion procedure, the measure's wording adds up to a

sweeping prohibition that would, in effect, overturn Roe v.

Wade by criminalizing the most common procedures used after

the first trimester, but well before fetal viability. Indeed,

the measure replicates the key defects that led the Supreme

Court to reject a strikingly9 similar state law a mere three

years ago. In addition to its deceptively broad sweep, the

bill unconstitutionally omits an exception to protect the

health of the woman.

Plainly, the measure's backers are counting on the public

not to read the fine print. Their strategy is to curtail

access to abortion further as the inevitable legal challenge

wends its way back to the Supreme Court for another showdown.

They obviously hope that by that time, there will have been a

personnel change that will shift the outcome their way.

House members who vote for this bill will be participating

in a cynical exercise that disrespects the rule of law and

women's health while threatening the fundamental right of

women to make their own childbearing decisions.

Representatives who care about such things will not go along.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Matthew Bronfman for his numerous achievements during his years of service to the 92nd Street Y. A dedicated and passionate philanthropist, Mr. Bronfman has long been a guiding force behind the Y, one of New York City's premier cultural institutions.

The 92nd Street Y is a New York City landmark, having been in operation for nearly 130 years. Founded in 1874, the Y has become a center for people of all races, ethnic backgrounds and religions to meet and participate in activities ranging from concerts at the Tisch

Center to pottery classes for children. Inspiring New Yorkers of all ages with its varied programs and classes, the 92nd Street Y has played a crucial role in maintaining the vitality of the city.

A successful businessman and philanthropist for many years, Matthew Bronfman joined the 92nd Street Y Board of Directors in September of 1991 and was elected its 42nd President in May of 2000. His strong leadership and vision have had an energizing influence in strengthening the 92nd Street Y.

The Bronfman family has also played a major role in the life of the Y by endowing, in 1992, the Bronfman Center for Jewish Life. The Bronfman Center has become the focus of the Y's many programs involved with Jewish education, outreach, family and holiday planning. The Center sponsors lectures, religious services, classes and workshops, all designed to help the community explore Jewish heritage and culture. Recent guest speakers include Elie Wiesel and Yitzhak Rabin.

A devoted father of six, Matthew Bronfman is managing director of a private investment company, ACI Capital, and chairman of the Investment Committee of the Challenge Fund, L.P. Mr. Bronfman is also a board member of many organizations including Tweeter Home Entertainment Group, Earnest Partners, Visiosonic, Palace Candles, The Canadian Center for Architecture, and the Cardigan Mountain School.

In recognition of his outstanding achievements and leadership, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Matthew Bronfman, an accomplished businessman and a cultural leader.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.J. Res. 4, which would add an amendment to the Constitution banning the desecration of the American flag.

I believe that desecrating the American flag is a terrible way to exercise one's freedom of expression. It is hurtful and offensive. Yet, freedom of speech is one of the bedrock principles of this Nation's democracy. Some of the

most powerful movements in the history of America occurred because our Constitution guarantees everyone the freedom to express themselves.

While desecrating the American flag in protest offends many people, the flag is a symbol of our Nation's powerful democracy. Protecting our citizens' right to express themselves is more vital to the strength of our democracy than the physical appearance of the flag.

I believe that all Americans should respect and honor the flag. However, I oppose placing restrictions on the First Amendment by adding this amendment to our Constitution.

While this is an important issue and it deserves to be debated by this body, we cannot forget another issue of vital importance to America's veterans. The budget proposed by the Majority includes serious cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The proposed $15 billion cut in benefits and $9.7 billion cut in health care would leave many veterans without access to critical resources. With the ongoing conflict in Iraq, there will undoubtedly be more soldiers who will need care in the future. Rather than cut the funding for the VA, we should be providing adequate funding so that the Department will be prepared for caring for the soldiers who may need care after the current conflict has ended.

Mr. Speaker, today we continue the Defense Authorization bill debate.

This bill authorizes a total of $400.5 billion in FY 2004 for defense activities important for our nation's security, however, there are troubling provisions in this bill relating to civil services law, contracting, environmental exemptions and nuclear weapons policy that should not have been included in H.R. 1588.

I'm particularly concerned about the civil service provisions that undermine collective bargaining and safeguards against employee harassment. H.R. 1588 will deny basic worker protections to one third of all Federal Employees. This bill places the Secretary of Defense in the position of being the ultimate decision maker in labor disputes giving him blanket authority to create a completely new civilian employee system. Many of the changes included in this bill will open the way for abuses that the Pendleton Act of 1893 was enacted to eliminate. We may need to modernize, however, we also need to preserve the principles of a Civil Service that has served our nation well for more than 100 years.

I am disappointed that an amendment I offered in the Rules Committee was not made in order. It was a simple amendment that would have ensured that Chief Acquisition Officers are career professionals and not political appointees. I would like to put letters of support from several good government/civil servant groups, including the Federal Managers Association, AFGE, the Senior Executives Association, NTEU, AFSCME and others, into the Record.

As AFSCME noted in a letter of support, ``H.R. 1588 entrusts the contracting process to political appointees who stay an average of only 18 months and will turn federal contracts into political currency.'' This wrongheaded provision is a recipe for cronyism and political favoritism!

I am also greatly disappointed that my pro-competition in procurement amendment, offered with Mr. Turner of Texas, was not made in order. The Maloney-Turner amendment to the Defense Authorization Act would have reapplied certain common-sense, good government procurement rules to the Other Transactions Authority section (Section 1451) of H.R. 1588.

This amendment tried to close a large procurement loophole that is both unnecessary and fraught with potential for abuse.

For some interested in closed-door deals and invitation-only bids, it may be more advantageous to use OT authority rather than a procurement contract, however, it may not be more advantageous for taxpayers.

We are reversing important, settled public policy with this bill. Vote ``no'' on the rule.

Federal Managers Association,

Alexandria, VA, May 19, 2003.

Hon. Carolyn Maloney,

House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congresswoman Maloney: On behalf of the 200,000

executives, managers, and supervisors in the Federal

government whose interests are represented by the Federal

Managers Association (FMA), I am writing to express our

strong support of your amendment to H.R. 1588, the fiscal

2004 National Defense Authorization Act, requiring that the

Federal Chief Acquisition Officer (CAO) position be filled by

a career civil servant.

Currently, Section 1421 of H.R. 1588 stipulates that newly

appointed CAO's are to be non-career employees, or political

appointees. We at FMA believe that Federal agencies and

taxpayers would benefit more from the institutional

knowledge, expertise, and experience that a career civil

servant would bring to this position.

Today, the average tenure of a political appointee is

eighteen months, which will result in a revolving door of

CAO's in and out of agencies. This situation will only serve

to further complicate the structure of the Federal

acquisition workforce, while compromising the effectiveness

of this critical position due to a lack of stability. Over

time, we have already seen detrimental effects on Federal

agencies as a result of short-term appointees in leadership

positions.

Moreover, Federal acquisition policy is built upon the goal

of providing American taxpayers with high-quality products

and services through the most efficient use of their tax

dollars. In order to achieve this goal, the CAO must be

removed from any and all political pressures.

Finally, we at FMA are supportive of the National

Commission on the Public Service's (a.k.a., the Volcker

Commission named for its chairman, Paul A. Volcker) recent

recommendation that, ``Congress and the President should work

together to significantly reduce the number of executive

branch political positions.'' The requirement that the newly-

created CAO positions be filled by non-career employees would

only continue the dangerous trend of increasing the number of

political appointments--a step at odds with the Commission's

recommendation, which has been supported by many Members of

Congress.

Sec. 1421 of H.R. 1588 would best serve the American public

if amended, as you have recommended, to require that the CAO

be a career civil servant.

Thank you for your leadership on this important issue. We

look forward to working with you to ensure passage of this

amendment. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be

of further assistance to you on this matter.

With kindest regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

Michael B. Styles,

National President.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Colonel Sidney Baumgarten, in recognition of his outstanding service and dedication to the Military and the City of New York, and for his 25 years of service to The East Side Chamber of Commerce and to New York Therapeutic Communities.

A native of Far Rockaway Beach, Mr. Baumgarten attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was elected to the Student Governing Council and earned three varsity letters. After receiving his Bachelor's degree, Mr. Baumgarten attended New York Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review and recipient of an American Jurisprudence Award.

After attending Brown University, Mr. Baumgarten entered military service, attending Signal School at Fort Dix. He served for 18 months in Europe with the 7th Army Command and was awarded 4 commendations. As an active member of the U.S. Army Reserve, he served as Detachment Commander, Company Commander and Adjutant for the 99th Signal Battalion and as Material Officer for the 518th Maintenance Battalion. At an early age, Mr. Baumgarten began his lifelong commitment to serving in the United States military, and recently retired as Colonel in the New York Guard, Chief of Staff of the Army Division at Camp Smith, New York. For his exceptional services in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack, Mr. Baumgarten was presented with the NY State Conspicuous Service Medal by Governor Pataki in June 2002. Mr. Baumgarten has earned numerous other medals recognizing his service to the nation and the state.

In addition to his law profession and military service, Mr. Baumgarten's many interests led him to act as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Rockaway Cultural Society and President of the Regular Democratic Club of the Rockaways. He was also Post Judge Advocate of the VFW Post 1948, a member of the PAL Youth Council, and a director of the Queens Council on the Arts.

Professionally, Mr. Baumgarten was engaged in the private practice of law for 5 years, and was appointed Assistant District Attorney in 1967. As a member of the Appeals Bureau, he argued numerous criminal appeals before the State and Federal courts and expertly handled numerous cases involving prosecution of major crime figures. From November 1968 to December 1973, Mr. Baumgarten was Law Secretary to Justice Charles Margett, Associate Justice of the Appellate Term of the New York State Supreme Court and Administrative Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District.

Mr. Baumgarten has shared his expertise with colleagues as a lecturer on the subject of firearms and firearms legislation at the New York City Police Academy, and on the subject of appeals at the Queens County Bar Association and at Hofstra University School of Law.

In January 1974, Mr. Baumgarten was appointed Deputy to the Mayor with responsibility for programs and policies involving the Criminal Justice System, the Midtown Enforcement Project, gun control legislation, the Correction Department and many other matters. His expertise has made him a popular guest on many local and network radio and television programs including ABC News and the McNeil-Leherer Report. His successes were recently recognized by former Mayor Giuliani at a ceremony to celebrate the revitalization of Times Square. The Mayor credited Mr. Baumgarten with closing more than 200 illegal establishments during his tenure as head of Midtown enforcement.

Currently, Mr. Baumgarten is President of Spectral BioScience Corp, a company specializing in advanced medical devices and serves as Board Chairman of the East Side Chamber of Commerce and Chairman Emeritus of New York Therapeutic Communities, Inc. He continues to lead and serve my community, tirelessly working towards the betterment of the quality of life for New York City residents and, indeed, all Americans.

In recognition of these outstanding contributions, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sidney Baumgarten for his outstanding service and dedication to the Military and the City of New York.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to USO of Metropolitan New York on the occasion of their 37th Annual Luncheon. This year, the USO is honoring Lorraine Bracco as Entertainer of the Year and Patricia Fili-Krushel, Vice President of Administration at AOL Time Warner, as Woman of the Year. Both women have made outstanding contributions to the New York City community.

The USO, founded in 1941 in response to a request by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, is dedicated to providing morale, welfare and recreation type services to uniformed military Personnel. They remain committed to extending a ``touch of home'' to military members through numerous programs and activities. The USO currently operates throughout the United States and overseas in 121 centers worldwide.

Lorraine Bracco, perhaps best known for her portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi on the HBO hit series ``the Sopranos'', has earned multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Best Actress in a Drama. Ms. Bracco was also nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in the movie ``Goodfellas''. A student at Stella Adler and the Actors Studio in New York City, Ms. Bracco made her American feature film debut in the 1987 Ridley Scott's thriller, ``Someone to Watch Over Me.'' In addition to extensive film and television credits, Ms. Bracco is a member of the Board of Directors of the environmental organization Riverkeeper, which serves to safeguard the Hudson River, its tributaries and the watershed of New York City against environmental violations by tracking down and stopping polluters. She is also a member of the Board of New York Council for the Humanities.

Patricia Fili-Krushel is the Executive Vice President of Administration of AOL Time Warner. In this role, Ms. Fili-Krushel works closely with AOL Time Warner's senior management team. Her responsibilities include human resources, employee development and growth, compensation and benefits, as well as security. Before joining AOL Time Warner, Ms. Fili-Krushel was President of the ABC Television network from 1998 to 2000 and was responsible for improving the ABC television ranking from number 3 to number 1. In 1996, she received the prestigious Vision Award for her contributions to the arts. In 1998, Ms. Fili-Krushel was featured by Fortune Magazine among its ``50 Most Powerful Women'' and in 1999, she received the Women's Project and Productions' Women of Achievement award. Ms. Fili-Krushel currently sits on the Board of Directors for Second Stage Theater, the Board of the Central Park Conservancy, the Board of Center for Communication and was recently named to Mayor Bloomberg's Commission on Women's Issues as Co-Chair of the Child Care initiative. She has made outstanding contributions to the field of communications as well as to improving the New York City community through numerous community service organizations.

In recognition of these outstanding contributions, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the USO of Metropolitan New York on the occasion of their 37th Annual Luncheon as well as in honoring Lorraine Bracco and Patrician Fili-Krushel for their efforts in improving the New York City community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the 22nd annual Turkish-American Day Parade. For over 20 years the parade has united people in its celebration of the many contributions Turkish Americans have made to the history and diversity of New York City, and our great country.

Since its conception, The Federation of Turkish American Associations, which hosts the parade, has successfully established a vital link between the Turkish and American communities. The Federation has evolved with the changing times and has expanded in size, membership and purpose.

The parade is a culmination of the month long Turkish Culture Festival. Americans of all heritages will be treated to lavish floats, men women and children dressed in regional attire, and a sea of American and Turkish flags. Miss World, Azra Akin, will also participate.

New York is a city inspired by every corner of the globe. We draw on and benefit from a myriad of cultures whose citizens have settled here lending their talents, ambition and drive. Turkish influence is evident throughout the city.

It is hard to walk a block in New York City without seeing a Turkish restaurant, a building whose design was influenced by Turkish architecture or a store awning that includes calligraphy, an art form first practiced in Turkey.

The Turkish-American Day Parade is also a chance to honor Turkish Americans who are leaders in their fields, having made contributions in business, the arts, entertainment, and public service not only for the Turkish community, but for all New Yorkers and Americans. Post parade festivities include various Turkish folk dancing troupes, traditional costumes, music, food and artists displaying diverse Turkish culture. In addition, Turkish American Veterans will participate.

In recognition of outstanding Turkish American contributions, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 22nd annual Turkish American Day Parade.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Village Reform Democratic Club on the occasion of their 20th annual dinner. For over 20 years, the Village Reform Democratic Club has led its neighborhood in addressing and resolving important political and community issues.

As is their custom the Village Reform Democratic Club will honor community leaders at their dinner. This year the honorees will be the Caring Community for 30 years of service to the elderly, as well as Saul Fishman and Barry Benepe, two men who in their own ways have helped shape the cultural and social fabric of New York City.

For more than 30 years, professionals and volunteers at the Caring Community have helped and empowered seniors within our community, offering a broad array of programs and services, including the home delivery of over 50,000 hot meals, assistance with shopping and home repairs and assistance to seniors who are crime victims.

Most importantly Caring Community operates four centers for older adults. These four centers, at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, Independence Plaza, The First Presbyterian Church and Center on the Square, are open Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. These centers offer a wide variety of programs for seniors as well as a place where seniors can enjoy a hot meal.

One center is located at Independence Plaza, a neighbor to the World Trade Center. The seniors in Independence Plaza were displaced from their homes for weeks or longer. Without the crucial assistance provided by the Caring Community, many of these seniors would have been unable to deal with the psychological impact of 9/11 and might never have returned to their homes.

In this time, when government is reducing spending on all services, and charitable giving, especially by corporations has been severely curtailed, along with the Village Reform Democratic Club I am proud to recognize all those who contribute their time and resources to the work of the Caring Center.

Saul Fishman is a pioneer in the fight for domestic partnership for gay and lesbian couples. Beginning in 1987, Saul served as spokesman for the Coalition for Lesbian and Gays Rights and later as the chair of the Family Diversity Coalition and as a member of the Mayor's Partner Task Force.

As an activist in the Civil Service Bar Association, the union representing attorneys employed by New York City, Saul persuaded the union to become the first to offer domestic partner benefits to its members. Saul later convinced the municipal unions to demand that the City of New York grant bereavement leave to any City employee who lost a domestic partner. In a dramatic confrontation with then Mayor Koch, Saul got the mayor to accept the provision.

Having secured significant protections for the domestic partners of New York City employees, Saul turned to the wider issue of domestic partnership law to protect all New Yorkers. After I agreed to sponsor the bill in the City Council, Saul lobbied other members to be cosponsors and supporters. Passage of that first domestic partnership bill was hailed as an unparalleled victory for the gay and lesbian community. It is a testament to Saul Fishman's unending energy and unwavering belief that all people should have equal protection under the law.

In 1976 Barry Benepe had the idea of bringing fresh produce directly to the people of New York City, and with that the Green Market was born. Starting with three sites and few local farmers, over the past 2\1/2\ decades the Green Market has expanded to 18 locations bringing over 150 farmers from 4 states.

Consumers appreciate the fresh alternatives offered by the Green Market, while many environmentalists commend the transportation and environmental benefits of locally grown foods. For this Barry was awarded a Special Citation by the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He also received a Municipal Art Society's Certificate of Merit as well as a National Recognition Award from the America the Beautiful Fund.

It is members like Saul Fishman and Barry Benepe that have made the Village Reform Democratic Club a force for social change in New York City.

In recognition of these outstanding contributions, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Caring Community, Saul Fishman, Barry Benepe and Village Reform Democratic Club on the occasion of their 20th annual dinner.