Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 5, the Medical Liability Limitation Act.

I represent many of the nation's premier health care and biomedical research institutions in the nation. As such, I have worked diligently to represent the interests of my district on health matters.

On this issue in particular, I have met with numerous doctors and I agree, they need relief from the high cost of insurance premiums. Rising health costs are not just impacting doctors. High health costs are hurting consumers, hospitals, employers and the economy, in general.

But H.R. 5 is not the right prescription!

Because of the strict caps for pain and suffering, H.R. 5 will especially harm women, children, the elderly and disabled individuals who may not have significant economic losses to recover. Stay-at-home moms and caregivers for children or the elderly, in particular, will be denied the ability to seek adequate compensation for damages inflicted upon them. H.R. 5 also will be especially punitive to women because many kinds of injuries that happen mostly to females--like those that affect the reproductive system, that cause a loss of fertility, or that are inflicted through sexual assault--are largely compensated through pain-and-suffering awards and other non-economic loss damages.

I met recently with a constituent who was a victim both of medical malpractice and pharmaceutical negligence. When she was in her mother's womb, her mother was prescribed DES at a time when reports about its ineffectiveness and its potential harmful effects on the fetus had already been circulated. Almost two decades later, she developed an adenocarcinoma, an aggressive cancer affecting her reproductive organs. Not only was she then misdiagnosed, her doctor prescribed treatments that were contraindicated and that hastened the growth of her cancer. The misdiagnosis resulted in extensive surgery and reconstruction resulting in her infertility and a lifetime of intense emotional and physical suffering. The pharmaceutical negligence, which was not accurately diagnosed for years--long after the statute of limitations would have expired under the terms of H.R. 5--has resulted in a lifetime of pain and a mountain of bills for follow-up medical care. If H.R. 5 had been the law when her mother had been prescribed DES, she would never have been awarded enough even to pay her extensive medical bills, let alone compensate her for years of pain and suffering.

For several Congresses, we have worked to pass a patient's bill of rights, to make sure that doctors and patients make medical decisions, not bureaucrats. H.R. 5 is an anti-patient's bill of rights.

H.R. 5 is too broad. Beyond the issue of medical malpractice, H.R. 5 includes severe liability limitations for pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and insurance companies.

Unlike the Conyers/Dingell alternative which I strongly support, H.R. 5 promises no relief from the high malpractice insurance rates paid by doctors and hospitals and serves as nothing more than a bailout for insurance companies who are passing on their investment losses to doctors.

Vote ``no'' on H.R. 5.

Mr. Speaker, this is a difficult time. We're worried about the possibility of war and concerned about the men and women in our armed forces, but the best way to honor democracy is to ensure equality and justice for all. That's why we're leading this bipartisan movement for the Equality Amendment for women and men. We intend to do all we can to see that it becomes part of the Constitution, which is where it belongs.

I am proud to be joined by my Republican colleagues, Jim Leach and Judy Biggert. I am also grateful to the dean of the House, John Dingell, for his leadership on so many issues important to women; to leading pollster Mark Penn of the firm Penn, Schoen, and Berland; and to the noted economist, Dr. Heidi Hartman. I'd also like to acknowledge the representatives of so many organizations dedicated to improving the lives of women and families.

Women have achieved a great deal, but the statutory route has not been as successful as we hoped. The Glass Ceiling, the Pink Ghetto, the wage gap, the occupation gap, and sexual harassment are real problems. We're reintroducing the Equality Amendment because the only guarantee that American women will never again be subject to inferior treatment is to engrave the principle of women's equality into the Constitution.

We've seen over the years that laws can change, judicial attitudes can shift, and the gains we've won can slip from our grasp. The need for a constitutional guarantee of equal rights for women is compelling. We must do more, much more, to guarantee fair treatment in the work place. Existing laws can't get the job done, and could be rolled back.

Title IX, which for three decades guaranteed equality in education and in academic sports programs, is being eroded.

Enforcement measures on discrimination laws are backlogged and badly underfunded.

Women continue to be treated differently than men in pensions, insurance, and judicial awards.

Women still have trouble gaining access to housing and to equal pay for equal work. The wage gap persists. In fact, the Dingell-Maloney study that we released last year showed the gap in managerial salaries is actually widening.

Women still earn 76 cents for each dollar earned by a man. After a full day's work, no woman should be forced to take home only three quarters of a paycheck.

Too many women continue to be victims of sexual harassment.

Over nine out of ten Americans support equal rights for men and women, as Mark Penn can discuss. In fact, polling data shows that most Americans think the Constitution already guarantees gender equality-- and they don't want it repealed. The ERA would establish that as a reality once and for all. It is time to ensure that the legal right to equality regardless of sex is subject to the same level of judicial review as race or other classes.

With 187 co-sponsors so far, the Equality Amendment has strong support in the House. And it enjoys strong backing in the Senate. Ours is a bipartisan, grass roots effort. With the help of organizations represented here and the over 140 groups that have already endorsed it, I hope we'll be able to move the ERA to a vote.

It is time for women to have an equal place in the Constitution. It is time for the Equal Rights Amendment to become law. Inscribed over the Supreme Court is the statement ``Equal Justice Under the Law'' and it means ALL people. And in 2003, we intend to SEE that equal justice under the law happens . . . and making the ERA part of the Constitution is the right way to do it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to CIVITAS, Citizens Committed to Improved Neighborhood Life in the Upper East Side and East Harlem on the occasion of their annual benefit. As founding President of CIVITAS, Genie Rice will be honored for her many years of tireless service to CIVITAS and commitment to the community.

Founded in 1981, the first chair, August Heckscher, looked to the Roman Republic for a name that embodies the spirit of citizen involvement that founders envisioned as the guiding principle of the new community organization. In ancient Rome, CIVITAS referred to that quality of a citizen that caused that person to be deeply involved in the life and fate of the city. The members of CIVITAS have dedicated themselves to protecting and enhancing the quality of life in the Upper East Side and East Harlem.

CIVITAS has steadfastly fostered, mobilized and coordinated civic activism in Manhattan's Upper East Side and East Harlem by focusing on promoting, preserving and protecting residential neighborhoods. Currents projects include cosponsoring a remapping of East Harlem with Community Board 11 and tree planting on East 86th Street. Among the issues that CIVITAS has identified as being crucial to ensuring that the community remains lively and livable are: (i) urban planning, including limits on residential towers, coherent zoning, attractive public and private spaces and a reasoned approach to the siting, size and permit use of community facilities; (ii) infrastructure, including good public transit; (iii) the environment, and (iv) landmark preservation.

An effective and dedicated community advocate, Genie Rice has served as CIVITAS President since 1982 and has played a key role in many important projects, including initiation of the remapping of East and Central Harlem. Devoted to the improvement of the community, Ms. Rice organized focus groups with East Harlem property owners to encourage rehabilitation of dilapidated buildings. In 1992, Ms. Rice served as Committee Chair at the New School's Environmental Simulation Center to model and discuss zoning options for East Side Avenues. Ms. Rice worked tenaciously for 8 years in a successful advocacy effort to pass these zoning modifications for Upper East Side avenues and other high-density Manhattan avenues.

When a developer arrogantly added 12 stories to his building, in violation of the zoning law, at 108 E. 96th Street, Genie Rice, CIVITAS and I were at the forefront of the effort to bring it down. We won a historic decision forcing the developer to remove the 12 stories, the first of its kind in the city. Ms. Rice is an active member of many other community organizations including Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, the 7th Regiment Armory Conservancy and the New York League of Conservation Education Fund.

The many members and friends of CIVITAS have made it an extraordinary and invaluable community organization. I am proud of my involvement as a member of CIVITAS. CIVITAS's contributions over the years have truly preserved the quality of life of Upper East Side and East Harlem residents.

In recognition of these outstanding contributions, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring CIVITAS and Ms. Genie Rice on the occasion of their annual benefit reception.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Andreas T. Stamboulidis Parthenon Chapter of the Order of AHEPA on the occasion of their annual dinner dance. For their extraordinary service and commitment to the community, Senator Frank Padavan, James Efthimiades, Stephen Cherpelis and George Doulaveris will be honored. They are truly ``Axie'', worthy of this honor.

Established to fight prejudice and racism, AHEPA is philanthropic organization that has been serving the Hellenic community since its inception 80 years ago. The many dedicated members of AHEPA have provided the community with an understanding of the Hellenic heritage and an awareness of its contribution to the evolution of democratic ideals in the United States and Greece.

AHEPA's many contributions to the community include the establishment of educational scholarships, relief drives to aid the victims of warfare, persecution and national disaster, sponsorship of sports tournaments, support for women and children, the elderly, and the disabled. Through all of their community outreach efforts, AHEPA has striven to promote appreciation of Greek culture and further advance understanding between the Hellenic-American, American and the Hellenic community abroad.

The Andreas T. Stamboulidis Parthenon Chapter is exemplary of the AHEPA objective. Founded by the late Andrew Stamboulidis twenty-two years ago, the Parthenon Chapter has raised and contributed over $35,000 toward the Holy Cross School and Community Center. For the Parthenon Chapter's extraordinary support of the school, one of the classrooms is named after founder Andreas T. Stamboulidis. Mr. Stamboulidis typified the ideals and aspirations of AHEPA.

It is a true pleasure to honor this chapter and its members, including Theodore Stamas and my good friend Manny Mavroidis. As the founder and co-chairperson of the Hellenic Caucus in Congress it has been my pleasure and honor to work with many of the members of AHEPA. Since its inception, the Parthenon

Chapter of AHEPA has become an important and invaluable member of the community.

In recognition of the Andreas T. Stamboulidis Parthenon Chapter of the Order of AHEPA's many contributions to the community, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting this organization and all of tonight's honorees on the occasion of their annual dinner dance.

Mr. Speaker, ten years ago this month, President Clinton signed into law the Family and Medical Leave Act (PL 103-3), legislation that allows employees to take time off from work to care for a new baby or sick family member. Because of this landmark legislation, more than 35 million Americans have been able to take unpaid leave without the risk of losing their jobs.

Today, I am introducing the Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act. Building upon the success of the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), this legislation would allow more people to benefit from FMLA by allowing employees in companies with more than 25 employees to take Family and Medical Leave and would extend employee leave for workers to meet their family's needs. The legislation includes 24 hours of leave (during any 12-month period) for parents and grandparents to go to parent-teacher conferences or to take their children, grandchildren or other family members to the doctor for regular medical or dental appointments.

Currently, the FMLA allows qualified workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for newborns, seek emergency medical care for themselves, parents, children under 18 or a legal spouse. My legislation would add commonsense enhancements to FMLA.

In 1997, this legislative measure was supported by President Bill Clinton. In February 1997, President Clinton said, ``I call upon Congress to expand the family leave law to give parents an additional 24 hours of unpaid leave each year to take a child or an elderly relative to a regular doctor's appointment or to attend parent-teacher conferences at school. In so doing, we'll make our families stronger and our workers more productive, building the kind of country and economy we all want for our children.''

On behalf of America's families, I urge my fellow colleagues to join me in support of the Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership, and I thank him for yielding me the time, and I rise in opposition to the rule and in opposition to the underlying bill, H.R. 534.

I am against human reproductive cloning, but I am concerned that the Weldon bill could exert a devastating impact on future life-saving research, and I fear that it will bring current research that offers great promise to cure a whole host of diseases to a grinding halt.

I represent a district that includes many premier medical research institutions. Top scientists have told me that therapeutic cloning could lead to cures and new treatments for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS, and other chronic or fatal illnesses, and they say that it could alleviate tremendous human suffering.

In a recent Newsweek article by Dr. Gerald Fischbach, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Columbia University Medical School and former head of NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, he wrote the following about this issue: ``A less obvious, but real, cost is the damage to the fabric of America's extraordinary culture of inquiry and technical development in biomedical research. If revolutionary new therapies are delayed or outlawed, we could be set back for years, if not decades.''

It is appropriate that policymakers scrutinize cutting-edge science. We must ensure that research is conducted in a legal and ethical manner, but the underlying bill goes too far.

A more appropriate approach is the Greenwood-Deutsch substitute, and that bill will allow potentially life-saving research to proceed while banning human reproductive cloning.

I know something about the suffering of millions of American families as their loved ones struggle against disease for which research cloning may one day offer a treatment or cure. My own father battled against Parkinson's until he passed away this year, and I cannot in good conscience tell those families that our society will benefit from an outright ban on this vital research.

I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 534 and to support the substitute.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kanjorski) for his leadership on this important legislation and I thank him for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Emergency Securities Response Act, legislation intended to assist the recovery of the securities markets in the event of another major terrorist attack or emergency.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 wreaked a tremendous toll on my city of New York, the center of the world financial markets. As we all know, the loss of life, buildings, property, and communications equipment prevented the reopening of the financial markets until September 17. While the stock market went down the day it opened, the most important thing was that it was opened and functioning. This was a major boost in confidence for the economy, for New York City, and for the entire Nation.

For their roles in reopening the markets, the SEC and the other regulators deserve much credit. Without their work, the economic fallout of the attack would have been even more serious and harmed more people. The legislation we are voting on today is intended to give the SEC additional flexibility to deal with just such a situation should we face another terrorist attack, disaster or emergency.

The Emergency Securities Response Act extends the commission's emergency authority from 10 to 30 days and up to 90 days in certain circumstances. This legislation is necessary because we know that our Nation's financial infrastructure is a frontline target in the war against terrorism. The World Trade Center was a symbol of the United States' economy.

I truly want to compliment the leaders of other such symbols of our economy in New York. The New York Stock Exchange and the New York Mercantile Exchange have done an extremely good job not only during that emergency, but since, in their efforts to upgrade security to almost fortress-like levels. I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley), the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), the ranking member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kanjorski) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) for their work on this issue. And I truly hope we never have to use the powers this legislation grants the SEC. I truly hope we will never have such an emergency again. But I strongly support this legislation.

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

I rise in support of legislation that will preserve Monticello on the United States nickel. All Americans are familiar with the role Thomas Jefferson played in our Nation's founding. Jefferson was the third President of the United States, author of the Declaration of Independence, and the founder of the University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson's beautiful home, Monticello, was where one of America's foremost thinkers produced many of his finest writings and great work. Monticello still stands outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, and it is appropriate that we preserve its place in our national heritage upon our national coinage.

This year marks the 200th year celebration of the Louisiana Purchase and the voyage of Lewis and Clark into the western frontier. In an effort to recognize this important journey, the United States Mint has proposed celebrating this anniversary by commemorating the voyage and discoveries of Lewis and Clark on the nickel. The intent of the legislation we are considering today is to allow this anniversary to be celebrated while mandating that Monticello will return to the nickel after the celebration of Lewis and Clark.

The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), whose district contains Monticello, has put forth a plan to allow the U.S. Mint to commemorate the journey of Lewis and Clark on the nickel for 3 years, after which the nickel will revert to the Monticello portrait in 2006.

The likeness of Thomas Jefferson and Monticello is a fixture on our national coinage. This legislation ensures that the memory and importance we hold for the author of our Declaration of Independence will be preserved while we celebrate the achievements of Lewis and Clark. Additionally, title II of this legislation makes technical changes to the Commemorative Coin Reform Act enacted in 1995. These changes are intended to make coin programs operate more smoothly.

I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) for his leadership on this bill. I know he has worked with the Mint and Treasury to resolve the issues that were raised, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Washington (Mr. Baird) where Lewis and Clark reached their final destination.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation that I am reintroducing with my colleague, Representative Judy Biggert of Illinois, the Privacy Protection Clarification Act. This legislation resolves the controversy as to whether attorneys at law, who are subject to strict codes of professional conduct, should be subject to the privacy section of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA). The Biggert- Maloney legislation recognizes that the practice of law and the business of financial services are wholly different and that GLBA should be clarified to recognize this distinction.

With passage of GLBA in 1999, Congress took an important step in ensuring that consumer privacy is protected as financial institutions continue to merge and as the economy grows increasingly digital. As a member of the then Banking Committee, I was proud to play a role in requiring that financial services companies supply their customers with privacy policies and allow customers the right to opt-out of information sharing with third-parties.

Unfortunately, GLBA has caused significant confusion for the legal community. On February 11, 2002, 1 joined 12 of my bipartisan colleagues on the Financial Services Committee in writing to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ask that it grant attorneys an exemption to the GLBA privacy provisions. As we wrote at the time, ``Attorneys are already bound by a duty of confidentiality, enforceable under the laws of all 50 states, that prevents misuse of client information and provides a higher degree of privacy protection than GLBA.'' After a thorough review the FTC determined that it does not presently have the authority to grant the exemption we requested.

The privacy protections in Title V of GLBA were a response to specific cases where consumers' private, personal financial information was mined without their consent in an effort to

market products. Where Title V is an appropriate response to such cases, it is inappropriate to apply it to most lawyers whose clients already expect that all their disclosures are confidential, covered by state codes of ethics and attorney-client privilege.

For example, the Legal Aid Society of New York City had to translate its privacy notice into many different languages to serve its ethnically diverse clientele. It also had to devote an inordinate amount of time to dealing with confused clients who could not understand why they were getting privacy notices from their lawyers when information they share with their lawyers is presumed to be confidential. I fear this could have a chilling effect on the willingness of individuals to share critical information with their attorneys. The confusion these privacy notices are causing in New York is unnecessary given that there is express language forbidding the sharing of client information in the New York state ethics code for lawyers.

The recently filed amicus brief at the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia by 19 state and local bar associations further lays out some of the ways that the Act conflicts with the practice of law, the rights of clients and the duties of attorneys. The brief was drafted by the former President of the American Law Institute, Professor Geoffrey Hazard.

To quote from the amicus brief: ``Not only does the GLBA provide less broad and less beneficial privacy protection than do existing state ethics rules governing lawyers, there are contradictions and discrepancies in the concepts of confidentiality and in the responsibilities of the `service providers' under GLBA as applied to practicing lawyers. These disconnections make clear that the application of both privacy regimes to lawyers is unworkable. . .'' The stringent enforceable codes of professional conduct that attorneys are under contain opt-in requirements tailored to the profession. Their clients must affirmatively agree to the attorney revealing any personal information about that client.

I join Representative Biggert in introducing this legislation today, because it is my intention to target this limited area where the interpretation of GLBA can be improved by a legislative fix. The FTC's standing interpretation of Title V of the Act is causing confusion that is detrimental to the attorney-client relationship. It is appropriate for Congress to intervene. I have met with numerous constituents from New York City on this issue and am convinced that attorneys should not fall under the existing language.

I look forward to continuing to work to safeguard the privacy of my constituents during this Congress. This legislation is limited and strictly targeted. As for the larger privacy issues--the American public deserves more privacy protections, not fewer. When this body passed the GLBA provisions, we never considered its impact upon the practice of law because we had not intended it to apply to lawyers. Now that we see the confusion, expense and conflict that this act has wrought upon the legal community, we must act to clarify our original intent.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of legislation that I am reintroducing with my colleague, Jose Serrano of New York. Following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, individuals who required temporary housing assistance relied upon the Mortgage and Rental Assistance program (MRA), included in the Stafford Act, for aid. Under the MRA program, which can be used for both natural and non-natural disasters, they may have been eligible for grants to repair homes to a habitable condition, or to obtain mortgage or rental payment assistance to prevent foreclosures or evictions.

The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 amended the Stafford Act to end the program in May 2002. Without this program, thousands of people affected by future major disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and terrorist acts, may be unable to obtain any assistance to address their housing needs.

This legislation reauthorizes this program so that it will be available in the future. Although there were clear problems with FEMA's implementation of the MRA program in New York after 9/11, progress has been made to ensure that FEMA assists all the individuals who have experienced these types of housing problems because of the terrorist attack. With the program finally running the way it should, we must take the necessary steps now to guarantee that anyone affected by future disasters will have the aid that they need.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to Rabbi Sidney Kleiman on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Both a scholar and a vigorous leader, Rabbi Kleiman inspires his community and congregation with his pious dedication and moving sermons.

With the longest active tenure of service in the same synagogue of any living rabbi, Rabbi Kleiman, has been serving New York City's historic Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El for over 60 years. First as Rabbi from 1939-1999, he now serves as Rabbi Emeritus since 2000.

Rabbi Kleiman tells the story of how he became rabbi of Adareth El. ``In 1939, I was Rabbi of the Jewish Center of Violet Park [in Bronx]. A Mr. Finkel, of blessed memory, was a member of my shul and also a member of the 29th Street shul. He noticed that I left every morning to go down to Henry Street on the lower east side, to take my children to school in the yeshiva, and that I would go back every afternoon to pick them up. Mr. Finkel said to me, ``Rabbi, you can't keep this up! You will not last, it is too much for you. There is an excellent opportunity, the 29th Street shul is looking for a Rabbi. The position would be perfect for you.'' Rabbi Kleiman was happy in his current position, but Mr. Finkel persisted. Rabbi Kleiman agreed to preach a sermon one Shabbos, with the understanding that he was not applying for the position of Rabbi.

He recounts, ``The Saturday I preached was the week that Britain's Prime Minister Chamberlain had held his now infamous meeting with Hitler in Munich. When Chamberlain returned to 10 Downing Street, it was a rainy day. He opened up his umbrella and declared to the world: Peace in our time! The title of the sermon I preached that Shabbos was Peace Not in Our Times.'' Rabbi Kleiman explains that Chamberlain should have known from his meeting that Hitler was out to destroy the Jewish people and their rich culture. In the pacifist and isolationist climate of the United States during that time, the Rabbi stressed that the prestige of the Jewish people and their leaders had to be raised. In his words, ``The congregation said that if this Rabbi is crazy enough to deliver this kind of sermon when America is so isolationist and pacifistic, let's elect him for six months and then fire him. And so it was. Every six months I was fired and re-hired. And that's how I lasted 60 years!''

And after fifty years as Rabbi, the Board of Trustees at Adereth El asked him if he would consider retiring. He said, ``No Way!'' He told them that his mother lived to 104 and was alert to the last day and he expects to outlive her. Currently, after 60 years of outstanding service and leadership, Rabbi Kleiman has been given the new honor and title of Rabbi Emeritus, which he expects to be for at least another fifty years.

Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El, founded in 1857, has the distinction of being the only Jewish congregation in New York City to have worshipped for more than 140 years on the same site. Since 1863, Adereth El has been located on East 29th Street. The original design and integrity of the synagogue's simple and dignified interior has been substantially unaltered. Today, the congregation continues to provide a spiritual home to over 150 New York City families. The contributions of Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El have touched many lives by providing spiritual guidance as well as fostering an enduring spirit of community. This spirit of giving is epitomized by the dedication and selflessness exhibited by Rabbi Kleiman.

For his unwavering dedication to his community and congregation, Rabbi Kleiman will forever remain a prominent and lasting community and spiritual leader.

In recognition of Rabbi Kleiman's lifetime of service and leadership of Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El, I ask that my colleagues join me in saluting Rabbi Kleiman and the congregation on his 90th birthday celebration.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to Gouverneur Healthcare Services, on the occasion of their Annual Chinese New Year Celebration. Founded in 1885, Gouverneur Healthcare Services has a rich and lengthy history of providing innovative healthcare services for New Yorkers and their families.

In 1885, Gouverneur made history by becoming America's first public hospital to establish a tuberculosis clinic. As a pioneer in healthcare, it was also the first institution to employ a female physician on its ambulance service as well as the first to set up day camp on a boat for undernourished adults and children. A century later, Gouverneur established Project HELP, the first psychiatric mobile crisis unit for homeless, mentally ill individuals. These are just a few examples of Gouverneur's ability to create innovative programs to fulfill the needs of our community.

Gouverneur's 210 bed Nursing Facility has provided outstanding skilled nursing and rehabilitation care for over a quarter of a century. Care is provided in an ethnically and culturally sensitive manner, with special programs for Chinese and Hispanics. In addition, Gouverneur's ambulatory care facility, with over 300,000 visits in FY 1998, is one of the city's busiest. Among Gouverneur's many notable services is the Diagnostic and Treatment Center, which is the largest in New York State, providing more than 300,000 visits each year. The center focuses on maintaining patient wellness through a wide range of outpatient diagnostic and healthcare services including general medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, obstetrics, HIV care, behavioral health, dentistry, podiatry, dermatology and an eye clinic.

Gouverneur aims to reach all members of the culturally and ethnically rich Manhattan community. Special programs include the Asian Bicultural Unit, which provides psychiatric services for members of the Asian community, and the Roberto Clemente Center and the Sylvia Del Villard Continuing Day Treatment Program, which offer mental health programs designed to suit the needs of the Latino community.

Gouverneur's attentive concern and dedication to a multi-cultural patient population have made it a leader in providing services to non- English speaking patients. Gouverneur's staff is multilingual and is devoted to meeting each patients' individual needs. For example, Gouverneur's nursing facility provides Chinese, English and Spanish menus, with an emphasis on individual food preferences.

Gouverneur's multicultural services department works diligently to ensure that each and every patient feels comfortable while his or her healthcare needs are addressed. The department has members and volunteers that provide interpreting services in various languages, and printed materials are available in English, Chinese and Spanish throughout the facility. Gouverneur has also piloted TEMIS,

an award winning system that enables patients and their providers to receive simultaneous translation during exams through the use of wireless technology.

As an active leader in the community, Gouverneur hosted ``Celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month'' in May 2002. The event raised public awareness and offered free speech and language screenings to children from a widely diverse community in their own native languages. As a result of the collaboration, many children were screened and approximately 75% were flagged for possible speech and language difficulties.

In recognition of Gouverneur Healthcare Services' outstanding contributions to the community and their commitment to the quality of life of the diverse New York City community, I ask that my colleagues join me in saluting Gouverneur Healthcare Services on the occasion of their Annual Chinese New Year Celebration.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the Panpaphian Association of America, Inc., on the occasion of the Fourth Evagoras Pallikarides Award of Merit. An outstanding organization established in 1987, the Panpaphian Association has enriched its community through its promotion of the rich culture of Cyprus.

Founded by a small group of Cypriot Americans of Panpaphian ancestry, the Panpaphian Association of America has grown considerably in the past two decades. It has played a significant role in educating others about Cyprus and it history, traditions, and customs. The Panpaphian Association's contributions to the community include a choir and a soccer team, as well as various educational lectures on Paphian archaeological excavations and their findings. Originally a small community organization, the Panpaphian Association prospered remarkably and has developed into a pillar of the Cypriot American community.

In addition to supporting Cyprus and increasing awareness of Cypriot heritage, the association is involved in motivating and aiding its community in various ways. It promotes and stresses the importance of education through its annual academic excellence awards. Further, the association has made a major effort in fundraising for those who require medical attention, and it has made helpful donations to Paphos Hospital.

In 1999, the Panpaphian Association established the Evagoras Pallikarides award, honoring the memory of Pallikarides, a Cypriot hero who was killed in 1956 while fighting for his country's freedom. Dennis C. Droushiotis, the Trade Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, has been selected as the honored recipient of the 2003 Evagoras Pallikarides Award of Merit.

Among his many accomplishments are the establishment of the first Cyprus Trade Center in the United States and the implementation of many successful exports and investments programs, leading to the exponential growth of Cypriot exports to the U.S. The Trade Center's bilateral initiatives were a crucial factor in the United States becoming the main exporter to Cyprus and the growth of two-way trade.

Mr. Droushiotis is also the founding member of the Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, inaugurated in 1998 by President Glafcos Clerides and Minister Nicos Rolandis. He has served as a delegate to the World Trade Organization, the United Nation 33rd and 37th General Assembly Sessions, and other such prestigious gatherings. His many civic involvements include work with the European Travel Commission, the Cyprus Olympic Committee, and the Cyprus Children's Fund.

Throughout his life, Mr. Droushiotis has been committed to the cause of justice, peace, and prosperity for Cyprus. He has been honored by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce, and in 2000, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his work in international trade. As an individual who has contributed greatly not only to his nation but to both the Cypriot and Cypriot American communities, he is truly worthy of the Evagoras Pallikarides Award.

The organization has also chosen Charles Socrates as 2003 Member of the Year. Mr. Socrates, who originates from a small village in Cyprus, immigrated to the United States and, despite limited resources, developed a successful career while establishing an extensive network of family and friends. The Panpaphian Association honors Mr. Socrates today for his hard work and pride in his ethnicity.

In recognition of the Panpaphian Association of America's many contributions for the Cypriot American community, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting this organization and all of tonight's honorees on the fourth anniversary of their annual Evagoras Pallikarides Award of Merit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Obey Motion to Instruct.

We are four months into fiscal year 2003, yet 11 of the appropriations bills have yet to be enacted.

I am happy to see that we are close to wrapping up this appropriations process. But now is not the time to skimp on the people's priorities. In our rush to finish, we must ensure that Homeland Security and our first responders are at the top of our list.

I urge the conferees to incorporate into the final conference report the language included in the omnibus bill by the other body.

In particular, I support the $90 million to continue the health monitoring at Mount Sinai Hospital for the men and women who were on the front lines of defense on September 11th and the days that followed.

The other body included specific instructions to FEMA on this $90 million.

Yesterday, several firefighters and rescue workers who worked the pile at Ground Zero were here in Washington to call attention to this very important issue. These brave heroes entered a battle zone of a new kind of war, and are really the first victims of the war. And we need to ensure they receive the medical care they deserve.

The need for this money was underscored in a report released this week by Mount Sinai Hospital showing that a majority of ground zero workers and volunteers screened for health problems have serious persistent illnesses from the disaster.

The initial screening program which ends this July will screen only about 9,000 of the approximately 40,000 rescue workers in need of medical attention. The analysis reveals that over 50 percent of the sample study have pulmonary illnesses, ear, nose and throat ailments, or persistent mental health problems.

The Doctors at Mt. Sinai believe the same statistics will hold for the roughly 3,500 responders they have seen to date. 78 percent of the participants reported at least one World Trade Center-related pulmonary symptom that first developed or worsened as a result of their rescue efforts; 52 percent reported mental health symptoms requiring further evaluation; and only about one-third of the sample participants had received any prior medical care for any of their symptoms and conditions.

In other words, for about one-third of these participants--their trip to Mount Sinai had been their only source of medical care; emphasizing the critical need to fully fund this program now, not later, not months down the road.

I urge my colleagues in the House to read the findings from the Mt. Sinai report--which can be found on my website: http:// www.wtcexams.org/.

Medical monitoring delayed is proper health care denied. But again we face the challenge of securing the House support and the Administration's support and leadership to make this happen.

Medical monitoring delayed is proper health care denied. I hope that the conferees will include in the final conference report the language included in the omnibus bill by the other body.

The first responders were there for us when we needed them, now the question is will the federal government be there for them.

Mr. Speaker, the rescue workers were there for us when

we needed them. The question before this body today is will we, the Federal Government, be there for them when they need us? I rise strongly in support of the gentleman from Wisconsin's (Mr. Obey) motion to recommit that provides the necessary funding to help protect this country, but I particularly want to speak about one program that was instituted and planned to help the first responders in New York City, and that is the $90 million proposed monitoring of health care at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York.

The 12 million that was originally allocated will run out in July, and only a small portion of the roughly 40,000 workers, and I mean laborer, fire, construction worker, those that were exposed to these deadly, deadly toxins, have been screened.

Earlier, in a bipartisan way, we passed a supplemental, but that was vetoed, and these heroes need to be helped, and what I see is sort of the selective amnesia. When it is time to have a photo op or time to talk about heroes, everybody is there for the photo op, but when it comes to the time to allocate the money to the men and women who need the health care and need the continued services, it has not been there.

Underscoring this is an important Mt. Sinai study that came out yesterday showing the illnesses and persistent illnesses caused by 9- 11, and I include it for the Record.

I rise in support of Representative Obey's motion to recommit, which provides crucial funding to help protect the country.

In particular, I support the $90 million to continue the health monitoring at Mount Sinai hospital for the men and women who were on the front lines of defense on September 11th and the days that followed.

Sixteen months after that fateful day, we must make sure that those brave men and women who entered a battle zone of a new kind of war, and are really the first victims of the war, receive the medical care they deserve.

Underscoring the need for this money was a report released yesterday by Mount Sinai hospital showing that a majority of ground zero workers and volunteers screened for health problems have serious persistent illnesses from the disaster.

The initial screening program which ends this July will screen only about 9,000 of the approximately 40,000 rescue workers in need of medical attention.

Dr. Stephen Levin and Dr. Robin Burton said the findings showed ``disturbing levels of long term health problems'' and that it was ``alarming.'' The analysis reveals that over 50 percent of the sample study have pulmonary illnesses, ear, nose, and throat ailments, or persistent mental health problems.

They believe the same statistics will hold for the roughly 3,500 responders they have seen to date: 78 percent of the participants reported at least one World Trade Center-related pulmonary symptom that first developed or worsened as a result of their rescue efforts; 52 percent reported mental health symptoms requiring further evaluation; and only about one-third of the sample participants had received any prior medical care for any of their symptoms and conditions.

In other words, for about one-third of these participants, their trip to Mount Sinai had been their only source of medical care; emphasizing the critical need to fully fund this program now, not later, not months down the road. Medical monitoring delayed is proper health care denied.

Last week Senator Clinton, in a bipartisan effort, again successfully directed $90 million dollars from FEMA for this purpose. But again we face the challenge of securing the House support and the Administration's support and leadership to make this happen.

These firefighters are just here to pick up their check not only for themselves, but for the ironworkers, the construction workers, laborers, rescue workers, volunteers, and their families who care deeply about their health.

Medical monitoring delayed is proper health care denied.

The rescue workers and volunteers were there for us when we needed them, now the question is will the federal government be there for them.