Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I announce the Early Childhood program in the Hempstead Union Free School District as School of the Month in the Fourth Congressional District for February 2004.

The principal of the Early Childhood program is Florence Galloway, and the superintendent of schools is Dr. Nathaniel Clay. The Early Childhood program serves almost 1,000 students in the village of Hempstead's first Full Day Kindergarten program. The faculty work to ensure children begin life on the right path, with a strong commitment to education and family values.

The administrators and teachers of the Full Day Kindergarten program are committed to teaching every child to read by the third grade through an enriched curriculum of math, science, and social studies. The students are taught socialization skills that revolve around respect, sharing and interaction, a superior combination.

This invaluable program was spearheaded by the current principal, Mrs. Florence Galloway, in 2003. Mrs. Galloway has dedicated her life to improving the classroom and school environment, while remaining active within the community. During her 48 years in education, Mrs. Galloway dedicated 35 to the Hempstead School District. After more than 2 decades of service at the Marshall Street Primary School, Mrs. Galloway accepted the position of coordinator for the district's pre-K program. Shortly after, Mrs. Galloway took on the role of principal for the district's newly formed Early Childhood program, a task she has proudly served for 11 years. Mrs. Galloway will be retiring this year after nearly a half-century of impeccable service. She will be greatly missed not only in Hempstead but in the entire Fourth Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, the faculty and students of the Early Childhood program, along with the community, have created a wonderful learning environment. I am proud to name the Hempstead Early Childhood program as the school of the month for February 2004.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to name Westbury Language Center in Westbury, New York, as February Small Business of the Month in the Fourth Congressional District of New York.

Many in our community know that small businesses are the backbone of Long Island's economic well-being. As the national economy continues to struggle, the energy, flexibility and innovation of our local small businesses have become essential. It is time to spotlight some of these businesses extraordinary achievements and contributions.

Westbury Language Center is a successful small business and an exceptional jewel to the Latino community in Long Island. Described as a cultural center for the community to study and appreciate the Spanish language, the Westbury Language Center has a reputation for providing all kinds of services related to the Spanish language and the Latino culture for children and adults. Latinos are the largest minority group in the United States and I am excited to celebrate and embrace the contributions that they have brought to our community and Long Island.

Maria Isabel Martinez, founder of Westbury Language Center, sold her home and used her retirement funds to realize her dreams of constructing a business that would serve the public and its needs. Three years later, Westbury Language Center not only offers courses in English as a Second Language (ESL) and teaches the Latino culture, including folkloric dances to children and adults, but it also provides instructional computer classes to Latino workers that are interested in learning a science that will ensure them a better job and a better quality of life.

Furthermore, pleasing the demands of the community, Maria plans to hold the Westbury Language Center's first workshop, ``Now to Start, Develop and Administer Your Own Business'' sometime this year.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Maria Isabel Martinez and everyone at the Westbury Language Center for their hard work at providing our Latino community with services detrimental to their success and for allowing our community as a whole, to learn and appreciate the Spanish language and the Latino culture.

Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, I have concerns with numerous provisions in this omnibus bill. Among them are three that may actually contribute to violent crime in our communities and aid terrorists. These NRA-backed provisions were added in the dead of night to the benefit of gun manufacturers and criminals who obtain guns illegally.

The first weakens the highly successful Brady Bill by requiring federal authorities to destroy all firearm purchase records within 24 hours instead of 90 days as under current law. This provision weakens law enforcement's ability to stop illegal gun purchases and rejects a July 2002 GAO study which concluded that a ``next-day destruction policy . . . would have public safety implications and could lessen the efficacy of current operations.'' Nearly one million illegal gun purchases have been stopped since the Brady law went into effect. Now is not the time to tie the hands of law enforcement officials who tirelessly work to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

Another provision would protect ``bad apple'' gun dealers. For example, the snipers who terrorized Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. obtained the assault rifle used in their sniper attacks from a Tacoma, Washington gun store called Bull's Eye Shooter Supply. After the sniper suspects were apprehended and the gun was recovered and traced, Bull's Eye claimed to have no record of selling the gun, and did not even know it was missing until the shooting spree was over. The snipers' gun was just one of more than 238 firearms ``missing'' from Bull's Eye's inventory during the previous three years.

This provision would essentially block ATF from requiring gun dealers like Bull's Eye to take regular inventories of their firearms. In August 2000, ATF issued a proposed rule requiring licensed dealers to do annual physical inventories. The rulemaking proceeding is still pending. If anything, Congress should require ATF to issue this rule. Instead, this legislation would block ATF from ever issuing this requirement as a final rule. This would severely hamstring ATF's ability to address what it has stated is a serious problem.

And lastly, language was included to prevent public scrutiny of corrupt gun dealers.

ATF has indicated analysis of crime gun traces and multiple sale reports has yielded a series of gun ``trafficking indicators'' that can be linked to particular firearms dealers.

ATF has always made this information available to the public through Freedom of Information Act (``FOIA'') requests, which allow for vital public oversight of the effectiveness of the Agency. Under the provision in the omnibus appropriations bill, ATF will not be allowed to release trace or multiple sale data, thereby gutting the purposes of FOIA, and effectively shielding the most corrupt firearms dealers from public scrutiny.

The NRA lobbied hard for these favors which do nothing to keep American families safe, but rather advance another well-connected special interest. Worse, they could actually contribute to more illegal gun purchases, meaning more criminals with guns.

We should be working to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands. Instead, this Administration and Congressional leadership continues to roll back commonsense gun safety measures that save lives. We can, and must, do better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise against the Medicare bill that is going to be giving billions of dollars of giveaway money that should be going for prescription drugs and not to the insurance companies and not to the pharmaceutical companies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise, once again, in opposition to this flawed prescription drug bill. It is nothing more than a sheep in wolf's clothing.

I'm frustrated because this Medicare bill contains some provisions I feel are necessary. Indeed, hospitals and doctors may see higher reimbursement rates. It would provide a meager prescription drug benefit, and includes some protections for low-income seniors.

All of these provisions are a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, they are overshadowed by the bill's overall shortcomings.

I had hoped that the effort to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare would be a discussion about freeing seniors from the skyrocketing costs of medicine.

But instead, it's become a struggle for the future of Medicare.

The bill starts us down the path to privatizing Medicare. It damages the safety net we've stitched for our vulnerable seniors. And worst of all, it does nothing to make drug companies keep the cost of their medicines down, which is what I thought this effort was all about in the first place.

Most of Long Island's seniors would be forced to go to private insurers for their drug coverage. In fact, this bill takes us down the same road Long Island has already traveled with Medicare+Choice HMOs. At first, we throw money at them, the private plans provide coverage, and everyone's happy. But over time, costs mount, federal reimbursements don't keep up, and the private insurers cut and run. This Medicare plan would throw billions more at HMOs and other private insurers with no guarantee that they'd continue to cover seniors. What happens when the HMO gravy train stops? Once again, our seniors will be left holding the bag. That goes against the very reason we created Medicare in the first place: to provide seniors with a safety net that the private insurance market could not and did not provide them with.

In addition, the bill would actually prohibit the government from negotiating lower drug prices. Veterans on Long Island benefit from

lower drug prices because the Veterans Administration negotiates prices on their behalf. If it works for veterans, why deny it to our seniors?

Finally, many seniors would find themselves in the ``doughnut hole,'' a gap in the very prescription drug coverage we are supposedly trying to provide them.

Simply put, the bill is not good enough, and I refuse to compromise the needs of our seniors in hopes of advancing a political agenda.

We must go back to the drawing board and create a real prescription drug benefit for seniors. We must do it without damaging their safety net or turning Medicare over to HMOs and insurance companies. Finally, we must do no harm, I learned years ago as a young nurse.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will do harm. I must vote against it.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2821.

Mr. Speaker, it's with great pride that I announce McVey Elementary School in the East Meadow Union Free School District as School of the Month in the Fourth Congressional District for October 2003.

The principal of McVey Elementary School is Dr. Rita Meyerowitz, Ellen Waldron is the Assistant Principal, and the Superintendent of Schools is Dr. Robert Dillon and its three Assistant Superintendents are Leon Camp, Lou DeAngelo, and Lynn Manouvrier. McVey Elementary School has over 832 students in grades kindergarten through grade 5, with over 100 dedicated staff members.

McVey Elementary School recently completed commemorative September 11 gardens, which is why, with their continued strong curriculum, I have chosen McVey as school of the month. Since 2001, the students have been taking part in the planting and caring for the gardens. The gardens were given names by the students and stones were engraved with patriotic names. The gardens allowed the opportunity for the students, and faculty, to remember the lost in their own way while constructing a memorial. Students gave much time and dedication towards this project and although some of the students have moved on to middle school, the garden will be there as a reminder of their work and more importantly as a tribute to those who lost their lives.

The learning begins in Kindergarten. McVey Elementary School has an activity called ``Dino-dig.'' This allows the students to learn about the history of dinosaurs and fossils while having fun. Education is about learning

but if children are enjoying themselves while in the classroom the participation and retention levels will be higher. McVey understands this and practices it for all grades.

Following the school motto, ``McVey all the way'', the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) will be hosting a blood drive. The school is out in front of the cause to help solve Long Island's blood shortage and hopefully other Long Island schools will follow their lead.

Mr. Speaker, the faculty and students, of McVey, along with the community, have created a wonderful learning environment. I am proud to name McVey Elementary School the school of the month for October 2003.

Mr. Chairman, the question is not whether people support the war; it is whether people will support our troops. That is why I rise in support of the Iraq supplemental bill. I may not agree with the Administration's current strategy in Iraq, but I will always support the dedicated men and women of our Armed Forces.

Of the $87 billion, over $65 billion is for the men and women sacrificing their lives. It is extremely important for our troops to know they have the support from their government. The supplemental will provide the necessary safety our men and women need by purchasing

more flak jackets and more Humvees. This will hopefully decrease the amount of soldiers being killed in Iraq. The bill allows for the hire of more civilian security guards to replace 10,000 reservists, allowing them to do the job that they were brought there for. The measure will assist the families of our troops, who are also sacrificing for our country. The cost family members must pay to see their injured family member will be subsidized and it increases the Family Separation Allowance.

The rest of the money will be used to aide with the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan. We should help Iraq and Afghanistan rebuild. Our assistance will also play a key role in the War on Terrorism. Whether or not we should provide these funds in the form of grants or loans has been debated. Though we will not be able to have separate votes on these segments, I believe we should loan Iraq the funds to rebuild their tattered nation, rather than sending ``no-strings attached'' grants from American taxpayers. The idea of making the reconstruction activities a loan has had bipartisan support until he Administration strong-armed those Republicans who felt a loan was appropriate. Now, at this time, we should not be putting more of a burden on the taxpayers. We are facing a deficit of almost $500 billion; we do not need to add to it.

I, along with seven of my female colleagues, am traveling to Iraq later this month. I look forward to seeing for myself the progress we've made and the challenges that still lie ahead in Iraq. This trip should cut through the spin and the filters, giving us a first-hand look at the rebuilding effort in Iraq. While there I want the opportunity to look our troops in their eyes and tell them that I and my colleagues, are doing all we can to fully equip them and safely bring them home.

Mr. Chairman, I am hopeful our soldiers will return home soon and I will continue working to achieve that goal.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the numerous contributions made by Rita Kay for the children of Long Island. A selfless and dedicated woman, Rita has spent more than 30 years working on a variety of children's causes, and is well known for her intense involvement in Children's Medical Fund of New York (CMF).

Rita was compelled to ease the plight of sick children because of a combination of personal tragedy and great joy. After suffering several miscarriages and the pain of a stillborn child, Rita and her husband Barry were blessed with the births of their two sons, Brian and Bradley. In a fervent desire to help sick children and their parents, Rita joined CMF, the fundraising component of Schneider Children's Hospital of the North Shore--Long Island Jewish Health System. Through her many efforts, Rita has helped build the children's hospital into the 13th largest pediatric care center.

Rita's love for, and devotion to, children has been evidenced by the numerous events she has chaired and in which she has participated. Rita is best known for the longstanding relationship she has nurtured between Americana Manhasset shopping center and CMF, and the successful fashion luncheon sponsored by the Americana on behalf of CMF. The luncheon has helped CMF raise hundreds of thousands of dollars since its inception.

Rita's fundraising efforts have included an emphasis on corporate sponsorship. Under her leadership, Roslyn Savings Bank and Astoria Federal have become involved in CMF. Most recently, Rita cochaired CMF's Wall Street Dinner Dance at Chelsea Piers, which raised an astronomical $4,000,000 for CMF and Schneider Children's Hospital.

Rita's hard work is more incredible because of the number of other organizations in which she is involved. Rita supports and fundraises for Partner's in Women's Health, the Long Island Cancer Campaign, the Ronald McDonald House, the Mental Health Association of Nassau County, and the Nassau County Museum of Art. All of this, in addition to her full-time job as the Marketing Director for David Morse & Associates.

Despite all of Rita's volunteer efforts, her priority remains her family. Today, Rita is surrounded not only by her husband Barry and their sons Brian and Bradley, but also her daughters-in-law Helaine and Caren, and her four grandchildren, Jesse, Logan, Dylan, and Zoe. They are incredibly proud of Rita for all of her hard work and accomplishments over the years.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Rita Kay for her dedication and devotion to the children of Long Island.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the numerous contributions made by Rita Kay for the children of Long Island. A selfless and dedicated woman, Rita has spent more than 30 years working on a variety of children's causes, and is well known for her intense involvement in Children's Medical Fund of New York (CMF).

Rita was compelled to ease the plight of sick children because of a combination of personal tragedy and great joy. After suffering several miscarriages and the pain of a stillborn child, Rita and her husband Barry were blessed with the births of their two sons, Brian and Bradley. In a fervent desire to help sick children and their parents, Rita joined CMF, the fundraising component of Schneider Children's Hospital of the North Shore--Long Island Jewish Health System. Through her many efforts, Rita has helped build the children's hospital into the 13th largest pediatric care center.

Rita's love for, and devotion to, children has been evidenced by the numerous events she has chaired and in which she has participated. Rita is best known for the longstanding relationship she has nurtured between Americana Manhasset shopping center and CMF, and the successful fashion luncheon sponsored by the Americana on behalf of CMF. The luncheon has helped CMF raise hundreds of thousands of dollars since its inception.

Rita's fundraising efforts have included an emphasis on corporate sponsorship. Under her leadership, Roslyn Savings Bank and Astoria Federal have become involved in CMF. Most recently, Rita co-chaired CMF's Wall Street Dinner Dance at Chelsea Piers, which raised an astronomical $4,000,000 for CMF and Schneider Children's Hospital.

Rita's hard work is more incredible because of the number of other organizations in which she is involved. Rita supports and fundraises for Partner's in Women's Health, the Long Island Cancer Campaign, the Ronald McDonald House, the Mental Health Association of Nassau County, and the Nassau County Museum of Art. All of this, in addition to her full-time job as the Marketing Director for David Morse & Associates.

Despite all of Rita's volunteer efforts, her priority remains her family. Today, Rita is surrounded not only by her husband Barry and their sons Brian and Bradley, but also her daughters-in-law Helaine and Caren, and her four grandchildren, Jesse, Logan, Dylan and Zoe. They are incredibly proud of Rita for all of her hard work and accomplishments over the years.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Rita Kay for her dedication and devotion to the children of Long Island.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2655, a bill which establishes a cultural training program for young people from disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland and other areas in Ireland.

This bill will extend a very successful program for two years, and makes a few other changes which will improve the program.

The changes include requiring that only 20 percent of the program participants may have a higher education degree, that they must be at least 21 years old, and that they must be an unemployed resident for at least 6 months.

One of the main goals of the program is a better educated Irish citizenry. Not only do the participants personally benefit from the program, but because of the improved contributions participants can make, so do the people of Ireland. Participants are required to return home after the program, which fosters economic development and peace. This requirement is waived however, if returning home

would impose certain hardships on a participant or his family, or if it is of national interest to keep the alien here.

When I traveled to Ireland earlier this year, I saw first hand how such a program would help the Irish people. A well-educated society is a successful, productive, and peaceful society.

I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill, and am sure that the improvements made by it will benefit not only individuals participating in the program, but also the Irish people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for organizing this for tonight.

I rise to ask why? Why are we not giving our veterans what they deserve? Time and time again we are reminded of the great sacrifices made by this Nation's veterans. These are people who sacrificed their lives for our lives, for our country, for our rights and freedoms.

I am honored to represent a large amount of veterans, and now they need our help, but unfortunately, the House Republican leadership is turning its back on our veterans.

Currently, there is an outmoded and unfair system dating back to the Civil War of compensation for disabled veterans who are retired from the military. Under current law, veterans who are entitled to both a retirement benefit for the military service and service-connected disability compensation are not able to receive both retirement and disability payments. This is an outrage. I do not understand. Here we are Representatives in this House, we are talking about spending $87 billion on a war and our young men and women are over in Iraq fighting for our freedoms, and yet we will not take care of the great veterans that have already preserved this for us.

H.R. 303, the concurrent receipt bill and/or ending disability veterans' tax, has over 370 Members. I know down here in Washington I have learned an awful lot. Usually, one would think if we had 370 people on a bill, it is going to fly through. That means 370 people, Representatives from across the country, agree bipartisanly this is something that we should be doing. Yet, we cannot bring it up on the House floor. The Republican leadership refuses to bring it onto the floor.

There is a discharge petition, which a lot of people that are listening to this might not understand. If we cannot get a bill through committee to be talked about and onto the floor, we have a right to try and get Members to sign a discharge petition so that we are forced to bring it onto the floor. We have 203 signatures; we need more. And our veterans out there, please write their Congressman, e-mail them, tell them this is what they need.

The Republican leadership does not want to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. The Republican-led Senate passed this provision in the Defense authorization bill. Yet, the House Republican leadership refuses to bring it to the floor of the House. Veterans' policy should be nonpartisan, but unfortunately, at the cost of the veterans, it has become a partisan issue.

Mr. Speaker, we should all be standing together for our veterans. I implore the House Republican leadership to bring it on to the floor. Let there be an up and down vote. Very easily, who is supporting our veterans and who is not, and let us give our veterans what they rightly deserve. After all, they have done so much for us. This is the least we can do for them.

The last couple of weekends I have been meeting with so many veterans'

groups, and this is the only thing they are talking about. Last Friday, I was at Northport Hospital and talking to so many prisoners of war that have survived from the Korean War, and they are saying why? Are you waiting for us all to die? Is that what you are doing, to save some money? I do not understand it. We have our young men and women that are going to be our future veterans. If we do not keep our promise, why should they care about defending this country? We have to make a difference.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of May Newburger, who is serving her fifth term as North Hempstead Town Supervisor. May is an asset to our community, and an excellent role model for our younger generations. Put simply, May is my role model.

Many Long Islanders know May Newburger as the first female chief executive of a Nassau County town, but she is much, much more than that. A graduate of Hunter College and Columbia University, May is an intelligent woman who has worked on local, state and national issues.

Before becoming supervisor, May spent 2 years as a town councilwoman and 8 years as a New York State assemblywoman. She has worked extensively on behalf of women and children by serving as a New York State delegate to the National White House Conference on Families, chairing the American Jewish. Congress' National Commission on Women's Equality, among other committees and commissions.

May's efforts are endless. Under May's responsible and practical supervision, North Hempstead has transformed a $7 million budget deficit to a $7.7 million surplus. In fact, the town was the first on Long Island to adopt a debt reduction plan that emphasized the need for long-term strategies. May has built a reputation around her dedication to the environment, securing $200,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency to designate New Cassel as a Brownfields Pilot Community. She is continually working to protect and preserve our local lands and waterways.

Today, as May Newburger nears her retirement, I honor her for her numerous contributions to our community. May is the reason that I, along with many other women, had the courage to enter politics and government service. Not a day goes by without me reflecting on or using something May has taught me, and I am proud to call her my friend and mentor.

Mr. Speaker, I thank May Newburger on behalf of each and every person whose life she has improved over her years of service.

I rise to name Randi's Cleaners the Small Business of the Month for September 2003 for the Fourth Congressional District of New York.

September 15-20 is National Small Business Week. I am excited to celebrate the contributions of local businesses on Long Island through the inauguration of a new Small Business of the Month program. Many in our community know that small businesses are the backbone of Long Island's economic well being. As the national economy struggles to stay afloat, the energy, flexibility and innovation of our local small businesses have become essential. It is time to spotlight some of these businesses' extraordinary achievements and contributions.

Randi's Cleaners, located in my hometown of Mineola, is a successful small business and an excellent addition to our community on Long Island. Known throughout Mineola as friendly and reliable, Randi's Cleaners also has a reputation for community improvement. Every year, Randi's Cleaners hosts a two-month-long ``Coats for Kids'' Drive, during which time members of the community donate their coats for people in need.

Arthur Epstein, Chairman of Randi's Cleaners' ``Coats for Kids'' Drive, has been collecting coats for both children and adults for 20 years. Originally, Arthur collected donations from individual dry cleaners. In 2000, he launched the ``Coats for Kids'' Drive as a community-wide effort. This fall, he expects donations from hundreds of individuals, schools, municipalities and private organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Arthur Epstein and everyone at Randi's Cleaners for their hard work

in making their annual ``Coats for Kids'' Drive an overwhelming success.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) be removed as a cosponsor of

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of May Newburger, who is serving her fifth term as North Hempstead Town Supervisor. May is an asset to our community, and an excellent role model for our younger generations. Put simply, May is my role model.

Many Long Islanders know May Newburger as the first female chief executive of a Nassau County town. but she is much, much more than that. A graduate of Hunter College and Columbia University, May is an intelligent woman who has worked on local, state and national issues.

Before becoming Supervisor, May spent two years as a Town Councilwoman and eight years as a New York State Assemblywoman. She has worked extensively on behalf of women and children by serving as a New York State delegate to the National White House Conference on Families, chairing the American Jewish Congress' National Commission on Women's Equality, among other committees and commissions.

May's efforts are endless. Under May's responsible and practical supervision, North Hempstead has transformed a $7 million budget deficit to a $7.7 million surplus. In fact, the town was the first on Long Island to adopt a debt reduction plan that emphasized the need for long-term strategies. May has built a reputation around her dedication to the environment, securing $200,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency to designate New Cassel as a Brownfields Pilot Community. She is continually working to protect and preserve our local lands and waterways.

Today, as May Newburger nears her retirement, I honor her for her numerous contributions to our community. May is the reason that I, along with many other women, had the courage to enter politics and government service. Not a day goes by without me reflecting on or using something May has taught me, and I am proud to call her my friend and mentor.

Mr. Speaker, I thank May Newburger on behalf of each and every person whose life she has improved over her years of service.