Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act. As a nurse, I understand all too well the high cost of malpractice insurance and I recognize the crisis this is creating in our healthcare system, particularly in areas of high-risk procedures. I want a solution to fix this problem, but H.R. 5 is not the solution to helping this crisis.

H.R. 5 will only make this crisis worse. H.R. 5 exempts HMOs, pharmaceutical companies, and the FDA from punitive damage awards.

This means that HMOs will continue to make medical decisions for patients based on what's best for their bottom line and not what is best medicine for the patients they serve. Under this legislation, a pharmaceutical company manufactures a drug or the FDA approves a product that proves to be harmful or deadly, a patient's family is limited in their recourse. After last year's Congressional debate, on the need to hold HMOs accountable for their actions I am shocked that anyone who supported the Patient's Bill of Rights can vote for this legislation.

In addition, by capping the punitive damages to $250,000, this bill unfairly penalizes children, the elderly, and mothers who stay at home since it is impossible to prove economic damages from lost wages. The only compensation these patients have is non-economic or punitive damages.

Mr. Speaker, I am appalled at the arrogance of the Republican leadership, for prohibiting Members from offering any amendments to improve this legislation in any way shape or form.

Mr. Speaker, had I been allowed to offer an amendment, I would have offered the following to improve this legislation:

Reducing frivolous lawsuits.--We need to limit the amount of time during which a patient can file a medical malpractice action to no later than three years from the date of injury, or three years from the date the patient discovers the injury. And require an affidavit by a qualified specialist before any medical malpractice action may be filed. This ``Qualified Specialist'' would be a health care professional with knowledge of the relevant facts of the case, expertise in the specific area of practice, and board certification in a specialty relating to the area of practice.

Reducing premiums.--We should require medical malpractice insurance companies to annually project the savings that will result from the anti-price fixing mechanisms required by the Democrat substitute. Insurance companies must also develop and implement a plan to annually dedicate at least 50 percent of those savings to reduce the insurance premiums that medical professionals pay.

Solving healthcare professionals shortage.--We need to provide grants or contracts through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to geographic areas that have a shortage of one or more types of health providers as a result of dramatic increases in malpractice insurance premiums.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote against H.R. 5.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support for National Visiting Nurse Association Week. As a nurse

for over thirty years, I am always proud to celebrate what I still consider the best profession in the world.

Today we are here to commend a very special type of nurse, those that specialize in home health care. For more than 100 years, Visiting Nurse Associations (VNAs) have been providing home health care to the communities they serve. Beginning in the late 1800s, VNAs provided critical home-based care for the homebound, the impoverished, the frail elderly and children at-risk.

Over a hundred years later, not-for-profit VNAs continue their unparalleled, selfless tradition of offering quality of life and independence to all Americans through comprehensive home health care. Today, guided by their charitable missions, VNAs care for nearly 10 million people annually.

VNAs provide home health care for patients of all ages--from infants to elderly. They are the educators of disease prevention and health promotion. Physicians are confident when referring to VNAs because of their high level of quality standards and clinical excellence. Patients are extremely satisfied with the care they receive from VNAs as shown by a 99 percent customer satisfaction rating.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to show their support for Visiting Nurse Associations everywhere by voting for this wonderful resolution.

Mr. Speaker, the tragic events of September 11th changed our world forever. Engaged in a war, different from any other in our nation's history, we are once again calling upon the brave members of the U.S. Armed Forces to defend democracy and freedom. At this time, during our war on terrorism, I want to commend every member of our U.S. Armed Forces.

While we all desire peace, when war cannot be avoided, our U.S. Armed Forces put their lives on the line, with some paying the ultimate sacrifice. To all those who wear the uniform we honor and thank you. It is also important to thank and commend the family members of our Armed Services. Through love and support they enable our forces to embark on their difficult battle while trying to maintain their life without their loved ones next to them.

The war on terrorism has just begun. On the frontlines, in America and around the world, are the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. They are protecting our rights and freedoms, and for this I thank them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support for Title IX. Today Secretary Paige has released a report that I believe drastically weakens the purpose of Title IX.

Mr. Speaker, changes to the Title IX standards as applied to athletics are not warranted or necessary. Modifications to the standards that would limit future opportunities for women in favor of expanded opportunities for men would violate the goal of gender equity. Using the results of an interest survey, as the commission report recommends, would limit women's participation opportunities, and be factually inaccurate.

Mr. Speaker, what we should be doing to ensure equal opportunity is enforcing Title IX and implementing its policies at every level of education. The responsibility of the federal government is to ensure equal opportunity, not to ensure that particular sports teams are added, discontinued, or maintained.

Currently, there are 2.8 million girls participating in high school sports, but there is only room for 150,000 women in college sports. This disparity is obscene. We need to do a better job at providing equal opportunities for all athletes.

Mr. Speaker, enforcing Title IX is just the right thing to do and the reality is that if our colleges and universities want to benefit from federal dollars, then they must provide gender equality at their institutions. Gender equity does not end at the admissions door either, gender equity in athletics is a must.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that this Congress refuses to fall into this trap of pitting sports teams against each other. We must realize it is about civil rights first and foremost.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my extreme opposition to the cloning of human beings. At no time do I think it will be acceptable for science to go down that path. As Members of Congress, we need to impose very strict penalties to prevent scientists from making the jump from doing important research to playing God.

But as a nurse, I remember a debate very similar to this one, the debate over researching DNA. In the 1970s, we in the healthcare community were very excited over the research being conducted by scientists on human beings actual biological makeup. However, many others believed then that we were headed towards creating Frankenstein or Aldolphus Huxley's ``Brave New World.''

The DNA technology debate also focused on regenerative medicine based on stem cell and nuclear transfer biology. DNA involves splicing the gene for a desired protein into bacterial, yeast or other mammalian cells, which then manufacture protein. To accomplish this, scientists had to develop incredibly powerful techniques for managing the mechanisms to cellular biology. Society had to decide whether to allow their continued development and if so, how to regulate and manage these techniques.

Mr. Chairman, the research continued, and millions of patients and their families have benefited. Today, it is used to produce human therapeutic proteins to treat or prevent a wider array of diseases and conditions. DNA products include: Human Insulin for diabetics; Herceptin for patients with breast cancer; Epogen for patients with kidney disease; Enbrel to hel patients with rheumatoid arthritis; and Pulmozyne that has prevented childhood deaths from cystic fibrosis.

Mr. Chairman, at this time I would like to submit for the Record a list of 66 other DNA products that are approved by the FDA. These products have helped ten of millions of patients worldwide.

Mr. Chairman, today's, Greenwood Amendment takes care of both of my concerns on this issue. First and foremost, if defines human somatic cell nuclear transfer with the intent to initiate a pregnancy as a criminal act subject to criminal and civil penalties. These penalties include: Imprisonment of up to 10 years; Civil penalties up to $10 million (or two times the pecuniary gain from cloning); and it provides for forfeiture of equipment, other property, and any monetary gains from cloning human beings. In addition, it requires all individuals who plan to perform human somatic cell nuclear transfer to register with the FDA. And finally it requires all research be conducted with the Institutional Review Board's oversight.

The Greenwood Amendment also addresses my concern about restrictions on therapeutic cloning by allowing this important research to proceed. The goal of therapeutic cloning is to treat or cure patients with life threatening diseases by creating tailor made, genetically identical cells that the patient's body will not reject. In other words, this procedure could allow patients to be cured using their own DNA.

In that process the nucleus is removed from a donated unfertilized egg and replaced with the patient's own cells, like skin, heart, or nerve cell. These types of cells are called somatic cells. These unfertilized egg cells are stored in a perti dish to become a source of stem cells that can be used to treat life-threatening medical conditions. These cells are not transplanted into a womb and no sperm is used in this procedure.

The National Scientists Academy believes that therapeutic cloning or somatic cell nuclear transplant technology could lead to dramatic new treatments and cures for currently noncurable diseases and medical conditions including cancer, diabetes, parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, ALS and many others. We need to find these cures today and this research may be the key to unlock the cure.

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Greenwood Amendment and urge all my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I have named Meadow Elementary in the Baldwin Union Free School District as School of the Month in the Fourth Congressional District for February 2003. Mrs. Joan M. Flatley is the Principal at Meadow School, Ms. Cora Ianuario is Assistant Principal, and Dr. Kathy Weiss is the Superintendent of Schools in the Baldwin Union Free School District. The school has 750 students in grades Kindergarten through 5.

The Meadow Elementary School Community is a close-knit body of parents, teachers, students, and administrators. Their goal is to ensure each child a stable early education through an enriched curriculum that keeps the children excited, and unique programs that appeal to a wide variety of younger children.

The new Character Education Program and the school's determination to create a caring environment for everyone shows the strong commitment Meadow Elementary has to developing student character. Each month Meadow students and staff focus on different character traits, and are rewarded for efforts to achieving the month's traits. The Program emphasizes traits that students should strive for, such as: responsibility, cooperation, respect, generosity, perseverance, acceptance/tolerance, honesty, compassion, fairness, and self- discipline.

The Meadow School has many wonderful programs designed to ensure each child receives individual attention. The special education program is unique to the school. All students in the district, in grades Kindergarten through 5, requiring special education go to Meadow. Currently, there are 80 students in the program. Also, the English as a Second Language program helps 30 students every day conquer their fears and language barriers.

Long Island students receive a better education thanks to the faculty and teachers of Meadow Elementary School and I am proud to name them school of the month for February.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember my friend Morty Haves, who recently passed away after a long and healthy life.

Morty, a longtime resident of Hewlett Harbor, was well-known and respected by his family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. After serving as a flight instructor in the Air Force during World War II, Morty launched a long and successful career as a real estate broker. In 1947, he opened Morton M. Haves, Inc. in Woodmere, which later relocated to Hewlett. Over the years, Morty helped to invigorate the expanding Five Towns community, selling many of the homes in the area to new and blossoming families. Eventually, his daughter, Mary, joined him and continues to run the business today.

Morty was an idealistic Democrat who served as a New York State elector for President Jimmy Carter, and treasurer of the New York State Democratic Party under Governor Hugh Carey. He was the Democratic Committee Zone Leader for Hewlett for a number of years. He was involved in his synagogue, Temple Israel of Lawrence, where he served as a board member and was eventually named an honorary board member.

Morty was married to his wife, Elayne, for 56 years. They had one son, Marc, and two daughters, Mary and Laurie. He had nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

I first met Morty in 1996 when I decided to run for Congress. He proved to be a fantastic friend and close advisor. Whenever I needed help, regardless of the issue, Morty was able to lend a hand or a kind word. He was always available to point me in the right direction, and I will never forget him.

Mr. Speaker, as the Nation mourns the loss of seven brave men and women, I rise in support of H. Res. 51, a resolution expressing condolences to the families of the crew of the Columbia space shuttle, who perished this past weekend.

On February 1, 2003, the country watched in horror as the space shuttle Columbia broke up over Texas. Astronauts have a special dedication to their jobs, community and fellow man. They go up into space to meet scientific challenges for all of us here on Earth, in spite of the risks. To do this, they train hard physically, mentally and emotionally--they are the consummate professionals. They are fearless men and women.

Space shuttle mission STS-107 was the 28th flight of the shuttle Columbia, and the

113th shuttle mission to date. Its mission was to provide 70 international scientists access to both the environment of space, and set of seven human researchers for 16 days. The astronauts on board worked 24 hours a day in alternating shifts, to carry out important experiments in the areas of astronaut health and safety, advanced technology development and Earth and space sciences. The work the astronauts were doing included experiments to help further progress in combating prostate cancer, to develop techniques to improve efficiency of anti-cancer drugs, to strengthen construction techniques for structures in areas where earthquakes are common, testing technology to recycle water, and to improve crop yield.

On February 1, 2003, we began the day awaiting the return of the Columbia shuttle. We could not wait to congratulate the crew of seven on their performances and achievements. These men and women made an excellent effort on this extremely important mission. They made America proud. We all held our breaths when we lost contact with the shuttle, and then watched in disbelief and horror when we saw the remnants of the shuttle over the skies of Texas.

I support this Resolution, which reminds us all of what a difficult job astronauts have, and the sacrifices their families make. I am proud to honor the lives lost, as well as those who continue to work tirelessly and courageously, as well as their families. The prayers of the Nation are with our lost seven and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Vincent Krasinski, a highly respected and influential member of the Glaziers Local Union 1087 who recently announced his retirement. In his 32 years as a member, Vincent was a leading voice for labor in Nassau and Suffolk County, and New York City. He joined the union in 1970 and quickly became a leader. First, he was elected to the LU 1087 executive board in 1979 and then being elected in 1987 as a Business Agent for LU 1087.

Vincent proudly served his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970. Upon returning from his tour of duty he married Jennifer, his wife of almost 33 years. They have two wonderful children, Jennifer and Laurie, and are the proud grandparents of Vincent, Alyssia, Chloe and Casey.

While serving as a member of the union's executive board, and raising a family, Vincent still found time to work on many political campaigns for labor friendly candidates. I am proud to say I am one of them. He has volunteered his time for the St. Francis Hospital Heart Center in Roslyn, New York and currently sits on Bob Gaffney's Labor Advisory Board.

Vincent Krasinski is responsible for the current strength of LU 1087. He leaves behind a strong legacy and is a good example of the difference one person can make. I applaud Vincent for his dedication to our community and thank him on behalf of the people of not only for the 4th Congressional District, but the rest of Nassau and Suffolk County and New York City who benefitted from his hard work and commitment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Carlo Carriere, a highly respected and influential member of the Glaziers local Union 1087 who recently announced his retirement. In his 32 years as a member, Carlo was a leading voice for labor. He joined the union as an apprentice in 1970 and quickly became a leader.

Carlo proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, he again served his country by leading a contingent of Glaziers in rescue and clean up of the World Trade Center site.

As a member of LU 1087, Carlo was elected District Council Delegate in 1973 and just three years later was elected to the Executive Board in 1976. He continued his accession in 1982 when he was elected as Vice President of the LU 1087. During his tenure as Vice President Carlo, became a Business Representative and was elected Chairman of the National Glaziers and Glass Workers Apprenticeship Program in 1990. He also served as a Trustee to the Union Funds beginning in 1986. In 1995 he was elected Business Manager of LU 1087. Just one year later, upon the full affiliation of LU 1087 with District Council 9, Carlo was appointed Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.

Carlo Carriere is responsible for the current strength of LU 1087. He leaves behind a strong legacy and is a good example of the difference one person can make. I applaud Carlo for his dedication to our community, and thank him on behalf of the people of the 4th Congressional District who have benefitted from his hard work and commitment.