Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Greek Independence Day. I am proud to represent Greek-town in Chicago and the many Greek-Americans that live on the near west side.

185 years ago, on March 25, 1821, Greece declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire. On that day, a great friendship was born between the two nations. Americans went to fight for Greece's independence and Americans and Greeks have fought side by side since that time. Over the past 185 years many Greeks have immigrated to the United States and a great number live in my district today.

Greece's location at the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula on the Mediterranean has positioned Greece at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa ensuring that it shares not only the cultural richness of that diverse region, but also some of the great troubles that have plagued that area.

Hopefully this Congress we can work together to ensure peace in the region, the sovereignty of Greece, and a strong and lasting friendship between the United States and Greece.

Mr. Speaker, student aid is under serious attack. As I look at the 100 amendments that were blocked from being considered later on today, we saw amendments that would have extended the Pell Grant to qualifying prisoners. That is an attack on student aid; an amendment that would have provided forgiveness for teachers who go into rural communities, that is an attack on student aid; amendments that would have restored $12 billion to the student aid pool.

If those are not attacks on student aid, then I need to be educated.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rule and in strong opposition to H.R. 609, the underlying bill.

As a matter of fact, I had hoped when we started the process that we were going to see a bipartisan effort because all of us talk about how great and how important education is, and I do not think that there is a single person in this House who would not agree with that. But oftentimes I am afraid that our conversations are different than our actions.

When I look at this restrictive rule, it prevents us from discussing and debating at least 100 amendments, 100 ideas, perhaps even 100 programs at different ways to look at and try to improve access to college education for thousands and thousands of individuals in our country who will be left out and left behind, with no, or virtually no, hope of ever reaching mainstream society because they would not have had the chance.

Yet, philosophically, when we think of education, I was thinking of something that Abraham Lincoln was supposed to have said at one time, and that is, that education makes a man easy to lead but difficult to drive, easy to govern but impossible to enslave.

So we should have been trying to provide the highest level of opportunity for every individual in our country to grasp for that great opportunity.

I had two amendments that I consider to be very minor, meager amendments that I had hoped to have made in order. One of them would have restored Pell Grants to thousands of individuals who are currently incarcerated with little skill, little training, and little possibility without the additional education. And yet that amendment, and we are the most incarcerated Nation on the face of the Earth, with more than 2 million people languishing in jails and prisons, knowing full well that most of them will return within a short period of time if they do not acquire some of this great opportunity that we call education, that amendment, unfortunately, was shot down.

The second one would have provided a modest sum of money, only $25 million, for predominantly black student-serving institutions that are serving a low-income population, most of them being the first in their family to have a chance to go to college. The schools they attend do not qualify as part of the historically black college and university network, and yet they will not be allowed to get the little additional resources.

I do want to thank Mr. Pickering for his cosponsorship of this amendment. Hopefully, if it didn't make it this round, of course we will be back and hopefully, eventually, it will happen.

I did have one amendment, and I am grateful to the majority for including that idea in the manager's amendment, to have the Secretary of Education take a hard look at why there is such a heavy disparity between African American males, for example, who are attending colleges and universities and other parts of the American population.

When we look at the bill in every way that we can, and I know that I have heard my colleagues come to the floor and say that this is not a raid on student aid; that this is expanding opportunity; that this is making education more affordable, I know that they believe what they are saying. I just can't figure out which playbook they are reading from when you take a government that takes away money and gives back tax dollars to the wealthy.

Education is so vitally important that we do ourselves and we do this Nation a disservice when we prevent any individual from having an opportunity to acquire it.

Mr. Chairman, let me, first of all, thank the gentleman from California for yielding.

You know, I have listened to this debate for the last several days, and even several weeks. And how you can take $12 billion out of the pot and then tell us that you are going to expand and increase student aid, I just can't reconcile that. I just don't know how to reconcile that kind of language.

But I do stand in strong support of the Miller-Kildee-Scott-Davis- Grijalva substitute because it cuts interest rates in half for the borrowers, for the students, those who need the money the most. It would make college affordable for large numbers of individuals who otherwise will never see the light of day. But it also would establish programs for individuals who are missing out already.

There is nothing more important than the opportunity to achieve some form of higher education, and, Mr. Chairman, I just had hoped that I was going to be able to vote for a bill that expanded opportunities. Unfortunately, this bill will not expand opportunities. Therefore, I will have to vote against it and urge that we vote in favor of the Miller substitute.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Commander Charles L. Stuppard, United States Navy, for his outstanding and brilliant performance as Commanding Officer of the United States Ship

Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) from March 5, 2004 to April 3, 2006. USS Arleigh Burke was commissioned in Norfolk, Virginia on July 4, 1991. She is the first of the most powerful and survivable class of destroyers ever put to sea. She possesses the AEGIS weapons systems with multifunction radar, capable of detecting and tracking hundreds of targets simultaneously while conducting multiple engagements.

On March 5, 2004, in Norfolk, Virginia, Commander Stuppard's took command of this powerful Navy vessel. Commander Stuppard graduated from Cornell University in 1982 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering. He worked for 3 years as a design and test engineer in the A-10A, T-46 and SF-340 aircraft programs for Fairchild Republic Corporation in Long Island, New York. In 1985 he joined the Navy as an aviation officer candidate. After commissioning and flight training Commander Stuppard switched to Surface Warfare. In 1998 Commander Stuppard obtained his master's degree in national security and strategic studies at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

During Commander Stuppard's flawless and noteworthy tour of duty as ``Captain,'' he masterfully led his ship, the Arleigh Burke with 300 sailors, through an extensive and demanding training phase followed by a major fleet inspection. He then took the ship through a rigorous intermediate and advanced training cycle, which included two Joint Maritime Course exercises off the coast of the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland and a Submarine Commander's Course off the islands of the Bahamas. With his crew fully prepared and ready, he deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as the sole United States member of the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two from November 2005 to May 2006 in support of Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOR and NATO operations with a primary mission to prevent terrorists from using the high seas for their misdeeds.

Under his sterling leadership USS Arleigh Burke maintained an impeccable record of outstanding achievements. His attention to detail, keen foresight and dedication to duty resulted in 100 percent operational and combat readiness and a very successful 6 months deployment in southern Europe. On April 3, 2006, Commander Stuppard will have his change of command ceremony while on his European deployment in Valletta, Malta. His tour of command was nothing short of magnificent. His next duty station will be at the Command Leadership School in Newport, Rhode Island where he will be an instructor to all naval prospective commanding officers over the next 3 years. His experience and leadership will positively affect a whole generation of future naval commanding officers. I am looking forward to pay him a visit there.

Commander Stuppard's excellent reputation and commitment to duty will become an indelible mark on the crew of this legendary Navy vessel, the USS Arleigh Burke. Commander Stuppard consistently projects the Navy core values of ``Honor, Courage and Commitment'' and will always be remembered by every Arleigh Burke officer, chief and sailor known as ``team 51'' who served under his command. Commander Stuppard immensely and effectively touched the life of so many of our men and women in uniform. The following five words are the motto by which Commander Stuppard led his brave and valiant crew: ``Be Good--Do Good Work''.

Commander Stuppard's accomplishments and achievements are truly outstanding and serve as an example to all citizens throughout our country, the United States of America. Commander Stuppard is a true gentleman and an outstanding American. I congratulate Commander Charles L. Stuppard and the crew of the Arleigh Burke for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I was pleased to join with Representative Jan Schakowsky, Representative Dan Lipinski, a grass-roots community group known as Citizens Action, a large number of senior citizens, as well as a group of retired workers, calling for the redesign and redevelopment of part D of the Medicare program.

As a matter of fact, the seniors who were there all condemned everything that they had come into contact with relative to the terrible frustration. I hope that Americans all across the country would join with us to revise Medicare part D.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4786, legislation naming a postal facility in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, after H. Gordon Payrow.

This measure, which was introduced by Representative Charles Dent on February 16, 2006, and unanimously reported by our committee on March 9, 2006, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire Pennsylvania delegation.

H. Gordon Payrow, Jr. served three terms as mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, from 1962-1974. A dedicated public servant, Mayor Payrow was committed to improving the infrastructure of the city and beautifying the community. He was also instrumental in the construction and development of the Bethlehem City Center Plaza. After leaving office, Mr. Payrow continued his involvement in local issues and community service projects. He passed away in April 2004.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is altogether fitting and proper that we honor his life and his work by naming the postal facility after him, and I urge swift passage of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I do not think I am going to have any additional requests, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 3440, legislation naming a postal facility in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, after Jose Celso Barbosa. This measure was introduced by Representative Luis Fortuno on July 26, 2005, and unanimously reported by our committee on September 15, 2005.

Jose Celso Barbosa was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, in 1857. Dr. Barbosa was the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the University of Michigan, where he received his medical degree and graduated as valedictorian in 1880.

Upon returning to Puerto Rico, Dr. Barbosa worked in his private medical practice, became a professor of medicine in Puerto Rico, and entered political life as a firm defender of negotiating increased autonomy for Puerto Rico from Spain.

In 1899, after Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States after the Spanish-American War, Dr. Barbosa formed the Republican Party of Puerto Rico, which advocated for Puerto Rican statehood. He was the founder of the newspaper El Tiempo, and active in Puerto Rican politics, serving in the executive cabinet and, later, the Senate. He died in San Juan in 1921.

Mr. Speaker, I would urge swift passage of this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4805, legislation naming a postal facility in Clinton, Illinois, after Gene Vance.

This measure, which was introduced by Representative Timothy Johnson of Illinois on February 28, 2006, and unanimously reported by our committee on March 9, 2006, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire Illinois delegation.

Gene Vance was a member of the 1942-43 University of Illinois basketball team known as the ``Whiz Kids.'' The ``Whiz Kids'' included Gene Vance, Jack Smily, Ken Menke, Andy Phillip, and Art Mathisen. The team earned the chance to compete for the NCAA Championship after being 17-1 during the season. But the Army drafted three of the ``Whiz Kids'' for service in World War II, and in a show of unity the team decided if all the ``Whiz Kids'' could not compete together, they would not compete at all.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is altogether fitting and proper that we would name this postal facility after Mr. Vance and urge passage of this legislation.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National MPS Day. MPS disorders affect primarily children and reduce their ability to produce certain enzymes that clear the body of toxins. The resulting effect of this enzyme deficiency manifests itself in a number of ways: mental retardation, physical malformations, small stature, corneal damage, chronic physical pain, and a shortened and difficult life span. This disease affects our Nation's children and has a dramatic ripple effect that impacts all who know and love them.

MPS disorders are hereditary and there is no cure, but significant advancements have been made or are on the horizon. This is just one reason why MPS Day is so important. We must keep the public informed about the disease and in searching for a cure.

This resolution will help bring the struggles of those affected by MPS disorders into the public arena and will signify that we hope to do everything within our power to fight it.

MPS Day was commemorated on February 25 of this year, but it is a daily struggle for those affected with the disease. If MPS affects one family, it affects too many; and we should continue to raise awareness and do all we can to help the families and the victims of MPS. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 85.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution to recognize the life and accomplishments of an NFL institution, Wellington Timothy Mara. Mara spent nearly his entire life with the New York Giants, holding several positions from ball boy at the age of 9 to treasurer and team president.

Professional football and the New York Giants were in Mara's blood: his father founded the New York Giants. Father and son built one of the most successful franchises in league history.

Mara's passing this past October dealt an emotional blow to the Giants organization and the league at large. Mara was extremely involved with the team right up until his passing. He showed up at practice nearly every day and shared his wisdom with the players.

Although Mara was associated most intimately with the Giants, it was more than his dedication to the Giants that led to his induction into the Professional Football Hall of Fame. In the 1960s, when the Giants earned a dominant portion of television revenues garnered by professional football, Wellington and his brother Jack made the generous decision to split television revenues with poor-performing teams. This revenue division allowed teams in smaller markets to stay afloat until a substantial fan base and the development of a nationwide television market would enable these teams to stand on their own feet. If it were not for the generosity of the Mara family, the National Football League would not be where it is today.

Mara will be missed by many and was mourned by his family, his team, and the entire National Football League. A demonstration of the loss was witnessed when the Giants honored Mara by winning a decisive game over the Washington Redskins the same week of his passing.

Mr. Speaker, I am in support of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), the sponsor of the resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join Representatives Davis, Waxman, Porter and Van Hollen in introducing H.R. 4057, which would make attorneys employed by the Department of Justice eligible for compensatory time off for travel.

In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Workforce Flexibility Act which provided compensatory time off to Federal employees when they travel on official business during nonworking hours. If an employee must travel on a Sunday to attend an out-of-town meeting on Monday, that employee can receive credit for giving up his weekend to travel on official government business.

The Office of Personnel Management issued interim regulations that went into effect on January 28, 2005, allowing Federal workers to receive equal time off in exchange for work-related travel outside of regular business hours.

In February of last year, the Justice Department issued guidelines barring DOJ attorneys from receiving the benefit. In support of its decision, the Department cited provisions in its fiscal year 2000 appropriations, which banned overtime pay to Justice Department attorneys. However, those provisions sought to limit overtime pay for attorneys, not compensatory time.

H.R. 4057, which has bipartisan and bicameral support, will clarify that DOJ attorneys are entitled to compensatory time off. And therefore, I am pleased to join with my colleagues in introduction and urge passage of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I don't believe that I am going to have any additional requests for time, and I would yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) is a nationally recognized nonprofit women's business assistance organization, devoted to providing services and programs that support and accelerate women's business ownership and strengthen the impact of women on the economy.

The year 2006 marks the beginning of the third decade of the WBDC's successful commitment to meeting the needs of women entrepreneurs for greater opportunities in business ownership. Founded in 1986 by S. Carol Dougal and Hedy M. Ratner, more than 50,000 women in Illinois have benefited from its programs and services including counseling, entrepreneurial training, child care business development, strengthening of emerging businesses, Latina Initiative providing business development programs in Spanish in economically disadvantaged communities, certification and business opportunities for women's business enterprises and financial assistance and loan packaging.

The WBDC has worked for 20 years to economically empower women and their families, striving to influence the larger political and economic environment in a way that encourages and supports women's economic empowerment and minority business development.

The WBDC has affected the national women's business landscape helping to establish women's business assistance centers in six states. Now there are over 10.6 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., employing over 19.1 million workers, and over 350,000 of those businesses are in Illinois. Minority-owned businesses are growing faster than all firms, and 1 in 5 women-owned firms in the U.S. is owned by a woman of color. Women-owned businesses nationally generate over $2.46 trillion in sales.

In 2006 the Women's Business Development Center celebrates its 20th anniversary.

As the Center moves into its third decade of service to women business owners and outstanding advocacy for the strengthening and support of minority and women owned businesses, I am proud to recognize its impressive achievements.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 3934, legislation naming the postal facility in Massapequa, New York, after Gerard A. Fiorenza. This measure was sponsored by Representative Peter King on September 28, 2005, and unanimously reported by our committee on November 16, 2005. The bill has the support and cosponsorship of the entire New York delegation.

Gerard Fiorenza, a native of New York, was born in Brooklyn, attended St. Anthony of Padua Elementary School, graduated from Brooklyn Academy, and attended Queens Community College. Later, he moved his family to Massapequa and began his career with the U.S. Postal Service as a postal assistant. He was promoted to station manager and then officer in charge before attaining the rank of postmaster of the Massapequa Post Office.

A respected member of his community, Postmaster Fiorenza was active in postal management organizations such as the National Association of Postal Supervisors, NAPS; the National Association of Postmasters of the United States; and local organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and Toys for Tots.

Sadly, he passed away, following a battle with cancer, on December 7, 2001. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the legacy of Postmaster Gerard Fiorenza and urge swift passage of this bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4054, legislation naming a postal facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after Dewey F. Bartlett. This measure was sponsored by Representative John Sullivan of Oklahoma on October 7, 2005, and unanimously reported by our committee on February 1, 2006. The bill has the support and cosponsorship of the entire Oklahoma delegation.

Dewey Bartlett was born and raised in Marietta, Ohio. He later attended Lawrenceville Preparatory School in New Jersey and graduated from Princeton University. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a dive-bomber pilot in the South Pacific. After the war, Dewey Bartlett moved to Oklahoma, working as a farmer, rancher, and independent oil producer.

Politics called and Mr. Bartlett was elected to the State senate in 1962. Four years later, he made a successful run for Governor. He was recognized for his efforts in economic development, which benefited all Oklahomans, and for working in a bipartisan manner.

In 1972, Governor Bartlett was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served

from 1973 to 1979. He did not seek reelection because he was battling lung cancer. Sadly, he passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 1, 1979.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the legacy of Senator Dewey F. Bartlett by naming a postal facility in his hometown, and I urge swift passage of this bill.

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