Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was disturbed to learn that on November 25, a gasoline station outside Richmond, Virginia was burned. It was owned by two Sikh brothers. From the graffiti that appeared on the charred remains, it appears that due to their turbans, the person who committed this horrible crime thought they were Muslims affiliated with Osama bin Laden.

It is important to note that whoever the victims of this brutal crime were, it is a terrible act that must be fully and quickly prosecuted. Blaming all Muslims for the terrorist acts of a few is unfair, bigoted, and intolerant. But it is interesting that the victims of this crime were not even members of the targeted group.

Sikhism is a distinct religion from any other, including Hinduism and Islam. It is monotheistic and believes in the equality of all, including equality for women. Our Sikh friends have made many contributions to this country as lawyers, doctors, engineers, farmers, computer specialists, and in many other fields. One Sikh, Dalip Singh Saund, was even a Member of this House from California, serving from 1959 to 1963. He was the first South Asian to be elected to Congress.

The President of the Council of Khalistan, Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, has written to the Chief of Police in Chesterfield County asking for a swift investigation of this incident. He received a prompt response from the police chief stating that the incident is being fully investigated and those responsible will be caught and prosecuted.

It is unfortunate that incidents like this still occur in America. Three years after September 11, people are still attacking anyone they perceive as foreign. This must be stopped. This kind of hate crime does not advance America or its ideals; it only harms our national unity at a time when we are most in need of it.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to place Dr. Aulakh's letter into the Record.

Council of Khalistan,

Washington, DC, November 29, 2004.

Col. Carl R. Baker,

Chief of Police, Chesterfield County Police Department,

Chesterfield, VA.

Dear Chief Baker: As you know, on November 24, a gas

station owned by Sarabjit Singh and Sukhjinder Singh, two

Sikhs, was set on fire. Graffiti, including ``Go back to Bin

Laden,'' ``F*** Arab gas,'' and ``Never Again Indian Monkey

N*****,'' was sprayed on a dumpster behind the charred

station.

This is clearly a hate crime and it is unacceptable. I urge

you to prosecute this crime to the fullest possible extent.

Do not let the people who perpetrated this crime think they

can get away with it.

This would be an unacceptable crime if the owners of the

stations were Muslims, as the perpetrators apparently thought

they were, or members of any other group. But they are not.

They are Sikhs. Sikhism is an independent, monotheistic,

revealed religion that believes in the equality of all

people, including gender equality. It is not part of either

Islam or Hinduism. The perpetrator of this crime didn't even

hit the target he intended to hit!

Sikhs are religiously, culturally, and linguistically

distinct from any other people in the world. The Sikh Nation

has declared its independence from India and is currently

under Indian occupation. Sikhs are working to free our

homeland, Khalistan.

The incident at the gas station is a setback for the

American ideal of freedom for all people and those

responsible must be fully and swiftly punished to protect

these Sikh businessmen and protect the system of freedom

under law.

I urge you to take all appropriate action to bring the

criminals to justice.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

President.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Booker T. Johnson for his nearly three decades of public service to the citizens of New York City and his continued commitment to improving our community.

Booker is the son of Booker T. Johnson, Sr. and Piccola Tyler Johnson. He was born in the State of Virginia and received his education in South Carolina where he graduated from Scotts Brance High School in Summerton, S.C. In 1957, Booker relocated to New York. He married Roxie Carter Johnson in 1961, and they are proud parents of Booker T. Johnson, Jr. and Deron Johnson, and proud grandparents of Booker T. Johnson III.

Booker joined the New York City Police Department in 1968 receiving several commendations during his 28-year career. He retired in 1995. From 1975 to the present, he has been the owner and operator of B & D Florist on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn that serves many churches, business organizations, and the public.

In 1970, he joined Tuscan #58 F&A.M. (PH) Masonic Lodge becoming Master of the Lodge in 1980 and served as Grand Junior Warden in 1986. In 1978, he became a member of Fidelity Chapter #54 O.E.S.,P,H.A. In South Carolina, he was a member of St. Phillip Church and joined Brown Memorial Baptist Church upon moving to Brooklyn, New York. Booker's motto is to, ``treat everyone as you wish to be treated.''

Mr. Speaker, Booker T. Johnson dedicated his professional life to protecting New York's and he continues to be committed to strengthening our community. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Geraldine Scott for her dedication to our community and commitment to mentoring our youth.

Born in Queens, raised in Brooklyn, Gerri has dedicated her life to the service of others. She was educated in the New York City public school system and graduated from Hunter College in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. She is the granddaughter of Rudell Howell, the daughter of Ethel Owens and the proud mother of Bernard Isaiah Scott.

Professionally, Gerri has worked for the Topps Company, Inc. for more than 15 years. Initially employed as a Credit Coordinator, she has received numerous promotions and, as of 2000, was promoted to the position of Office Service Supervisor. As Office Service Supervisor, Gerri manages a staff of employees and oversees various functions and operations for Topps, including building services management. Her responsibilities also include Buyer Coordinator, Telecommunication Analyst for all Topps locations, and Communications Coordinator for the U.S., Canadian and UK offices.

Personally, she has been actively involved in her community and the Berean Baptist Church for over 25 years, serving her church through membership on various ministries, including but not limited to: the Junior Usher Board, Youth Lay League, Young Adult Choir, Young Adult Ministry, Sunday School, and Bible Study. She served her community by working with the elderly at the Kingsboro Senior Citizens home and tutored children as well as adults in math and reading.

She joined the Girl Scouts at the age of 5 and eventually became a Scout Leader. Having served as a leader for over 10 years, Gerri enjoys her work in supervising girls of all ages. She has served as Service Unit Manager for the North Brook #3 area for 4 years, during which time her scouting unit experienced tremendous growth. She implemented new programs and worked diligently with her girls, affording her the opportunity to listen, witness, and attend to their many needs. Gerri also coordinated a summer job and volunteer program for her Senior and Cadette Scouts to provide them with a ``real world'' experience in a work environment. One of Gerri's greatest pleasures is a visit from one of her former Girl Scouts. Gerri says, ``When a Scout comes back and shares their experiences and accomplishments with me, I feel as if I have made a difference in their life.''

She works tirelessly and selflessly as a mother, manager, and community leader. She truly cares about her fellow man and considers it an honor to be able to help shape and mold her son into the man that God has called him to be and for the opportunity to positively affect the lives of the girls she works with through the Girl Scouts. She lives her life encouraged and empowered by her favorite scripture, Philippians, 4:13, ``I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.''

Mr. Speaker, Geraldine Scott has been actively involved in strengthening our community through her various volunteer efforts at her church, a senior home and with the Girl Scouts. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Joelle Bailey for her accomplishments in the field of business and efforts to improve the manners of all people in our community.

Joelle has over 20 years experience in catering, event planning and the restaurant business. Little did she know that a position at Essence Magazine would serve as the impetus for her to enter the food and hospitality industry. At a very young age, Joelle's mom Marie felt very strongly about manners and etiquette and instilled those values in Joelle and her sister Yves. Joelle has taken these values and turned them into a lifetime mission not only for herself but to assist and instruct others in these areas.

Joelle has learned through some of the best working positions at the Vista Hilton, Marriott and Plaza Hotels and LSG Sky Chefs. She received her formal training at the French Culinary Institute and Sky Chefs. By 1994, she opened Classic Catering which is a full service event planning and catering business that caught the attention of the New York Times, Daily News, NY Post, 98.7 KISS FM and WOR 710. In June 2004, Joelle was featured in the Daily News' ``Spotlight On Great People'' by Clem Richardson. Publicity aside, Joelle is pleased that her clients and guests approve of her fabulous catering and cooking skills. Currently, Joelle writes several columns, sharing her knowledge on entertaining, etiquette and menu and recipe suggestions. Some of Joelle's most memorable clients have included: The New York Urban League, Diana Ross, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Russell Simmons, Suzanne Taylor, The United Way, Bill Cosby, Children's Television Network, Jackie Robinson Foundation, New York Bar Association, New York University, Columbia University and many more.

Joelle shares her love for young people by teaching courses in the art of etiquette, table manners, sophistication, food, nutrition and basic ``101'' cooking skills. She teaches these classes for the community in different schools and also in her home. Each event is sponsored with her own personal finances. Adults are welcome as well. Additionally, her very own etiquette/cookbook will be launched next year and a food show is in the works.

On her son Issiah's 3rd birthday March 27, 2004 Joelle launched a not-for-profit foundation called Issiah W. Simms Foundation to help children improve their etiquette and manners. Eight years ago, Joelle realized that she was not satisfied with the etiquette and manners of today's children, teens and even adults. For her, there was a major state of emergency existing in society that needed to be addressed. This concern led her to form the Issiah W. Simms Foundation.

Joelle is fortunate to have wonderful and insightful parents Hubert and Marie Valbrun, mentors (stepmother, Rosette Waynne), teachers and friends who are supportive of her

work. She has a degree in Liberal Arts from Pace University and an MBA from Liberty University. She dreams of opening a finishing school that would be free to her Brooklyn community.

Mr. Speaker, Joelle Bailey has been a leader in our community through her entrepreneurial accomplishments and efforts to create a more civil society. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Rosa Calhoun in recognition of her accomplishments in her field of business and commitment to the community.

Rosa was born in Brooklyn, New York, the second child of Ruby Calhoun. Her daughter, Saretta, and her son, Dominique, are Rosa's pride and joy.

Rosa graduated from Clara Barton Vocational High School where she enhanced her talent in hair care by specializing in weaving and hair cutting. She has received many trophies because of these specialties.

Rosa has been in business for 30 years and participated in many fashion shows as ``Top Hair Designer''. She worked with and received many awards and certificates from The Hilton, Leviticus, Coliseum, and the Bronner Brother in Atlanta for her outstanding expertise in the field of hair styling. She was featured in 1986 ``Shop Talk'' and the 1998 ``Essence'' magazines.

Rosa has an active member of the Berean Baptist Church for 7 years. She is a member of the Berean Choir and the Hospitality Committee. In addition, Rosa is a member of the Aurelia Chapter #724 Order of Eastern Stars. She is a potential candidate for the Central Brooklyn Lions Club and the Negro Business and Professional Women's Inc. where she plans to serve as a member. Today, Rosa continues to strive for excellence in hair care. She enjoys working within the community where she grew up. Her love for hair styling has led her to achieve and attain all of her goals in her professional career.

Mr. Speaker, Rosa Calhoun, a Brooklyn native, has been a consistently positive force in her community through her business efforts, church and other civic activities. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Lydia Patricia Irby for her spiritual leadership and varied efforts to strengthen the community.

Lydia Patricia Irby was born on December 11, 1952. She has been married 26 years to Minister Willie H. Irby and is the proud mom of her ``royal court,'' 3 beautiful princesses, Kiwana Yiesha Simon-Garcia, Nikkia Latanya George-Caquias, Kristina Dawn Irby and one handsome prince, Adam Benjamin Irby. She is also proud of her grandchildren, the lovely Jordan Lydia Garcia, and her handsome grandsons Taiwan Michael Simon, Christopher Todd Caquias, and Jeremiah Justin Caquias. They are ``the sweetest sugars in her life''.

Lydia answered the call of God upon her life 27 years ago, when she was filled with the Holy Spirit and called into the ministry of Missionary and Evangelist. She has carried the word of the Lord throughout these United States, Canada, and Jamaica. She is a faithful member of Brooklyn Miracle Temple under the anointed leadership of Pastor Jimmy Talton and Lady Daisy Talton. The ``Voice of God'' and the BMT experience have brought her to another level of ministry. Lydia and her husband are the visionaries for a thriving clothing and food ministry, which meets the needs of people in the community.

Lydia is a very industrious woman, ``true to her biblical name.'' She is an international millinery designer, a parent coordinator, conflict resolution specialist, and coordinator of student activities at the Brooklyn High School of the Arts. She has worked in successful partnerships with Principal Robert Finly for the past five years.

She also has a diverse educational and occupational background and training including work as a licensed stockbroker for 12 years through the New York State Institute of Finance, seven years in licensed real estate management in the City of New York, certification in conflict resolution and mediation at Long Island University and successful completion of academic requirements as a Bible teacher at The Total Truth Institute. However, when is its all said and done Lydia's heartfelt desire is simply to live a life that is pleasing and acceptable to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her motto is: ``I will leave the life of everything and everybody that I touch better than when I found it.''

Mr. Speaker, Lydia Patricia Irby has been a leader in our community through her spiritual leadership and civic participation to improve the quality of life in Brooklyn. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, on May 28, 2004, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, together with the United States, signed a free trade accord whose underlying principle is the aggressive protection and expansion of individual and corporate investor rights. These privileges come at the expense of environmental protection, legislative independence, and a nation's right to autonomously determine social and economic policy. Despite the assurances of its proponents, the Central America Free Trade Accord (CAFTA) is not likely to translate into a significant improvement for the region's atrocious labor rights record because it does not institute the fixed penalties and incentives required for such a profound change. The absence of such provisions is especially distressing in Central American societies that, in a twisted and deadly caricature of respectable collective bargaining, have historically witnessed hundreds of labor leaders gunned down and intimidated by hired hands on the payrolls of land owners and factory managers.

The agreement's limited and unbalanced scope is a result of a heavily delimited negotiating process that lacked any sense of transparency and only involved government-sponsored experts. Numerous NGO's, civic organizations, trade unions groups and political figures in both Central America and the U.S. have expressed their opposition to the agreement. In its present form, CAFTA represents a very significant undermining of the traditional sovereign rights of nations and exposes a lamentable deference on the part of Central American governments. This clearly demonstrates their intent of mainly serving privileged elements of their societies at the expense of the generality of their populations. Once implemented, CAFTA will, in fact, likely condemn the area's agricultural, service and industrial workers to further marginalization, with the accompanying risk that they might fall into abject poverty. Most likely, comparable Central American enterprises will be hard-pressed to successfully compete with foreign competitors because they lack the economies of scale, investor control, access to low interest loans, investor pool and an outreach to skilled management which is readily available to transnational commercial entities.

uneven ground

If and when CAFTA is ratified, it will represent a momentous victory to business sectors in the U.S. and in Central America. The five Central American nations that are taking part in the agreement constitute a relatively underdeveloped region whose total GDP equals only $152 billion, or a negligible fraction of the U.S.'s $11 trillion economy. CAFTA fails to adequately consider this facet of the signatories' asymmetrical relationship. According to renowned Nicaraguan academic Rene Oscar Vargas, ``CAFTA is a vehicle for an increase of U.S. exports and an opportunity to maximize the potential of its basic industries: information technology, telecommunications, the service industry, agriculture and intellectual property.'' On another occasion Vargas commented, ``What is CAFTA but an agreement between unequal partners.''

The principle that states that free trade is beneficial to all those involved is misleading and simplistic as it disregards the fact that with unfettered access, the advantage almost always lies with the powerful. In its current format, CAFTA is the economic equivalent of a 220-pound heavyweight being allowed to step into the ring against a 112-pound flyweight. Although international trade and foreign investment are necessary components of any economy, it is a state's responsibility to prioritize the interests of all its citizens, not just the privileged few, and certainly not that of transnational corporations.

For the CAFTA agreement to be ratified, it must be approved by the legislature and signed by the president of each signatory country. A full and transparent reexamination of its costs and benefits, and who will be the winners and losers, is imperative because renegotiation of contested clauses will be all but impossible once the agreement is ratified. A look at Mexico's experience with NAFTA, and its unsuccessful attempts to renegotiate agriculture-related provisions, underscores the serious implications of ratifying CAFTA. Free-trade agreements are not in themselves pernicious instruments. However, they must prove beneficial to both parties, and the Central American Free Trade Agreement, in its current format, does not satisfy this overriding requirement. If this agreement is implemented without alterations, it could very well demonstrate that unscrupulousness and greed will prevail over the best interests of the citizens directly concerned.

foreign investment is the panacea

Behind the rhetoric used to tout CAFTA's virtues--that it promotes a win-win scenario--the reality is that it will provide already well- heeled international and domestic corporations and investors with lucrative incentives, protections, and almost plenary immunity from prosecution. In Article 10.28 of the agreement, the

definition of an investor is purposefully vague as it encompasses any individual involved or considering participation in a business venture. If CAFTA is ratified, any investing individual or corporation will have the vested right to challenge a nation's national or local policy, regulation, or law which they perceive as an impediment to their business dealings, and can call for it to be voided before a supranational dispute panel. This ability to circumscribe constitutionally enacted national legislation and regulation, or seek monetary compensation for their enforcement, gives rise to a new class of parties who essentially will be above the rule of local law. Like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ratified by Mexico, the U.S. and Canada and put into effect in 1994, this accord would provide private parties a protection that today is not in conformity with existing U.S. law. In addition, CAFTA does not clearly and reciprocally address a nation's legitimate course of action when a corporation is thought to have participated in unlawful behavior within its boundaries.

To enforce its bylaws, CAFTA will create an unaccountable supranational body bestowed with the authority to redress any so-called infringement on a foreign corporation's or investor's economic interests. Not only is the burden of proof in these cases placed upon the respective government, the plaintiffs face little consequence if they submit a frivolous complaint. Past experience with NAFTA suggests that environmental regulations will be the object of most of the infringement suits that will be filed because, despite Central America being the second most biodiverse region in the world, sustainable development is not a central tenet of CAFTA. In fact, the mere threat of legal action, and the accompanying litigation costs, should discourage the region's economically-strapped nations from aggressively enforcing environmental regulations.

The optimistic contention made by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in an August 2003 Interim Environmental Review, that ``CAFTA may have positive environmental consequences in Central America,'' is disputed by Dr. Angel Maria Ibarra, president of the Salvadoran Ecological Unit (UNES). She notes that ``a simple reading of the text and its relationship to other chapters reveals its essentially cosmetic nature. CAFTA is a custom-made agreement for transnational corporations.'' This is a thesis that U.S.-based private environmental organizations, such as the Center for International Environmental Law and the Sierra Club, have consistently reaffirmed.

In negotiations with the Central American countries, Washington pushed for and succeeded in institutionalizing a mechanism that suborns the very tenets of a country's sovereignty. There is no doubt that CAFTA will hinder the ability of the region's citizens to propose, discuss, and implement the rules of conduct which they may consider to be desirable and appropriate. The pact, therefore, challenges the very essence of using legislative action as a legitimate vehicle to achieve economic and social redress. Interestingly, whereas Washington refuses to participate in many supranational bodies, like the International Criminal Court and the Kyoto Protocol, citing their need to protect national interests, such fears are hypocritically brushed aside when lucrative private business transactions involving the state are at stake and the possibility of unfavorable rulings against enterprises are most likely to be minimal.

handcuffing the state

The restrictions which CAFTA imposes on Central American governments will extend well beyond the capacity, or lack thereof, of states to bind companies to comply with domestic laws. In simplest terms, CAFTA will prohibit states from determining and implementing economic and social policies which their branches of government believe are most suitable to their developmental needs, thus forcing them to adhere to a ``one size fits all'' liberalizing recipe that does not account for the unique particularities of a given country. Under this system, the agreement's provisions substitute for an objective cost-benefit analysis of the beneficial or negative impacts a particular policy, regulation, or law would have on society. If, for example, Costa Rican authorities decide that they wish to encourage an emerging and possibly lucrative sector of the economy through tariffs and incentives, as Ireland and the much-lauded Asian Tigers most successfully did with their information technology and manufacturing industries, respectively, CAFTA provisions could be used to prohibit them from doing so.

In addition, the eventual elimination of all tariffs will expose essential domestic industries to potentially devastating competition from multinational corporations that enjoy a tremendous advantage based on their economies of scale or, as is the case with white corn, Washington-subsidized production. Even government procurement, a mechanism that the U.S. government itself utilizes in certain instances to offset market inequities, will not be exempt from CAFTA's strict regulations. According to Chapter Ten of the pact's text, foreign actors must be guaranteed the same treatment, in both the public and private sphere, as a nation's citizens. This begs the question of who the Central American negotiators were in fact representing when they agreed to these stipulations, because they demonstrably will not benefit the majority of their own citizens. In the long term, the region's severely underdeveloped economies can be expected to fall prey to the natural forces of the market and will undoubtedly incur heavy domestic job attrition, the displacement of thousands of small and medium scale farmers and a more skewed distribution of wealth to the benefit of the nation's privileged capital-holding minority. Salvador Arias, a Salvadoran legislator with the Faribundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN), told La Nacion USA, a Washington D.C. area daily, that his country alone would likely lose upwards of 54,000 agricultural jobs during the first year of CAFTA's implementation.

no new labor protections

CAFTA's proponents assure critics that the agreement will encourage a marked improvement in labor rights for Central American workers. The chapter in CAFTA that addresses this issue, however, seems much more concerned with ensuring a level playing field for U.S.-based corporations than protecting the region's workers. The real aim of the agreement's provisions appears to be the ability to retain the excessively low costs of production that grossly unsatisfactory working conditions help maintain without appearing to do so. In this respect, even though Article 16.2 states that Central American governments must ``strive to ensure'' compliance with their domestic labor laws and guarantee not to ``encourage trade or investment by weakening or reducing the protections'' these laws provide, this, and other passages like it, fall far short of constituting a sturdy defense of labor rights and make the chapter's overall lackadaisical tone one of the agreement's most grievous deficiencies.

In a March press release, Human Rights Watch (HRW) strongly criticized the agreement's glaring reliance on current Central American domestic legislation that, until now, has been ineffective in curbing labor rights abuses. In addition, that organization maintains that real change will not come about unless CAFTA adopts strong ``procedural guarantees for [their] enforcement.'' Without clearer mechanisms that redress worker abuse (which ideally would be equal to those that CAFTA would provide to investors) only blind optimists foresee anything more than a marginal improvement of the currently often corrosive, if not deplorable and inhumane, labor rights situation in Central America. In fact, the question of whether CAFTA, in its current format, will improve the overall standard of living of the region's inhabitants is highly debatable at best.

Mr. Speaker, As you know there is considerable concern that the state drivers' licenses no longer can be said to meet standards of reliability we have come to expect from documents upon which we must rely to authenticate the identity of an individual. The ease with which such documents may be counterfeited, or even procured through lawful channels, by those not entitled to them gives me pause.

Recently I read a thoughtful and provocative Op-ed in the Nov./Dec. issue of Digital Transactions by Mr. Joel Lisker. Mr. Lisker, a former FBI supervisor, federal prosecutor & senior Senate Counsel, who led MasterCard International's Global Security and Risk Management department for 16 years, takes a close look at the current troubling state of such licenses and the need to upgrade them to a reliable, proven state-of-the-art platform.

These are, after all, the de facto U.S. national identity cards, whether we choose to refer to them that way, or not.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the complete text of the article be included in the record, and I commend its reading to my colleagues.

Time to Overhaul the Drivers' License

This commomplace piece of plastic has by default become the

national identification card. Adding readily available

advanced technology, such as integrated-circuit chips, can

make it more reliable for a post-9/11 world--and pave the way

for chip-based payment cards, to boot, says Joel Lisker.

What is the most valuable piece of paper/plastic in your

possession? One that can have a huge impact on the quality of

your life; maybe even save your life. Is it your health-care

Card? Social Security card? Medicare card? Credit card? Nope.

It's that little piece of low-end plastic with your photo and

a few personal details issued by your State Department of

Motor Vehicles, in hundreds of versions, with a variety of

features.

The few standards that do apply to these cards have been

deliberately set at the low end for reasons of cost, because

in fairness, not too long ago, the drivers' license was just

that. As a consequence, operational quality, functionality,

security, consistency, and currency vis-a-vis state-of-the-

art technology have not been factors, Yet now, these are the

very cards that increasingly say with authority who we are,

and, most important, that we are who we say we are.

In fact, the ubiquitous, poorly designed and equally poorly

crafted drivers' license is the de facto national identity

card But we need something better--and urgently. Why?

In the aftermath of 9/11, government at every level has

struggled with the challenges generated by the life-or-death

need to make us more secure--no easy task. Several meaningful

steps have been taken, but what is lacking, at the core, is a

single, self-authenticating piece of identification upon

which authorities may rely. So what's the problem? The

problem in a word is reliability. The drivers' license has

become the primary means of identification that government

has come to regard as reliable at a time when counterfeit and

fraudulent applications are rampant.

For example, we may question the abilities of the

Transportation Security Administration and now private

screeners to authenticate drivers' licenses, given that they

are called upon to examine hundreds of different licenses on

any given shift.

I submit that several excellent solutions now exist that

can be implemented, without adding great cost to already

strained state and federal budgets. Some of these solutions,

if applied in volume to drivers' licenses, would have the

added benefit of creating economies of scale for chip-based

payment cards in North America.

catching fraud

Let's examine a relevant private-sector initiative. Most

banks submit all new U.S. credit card applications to a

database to check prior use of key data elements. Two of

those elements are the Social Security number (SSN) and

address. I envision a similar database of all license holders

and applicants that would also contain these two data

elements. These could be compared with an SSN/current-address

file maintained by the Social Security Administration, kept

current based on information furnished by the Internal

Revenue Service and contained on the Form 1040.

When a criminal steals a Social Security number, he will

always use an address different from that of the true account

holder. This process would catch most of the cases of

attempted fraud while revealing no other 1040 information. A

follow-up mailing to the address listed would confirm that

a license using that address had been issued.

The drivers' license itself need's work. For example, it

can now be enhanced using readily available and very secure

integrated-circuit technology, in use in some markets by the

payment card companies, combined with optical memory card

technology, now in use on all U.S. permanent resident or

``green'' cards, Southern Border-crossing cards, Canadian

``green'' cards, and an increasing number of Canadian drivers

licenses.

In fact, these technologies would permit the security

screener to simply swipe or insert the license in a secure

reader, the same as a credit card, thereby allowing for

authentication of the document as validly issued and

currently in force. It could not be effectively copied or

skimmed.

Thus, not only could the card be authenticated, but, by

using biometric information such as that derived from

fingerprints, a validation of the cardholder could also be

achieved while protecting the privacy of the licensee's data

stored on the card in their possession. This process would be

far superior to the current ``hit or miss'' system, which

depends entirely on the ability of the TSA Screener to

discern a false document.

beware that cell phone

This optical-memory card approach, with up to 2.8 megabytes

of data per card, would allow for all 10 fingerprints, an

iris template, facial template, or just about anything else

you might want. This would be entirely consistent with the

recommendations of the 9/11 Commission contained in

Section.12.4 of its report. Moreover, the deployment of the

IC feature of the new drivers license, numbering more than

100 million units, would pave the way for the rapid

deployment of a financial payments industry IC card. on a

very cost-effective basis. How would government support the

additional costs associated with some of the enhancements

described here? I submit that a modest increase in the cost

of the drivers' license would more than cover this expense.

The TSA portion, which would result from the deployment of

card-reading terminals at each point of access, could be

funded with a modest tax on each airline ticket, one that

most air travelers would gladly pay.

To those who would argue against such enhancements on the

grounds that they will bring us closer to the dreaded

``national identification card,'' allowing the tentacles of

government to slither even more deeply into our lives and

privacy, I say this: You better take another look at that GPS

cell phone of yours. And what about that OnStar service or EZ

Pass? Your ATM Card?

The drivers' license, in its present form is a seriously

flawed de facto national identification card. We have cost-

effective, proven, secure technologies at hand. Let's use

them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw your attention to an event in Latin America that underscores the region's instability and warrants international attention. Over the last few months highly- regarded Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos has been fighting for his political survival as charges of corruption against him have led to calls for his impeachment.

During Bolanos' three years in office he has proven himself a capable and popular leader, unafraid to fight against corruption within his government. The president and his supporters allege that Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) leader Arnoldo Aleman, currently imprisoned for corruption, and Sandinista National Liberation Front leader Daniel Ortega reached a political agreement to oust Bolanos from power, secure their parties' control of key political institutions and gain eventual amnesty for Aleman, a former Nicaraguan president.

While Ortega has recently changed his mind and announced that his party will not pursue impeachment, the Sandinistas and the PLC are continuing efforts severely limit Bolanos' presidential powers. Efforts to remove or reduce his presidential prerogatives can only undermine the democratically-elected president and have little to no constitutional basis. They also go against the will of the people, the majority of whom have pledged their full support to their embattled head of state, putting democracy in Nicaragua in jeopardy. Since the Nicaraguan president has little political support in the National Assembly and the opposition controls key democratic institutions, the international community must actively involve itself to ensure the nation's democracy.

The following research memorandum about Nicaragua's crisis was authored by Research Associate David R. Kolker with additional research provided by Research Fellow Alex Sanchez, both of the Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA). Founded in 1975, COHA is an independent,

non-profit, non-partisan, taxexempt research and information organization. It has been described on the Senate floor as being ``one of the Nation's most respected bodies of scholars and policy makers.''

On October 7, Nicaragua's Comptroller's office called on

the National Assembly to remove President Enrique Bolanos

from office for failing to disclose the origin of $7 million

used in his 2001 presidential campaign. The following day,

the country's two major parties, the conservative

Constitutionalist Liberal Party (PLC) and the left-of-center

Sandinista National Liberation Front, announced that unless

Bolanos submitted his resignation, they would move to impeach

the 76-year old president. The resulting crisis, which

underscores the fragile political stability of Nicaragua as

well as a number of other Central American nations,

demonstrates how easily personal vendettas can manipulate the

political process, ignore the will of the people and endanger

democracy by undermining a competent and democratically-

elected head of state.

Bolanos as President

Enrique Bolanos, a moderate conservative who has often been

described as an honest chief executive, but lacking charisma,

was sworn into office in January 2002. As a former PLC Vice

President under President Arnoldo Aleman (1996-2001), Bolanos

went mostly unnoticed in his nation until his role as

coordinator of the economic aid effort following 1998's

devastating Hurricane Mitch displayed his leadership and

earned him the wide base of support needed to run for

president in 2001. He subsequently won the general election,

carrying 56 percent of the vote compared to Sandinista party

leader Daniel Ortega's 42 percent. Soon after his victory,

however, his crusade to purge corrupt officials from even the

highest echelons of government earned him many enemies. This

campaign led to his virtual ouster from the PLC by Aleman's

friends after the party leader and former president was

charged and then last December found guilty of corruption and

sentenced to twenty years in jail. Bolanos' severe criticism

of the Sandinista government's ties during the 1980s to Fidel

Castro, Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and Miguel ``Tirofijo''

Marulanda, commander of Colombia's leftist insurgent force

FARC, also infuriated and deeply alienated Ortega.

As president, Bolanos has emphasized economic modernization

for his underdeveloped nation and has achieved some

successes. Besides fighting corruption and pursuing a

transparent government, he has raised teachers' salaries,

assisted farmers, begun destroying the military's

stockpile of shoulder-fired missiles and upheld the 1990

peace accords signed after more than a decade of civil war

between the Sandinistas and the U.S.-backed contras.

Despite his accomplishments in office, opposition groups

have continuously targeted him, making him the scapegoat

for the nation's multiple problems and accusing him of

being Washington's puppet because of his controversial

support for the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

The Enemy Within

Bolanos has accused his main political rivals, Aleman and

Ortega, of orchestrating the efforts to remove him from

office. According to an October 19 article in the Miami

Herald, the Nicaraguan president ``has repeatedly alleged

since his campaign financing scandal erupted in late 2002

that Ortega and Aleman were trying to forge an agreement that

would impeach the president and leave Aleman under house

arrest.'' Indeed, a Nicaraguan government official confirmed

to COHA the accuracy of the supposed Aleman-Ortega pact: in

exchange for enacting constitutional reforms granting Aleman

immunity, the Sandinistas would gain control of the

judiciary, allowing the ``two caudillos (strongmen) . . . to

fill the key positions of the Comptroller's Office, the

Supreme Court of Justice, the Supreme Electoral Council and

the Prosecutor's Office with their allies.'' While the PLC

(41 seats) and Sandinistas (38 seats) currently control more

than the two thirds of the 92-seat National Assembly needed

to impeach the president, it seems unlikely that a vote will

ever take place. The Nicaraguan official also explained to

COHA the highly questionable nature of such proceedings,

making it clear that impeachment is unrealistic: ``No piece

of legislation existing in Nicaragua gives power to the

Comptroller's Office to order the removal of the President''

and as a result, the resolution to impeach Bolanos ``is

unconstitutional, clearly exceeds the Comptroller's office

powers and jurisdiction, and represents a clear violation to

the due process (Art. 10 num. 17; Art. 172, Law of the

Comptroller's Office, Decree 625-1980 as amended).''

Additionally, ``neither the Constitution nor any piece of

legislation authorizes the National Assembly to take action

on [the resolution] (Nicaraguan Constitution Art. 138,

Faculties of the National Assembly).''

While impeaching Bolanos would clearly be unconstitutional,

it was not until Ortega's November 6 announcement that his

party, which always follows his lead, would not pursue

impeachment that the president's job appeared to be safe.

However, Ortega's decision may be little more than the result

of the Sandinistas having found a way to leave Bolanos in

office, albeit with severely limited powers. In early

November, a bill was proposed in the National Assembly that

would revoke the president's power to appoint cabinet

ministers, vice-ministers, diplomats and directors of state

agencies. If both the PLC and Sandinistas support the bill,

which seems likely, it would have more than the sixty percent

of the vote needed for it to pass and cripple the president.

Regardless of whether Bolanos is removed or marginalized,

the will of Nicaraguans, the majority of whom believe the

charges against their beleaguered president are unfounded, is

being completely ignored. According to a poll published on

October 19 in the Nicaraguan daily La Prensa, 69 percent of

Nicaraguans back Bolanos and think the corruption charges

against him are a ``political trap,'' while 66 percent

believe he holds international credibility. Only 22 percent

think that the charges are grounded in truth. Clearly, the

average citizen is supportive of Bolanos and wants him to

remain in power. Yet as long as the PLC and Sandinistas

pursue their own agendas and not those of their constituents,

democracy in Nicaragua will be jeopardized.

Can the OAS Save Bolanos?

Before Ortega pledged not to purse impeachment, it seemed

that the president's only hope for survival in office would

be through the direct intervention of the Organization of

American States (OAS). Aside from eight party deputies in the

legislature, Bolanos has virtually no political support in

the National Assembly. However, he has received noteworthy

backing from abroad. In an October 16 press release, U.S.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher expressed the Bush

administration's strong support for the besieged Nicaraguan

president, stating, ``We deplore recent politically motivated

attempts, based on dubious legal precedent, to undermine the

constitutional order in Nicaragua.'' He also praised Bolanos'

``efforts to eradicate corruption and promote democracy''

and called on the OAS to come to his aid.

In a mid-October meeting in Managua of Central American

leaders, the presidents of El Salvador, Honduras and

Guatemala, as well as the Panamanian vice president and the

foreign ministers of Costa Rica and Belize, requested

intervention by the OAS to prevent Bolanos' removal.

Representing this significant bloc of neighboring nations,

Salvadoran President Antonio Saca said, ``We agreed to

instruct the permanent representatives of the countries in

the Central America System of Integration before the OAS to

immediately convene the (OAS) Permanent Council to debate the

threatening political and institutional situation.''

Moreover, as scandals inundate the region, some critics

believe these leaders' support of the Nicaraguan president is

a way to guarantee that they will not lose power if a crisis

like the one Bolanos is now facing occurs in their respective

countries. Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco, former

Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo and former Honduran

President Rafael Callejas all have been recently investigated

for corruption. Additionally, former Guatemalan Vice

President Francisco Reyes is currently imprisoned and ex-

Costa Rican President and former OAS Secretary General Miguel

Angel Rodriguez is under house arrest, both on corruption

charges. Regional leaders are also surely keeping an eye on

the developing crisis in Ecuador, where President Lucio

Gutierrez's cabinet is rapidly resigning as he faces

dismissal for the alleged misappropriation of campaign funds.

From October 18-20, acting OAS Secretary General Luigi

Einaudi and Permanent Council Chairman (and former Panamanian

president) Aristides Royo led an OAS delegation to meet with

Bolanos and his political opponents. According to an October

22 OAS press release, the delegation was ``not mounted to

support the president or his government, the visit was

instead intended to support `democratic institutions.' ''

While the OAS has not yet released a full report on the

delegation's findings, the London based LatinNews website

reported that on October 24, Bolanos said the OAS ``agreed

with him that the move to impeach him was illegal.'' In any

case, OAS efforts to assist the president may be hindered by

internal problems. The October 15 resignation, after less

than three weeks in office, of Secretary General Rodriguez as

a result of a corruption scandal in his native Costa Rica

cost the OAS much credibility. Prior to the OAS delegation's

arrival, PLC Deputy Enrique Quinonez captured many

people's sentiments when he proclaimed to La Prensa, ``Now

Bolanos' employees say that they will turn to the OAS, by

God! . . . the new Secretary General of the OAS resigned

for corruption.''

The OAS delegation was formed under the auspices of the

OAS's Democratic Charter. Signed in Lima in September 2001,

that document states that ``when the government of a member

state considers that its democratic political institutional

process or its legitimate exercise of power is at risk, it

may request assistance from the Secretary General or the

Permanent Council for the strengthening and preservation of

its democratic system.'' If Bolanos is ousted, according to

Article 21 of the Charter, the most the OAS can do is suspend

Nicaragua's membership. However, such a move would likely

result in international condemnation of those responsible for

ousting the president and possibly hinder the disbursement of

desperately needed international aid to the country. While

the World Bank and International Monetary Fund forgave

Nicaragua's $5.1 billion debt last January, aid remains of

crucial importance in a country where it is estimated that in

2001, 50 percent of the population lived in poverty. On

October 21, Nicaragua suffered a

major setback as a result of the Bolanos crisis when Taiwan,

which provided the country with nearly $200 million in aid

between 1997 and 2003, announced it would cease sending aid

until the national crisis is resolved.

light at the end of the tunnel

The PLC and Sandinista plan to oust the president, or at

least strip him of much of his power, has largely ignored the

sentiments of the average Nicaraguan. As Rodolfo Delgado

Romero of the Managuabased Nicaraguan Studies Institute told

COHA, ``Nicaragua must overcome the vicious cycle of crises

and have the capacity to learn from errors that date back to

the 19th century'' so it is no longer a country ``where the

majority of the population is excluded from the decision-

making process . . . a nation controlled by relatively

exclusive elites for most of its history.'' Nicaragua is in

desperate need for politicians who work on behalf of and

truthfully represent its citizens.

The power struggle currently being witnessed in Nicaragua

also demonstrates that the region is still plagued by

corruption and political pandering. Such behavior invariably

leads to unstable rule, which carries the potential for

serious conflict and underscores the need for a corruption-

free OAS that can act decisively as an arbiter to uphold

democracy in the hemisphere. It is disconcerting to note that

despite his three years of painfully-achieved economic

progress in a nation wrestling with stifling

underdevelopment, Bolanos is on the verge of falling victim

to manipulations by self-serving political opponents. While

it appears likely that President Bolanos will narrowly

survive to finish his term, the events of the last two month

have cast an almost impenetrable shadow over Nicaragua's

troubled democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the gentleman from New York, my colleague in the New York delegation, Amo Houghton. After eighteen years of distinguished service, Amo is leaving the Congress. Amo was widely known as one of the most thoughtful and highly regarded members in the House from both sides of the aisle. He was also a tireless representative for his constituents in the western portion of upstate New York.

As the fifth-ranking Republican on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Amo has been an invaluable member for the entire State of New York. After the tragedy and destruction of September 11, 2001, Amo was instrumental in enacting the Liberty Zone Act, which provided $5 billion in tax breaks and incentives to help New Yorkers rebuild lower Manhattan.

He has also been a leader in furthering U.S. diplomacy around the world. He is a member of the International Relations Committee where he is Vice Chairman of its Subcommittee on Africa. He was appointed Co- Chairman of the Canada--U.S. Interparliamentary Group, serves as Chairman of the U.S. delegation to the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum, and was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as the Congressional Delegate to the 58th General Assembly of the United Nations. Additionally, he sponsored the Clean Diamond Trade Act, which was signed into law last year. The bill requires that the President ban the import of rough diamonds coming from any country that has not made an effort to control their trade in diamonds in accordance with the internationally negotiated ``Kimberley Process.''

I would also like to recognize that Amo's service to our country goes all the way back to his youth. At just 18 years old, he volunteered for service in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was trained and deployed as part of a Marine Security Detachment on the cruiser USS Macon in the Atlantic theater. Houghton was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps as a Private First Class in 1945.

Mr. Speaker, I think the record is clear that Amo Houghton has been a devoted patriot whose service will be missed by his constituents as well as all of us who had the pleasure of working with him. We wish you all of the best in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Dr. Nisarul Haque for his dedication to Interfaith Medical Center and excellence in patient care.

Legendary for his gentle and caring manner, Dr. Haque has been affiliated with Interfaith Medical Center for nearly his entire medical career, joining as a medical resident in 1966 at one of Interfaith Medical Center's predecessor hospitals, Jewish Hospital and Medical Center of Brooklyn, or ``Brooklyn Jewish.'' He has been married to Lois Haque for 38 years and they have two sons, Kamaal and Jameel.

Dr. Haque came to the United States from Pakistan on July 4, 1964, arriving to see Independence Day fireworks from a helicopter, which was shuttling him from JFK Airport to New Jersey to start his American medical career at Perth Amboy General Hospital. After completing his Rotating Internship at Perth Amboy, Dr. Haque went to Kingsbrook Medical Center as a first year resident in Internal Medicine.

Dr. Haque says he finally found the right place when he came to Brooklyn Jewish for his second and third year residencies in Internal Medicine from 1966 to 1968 and Chief Medical Resident from 1968 to 1969. He joined the Medical Staff in 1971, worked as a part-time attending physician in the medical clinic in 1976 and was named to his current position as the Medical Director of the Department of Psychiatry in 1985. Dr. Haque is Board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Geriatrics and is a member of the Kings County Medical Society and Medical Society of the State of New York. He graduated in 1960 from the Khyber Medical College of the University of Peshawar, Pakistan. He did his internship at Lady Reading Hospital and served as Medical Director at the Cantonment General Hospital, both in Peshawar.

For his long-time commitment to the Interfaith Medical Center and its patients, Dr. Haque has received the 2004 Spirit Award for Excellence in Patient Care from the Center.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Nisarul Haque has dedicated his professional career to serving patients in the Brooklyn community at Interfaith Medical Center. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of David J. Manning for his dedication to Interfaith Medical Center and continued community efforts.

David was elected Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs of KeySpan Energy in April 1999. He is the Senior Officer reporting to the Chairman, with responsibility for public affairs, government relations, internal and external communications, community development and altruism, corporate brand strategy, and environmental policy and operations.

Before joining KeySpan Energy, Mr. Manning had been President of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)

since 1995. From 1993 to 1995, he was Deputy Minister of Energy for the Province of Alberta, Canada, the source of approximately 14 percent of the natural gas used in the U.S. From 1988 to 1993, he was Senior International Trade Counsel for the Government of Alberta, based in New York City. Previously, he was in the private practice of law in Alberta, Canada. Mr. Manning is eligible for admission to the New York Bar. KeySpan Energy is the 4th largest natural gas distributor in the United States, serving much of New York City, Long Island, Boston and New Hampshire. It is also the largest investor owned electric power generator in New York State, and operates the LIPA electric system on Long Island under contract. David is past Chairman of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chairman of the Long Island Housing Partnership Board, and Coordinating Committee Co-chair of the current National Petroleum Council Natural Gas Study.

Most recently, for his community service and contributions to the Interfaith Medical Center, David is receiving the Spirit Award for Excellence in Community Service from the Center.

Mr. Speaker, David J. Manning has used his position as a national leader in the energy industry to strengthen and improve our community. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of New Life Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York in commemoration of its 50th anniversary and spiritual and community leadership.

God placed a vision for New Life Baptist Church on the heart of E.F. Jacobs and Mother Martha Jacobs, and on February 7, 1954, the church began its mission at 214 Howard Avenue. The first members were sister Gladys Blackman, Sister Delores Hite, Sister Mae G. Mills Mazyck and Sister Geneva Wonsley. They received letters from Pilgrim Baptist Church to become members. Temporary officers were Rev. E.F. Jacobs, moderator and Sister Gladys Blackman as church clerk. These members were extended the right hand of fellowship by the Council on September 17, 1954 making them the New Life Baptist Church.

Pastor Jacobs adopted the motto: Lift up Jesus and give the devil battle. Under his continued leadership, the church continued to thrive. In 1962, God blessed its members with a new home for the church at 931 Dumont Ave in Brooklyn.

In 1967, Rev. Holness came to work with us. On December 30, 1968, the church elected Rev. Clifford L. Johnson as its assistant pastor. On May 8, 1973, Brother Marshall Rowe received the call to the ministry and was the first minister to receive a license to preach by New Life. He was followed by Rev. Melvin Ward, who was elected to serve as the second pastor of New Life on May 1, 1978. In the summer of 1983, New Life mothered its first church, Victory Baptist Church.

On October 24, 1983, Rev. John H. Marshall was elected as the third pastor of New Life. Under his leadership, the church has received many blessings. Sister Carolyn Plaines preached her trial sermon and on August 18, 1991 was licensed to preach the gospel. In April 2, 1995, Brother Akin Royall also preached his trial sermon and received his license to preach the gospel. With Rev. Marshall's guidance, the church also improved the church's physical surroundings. It built a new sanctuary, holding its first baptism there on October 5, 1996. Three years later, the church renovated its fellowship hall, kitchen and bathroom and officially dedicated its new sanctuary.

New Life also conducts several community outreach programs including the Annual Vacation Bible School event, clothing and food give-outs and in 2001 it assisted with the ``Feed the Children'' campaign, which provided food for more than 2500 families in the community. New Life also undertakes a ``Back to Christ Crusade'' each year that draws community participation.

Mr. Speaker, New Life Baptist Church has been a source of community and spiritual leadership in Brooklyn for 50 years. As such, it is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable congregation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the gentleman from New York, my colleague in the New York delegation Jack Quinn. After 12 years of distinguished service, Jack has chosen to leave the Chamber. But he can do so knowing that he was an effective and tireless representative for his constituents in the Buffalo area. Jack has successfully opened and closed over 10,000 cases on behalf of the people in his district, which I believe speaks volumes about the type of care and concern he showed his constituents.

Jack is the only New York State Member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and has been a vital resource for our veterans in New York and across the country. In April 1996, he was awarded the prestigious AMVETS Silver Helmet Award for his work on behalf of our Nation's veterans.

As chairman of the Railroads Subcommittee, Jack has been a strong and consistent voice in fighting hard for preserving Amtrak. Amtrak remains a critical part of our transportation infrastructure, especially in New York and along the Northeast corridor. Jack's leadership on this issue has greatly benefited all of us who rely on this important national passenger rail system. In fact, his commitment to this issue earned him the ``Golden Spike Award'' from the National Association of Railroad Passengers. Safety on railways is another key issue for Representative Quinn.

Mr. Speaker, Jack Quinn will be missed by his constituents as well as all of us who had the pleasure of working with him during the last 12 years. We wish you all of the best in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of W. Don Cornwell for his dedication to Interfaith Medical Center and continued community efforts.

Don is the founder of Granite Broadcasting Corporation and has been chairman of the board and chief executive officer since 1988. Prior to founding Granite, Mr. Cornwell served as a vice president in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co. Granite Broadcasting Corporation owns and operates nine television stations in geographically diverse markets.

Don is also the chairman of the board of the Telecommunications Development Fund, which provides financial capital for small and minority telecommunications businesses. Additionally, he serves on the board of directors of Avon Products, Inc.; Pfizer, Inc.; CVS Corporation; and the Wallace Foundation. He is also a trustee of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of NYC.

Most recently, for his humanitarian efforts and contributions to the Interfaith Medical Center, Don is receiving the Spirit Award for Excellence in Humanitarian Service from the center.

Mr. Speaker, W. Don Cornwell has used his position as a national leader in the investment and telecommunications industries to strengthen and improve our community. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.