Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Roland Jerome Hill in recognition of his service to his nation and his community.

Roland was born in Mount Carmel, Lancaster County, South Carolina. He began his schooling in a one-room schoolhouse. Later, he attended Mather Academy. Through his participation in various civic and political causes, Roland has continued to learn throughout his entire adult life.

Roland also coached high school football, baseball, and track for two years as an official in the South Atlantic Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SACIAA). More importantly, he served his country for three and a half years in WWII in the 183rd Aviation Engineers Battalion in the China-India-Burma theatre.

After arriving in New York he became involved in a long list of political and civic affairs. He has served his community through a wide range of activities that include: Master Plumber Licensing and Control Board; Fire Suppression Board; Vice President of the Local Two of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union; Vice-President of the 45th Assembly Democratic Club; Co-Chairman of the Federal Government Scatter Housing Program; Chairman of the South Shore Fair Housing Committee; Coney Island Hospital Advisory Board; Sixty on Aging; HRA Advisory Board and HRA Subcommittee on Social Services; and as an Elder in the Homecrest Presbyterian Church.

Some of the positions he has filled in the political arena include: Co-Chairman of the Finance Committee for Shirley Chisholm for Congress, Co-Chairman of the Mel Durbin and Eugene McCarthy campaign, and Director of Senior Citizen Groups in the 10th Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, Roland Jerome Hill is committed to improving the lives of the elderly population in his 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 gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Mara Roske in recognition of her dedication to improving her community through both her professional and personal endeavors.

The youngest of four children, Mara was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is married and the mother of one daughter. Her interests include sewing, gardening, and cooking. Growing vegetables in her yard to use in her Southern European cuisine makes Sundays at her home a popular place for friends and family.

Mara joined the New York City Police Department in 1987, and the following year she was assigned to the 75th Precinct in East New York. She patrolled the area for ten years before entering the Anti-Crime plain clothes unit. During this time, her lieutenant noticed that she had a flair for calming certain situations and a sincere interest in community relations. It was suggested that Mara join community affairs She is currently serving East New York in this capacity.

Mara is also active in various advisory boards and community projects. She has been instrumental in closing the gap that often exists between the community and the police. She encourages her fellow officers to become more involved and concerned with community issues in the area in which they serve.

Mr. Speaker, Mara Roske is committed to making a positive difference in her community. 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 as a cosponsor and strong supporter of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act. H.R. 1320 will allow for deployment of advanced wireless services through relocating federally owned spectrum to commercially designated areas and allowing the carriers to bid on the bands of spectrum currently held by the government. The bill would also allow NTIA and the Department of Defense adequate flexibility to complete the relocation while being held liable for the funds spent by the General Accounting Office.

Another important provision of the bill, Mr. Speaker, deals with the Telecommunications Development Fund, TDF, which was founded as part of the 1996 Telecommunications Act to ensure that entrepreneurs in rural and underserved areas are not left behind by the digital economy.

The language in H.R. 2350 will allow the TDF to extend loans to start up technology and telecom companies in rural and underserved areas without being held to the standards of the Fair Credit Reform Act, which is good. Not only will this be a boon to small business, but it will also spur innovation and investment, both of which are desperately needed in this day and age.

I would like to again thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Chairman Tauzin), I would like to thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the lead sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), chairman of the subcommittee, and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey).

In addition, I would also like to thank Jesse McCollum from my staff, and Will Nordwind, Howard Waltzman, and Greg Rothschild of the committee staff, for their efforts as well.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this good government bill because it makes a lot of sense and it is something that we should do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Moshood Afariogun in recognition his unique style and accomplishments in the fashion industry.

The name Moshood Africanspirit has become synonymous with a style that personifies a ``spirit'' of African pride. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Moshood arrived in New York in the early 1980's, and set out to make his mark in this very competitive industry. After years of tireless effort and hard work, he opened his first boutique in Brooklyn, NY.

Moshood's timeless pieces bring together the traditional beauty of African tailoring and a taste of western flavor. His fluid and elegant designs have been embraced from Harlem to Soweto, Lagos to Bahia, London to Tokyo, and New York to Kingston.

Mr. Speaker, Moshood Afariogun has successfully designed and created unique designer clothes without losing touch with his African culture and heritage. 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 Regina Coley Carter in recognition of her dedication to her community in personal and professional life, and her commitment to reducing drug use among youths.

Regina Coley is the fourth of eleven children. She was educated in the New York City public school system, and later, attended Hunter College in pursuit of a nursing career. Currently, she is attending John Jay College.

A mother of three children, Regina is a member of the Brownsville Community Baptist Church. As a church member, she participates in the Concert Choir and the Willing Workers. She is a football mom for the Pop Warner State Championship Team, and the Mo Better Jaguars of the East New York/Brownsville area.

Regina has worked for the New York City Police Department for the past twenty-three years. She served as a civilian employee for five and a half years when she decided that that would be an effective police officer. In 1986, she passed the police exam and became a police officer. Regina is currently one of two community affairs officers in the 75th Precinct.

Regina enjoys sports, reading, travel, and working with the community. She has received numerous awards for community service, often working with elected officials, community based organizations, schools, and churches in the East New York Community. She helps organize parades, demonstrations, rallies, street festivals, and various community events. Regina has also worked with the United States Attorney's office as a coordinator for the youth program Drug Education For Youth (D.E.F.Y).

Regina has a strong concern for the community and youth of East New York and Brownsville. She has become a mentor through various community youth programs and is presently mentoring young people in East New York.

Mr. Speaker, Regina Coley is committed to improving the lives of those in her community through a wide range of efforts. 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 Von R. Hunt in recognition of his commitment to his community.

Von Renneslerr Hunt was born in Colon, Republic of Panama. He graduated from the Canal Zone Rainbow High School, Amador Guerero Spanish School and the Baptist Academy.

Von was a professional sign painter in Panama, working for various agencies of the Canal Zone. He also played music professionally and played with his own trio band throughout Panama.

After 20 years of service with the Panama Canal Zone, he immigrated to the United States in 1965. In New York City, he worked on Wall Street for the Moore McCormack Steamship Company, Dreyfuss Stock Exchange, and the Royal Globe Insurance Company. He retired from Royal Globe Insurance Company after 25 years of service. At the time of his retirement, he was working in the Computer Networks Department.

When he retired, Von resumed his music career. He began playing for big Latin bands like Machito, Joe Valle, Vicentico Alarez, and the Oriental Cubana. However, he eventually retired from his musical career and returned to the business work. Presently, he works for Amsco School Publications as a senior accounts receivable clerk.

Von has a remarkable spirit of giving and caring. He is a respectable and gentle individual. He will lend a helping hand to anyone in need. It is often said about Von that ``to know him is to love him.'' He is a member of Community Board 13 in Queens, a member of St. Clare's Catholic Church, and a proud member for Congressman Towns' constituent support group.

Von is married to Teresa Johnson-Hunt, and they are the proud parents of five children and six grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, Von R. Hunt is committed to assisting his fellow community members. 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 Rita Dave in recognition of her dedication to improving the human rights in her community and throughout the world, especially among immigrant populations.

Rita immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was 7 years old. Pursuing her goal to become a lawyer, she received her Juris Doctor Degree from New York Law School, and was admitted to practice in the State of New York in 1992.

Throughout her personal and professional life, Rita has been deeply affected by the plight of immigrants in the United States. In addition to representing mortgage lenders in her current practice, she works extensively on pro bono projects involving immigrant issues. She has worked together with local and national human rights organizations to organize and mobilize grass roots activities opposing indefinite detention and incarceration of legal permanent residents. She has provided pro bono assistance to detainees across the United States by providing them with legal case law, advising them of their rights under immigration law, and providing assistance and support to their families.

Rita has also worked hard to bring to the attention of elected officials human and civil rights violations suffered by men and women during their detention. She works to expose and remedy these violations to ensure that our legal system remains fair and just. In recognition of her tenacity and empathy for the plight of immigrants, in 2003 she was appointed chairperson of the political action committee for the Federation of Indian Americans.

On the civil rights end, Ms. Dave has founded a non-profit organization devoted to helping men and women who are factually innocent of the crime for which they have been convicted and incarcerated. The group is called The Falsely Accused and Convicted Taking Steps, FACTS. FACTS reviews the case files of individuals who assert their factual innocence then assist them in overturning their convictions.

Rita lives with her husband and 9-year-old daughter in Mineola, NY.

Mr. Speaker, Rita Dave is committed to improving the lives of those in need and those who have suffered human and civil rights violations. 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 Grace (Sang Sook) Lee in recognition of her dedication to assisting Korean-Americans and troubled youths in her community.

Ms. Lee was born in Seoul, Korea. She was educated in many different schools, and earned a degree in chemistry from Sacred Hearts Women's University. She married Chong Hwun Lee in 1980 and moved to the United States. Ms. Lee and her husband have three daughters, Vivian, Marian, and Joan.

At the height of the Lees' success, they owned five dry cleaners in Manhattan. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse and they had to sell their home in Little Neck, NY. For some period of time, they had to move every two years. During this time, Grace was able to go to night school and earn a degree in counseling and conflict resolution.

Adapting to a new culture and struggling to establish a successful business made life during the 1980s arduous. The stress caused Grace to fall into depression. However, she used this low point in her life to search for the truth in her life that would uplift her. She realized that she could no longer live for herself, and in 1990, in the teachings of her Savior Jesus Christ, she gained a new awareness that she must serve others.

During this time, she met a Korean-American inmate, which altered her life dramatically. Since that moment, she has been diligently visiting Korean-American inmates in the greater New York Area. These experiences motivated her to focus on the problems of the youth in the Korean- American community. The Korean-American Youth Center in Flushing, NY, provided her with a vehicle to work with teenagers. Because her children were getting older, she had more time to pursue her concern for all of the young people in her community.

Using all of the experiences in her life, Grace created the Youth and Family Focus, a non-profit organization of which she is the executive officer. She runs the organization with the devoted help of a few volunteers. Youth and Family Focus believes that intervention with teenagers is the best way to affect their lives positively. The organization is a youth oriented program that offers many services to the community including parent-child counseling, education programs for Korean American parents, a G.E.D. program, mentoring for teens, retreats for teenagers, and a prison ministry.

Ms. Lee's devotion and dedicated work with Youth and Family Focus have made this group an effective organization. Its success is reflected by the high regard it has within the Korean-American communities across the United States. Success is further reflected by the requests it receives from the judicial system, school system, and families for assistance with Korean American Youth.

Mr. Speaker, Grace (Sang Sook) Lee is committed to improving the lives of Korean-Americans and troubled youths. 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 woman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of John L. English in recognition of his successful business which has brought stability to his community, and for his overall efforts to improve the quality of life in his community.

John's contracting company is based at 2060 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York. He started Central Mechanical in 1976 and relocated to the current address in 1984. He has been an owner-operator in his community for 19 years. Since John's father and grandfather were steamfitters by trade, it was natural for him to become involved in the pipefitting industry. He is both a contractor and a developer. His day- to-day function is the operation of Central Mechanical. Central Mechanical's prime business is the completion of government heating and air conditioning contracts. He has also built 25 homes and 20 condominiums in the past 10 years.

John is active in the community as well. He lends support to a local church, the House of Hope. In addition to being a place of worship, the House of Hope runs a homeless shelter for people who have nowhere else to turn. John is very thankful for what he has accomplished and he looks forward to a long, prosperous, and continuing active presence in Brooklyn. However, most important has been John's successful marriage of 26 years to his wife Trina. They have four children ages 11 through 24.

Mr. Speaker, John L. English is committed to his community through his business endeavors and his work at his local church. 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 today to recognize the life of Sallie Slaughter-Gardner. I believe that it is fitting for public officials to celebrate those individuals whose life story can serve as a model for us all.

Mr. Speaker, Sallie Slaughter-Gardner was born on February 26, 1916, in an era very different than the one to which we are accustomed. Because her family needed Sallie to work in the cotton fields, she was not afforded the opportunity to complete a formal education. She was, however, blessed with a pleasant disposition, a commitment to her family, and a devotion to her community.

On January 23, 1932, Sallie was united in Holy Matrimony to Dozier Gardner. After the birth of her first child, Willie Clifford, the Gardner family emigrated from her birthplace of Buena Vista, Georgia to Brooklyn, New York, an area I am now privileged to represent in the United States Congress. ``Aunt Sallie,'' as she was affectionately known, quickly adapted to her new surroundings, and, during the historical African American migration to the North, Sallie opened her home to the needy, providing hot meals, shelter, and good will to all.

Sallie Slaughter-Gardner made her family and her church the focus of her life. Sallie began her Christian walk in the Baptist Church. Later, she joined the Evergreen Church of God in Christ, where she accepted Christ as her Personal Savior under the leadership of Elder Eugene Williams, the founder of the Church. Sallie was a member of the hospitality club, the mother's board, and was president of the usher board of the church. Her sumptuous apple and sweet potato pies became mainstays among the congregation, and indeed, she was known for her generosity and kind heart. Until her death at the age of eighty-six, Sallie guided parishioners to their seat and imbued them with her warmth.

Sallie was known as a spiritual lady with a heart of gold. Her sweet disposition was most clearly demonstrated when she cared for a neighbor stricken with a crippling illness. Her neighbor, bitter over her ailment, alienated all who attempted to care for her. But Sallie was not deterred and she cooked, cleaned, and cared for this woman.

Mr. Speaker, as part of the Evergreen Church of God in Christ's 58th Church Anniversary, the Church is in the process of memorializing this incredible individual. Sallie always said ``Let my life speak for me.''

Mr. Speaker, her life truly speaks volumes to us and shows us the kind of conduct befitting all of God's children.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Elvis Hernandez in recognition of his outstanding accomplishment in this year's 75th Precinct Council Spelling Bee competition.

Elvis is currently in the fifth grade at Blessed Sacrament in Brooklyn, New York. He finished in first place in the spelling bee.

Mr. Speaker, Elvis Hernandez has demonstrated that he is committed to his academic studies and is an excellent speller. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring him and his accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Alajandra Pena in recognition of her outstanding accomplishment in this year's 75th Precinct Council Spelling Bee competition.

Alajandra is currently in the fifth grade at P.S. 72 in Brooklyn, New York. She received a second place award in the spelling bee.

Mr. Speaker, Alajandra Pena has demonstrated that she is committed to her academic studies and is an excellent speller. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring her and her accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Dennis Cooper in recognition of his outstanding accomplishment in this year's 75th Precinct Council Spelling Bee competition.

Dennis is currently in the fifth grade at P.S. 306 in Brooklyn, New York. He received a third place award in the spelling bee.

Mr. Speaker, Dennis Cooper has demonstrated that he is committed to his academic studies and is an excellent speller. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring him and his accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following article for the Record.

[From the Washington Post, June 5, 2003]

The Binge Isn't Over For Diller

(By Leslie Walker)

Barry Diller may prove Woody Allen was right when he said

80 percent of success is showing up.

The onetime Hollywood mogul first got into electronic

commerce more than a decade ago, never left and may end up

being one of its biggest successes. It was 1993, soon after

he entered the television home-shopping business, that he

started extolling the convenience of ``buying underwear in

your underwear.''

When the real electronic commerce wave arrived on personal

computers instead of television, Diller regrouped and started

buying Internet ventures. Yet except for his failed $18

billion bid to buy the Lycos Web portal in 1999, Diller has

remained largely known as an entertainment and media

executive, and his online escapades have attracted little

attention.

Until now. The digerati are finally taking notice of

Diller's online empire since his conglomerate, USA

Interactive (USAI), announced a recent string of takeovers

that are transforming it into one of the Internet's

superpowers. Diller's moves are part of a consolidation wave

gaining speed in the high-tech sector, where start-ups are

still struggling to overcome depressed stock prices and an

oversupply of goods and services.

``We want to be the largest and most profitable e-commerce

company utilizing multiple brands,'' Diller, chief executive

of USAI, declared in an interview this week. (Diller is a

director of The Washington Post Co.)

Diller's recent acquisitions appear to reflect a shift

toward more direct forms of commerce online, where new

commercial matchmakers that could bypass traditional forms of

advertising are catching on.

First, a look at Diller's march across the Web: Since early

last year, USA Interactive has announced it will acquire

LendingTree Inc., which pairs home buyers with lenders and

real estate agents online; travel agent Expedia Inc., which

lets consumers make travel reservations online; British

UDate.com, an online personals site; the outstanding shares

of Hotels.com, an online provider of discount lodging

bookings; and the remaining shares of Ticketmaster, the

electronic ticketing agency in which USAI first took a 50

percent stake back in 1997.

Also in the past year, Diller's company snapped up a string

of offline travel-related companies, including the

Entertainment discount-coupon book, the vacation exchange

network Interval International and Britain's TV Travel Group.

USAI already owned various ``back office'' services, thanks

to acquisitions made a few years ago. In 1999, for example,

it bought one of the world's biggest customer call-center

operations, Precision Response Corp., which also conducts

e-mail marketing campaigns and database services. And, of

course, USAI still owns the Home Shopping Network.

As a result of its takeovers, USA Interactive appears

poised to take in more than $6 billion in revenue this year--

more than Amazon.com, eBay, Yahoo or any other Internet firm

except America Online.

Diller said that his Internet binge is not over. He intends

to buy more Net gems and hinted that LendingTree points in

the direction he is headed. (Think financial services.) Some

analysts worry that the LendingTree deal, a stock swap valued

at roughly $700 million, may be inflated because the home

refinancing wave caused a temporary spurt in its business.

But Diller discounts such talk. ``We couldn't care less what

happens in the very, very, very near term,'' he told analysts

when he announced the deal last month. ``What we care about

is that we've bought the right business in the right

category.''

Still, his company seems to garner more dollars than

respect, perhaps because it resembles a giant Internet puzzle

with the pieces not yet snapped into place. That may explain

why Diller said this week he is flirting with changing the

name of his company again. USAI has gone by at least five

names in the past, none too memorable. The latest moniker

makeover came last year when it sold off its cable TV

channels and replaced ``Networks'' in ``USA Networks'' with

``Interactive'' to focus more on electronic commerce.

Diller said the company's current mission is to act as a

``middleman'' between supply and demand in interactive

commerce, making it more like eBay than retailer Amazon.com.

Like eBay, USAI's companies typically take commissions for

matching buyers and sellers. They hold little or no

inventory, which lowers their costs and potentially boosts

profit margins.

EBay mostly auctions used goods but is aggressively

courting sellers of new merchandise as part of its avowed bid

to become ``the world's marketplace.'' While analysts think

this could make it a head-to-head competitor with USAI,

Diller doesn't see it that way. He said he doubts eBay will

succeed in becoming the world's marketplace: ``They are not

going to make the transition in every category to a fixed-

price model,'' he predicted, ``and will be predominantly

based in peer-to-peer auctions.''

Time will tell how much advantage can be gained from

lumping together different Internet entities or ``multiple

brands'' online. But for starters, there should be savings

from no longer having to run five separate public accounting

operations for LendingTree, Expedia, Hotels.com, Ticketmaster

and USA Interactive, all of which have been trading under

separate stock symbols. After buying a controlling stake in

Expedia from Microsoft Corp. last

summer, USAI declared its intention to buy the outstanding

shares of its key subsidiaries. Expedia and Hotels.com

resisted briefly but yielded this spring.

Soon USAI will introduce loyalty incentive programs for

people using its various e-commerce services. Diller said the

first incarnation, perhaps points-based rewards, will debut

later this year or early next. He added that he has no plans

to create an overarching Internet network with a ``single

sign-on'' for users of USAI sites, such as AOL attempted with

its Web properties and Time Warner did with its original

magazine sites at the ill-fated Pathfinder.com.

``We do not believe in unnatural synergies, and we don't

have one totalitarian brand,'' Diller said. ``We only want to

make relationships where natural law dictates they make

sense.''

AOL and Time Warner, of course, hyped ``synergies'' among

their many brands when the two companies merged three years

ago. Diller said the big lesson he learned from watching that

merger flop was not to shortchange his Internet products but

to keep improving them. ``They took care of everything but

the product itself and paid a terrible price for it,'' Diller

said of AOL.

But USAI will exploit natural connections, he added, such

as cross-linking among its Web sites and pursuing other

cross-marketing opportunities. For instance, Evite.com, a

free invitation service owned by USAI, already rotates banner

ads on its online personals site, Match.com, and the

Entertainment book. You can imagine its Citysearch's online

city guides linking prominently to LendingTree's real estate

service, or Hotels.com offering local event tickets from

Ticketmaster when people book rooms.

Whatever Diller winds up calling his many-headed Internet

beast, it's a good bet it will grow up to be one of the

surviving giants of the dot-corn jungle.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Dr. Oluyemi O. Badero, in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in the field of medicine.

Dr. Badero was born in Nigeria. Four years after completing medical school in Nigeria, he came to the United States in 1988. Dr. Badero, who is a U.S. citizen, received his internship and residency training in internal medicine at SUNY Downstate-Kings County Hospitals in Brooklyn, New York where he also served as chief resident, a prestigious position.

He completed three separate fellowship training programs in critical care medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology, the latter at the Yale University Program in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Dr. Badero is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. He is one of a very few African- American specialists in his field. In fact in February 2003, The Network Journal, named Dr. Badero as one of the top black doctors for cardiology based on his experience, expertise and bedside manner.

Having completed an unprecedented nine consecutive years of post- graduate training, Dr. Badero is a highly regarded expert in cardiology. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and an active member of several other professional organizations.

Dr. Badero has been widely published on a wide range of medical topics and has won numerous awards for his accomplishments. He currently serves as the Associate Chief of Cardiology and Associate Director of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Interfaith Medical Center, the Director of the Cardiology Clinic at Kings County Hospital, director of Cardiac Screening Clinic and Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at SUNY Health Science Center. All of these medical institutions are located in Brooklyn, New York.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Oluyemi O. Badero has reached the highest levels of medicine in our country, all the way from Nigeria, and he has used his expertise to improve the lives of his 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.