Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise on this, the fifth anniversary of the American Legacy Foundation, to recognize the tremendous strides this organization has made in improving the health of millions of Americans. Through its various programs such as Circle of Friends, Great Start, and Priority Population, as well as its Truth Campaign, the Foundation has played a tremendous role in promoting both the cessation and the prevention of tobacco use in our country. As the largest youth smoking prevention campaign in the United States, the Truth Campaign in particular has been cited as a factor in the current 28-year low in youth smoking rates.

Smoking costs our society not only in the lives lost but also in the billions of dollars spent on related health care. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in our country, killing 440,000 people each year, and exposes thousands of children to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. I strongly hope that the American Legacy Foundation will continue to receive the Federal funding it needs in order to carry out its campaign for a tobacco-free nation. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to recognize the American Legacy Foundation for its ongoing contributions to the health of our great nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud recognition of the 183rd anniversary of Greek Independence. This special day for Greece commemorates the strength and determination of its people to restore their democratic roots and identity.

The political philosophies of both the United States and Greece have been challenged by oppressive powers, and both nations have proudly defended their right to self-government and individual freedoms. After showing a desire to be free from the Ottoman Empire in 1821, Greece endured eleven long years of war to succeed in gaining independence. American and Hellenic cultures greatly respect their tradition of independence and recognize the importance of democratic principles.

The United States and Greece have always enjoyed a friendship and alliance in international and cultural endeavors. Hellenic principles resonate in our culture and politics, since the United States was founded on the principles of democracy developed thousands of years ago in the city-states of ancient Greece. The beauty of Greek architecture can even be found while taking a walk through our beloved Capitol building. Likewise, our country's influence on Greece can be seen in their first Constitution, which was based on our Declaration of Independence and the principles behind the American Revolution.

On a cultural level, I am looking forward to this summer and the homecoming of the Olympic Games to Athens. Since Greece resurrected the Olympics in 1896, they have symbolized peace and excellence for people around the world. The Olympics show that great athletic skill and spirited competition can bring nations together despite their differences. Greece will undoubtedly serve as a gracious host of the Games, and the 25th Summer Olympics will prove again to the

world how Hellenic ideals such as equality and friendship have stood the test of time and continue to flourish at a global level. Hellenic culture, whether through its development of democratic government or its espousal of friendly competition, encourages people to come together amicably even during the most difficult of times.

Mr. Speaker, it would be hard to imagine a United States of America, or even the world, without the great contributions from Greece. I will continue to work in Congress to support Hellenic causes and our strong and important alliance. I would like to join my colleagues in congratulating Greece on the anniversary of its independence.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating this anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, proudly rise today to congratulate Kristin Klenk, a science teacher from South Kingstown High School in the second Congressional District of Rhode Island. Ms. Klenk, a resident of Hope Valley, has been awarded the 2003 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Since 1983, the National Science Foundation has administered this award to exemplary math and science teachers, nominated from all 50 states and four U.S. jurisdictions. Recipients are selected and recognized for leadership in the field of mathematics and science and serve as role models for their colleagues. Ms. Klenk, known for her hands-on teaching of science and active engagement of her South Kingstown High School students, has now been recognized as one of the best teachers in this country. For her dedication to teaching science to America's children and her service to Rhode Island, I thank Kristin Klenk and congratulate her on receiving this prestigious award.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my Special Order at this time.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in response to Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's recent remarks about the role of housing-related government-sponsored entities, otherwise known as GSEs, and our economy.

A day before Chairman Greenspan's controversial testimony regarding Social Security, his comments on a different issue caught my attention. While testifying before the Senate Banking Committee on February 24, he mentioned that the two largest housing GSEs, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have grown so large that they could threaten the foundation of the entire United States economy if risks are not properly managed. I know that Chairman Greenspan is normally reserved in discussing financial markets because he understands the power that his words hold with investors. Therefore, his assessment of the GSE situation alarmed me.

Greenspan's comments brought back painful memories of the 1990 Rhode Island banking crisis when fraud at the private deposit insurer resulted in the temporary closing of 45 financial institutions and the freezing of $1.7 billion in customer deposits. Due to negligence and mismanagement, Rhode Islanders could not touch their assets for up to 36 days before the banks reopened, making it impossible for many families to pay their mortgages or rent, or to even buy food. The thought that more than a decade later, a similar crisis on a much broader scale could occur is cause for great concern.

Greenspan fears that many investors are under the false impression that GSEs are backed up by the full faith and credit of the United States. Well, because of this incorrect assumption, investors believe they can accept higher risks because the government will bail out GSEs if they are insolvent or default, as occurred in the 1980s. As Greenspan noted, GSEs now stand behind more than $4 trillion of mortgages, and the government can ill afford such a bailout in the wake of a housing crisis or corporate mismanagement.

It appears as though the increased risks the GSEs have been taking on is not related to their primary operation of purchasing affordable housing loans in the secondary market. Rather, much of their risk comes from derivative investments in an effort to maximize profits for shareholders. Now, as we learned from Enron, complex derivative schemes may boost profits in the short term, but the long-run risks can be too difficult to manage.

Congress needs to approach this issue very seriously and take appropriate corrective steps before it is too late. It is essential that we ensure that GSEs better manage risks without hampering their mission, which is to expand opportunities for home ownership and affordable rental housing. Among the options being discussed, we should be aware that if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are privatized or if debt caps limit the amount of mortgages that can be acquired, affordable housing is likely to be hurt the most because it is the least profitable part of the GSE business. Now, in addition, limited mortgage financing for home buyers could negatively affect the housing market by stunning growth.

In light of past financial problems and Greenspan's comments, I believe Congress should begin by considering oversight from an independent regulator with housing expertise. A strong regulator with a background in housing will ensure that home ownership opportunities continue to grow, while guarding against the potential of an Enron-like collapse that could devastate the United States' economy.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in Congress to give this issue their immediate attention. We must act prudently and look at a range of options to ensure the solvency of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. We need to guarantee the mission of the GSEs is not compromised but, at the same time, ensure proper oversight and ethical behavior. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must continue to bring the American dream to as many people as possible while we strive to reduce the risk of fraud of a GSE derailing the United States economy.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues to address this important issue before it is too late.

I would like to thank the ranking member for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, like my colleagues on the House Committee on Armed Services, I have been pleased to provide our troops with the support and the equipment that they need to succeed in their mission, and I have had the privilege of traveling to Iraq to meet with some of them personally. I am so proud of the job that they are doing. God bless them. Iraq's transition to democracy and the ongoing war on terrorism will pose new challenges for our men and women in uniform, but they may take comfort in the knowledge that this Congress stands behind them.

Yet despite the fact that every Member of this Chamber supports our troops, this resolution was prepared with no input from Democrats. Just as the administration has adopted a ``go it alone'' strategy on numerous foreign policy initiatives, the House leadership has done the exact same thing when drafting legislation. This resolution could have and should have been prepared with bipartisan input. I am disappointed that inappropriate tactics have overshadowed the unanimity we share in support of our Armed Forces.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate March 2, 2004 as National Sportsmanship Day.

National Sportsmanship Day is based on the belief that athletic competition will teach students, coaches, and parents valuable lessons that are useful on and off the athletic field. A study conducted by Michigan State University in the 1990s found that 14 million of the 20 million American children who participate in organized sports drop out by age 13, mostly because their parents' attitudes take the fun out of playing the games. Recent news stories of fights among and between officials and parents and the pressure parents place on their young children to ``win at any cost'' highlight the importance of sportsmanship.

National Sportsmanship Day serves as an opportunity for athletes and sports fans of all ages to recognize and discuss the need for ethics, fair play and sportsmanship. This year, more than 12,000 elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as colleges and universities in all 50 states and more than 125 countries, are participating in the fourteenth annual celebration of the personal ethics and hard work of athletes.

Each year, the Institute for International Sport, based in Rhode Island's Second District, recognizes individuals who exemplify ethics and sportsmanship in both their professional and personal endeavors by naming them as Sports Ethics Fellows on National Sportsmanship Day.

The 2004 Sports Ethics Fellows represent a range of athletes, coaches, and administrators as diverse as those who enjoy sports. Each one of the Fellows is a tribute to his or her game, and their skills are only surpassed by their desire to play fairly. Their strong character and great talent make them each a role model to current and future generations of athletes.

This year's list of fellows consists of the following athletes, coaches, and administrators:

Wayne Bryan--Tennis; Bill Buckner--Professional Baseball; Patti Dillon--Marathon Winner; Chris Drury--Professional Hockey; Jennie Finch--Softball; Karen Finocchio--Head Coach of the Brown University Men's

and Women's Ski Teams; Kristine Lilly--Professional Soccer; Chuck Mitrano--Empire 8 Commissioner; Jamie Moyer--Professional Baseball; Michael Phelps--Swimming; Christine Plonsky--Athletics Director, University of Texas; Chanda Rubin--Tennis; and Lynn Schweizer-- Associate Director of Athletics, Denison University.

I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating National Sportsmanship Day, and I hope that continued recognition will help our country become more active, ethical, and team-oriented. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the students of Cranston High School West for their incredible devotion to combating hunger in the State of Rhode Island. The Student Council decided this school year to once again participate in ``The Feinstein Youth Hunger Brigade Program.'' This State-wide program encourages school-children to collect non-perishable food items, distribute them to a local agency, and raise awareness of the problem of hunger in their community.

The students of Cranston High School West have decided to collect food items for the Comprehensive Community Action Program for the second consecutive year. This worthy program assists between 500 and 600 families in immediate crisis in the Cranston community. The students at Cranston West raised money at football games, held food drives in their homerooms, and bought non-perishable food items. They even started a newsletter to illustrate their efforts and increase awareness of hunger. Their December donation to the Comprehensive Community Action Program, totaling 2,258 items, nearly doubled the largest donation from the previous year. For their dedication to combating hunger in their own community, I commend the students of Cranston High School West and wish them great success in providing an equally impressive donation in April.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner) for hosting his important Special Order today. As we mark the 1-year anniversary of the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, it is a time to both recognize successes and acknowledge failures. There is no more important issue facing Congress today and the administration than protecting the freedom and security of the American people. In fact, the preamble to our Constitution makes providing for the common defense the first responsibility of Congress.

Improving the safety of our citizens at home must be undertaken just as aggressively as pursuing terrorists abroad. I want to express my deepest appreciation to all those who have taken on this task, from the nearly 200,000 employees of DHS working in every sector in every State, to the dedicated and courageous first responders in all of our communities. We owe you a great debt of thanks and gratitude for your hard work. While it is true there is much still to be done, I know that these great Americans are up to the challenge.

Every day we ask our firefighters, police, and other emergency personnel to put their lives on the line; and since September 11, the burdens on these men and women have only grown. They need our support to keep America safe. With dozens of States experiencing their worst fiscal crisis since World War II, combined with the activation of thousands of Guard and Reserve members, first responders are more desperate than ever for Federal assistance. They are short on the most basic needs, including personnel, overtime, and equipment.

The Department of Homeland Security needs significantly more resources in order to get state-of-the-art training and equipment to our front line of first responders, along with national standards of future purchases and practices, so that all of our personnel are operating capably and consistently. In addition, we must ensure our law enforcement agencies are properly equipped to share information and coordinate activities so threats that cross jurisdictional lines can be adequately addressed.

One critical component of this goal is providing the communications equipment and infrastructure necessary for first responders to take effective and coordinated action.

Interoperable telecommunications technology exists today at an affordable price, but we must provide the funding and leadership to ensure it is deployed without delay.

Information must also flow more smoothly between Federal agencies and the State and local personnel who are the first to respond to an emergency. Unfortunately, at present, resources are being allocated and priorities are being set in the absence of a reliable threat assessment that can be mapped against existing vulnerabilities. State and local responders are operating without the benefit of current, specific intelligence and most lack the clearance or physical means to receive classified information even when it is available. We need to clarify the information-sharing responsibilities within our Intelligence Community and ensure that those who need this information receive it in a timely and beneficial manner.

Furthermore, we continue to face serious vulnerabilities at our ports, borders, and nuclear and chemical facilities and other critical infrastructure. While our airports are significantly safer due to increased passenger and baggage screening, passengers and crew are still at risk from the cargo traveling on these planes.

DHS should also deploy technology like remote sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles to secure every mile of our land border. We need to station Customs inspectors at high-risk ports abroad, increase accountability for companies shipping goods to this country, and deploy systems to track every ship and container entering a U.S. port.

DHS must ensure the highest levels of security at nuclear and chemical facilities, which means requiring the private sector to act as an equal partner in critical infrastructure security.

Finally, as we endeavor to identify threats before they become real dangers, we must be ever vigilant of defending the civil liberties of our citizens. Protecting the homeland does not need to run counter to protecting privacy and freedom. We should make sure that intelligence tools are used judiciously, and we must work always toward a balance that ensures both security and liberty.

The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner), the ranking member, this week led Democrats on the Select Committee on Homeland Security in unveiling a report entitled America at Risk: Closing the Security Gap, and I was proud to join him in that effort. This important and comprehensive report details many of the remaining shortfalls in our homeland security defense efforts and, more importantly, offers substantive proposals for addressing them. I want to commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner), the ranking member, for his leadership on this report. I hope this report will serve as a catalyst for bipartisan action, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to address this most important issue.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation has come a great distance since September 11, but we stop now at our own peril. We must act quickly to address the problems that remain and provide safe and secure communities for all of our citizens.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express my disappointment with Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan's remarks to the House Budget Committee regarding Social Security.

In his testimony, Chairman Greenspan suggests that possible remedies for the record deficits and $7 trillion debt include increasing the Social Security retirement age and cutting benefits for future recipients.

I want my constituents to know that I will not support any proposal to decrease or eliminate Social Security, nor will I support an increase in the retirement age. Social Security is an entitlement--a right--for the millions of Americans who pay into the program with each and every paycheck. The government has made a commitment to seniors and current workers alike that Social Security will be available upon retirement. We cannot go back on our word.

In Rhode Island, Social Security provides a vital lifeline for a significant percentage of the population. Rhode Island ranks fifth in the nation for the percentage of residents over 75 and sixth in the nation for those over 65. In my district alone, 110,000 people rely on Social Security for their livelihood, and its importance will continue to grow as the baby boom generation begins to retire. Rhode Islanders spend their lives contributing to the vitality of our communities and our country--and paying into Social Security. They are entitled to the benefits they have earned and should not have to worry about whether Social Security will continue to be there when they need it.

Chairman Greenspan is right about one point: this country needs a ``greater discipline''

on budgetary matters. I believe that discipline must come from the White House. Congress can no longer afford runaway tax cuts and corporate welfare while neglecting long-term fiscal solvency and current priorities like health care and education.

What Chairman Greenspan neglected to state was that the President's reckless disregard for fiscal responsibility led to a $521 billion deficit in FY 2004. When President Bush took office in 2001, he inherited a projected $5.6 trillion surplus over ten years. Just three short years later, we have a projected $1.9 trillion deficit, a shocking turnaround. While the President was dealt a difficult hand with a recession and the attacks of September 11, many of the fiscal woes are a result of repeated tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest Americans. Our promise to seniors has been bypassed in order to line the pockets of the President's wealthy friends.

Every man, woman, and child in Rhode Island and around the country would owe more than $24,000 if we were to erase the national debt today. Due to increasing deficits, this amount is only going to increase until we take serious steps to cut wasteful government spending and collect the revenue to meet America's priorities and promises. Baby boomers will challenge the Social Security system, but through responsible fiscal policy, the government will be able to keep this program afloat.

Ensuring the solvency is not the task of one person or one party. Saving Social Security will require difficult decisions, but we cannot play politics with Americans' futures. More than anything, we need an Administration that respects fiscal responsibility and recognizes that in a time of war and recession, we should not be giving trillion-dollar tax cuts to the most privileged Americans. I urge my colleagues to reject Chairman Greenspan's calls to cut benefits to our nation's seniors and instead work to restore fiscal responsibility to our government.

Mr. Speaker, on February 3 and February 4, I was in Rhode Island performing official duties. I would like the Record to show that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Roll Call Nos. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18.

Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sorrow that I rise to recognize the loss of a soldier in Iraq, a Rhode Island citizen who served with dignity and honor. I join the people of Rhode Island in mourning this great loss.

On Tuesday, January 27, U.S. Army Captain Matthew J. August was killed in Khalidiyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device exploded next to his convoy. Captain August was commander of B Company, 1st Engineer Battalion out of Fort Riley, Kansas. A resident of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Capt. August graduated in 1993 from Bishop Hendricken High School--my alma mater--and then further distinguished himself as a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1997. It was at West Point that he met his wife, Captain Maureen August, who also served in Iraq in the 1st Armored Division.

Last week, I was honored to join Captain August's wife, his parents, Donna and Richard August, his older brother Mark, his younger sister Melanie, and other family and friends at a memorial service in Rhode Island. Those who knew him well spoke highly of his kindness, his commitment to his wife and family, and his patriotism and love of service. He was described as a natural leader who earned the respect of all those he encountered.

This loss causes us to reflect on the bravery demonstrated by our men and women in uniform as they carry out their obligations in the face of danger. When their Nation called them to duty to preserve freedom, liberty and the security of their neighbors, they answered without hesitation. We remember those who have fallen not only as soldiers, but also as

patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. May we keep their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers as they struggle to endure this difficult period and mourn the heroes America has lost.

We will continue to hope for the safe and speedy return of all of our troops serving throughout the world.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to congratulate Mr. Bush Chaudhary of Providence, Rhode Island on his receipt of the prestigious Ambassadors for Peace Award. The Ambassadors for Peace Award is bestowed upon 50 outstanding American and other international leaders for exemplary service in the arena of interfaith reconciliation and cooperation amongst Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Mr. Chaudhary will be presented with the award at a ceremony on the 4th of February 2004.

As the founding President of the India Museum Heritage Society, Mr. Chaudhary has played a tremendous role in fostering interfaith tolerance in his community. As the past President of both the India Association of Rhode Island and the American Freedom Coalition, Mr. Chaudhary has served as a community leader for over 25 years.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I hope our colleagues will join me in congratulating Bush Chaudhary for his achievement, and I wish him great success in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. Chairman, in my home State of Rhode Island, and throughout the country, Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds play a critical role in food and clothing assistance for low-income families, access to quality child care and other programs to help families and individuals achieve self-sufficiency and find and retain meaningful employment. Support from such programs makes it possible for many adults to overcome the challenges of poverty, return to the workforce, provide for their children, and keep their families together.

Because I believe in the mission of the CSBG, to combat poverty in meaningful, measurable ways, I strongly support the amendment offered by Representative George Miller to H.R. 3030. The Miller amendment, which would authorize a 6-month extension of unemployment benefits, promotes the antipoverty mission of the CSBG. Rhode Island's unemployment rate is near a 7-year high, and thousands of jobs have been lost over the last 3 years. I have heard from many of my constituents who have lost their regular unemployment benefits and are on the verge of selling their car or home just to provide food for their families. The President proclaimed that the economy is improving, but the paltry 1,000 jobs created in December 2003 are not nearly enough to keep up with those who wish to enter the job market. Until real job creation occurs, we must help those who wish to enter the job market. Until real job creation occurs, we must help those that are left behind by providing additional unemployment benefits.

Finally, I urge my colleagues to preserve these critical programs as we reauthorize the CSBG and to guarantee that employees of CSBG-funded organizations are not subject to employment discrimination. The Woolsey amendment will allow religious organizations to continue to participate equally in CSBG programs, while ensuring that organizations receiving these Federal funds do not engage in employment discrimination based on religion. I urge my colleagues to support the Woolsey amendment and recognize that discrimination in hiring in federal funded programs is fundamentally wrong.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the New England Patriots on their thrilling victory in Super Bowl XXXVIII. In a season of tremendous adversity marked by difficult early-season losses and numerous injuries, this team displayed the values of hardwork and determination that so epitomize the region from which they hail. After beginning their season with a heart-breaking defeat at the hands of the intra-division rival Buffalo Bills, the Patriots went on to win all but one of their next fifteen games, including a franchise-record twelve- game winning streak. Ignoring the seemingly relentless skeptics, the Patriots defeated a hard-nosed Tennessee Titan team and halted the high-octane Indianapolis Colts to gain a spot on the world's biggest stage in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

One again relying on the leadership of quarterback Tom Brady and the steady foot of kicker Adam Vinatieri for last-second heroics, the Patriots defeated a stubborn Carolina Panther team to earn their second Super Bowl victory in the past three years. Abiding by the values of teamwork and perseverance instilled by head coach Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots are an example to all Americans of what it means to be a true champion. In addition, I would particularly like to congratulate Mike Cloud, a resident of Rhode Island, on being part of a team that makes all of New England proud.

I hope our colleagues will join me in congratulating the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.