Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the Hellenic Caucus, I rise today to recognize the 43d anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Cyprus. On this important day, I join the Greek Cypriots in celebrating their freedom from Great Britain in 1960.

Over 43 years, the Republic of Cyprus has overcome hardships to become a steadfast and committed democracy on the threshold of joining the European Union in 2004. Unfortunately, since a Turkish invasion in 1974, the island remains divided between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots despite attempts by the United Nations for a reunification settlement. Shortly after Cyprus agreed to join the European Union, the Turkish Cypriot authorities opened the borders and allowed Cypriots to cross over the line for the first time in 30 years. This past April was the first time that Cypriots from either side were able to travel through the 120-mile barrier, which continues to be guarded by U.N. peacekeeping forces.

A divided Cyprus also has the potential of blocking Turkey's bid to join the European Union, since its occupation of the northern part of Cyprus is illegal under international law. I urge the Turkish government to take steps toward uniting Cyprus and also put pressure on Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, who has fallen out of line with the wishes of his people. The majority of Turkish Cypriots want to have the equality and prosperity of their neighbors.

As the Republic of Cyprus has stood by the United States during its war on terrorism, we must continue to support negotiations so that all sides benefit from reunification. There is still potential for all of Cyprus to join the EU with continued support from the European Union and the United Nations. It may be a long road to mend the strains between Turkey and Greece, but reuniting Cyprus is an important step in the right direction.

Again, I celebrate this important day for the Republic of Cyprus.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the brave men and women of our armed services who are carrying out the mission to provide hope and freedom to the Iraqi people. I would also like to commend Representative Crowley for his leadership and advocacy for our men and women in uniform.

Like many of my colleagues, I am concerned with the increasing frequency and duration of Reserve component deployments. During the Cold War era, the Reserve components were a manpower pool that was rarely tapped. However, this resource has become increasingly important to our peacekeeping and counterterrorism missions. As a result, the demands placed on Guard and Reserve families are quickly growing. Not only do these families often have to adjust to life on much smaller salaries, they may have to worry about maintaining their health coverage. This situation is unacceptable, and we need to provide our Guard and Reserve with this coverage from the start so that the stresses of deployment are not compounded by worries about healthcare. I believe offering the guarantee of long-term health coverage would not only help the families of activated Guard and Reservists, but also increase recruitment and retention of some of our most valuable personnel.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I firmly believe that members of our National Guard and Reserve should have benefits commensurate with those of active duty forces. With the announcement that the Reserves' total commitments could now be in excess of a year in some circumstances, this problem must be remedied immediately, and if not by the Pentagon then by Congress. We place enough burdens on these families as it is, I want us to make every effort to remove at least this one. I urge my colleagues to support the Crowley motion to instruct.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor two restaurant operators in Rhode Island's second district that have been awarded the prestigious 2003 Restaurant Neighbor Award. The Coast Guard House Restaurant in Narragansett and Restaurant PROV/Atomic Catering in Providence were recently recognized by the National Restaurant Association for their remarkable community involvement in addition to their commitment to quality food. The current economic situation makes these generous contributions even more important, and Rhode Island restaurants and small businesses are stepping in to help. Seventy-eight restaurants from forty-three states earned the Restaurant Neighbor Award in 2003, and I am pleased that two were from my home state.

Every year, owner Deborah Kelso oversees the Coast Guard House's donations of more than $30,000 to community causes including the Rhode Island Food Bank, South County Hospital, Sisters of the Poor, Johnnycake Center, March of Dimes, and Seniors Helping Others. The main event over the last ten years has been the restaurant's lead sponsorship of Concerts on the Beach, the annual Rhode Island Philharmonic concert on the Narragansett Town Beach. The Coast Guard House hosts a pre-concert reception and fundraiser, which raises more than $10,000 to help offset the cost of the event. This concert provides 30,000 families an opportunity to enjoy beautiful music in an extraordinary setting.

Restaurant: PROV and Atomic Catering, both owned by Stoli Management, are equally deserving of this recognition. Thanksgiving at Restaurant: PROV is an annual tradition for many families. Every year, 1,000 low- income individuals who might not otherwise have a meal are treated to a free Thanksgiving celebration with all of the usual fixings. In addition, employees, led by Executive Chef/co-owner Kevin Millonzi, served more than 400 meals to relief workers, volunteers, and victims' families in the wake of the deadly fire at the Station nightclub in February 2003. Stoli Management also donates time and food to Chefs for Cystic Fibrosis, the annual Zoobilee, and Providence Fire Fighters.

Kelso and Millonzi's beliefs in volunteerism and giving back the community are applicable in their own lives as well as the way they run their restaurants. The commitment to giving of these two companies is an inspirational model, and I hope more businesses around the country follow their lead and contribute to their own communities.

Mr. Speaker. Today, I rise in support of H.R. 49, the Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act. This bill is the result of a bipartisan compromise to the benefit of consumers in Rhode Island and around the country.

H.R. 49 makes permanent the current moratorium on Internet access taxes, which was scheduled to expire on November 1, 2003. This moratorium, in effect since October 1998, has greatly contributed to the rapid expansion of the Internet.

For the second quarter of 2003, e-commerce accounted for only 1.5 percent of total goods and services sold in the country, but this is an increase of 28 percent from the previous year. By 2005, worldwide online sales are expected to total $8.6 trillion online, up from $3.6 trillion this year. This bill will maintain the United States' position as a leader in online commerce because H.R. 49 protects consumers from double taxation of online purchases, which would slow the growth of Internet sales.

I am pleased to see that the Judiciary Committee adopted the Watts- Cannon amendment, which ensures that all technologies, including traditional modem, cable modem, DSL, wireless, and future access methods, are subject to the same tax treatment. In addition, this bill ensures a nondiscriminatory tax system, which neither encourages nor discourages purchases online. The legislation is fair to existing brick and mortar businesses, while continuing to foster the expansion of e- commerce.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 49, this bipartisan legislation that benefits consumers and businesses.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Valerie Martelli, who was recently honored as the 2003 Rhode Island Small Business Person of the Year by the United States Small Business Administration. Ms. Martelli is the President of CME Consultants, a nationally accredited continuing medical education company headquartered in Wakefield, Rhode Island.

Ms. Martelli is a living example of the American dream, and she shows that through hard work and perseverance, success is attainable. Several years ago, Ms. Martelli was a single mother raising two children with the assistance of welfare and food stamps. Today, she is the head of a $1.5 million-a-year company in the midst of explosive growth.

After working in Rhode Island Hospital's Medical Education Department, Ms. Martelli learned that physicians, nurses, and other providers could not always attend continuing education courses at the times they were offered by hospitals and medical schools. Recognizing an opening, she founded CME Consultants, Inc. in 1994. CME Consultants provides continuing medical education classes through live conferences, teleconferences, CD-Rom courses, and over the Internet. In addition, courses are offered for pharmacists, physician assistants, and others. The company holds more than 5,000 conferences annually around the country.

The expansion of her business can be seen through the growth of her office space and employees. She started CME Consultants in a spare bedroom in her home. Later, she added staff and moved into a 2,000 square foot office. The company recently purchased a 3,500 square foot office as the headquarters for her nine employees.

As a member of several national and local organizations, Ms. Martelli is an active participant in her community, and her business serves the medical community to the benefit of patients nationwide.

Ms. Martelli joins a distinguished group of Rhode Islanders who have been named Small Business Person of the Year. Small businesses are key to economic growth in my home state, and I wish Ms. Martelli and the 33,000 other small business owners in Rhode Island great success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sorrow that I rise to recognize the loss of three soldiers in Iraq, all of whom served with dignity and honor and for whom the people of Rhode Island now mourn.

On Wednesday, August 27, U.S. Army Sergeant Gregory Belanger died after his vehicle was hit with an explosive device. A resident of Narragansett, Rhode Island, Sergeant Belanger was a member of the Army Reserves and served with the Headquarters Service Company, 325th Military Intelligence Battalion, which was deployed to Iraq in March. In addition to his service to his nation, Sgt. Belanger was known among his friends and family for his impressive culinary skills, having earned an associate's degree from Johnson & Wales University. I express my condolences to Sgt. Belanger's finacee Tara Woundy and his family in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

Additionally, two members of Rhode Island's 115th Military Policy Company were lost on

September 1, when their Humvee was hit by an improvised explosive device. Sergeant Charles Todd Caldwell of Attleboro, Massachusetts, and Staff Sergeant Joseph Camara of New Bedford, Massachusetts, had been deployed to Iraq in May and were conducting security operations along a main supply route at the time of the incident. A third Reservist, Specialist Edmund Aponte of Providence, was wounded in the attack, and we pray for his quick and fully recovery.

Staff Sergeant Camara, who commanded the three-person patrol unit, was a police officer in New Bedford and a 21-year veteran of the National Guard. In addition to his commitment to his police duties, Sgt. Camara will be remembered for his dedication to his wife, Anna, and his three children, Matthew, Angela, and Ashley.

Sergeant Caldwell, who worked as a senior financial investment specialist in Norwood, Massachusetts, served in the National Guard since 1997. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, whom he married shortly before his deployment.

These losses remind us of the bravery of our servicemembers 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 will remember them not only as soldiers, but also as patriots, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, as well as their families. 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 rise today to congratulate Lauren DiSano, who was selected to participate in the first-ever U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Health Fellows Environmental Health Fellows class. Ms. DiSano, a resident of Warwick, RI, earned a master's degree in Health Science in Environmental Health from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Ms. DiSano is one of only 10 public health professionals selected nationwide to work at an EPA research facility for a minimum of one year and address emerging public health needs from an environmental perspective. Ms. DiSano's focus will be Homeland Security projects dealing with public health and water utility issues. This opportunity will not only give Ms. DiSano a chance to make our country safer, but also to become a leader in her field. As a member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, I am particularly interested in the work she will be doing and hope she will keep us updated as her fellowship progresses.

Mr. Speaker, I hope our colleagues will join me in congratulating Lauren DiSano for her achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Michaud motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1 to reject the House-passed provision that would turn Medicare into a voucher program and to accept the Senate- passed provision requiring a government-sponsored fallback prescription drug benefit.

Like many of my colleagues, it has long been my top priority to be able to go back to my district and report to my senior citizens who rely on Medicare that Congress has provided a prescription drug benefit for them. Well, time and time again Congress has failed to pass meaningful legislation on this topic, placing the profit margins of drug manufacturers and insurance companies over the health and the lives of America's senior citizens.

Twice now I have voted against the Republicans' prescription drug legislation, not because I am unwilling to work within the framework of the budget situation and accept a drug benefit that is less than the dream package we could offer our seniors in a world without budget limitations. Rather, I voted against Medicare reform legislation that purports to help the elderly, but in reality it leaves the prescription drug plan in the hands of private insurers and undermines the entire health care system that 40 million American seniors rely on.

The House-passed legislation would force traditional Medicare to bid against private insurance plans beginning in 2010. Well, Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Rhode Island can tell you how dangerous this is. In 1999, the instability of the private market resulted in an HMO that insured 127,000 people in the State, Harvard Pilgrim, pulling out without any warning. The House-passed provision designed to induce seniors and people with disabilities to leave the traditional Medicare program and to enroll in private managed care plans will result in seniors having to find new plans to meet their needs, facing the possibility of higher premiums, new doctors, and a new set of co-pays and regulations every single year.

The House-passed privatization plan is the beginning of a spiral that will ultimately destroy the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program. Older, chronically-ill people who need the types of services offered by traditional Medicare will face escalating costs. As the premiums for traditional Medicare rise, the price tag will drive them into private plans, even though the data show that private plans are not good for the very old and chronically ill.

Mr. Speaker, both the House and the Senate plans have flaws. Most notably, neither plan takes the appropriate steps to lowering the prescription drug costs for Americans who pay up to 300 percent more for their medications than citizens in other industrialized nations. The reason for this price disparity is glaringly obvious, given that every other industrialized nation takes advantage of bulk purchasing power and negotiates lower prices on behalf of its citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to do the right thing and support the Michaud motion to instruct our conferees to work against the House- passed Medicare privatization provision and in favor of a government fallback plan for the prescription drug benefit. It is the right thing to do.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the city of Pawtucket, RI. The U.S. Conference of Mayors chose to profile Pawtucket as one of 28 cities exemplifying the nation's best small business practices. The city's Arts and Entertainment Initiative is an example of how government policies can encourage creativity, innovation, development and economic growth.

Pawtucket has been attractive to artists since Samuel Slater founded America's textile industry there in 1783. In 1998, Pawtucket created a 307-acre Arts and Entertainment District, which has gained nationwide recognition in four short years for being a great place to create and sell artwork.

The Pawtucket city government has encouraged artists to relocate by forgiving within the district sales tax for limited production works of art and state income tax for artists. In addition, studio space is available for one-third the rental rate of nearby Boston.

Mayor James Doyle has capitalized on the fact that artists fuel economic growth and has stated, ``Some say a picture is worth a thousand words. But here in our City, we know that it's worth a lot more.'' The Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program estimates that for every three artists that relocate to Pawtucket, an additional two jobs are generated in the state's economy. The Arts and Entertainment District is generating more than $1 million annually for the statewide economy.

I am proud that a city in my state of Rhode Island has earned this distinction, and I hope that other cities follow Pawtucket's lead and develop innovative small business practices to contribute to economic growth.

Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the Hellenic Caucus, I rise today to recognize the 29th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus. On this occasion, we mourn those who lost their lives and remember the barrier created in 1974 that still exists today. The island remains divided between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots, despite attempts by the United Nations for a reunification settlement. I thank Mrs. Maloney and Mr. Bilirakis for their ongoing leadership in the Hellenic Caucus and for bringing much-needed attention to issues of importance to the Hellenic community.

The European Union has invited Cyprus to enter its membership next May, and on July 14, 2003, the Greek Cypriot parliament unanimously approved the bid to join. At this point in time, only pertains to the Greek Cypriot part of the island, since the Turkish Cypriot part is not formally recognized by the European Union. Shortly after Cyprus agreed to join the European Union, the Turkish Cypriot authorities opened the borders and allowed Cypriots to cross over the line for the first time in 30 years. This past April was the first time that Cypriots from either side were able to travel through the 120-mile barrier, which continues to be guarded by U.N. peacekeeping forces, since the invasion in 1974. Despite this step forward, the nation remains divided.

Along with my colleagues, I will continue to put pressure on the Bush Administration to help Cyprus work toward a peaceful solution. Although relations between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides have recently thawed, there is still a long way to go to reunification. The U.N. settlement cleared a path for all of Cyprus to unite once again, to share in the European Union's prosperity, and to end military zones. Now with just the Republic of Cyprus poised for EU membership in 2004, the divide between the two sides may grow without a push for future negotiations.

Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot Leader, has proven to be the biggest hindrance to reunification talks. He has ignored the calls from the majority of his own people who want reunification, and would rather fight for a two-state confederation, which is not supported by the Greek Cypriots or the United Nations. He has even stood in the way of his people's democratic choice by not allowing them to take part in a referendum on the decision of whether or not to join the European Union. Elections for the Turkish Cypriot authorities are expected in November, and I hope the will of the Turkish Cypriots will be heard.

The U.S. must continue its role in supporting negotiations so that there is still potential for all of Cyprus to join the EU. It has been a long, hard road, but with support from the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, a reunification of Cyprus is still possible. We should heed the words of the Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulus on this special anniversary: ``we are determined to try, until the end, in a peaceful manner and through negotiations, to end the invasion and occupation. The people should be brave, patient, and work hard.''

Mr. Chairman, today I rise in opposition to the so- called School Readiness Act, H.R. 2210. Currently, Head Start provides services to our most vulnerable population, children born into families who live below the poverty line. Head Start reaches those children. It reaches their families and does tremendous work in providing them with access to health services, teaching parenting skills, and preparing young children to overcome the obstacles related to poverty and enter kindergarten with a fighting chance.

Title II of H.R. 2210 strips Head Start programs of oversight and accountability measures. The already-vulnerable children served by Head Start will undoubtedly be left behind. Many indicators of the difference this program has made in children's lives are quite measurable, and we can prove that Head Start works. Add to that the immeasurable value of breaking the cycle of poverty, and I am at an utter loss to comprehend why the Republican leadership insists on this seriously flawed bill.

Mr. Chairman, in the spirit of preserving a program that works wonders, I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 2210.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2427, the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act. We know that Americans pay 30 to 300 percent more for their medications than those in other industrialized nations. The United States has failed time and time again to assert our force in the pharmaceutical marketplace, and we should continue to pursue all available avenues to lower drug costs for our citizens.

Today, we have the opportunity to take action by passing H.R. 2427. This bill makes possible the reimportation of FDA-approved drugs from FDA-approved facilities. It includes new standards for safety messages in the packaging of drugs. It is the right thing to do for our seniors and we must act now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2427, the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act. I am grateful that the House of Representatives has the opportunity to substitute existing reimportation language in the House-passed Medicare bill with a meaningful provision, one that could result in billions of dollars in savings to American seniors and bring balance back to the global marketplace for prescription drugs.

American taxpayers heavily subsidize the research that leads to life- saving medications, used worldwide. Despite that, citizens of this country pay 30 to 300 percent more than those in other industrialized countries. The reason for this disparity is that the government of every other industrialized nation works on behalf of it's citizens to control the cost of medication--through the use of bulk purchasing power, and other methods the United States has failed to adopt. The recently-passed Medicare bill failed to incorporate any meaningful cost control measures for the 54 million Medicare beneficiaries--in fact the legislation strictly forbade the U.S. government from negotiating for these seniors and discouraged reimportation. There are other steps the United States should be taking to lower costs, and we should continue to pursue the use of bulk purchasing power and speeding the approval process for generic drug entry to the market--but tonight, we have the opportunity to vote on market access.

Americans are suffering because of their government's failure to assert their force in the pharmaceutical market. Last month, I joined the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians in releasing a survey showing that a third of seniors in Rhode Island are relying on physician samples for their necessary medications and 20 percent are failing to take them as prescribed because of cost--skipping prescriptions to make them last longer and failing to refill them. There is absolutely no reason for this. Today, we have the opportunity to take action by passing H.R. 2427, which would level the playing field by allowing American pharmacists, wholesalers and individuals to legally and safely import the same drugs they are paying inflated prices for at home from other countries. The tangible result of this policy will be significant savings--savings that will be passed from pharmacists and wholesalers to American consumers.

It is ironic that the drug companies are telling us that importation cannot be done safely. For years now, drug manufacturers have safely and legally reimported drugs--$14.7 billion worth in 2001--and in certain circumstances, individuals have been able to purchase their own medications abroad. In the years of this legal reimportation--there have been zero reported deaths from Americans taking imported pharmaceuticals. However, thousands of Americans become ill or die from food-borne illnesses each year, yet no one suggests the banning of the importation of food. Instead, we work hard to regulate the importation of food, and we incorporate current technology to ensure the safety of the process. H.R. 2427 includes new standards for safety measures in the packaging of drugs and limits importation to FDA-approved drugs from FDA-approved facilities. This can be done, and it can be done safely.

Earlier today we heard a number of Members on the floor talking about the benefits of free trade, as we debated the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement. I am certain that these Members recognize drug companies can set drug prices at extraordinarily high prices in the United States, because current law protects them from competition. I hope that, in the spirit of consistency, these Members will support H.R. 2427, and allow the market forces to work in favor of American consumers when it comes to the purchase of life-saving medications.

We must not let the opportunity to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Americans pass us by. I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 2427.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to join my good friend and colleague in echoing so many of his very eloquent comments.

I rise today in opposition to the rule for H.R. 2799, the Commerce- Justice-State appropriations bill. While this bill contains many good provisions, I, like my colleagues, are deeply disappointed that this bill prevents the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms from enforcing laws already on the books. The bill's language is a major step backwards when we should be doing more to ensure that guns are kept out of the hands of criminals.

A 1998 ATF study showed that over 50 percent of firearms used in crimes were traced back to just 1.2 percent of the Nation's 104,000 gun dealers. One delinquent dealer in Tacoma, Washington, was missing 78 firearms listed on the store's inventory, including the rifle used by the D.C. area snipers last year.

To address this problem, I have introduced H.R. 1540, the Crackdown on Deadbeat Gun Dealers Act, to increase ATF inspections of gun dealers, not eliminate them.

Unfortunately, the bill before us today undercuts the current enforcement provisions and prevents the ATF from doing its job. I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule. Let us do the right thing for the people of America.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time on this incredibly important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Project BioShield Act. Bioterrorism is a national threat to our national security, and I believe it is our job as the Members of the United States Congress to instill confidence in the American people that a coordinated, concerted effort is being made to combat this threat.

We have some incredibly talented people in this country in the public and in the private sector, and this joint partnership will ensure that we are moving ahead to effectively protect the American people from the potential of a bioterrorism attack.

While Project BioShield is not the only answer, it is certainly an important step toward that goal, and I hope Congress will continue to provide the funding and the oversight that the project needs to be effective.

However, I must mention my ongoing concern with the operation of Department of Homeland Security's information analysis and infrastructure protection directorate. This is truly a life-and-death issue. If this unit is not running effectively, then the rest of DHS is at a tremendous disadvantage in determining how to allocate resources and where to focus energies.

The proper implementation of Project BioShield requires a reliable and comprehensive threat assessment from the information analysis team, a team that should include bioterror experts, while working closely with their peers at CDC and NIH to identify the most pressing dangers.

I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews) for interjecting that point, and I wholeheartedly concur.

The proper implementation of Project BioShield requires a reliable and comprehensive threat assessment from the information analysis team, a team that should include bioterror experts working closely with their peers at agencies like CDC and NIH to identify the most pressing dangers and develop a plan to combat them.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and hope that DHS will do its part to make Project BioShield as effective as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the work of the Rhode Island General Assembly for passage of the Comprehensive Fire Safety Act and to urge other States to update their fire codes to modern standards. The Comprehensive Fire Safety Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Donald Carcieri on July 7, 2003, updates the Rhode Island Fire Code to reduce the chance of future fire-related tragedies. The legislation is the result of months of work by a 17-member legislation commission, and it passed the State House and Senate unanimously last month.

This sweeping legislation is a timely, well thought out response to the West Warwick, RI, nightclub disaster that tragically killed 100 concertgoers on February 20, 2003. This was the deadliest fire in Rhode Island history and resulted from the use of pyrotechnics in a building that was not equipped with sprinklers or easily accessible exits.

The Comprehensive Fire Safety Act adopts the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) fire codes for new and existing buildings. This will end the State's grandfather clause that exempted older structures from meeting the State fire code. In addition, sprinklers will be required in more public buildings, a critical provision considering that the NFPA has no record of a fire killing more than two people in a completely sprinklered public building. In addition, the law bans most indoor pyrotechnics and expands the power of fire inspectors.

I hope other States will act to update their fire codes before similar tragedies strike. Enough lives have been lost in fires already. I also urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring H.R. 1824, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003. This legislation provides a tax credit to businesses that choose to install fire sprinklers, thus helping to offset the cost of State mandates and encouraging buildings to exceed local fire codes for the safety of the occupants.

While nothing can be done to bring back the victims from this horrific tragedy, the Rhode Island government has honored the victims of this disaster by working to prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future, and I applaud the State for its efforts.