Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, very often Members stand before this body and talk about the fact that we should never forget 9/11. Yesterday, I had an opportunity to stand with those first responders who responded to 9/11, not just the first responders themselves, but many of the family members of those who have passed away as a result of their service. And it's sad to hear their comments that, in fact, we have forgotten about 9/11, certainly the people that responded first. They are in desperate need of health care benefits as a result of the service that they rendered on that day at the World Trade Center site.

I think, when all is said and done, the quality of a society is not measured by its ability to wage war but, rather, by its ability to take care of those in its society who need it most. These individuals need the help of Congress to pass legislation to ensure that the health benefits that they need as a result of their service to this country are taken care of.

I strongly urge Congress to pass legislation to ensure that our first responders are taken care of.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Sitrin Health Care's wheelchair curling team, which will represent the United States as Team USA at the 2010 Paralympic Games. Today marks the 100- day countdown to the games set to begin March 12, 2010 in Vancouver,

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mrs. Helen Gargash, a resident of my district in Upstate New York, who today celebrates her 100th birthday.

Mrs. Gargash was born on November 3, 1909 as the eldest of four children and spent her childhood on a farm outside Amsterdam, New York. After leaving home to attend school, Mrs. Gargash worked at A.D. Julliard in New York Mills, New York and met her husband, Mr. John Gargash, to whom she was married for over 50 years. Together they have three children, eight grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Over the years, Mrs. Gargash was employed at the former Griffiss Air Force Base and Mele Manufacturing, from which she eventually retired. As a member of various seniors' groups, Mrs. Gargash served often during her retirement as a volunteer at the Utica State Hospital. She was a communicant of St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church for many years until moving to Country Club Courts in New York Mills, New York. There she has enjoyed almost daily visits to the New Hartford Nutrition Center and continues to cook some of her favorite dishes, among them Spanish rice, chicken soup and mushroom stew.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Mrs. Gargash on this joyous occasion. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing her many more years of health and happiness.

Madam Speaker, as we approach election day for many local and State elections across the country, I want to make certain that the issue of campaign finance reform is at the forefront of discussion on creating a cleaner and more accessible election system in this country. There is no doubt that our democracy here in the United States is the greatest in the world, but we need to make sure that we allow access to as many qualified citizens as possible to engage in this process.

Why should a candidate be judged on the quality of a television advertisement over the quality of their ideas to fix our Nation's economy or improve the flow of traffic through local town squares? Candidates should be elected based on merit, not on money.

In the last decade, an alliance of advocacy groups, the Fair Elections Coalitions, has been working to implement a public campaign finance system on the State level known as Clean Money, Clean Elections. Across the country, candidates have been elected based on this system, and I would hope that we can pass legislation here in Congress to reform the system fairly across the board.

As Members of Congress, we need to remember that we serve the people of this country based on issues, not dollars, and I would ask that my colleagues join me in a push toward campaign finance reform.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dr. Charles Antzelevitch for his 25 years of service as executive director and director of research at the world renowned Masonic Medical Research Lab (MMRL) in Utica, New York.

Dr. Antzelevitch truly embodies the American dream. After immigrating to this country from Israel as a child, he worked as a cab driver in New York City and put himself through college before earning a doctorate at SUNY Upstate Medical. From there he went on to do his post doctoral work at MMRL, eventually becoming a Gordon K. Moe Scholar and Professor of Pharmacology at SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse, New York. Dr. Antzelevitch has distinguished himself as an award- winning scientist, editorial board member of several leading medical journals and member of numerous national medical research committees.

Under the exceptional leadership of Dr. Antzelevitch, MMRL has excelled in its mission to improve the health and quality of life for all humankind through its discovery of genetic mutations responsible for Brugada syndrome, Long QT syndrome which is linked to sudden infant death syndrome, Short QT syndrome which is linked to sudden cardiac death syndrome, and many other cardiac-related syndromes and illnesses.

An internationally renowned authority in the field of biomedical research, Dr. Antzelevitch has received too many awards and honors to enumerate. His contributions to scientific literature include 310 original papers and book chapters, over 250 abstracts and four books. MMRL, often referred to as a ``gem in the crown'' of Utica, is widely recognized as one of the top research laboratories in the world working on cardiac arrhythmias.

Other initiatives of Dr. Antzelevitch and MMRL, which include free screenings and four educational programs, demonstrate an unparalleled commitment to our local community. MMRL hosts a summer fellowship program and welcomes undergraduate, predoctoral and postdoctoral students, as well as the wider scientific and medical community, to use the lab's extensive library for research and reference.

Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Antzelevitch for his distinguished 25-year career at MMRL and his ongoing service to our community. He is a father, mentor and friend to all who know him, and I wish him many more years of success and prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, the upcoming reauthorization of our surface transportation programs provides us with a unique opportunity to examine the ways we can maximize the return on our investment of taxpayer dollars we make in our Nation's infrastructure. If we strive for both economic and environmental sustainability, I believe we should support the idea of having this Nation's infrastructure designed to last without maintenance as long as possible and be 100 percent recyclable. The technology to meet these goals exists today, and we will save billions of dollars over time and lighten the financial burden for future generations.

As we work to address the cost of rebuilding our roads, bridges, and transit systems, we can require the use of 75-year maintenance-free and 100 percent recyclable materials. If we do this, we will be able to fund more projects and make critical infrastructure improvements faster.

The technology that exists today to meet all of these goals is galvanized steel. Galvanized steel is made up of naturally occurring zinc bonded to steel, which protects it from erosion for 75 years without maintenance. Steel bridges, sign structures, guide rail, light poles, facilities can benefit from it. This is technology available to us.

Madam Speaker, across the country, hardworking Americans are tightening their belts and pinching pennies in order to provide for their families, as well as working to improve our economy. While the issues of health care and the economy dominate our attention, as they should right now, we should still be mindful of the importance of campaign finance reform.

Campaign finance reform is a necessity if we are going to truly have a democracy that allows individuals to enter the political forum based on their skills and acumen rather than on their bank accounts.

In the last decade, an alliance of advocacy groups, the Fair Elections Coalition, has been working to implement a public campaign finance system on the State level known as Clean Money, Clean Elections. Already, some form of Clean Money, Clean Elections is law in seven States, and over 200 State officials have won their races using this system.

As a Member of Congress, we need to remember that we serve the people of this country based on issues, not dollars. I would ask that my colleagues join me as we push towards reforming the campaign finance system across the board.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership on nutritional issues. Clearly, we can't do enough, I think, for the people who need assistance in this country. And I rise in very strong support of this conference report that focuses, not only on nutritional issues, but focuses on the need for food safety in this country, and certainly, the need for our farmers and our agricultural industry.

And I want to talk specifically about dairy farmers. And what this bill does among other things, many other good things, is it appropriates $350 million for dairy farmers. Now, I can tell you that in my district in upstate New York, dairy farmers have been hit extremely hard. We see the cost of 100 weight of milk about the same price, about $10 or $11, the same that it was 20 or 25 years ago. Yet the cost of feed, the cost of fuel, the cost of everything has gone up dramatically, and we see this real difficult time.

And I talk about this all the time. I did a town hall meeting in a place called Waterville, New York, and it was a dairy farming community. And I thought we were going to talk about health care, but that wasn't the most important issue to these dairy farmers. The most important issue was the cost of milk and the difficulty that they're having staying in business. And to see a grown man, a farmer who's worked his whole life, worked very hard, stand up and cry because he isn't sure he's going to be able to hold on to his farm is the kind of thing that we're up against.

So I think that the fact--and I want to compliment the chairlady, Ms. DeLauro, for the work she's done and the way that we've come forward to put $350 million--again, it's not going to save the entire dairy industry, but it certainly is going to help dairy farmers, and they need it at this time. We need to continue this. We need to continue to move because dairy farming in America is not just an industry. It's not just a business, but it's a way of life, and we need to do everything we can, and I strongly support this conference report. And I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I stand today in recognition of the Italian Heritage Society of Auburn and Cayuga Counties for providing over 30 years of service and hard work promoting the achievements of Christopher Columbus and local citizens who dedicate themselves to improving the community. The approaching Columbus Day holiday marks an opportunity to celebrate the rich heritage of Italian-Americans in our country and reflect on the important work of organizations like the Italian Heritage Society.

I would like to express special recognition of the late Professor Joseph Camardo, Sr., founder of the Italian Heritage Society of Auburn and an educator at Cayuga Community College for nearly 50 years.

Professor Camardo was a distinguished member of the Italian Heritage Society, described as the glue that bound the organization and kept its work on track. Never a stranger to long hours and working on weekends, Professor Camardo was inspired by the sacrifice and dedication embodied by our ancestors--both Italian and non-Italian alike--when they arrived in this great country many years ago. He knew that to attain a better life and a brighter future for our children and grandchildren, we must carry on the tradition of hard work established by our ancestors.

Professor Camardo leaves big shoes to fill, and I am confident that those who knew him understand the importance of his legacy and the need to continue his work. To the Camardo family and all whose life he touched, I offer my sincerest condolences. He will be remembered as a great friend, a wonderful husband and a loving family man.

The Italian Heritage Society continues carrying out its mission to promote civic engagement in the community by recognizing the men and women who go above and beyond, day-in and day-out, but don't always receive the recognition they've earned. With the help of a strong committee of leaders, each year the Society recognizes four or five members of the community who work hard to better the lives of those around them.

Madam Speaker, I offer my best wishes to all members of the Italian Heritage Society of Auburn and Cayuga Counties and encourage them to keep up the great work. It's truly an honor to serve as your representative in Congress.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today in honor of the National Women's Hall of Fame of Seneca Falls, New York on their 40th anniversary.

It was in Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls in 1848 that activists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott laid the cornerstone of the Women's Rights Movement. At the conclusion of this two-day, first ever Women's Rights Convention, 68 women and 32 men signed their names to the Declaration of Sentiments, signaling their commitment to pursuing suffrage and equal rights for women. This historic event, which we remember with a statue in the rotunda here in the U.S. Capitol, paved the way for generations of women who yearned to fully participate in and contribute to American society.

In 1969, the women and men of Seneca Falls established the National Women's Hall of Fame as a permanent showcase for the extraordinary contributions of American women. Forty years later, the organization has grown to include important artifacts and 230 inductees from around the nation, as women continue to influence and shape the arts, athletics, business, education, government, humanities, philanthropy and science.

Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me in recognizing the National Women's Hall of Fame on achieving this milestone. Their anniversary provides an important opportunity to honor the many women, both past and present, whose vision and hard work have contributed so much to the strength and progress of our nation.

I thank my friend from Philadelphia and for his courage and determination in being here.

This issue, I was sitting there and I turned the TV on this evening and I didn't know you would be here, and I saw you on the floor and I really wanted to come down. My comments pale in comparison to some of the comments made and stories told, but I think it is very important that people weigh in on this issue. This is not the kind of issue that is just reserved for people who have been in the military, but this is an issue that affects all Americans. We are so proud of the freedom our country represents, and there are so many thousands of people who have given their lives over the years to protect that freedom, and they did it to ensure freedom for future generations and to ensure that prejudice and discrimination did not continue as a blemish upon our country.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a blemish on our country and it needs to be repealed. It needs to be removed in the same way that any prejudice and any discrimination should be removed from the books of laws of our great country.

I am here tonight to say, first off, for your leadership in this very, very important issue and for stepping forward in the courageous way you have, and for leading the charge to do not just the right thing but the important thing, the critical thing for the future of our country, I stand with you. I am proud to be a cosponsor of your bill, and I am proud to be with you here tonight.

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for recognizing me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 692, which recognizes this September 2009 as Tay-Sachs Disease Awareness Month. I'm proud to cosponsor this resolution, and I commend my friend from Ohio, Senator Sherrod Brown, for spearheading a companion resolution in the Senate.

Tay-Sachs disease is a progressive neurological disorder for which there is no known treatment or cure. The most common form affects infants who appear healthy at birth and seem to develop normally at first, but at around 6 months the symptoms of the disease begin to appear. The baby gradually begins to regress, losing the ability to crawl, turn over, sit, or reach out. Eventually, as paralysis sets in, the child becomes blind, deaf, and unable to swallow. Tragically, few infants born with Tay-Sachs live past the age of 5.

This terrible disease appears most often in families with no prior history because the Tay-Sachs gene can be carried through many generations without being expressed. However, when two carriers of the gene become parents, there is a one-in-four chance that any child they will have will be born with the disease.

While about 1.5 million Americans are carriers of the Tay-Sachs gene, certain populations are much more at risk. About 1 in every 30 American Jews and 1 in 50 Irish Americans is a carrier. French Canadians, Louisiana Cajuns, and Pennsylvania Dutch are also high-risk populations.

It is easy to reduce this terrible disease like Tay-Sachs to statistics, but there is a human story behind statistics that we must not overlook. My wife's son, Joey Deon, was born a happy, healthy baby. There was no warning he would be afflicted by this terrible disease, but at the age of 1, he began to show symptoms.

His mother, like many parents of children with Tay-Sachs, was the first to notice that something was wrong. She sat through many tests and the awful day they were told that Joey had Tay-Sachs. She was forced to watch a once active healthy, happy baby slowly lose sight, hearing, and muscle control.

Joey passed away in his sleep 1 month before his fifth birthday. We were thankful he died peacefully in his sleep shortly after his mother held him and fed him for the last time. Not all deaths from Tay-Sachs are peaceful. Some can be quite long and agonizing.

Mr. Speaker, a simple blood test can identify carriers of Tay-Sachs genes before they have children, but very few people, including those in high-risk populations, are aware of the availability of this test. This critical and relatively inexpensive test can identify carrier couples before the tragedy occurs. It is a test that my own health insurance, incredibly, did not cover, and I had to pay for myself. But it's a test that primary care physicians should be aware of and discuss with high-risk populations.

Raising awareness of this terrible disease is important, but it is critical that we also put words into actions. Millions of Americans suffering from rare diseases like Tay-Sachs, and more common diseases like cancer, stand to benefit from an expanded Federal commitment to stem cell research. We must also continue to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health. Federal support for cutting-edge biomedical research will make treatments and cures for diseases like Tay-Sachs a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues today to support House Resolution 692 and Tay-Sachs Disease Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure that I take time to promote a bill that I think has been lost in the constant and necessary debate regarding health care reform over the past several months.

While reforming our Nation's health care system is absolutely critical, last week in Congress we passed a bipartisan piece of legislation that will

greatly benefit prospective college students of all ages from across the country.

The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act will transform the way student loan programs operate by boosting Federal loan rates across the board, including a $40 billion increase in Pell Grant scholarship programs. It will keep interest rates low and make loan application forms simpler to understand and complete, doing away with the cumbersome paperwork that now makes applying for aid a daunting task.

I have 14 colleges and universities in my district. In many cases, these institutions are the main economic engine for the towns and cities in which they are located. This piece of legislation will benefit all of them as more students can go to college and come to these great towns that provide an economic boost for the surrounding regions.

This legislation will also have a positive impact on our economy's sustainability, as it will save taxpayers $87 billion over 10 years by switching to the cheaper Direct Loan Program.

I think this piece of legislation is a win-win.

Madam Speaker, I stand today to honor the memory and service of Mr. Richard J. Cowen and his wife, Mrs. Frances G. Cowen, both members of the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Mr. and Mrs. Cowen were residents of my district in upstate New York, and their daughter, Ms. Mary F. Bechy, currently resides in Waterville,

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. Louis T. Campese, a resident of my district in Upstate New York, for his heroic service during World War II and his ongoing work on behalf of our nation's veterans.

Mr. Campese served on the U.S.S. Patterson (DD-392), a naval destroyer stationed at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack of December 7, 1941. That morning, Mr. Campese and two of his comrades nearly lost their lives while rescuing a drowning sailor. For his extraordinary actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor and his service during World War II, Mr. Campese was awarded several medals, including the Pearl Harbor Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the American Defense Service Medal.

Each year Mr. Campese reunites with other surviving shipmates of the U.S.S. Patterson to reminisce about their service together and reinforce the bonds of friendship. Mr. Campese served previously as treasurer for the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Inc., and remains active in various veterans' organizations.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize the extraordinary service Mr. Campese rendered on behalf of our nation during a time of great crisis. His bravery in the face of tremendous peril is an example for us all. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Campese and the many men and women willing to risk their lives in defense of the principles and freedoms we as a nation hold dear.