Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 35th anniversary of the division of the Island of Cyprus.

Thirty-five years ago, Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island of Cyprus and divided a community. While time may heal all wounds, the wounds of the division of Cyprus remain fresh today with thousands of Turkish troops continuing to occupy the northern third of the Island.

The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the European Union, a strong ally of the United States and a stable democracy in the Mediterranean. The Republic has opened the benefits of EU citizenship to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots on both sides of the divide. Since 2003 there has been confidence building exchanges and partnerships between the two communities and the residents have the ability to travel freely between the Republic of Cyprus and the occupied North.

With all these positive developments happening, some things still remain all too intractable. The number of Turkish troops in the North is the same as those present thirty-five years ago, and Greek religious sights in the North still suffer from neglect. Communities may be free to travel but the Island is still divided based on ethnicity.

Bringing the Greek and Turkish communities together in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation is the goal of President Obama, the European Union and most importantly it is the goal of the Cypriot people. On the thirty-fifth anniversary of the division of Cyprus, I urge both Cypriot President Demetrius Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to re-double their efforts to insure the removal of Turkish troops, free movement between the Greek and Turkish communities and for a final end to the division of the Island. The time is now for us as a Congress and with our President's commitment to move Cyprus to a future of peace and prosperity.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 550, H.R. 2188, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Late Thursday, Madam Speaker, the House stood in support of our friend Israel and the greater global community by providing $2.2 billion towards Israel's regional security and counterterrorism efforts. More importantly, this appropriation bill takes a firm stand against the active state sponsorship of terror by Iran by cutting off U.S. export credits to foreign companies that help to provide gasoline and other refined products to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Now I stand by the administration's decision to engage Iran through negotiations. However, the United States must have something concrete to negotiate with first. For this reason, I have strongly advocated for the use of sanctions to wean Iran away from its nuclear ambitions.

As for Israel, it is our fellow democracy, our tried and true ally. Supporting it is essential to the stability and future not only of the Middle East, but of the world. And any democratic nation that has chosen to treat Israel as a suspect state, to impose on Israel embargoes and daunting deadlines for a peace agreement, should know that its actions ultimately do damage to the shared values that all democracies espouse.

Our alliance with our European partners should be held in high regard--and it is. Yet, we must consistently work to maintain this relationship. Yet, a recent decision by the United Kingdom to revoke a number of arms export licenses to Israel following the Gaza war may trigger similar decisions by other EU nations, and comes at a crucial time for Israel's security.

Following the failed Iranian elections in June, the Iranian regime has had its legitimacy wounded and its paranoia increased. Many observers expect the regime to take a posture of increased repression at home and antagonism abroad. In that dangerous environment, Israel's leaders have every right to be concerned for their country's safety.

While hope still exists for a free Iran, Europe, Israel, and the United States must undoubtedly prepare for a more dangerous Iranian regime in the near term. We must be ready for the possibility that Iran will intensify its pursuit of nuclear weapons to overcome the embarrassment of the recent elections.

Incredibly, there seems to be a certain line of thinking in the international community that Iran poses no threat. For example, the day after Iran tested a 1,200-mile range Ashura ballistic missile and displayed the video footage to the world, a group of experts at the East-West Institute released a report on Iranian capabilities that made this astounding statement: ``There is no reliable information at present on the state of Iran's efforts to develop solid-propellant rocket motors and therefore no basis to make this assessment.''

It is this very shocking failure to prepare that puts Israel and the entire international community at risk. In this light, our European allies' decision to place an arms embargo on Israel does not merely represent a double standard, it is decidedly harmful to a democracy faced with the very real prospects of a destructive nuclear neighbor.

Madam Speaker, I urge this Congress and the United States to make the Iranian regime pay a higher cost for its nuclear weapons pursuit. If we needed any further reminder, the protests in the streets of Tehran have made clear that words and actions mean very little to Ayatollah Khamenei. The threat from Iran demands an effective policy response-- and our European allies are well-placed to formulate one with us.

You see, even though Iran is an oil exporter, its economy is highly dependent on imported gasoline and other refined petroleum products. We need to embargo this trade. European companies are heavily involved in the Iranian gasoline business. Policymakers need to stop this trade to end this nuclear threat. If the Iranian regime faced damaging economic pressure from a significant reduction in gasoline supplies, it may indeed change its course and an ever-present threat to Israel and to global security may be alleviated.

I think we are all encouraged by the joint statement that came from the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy, expressing concern over Iran's belligerence. And I hope by the next G8 summit in December, the deadline set by the world leaders--our European allies included, we will see real international collaboration to curb the threats of Tehran.

Nothing endangers peace more than a refusal to face facts. Even as we set deadlines for when discussions with Iran might begin, let's remember that they continue to enrich uranium and that a deadline with real consequences must be considered, along with engagement. Otherwise, engagement will be manipulated as a mere tactic for delay.

I am glad that this House chose to face Iran and support Israel with its vote on Thursday, and I have high hopes that the international community will do the same. We must support and defend our friend Israel and end the nuclear threat of Iran.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and honor the city of Erbendorf in the Oberpfalz region in the State of Bavaria in Germany as it celebrates its 900th Birthday.

Nine hundred years ago, this village was first mentioned as ``Herbendorf' in the Establishment and Protection letters of Pope Paschalis II as he wrote to the monastery Weissenohe in Oberfranken. Although it appears that location is today what is known as Altenstadt, it is clear that the city we know today has enjoyed an existence for more than 900 years. And since history does not stand still, we are sure that someday an even earlier mention of this city will be found.

In its more than 900 year history, the city of Erbendorf has certainly changed and developed. Through the middle ages and modern times it has been beset by war, hunger, pestilence, and siege. However, this has given the city its inner strength and it has now grown into a beloved city with a wonderful quality of life, enviable infrastructure, and a strong economy.

Certainly some of its most prominent citizens include Buergermeister Hans Donko, Axel Baron von Stromberg, and Hilde and Fritz Kohr, who recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary and continue to operate one of the city's most beloved businesses, Konditorei Kohr. In addition the city was the birthplace of two of its most favorite daughters, Maria Schrebs Trottmann, who emigrated to Neustadt/Waldnaab, and my mother Meta Baronin von Stromberg McMahon, who emigrated to the United States where she had seven children who to this day consider themselves part of the Erbendorf family. For many years, her brother Doctor Nils Baron von Stromberg and his wife Charlotte served the city as family doctors.

Madam Speaker, the city of Erbendorf has had a front row seat to the turbulent course of European history. For nearly a millennium, her citizens have borne witness to the countless events--from the epic to the mundane which unfolded to shape the Europe and the world of today. I am proud to be a son of the city of Erbendorf and offer my congratulations on its 900th anniversary.

Thank you, Chairman Frank.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Chairman Frank, Chairman Waxman, Chairman Markey and Chairman Peterson for agreeing to include in this good piece of legislation the manager's amendment language that makes clear that the sections of this bill that relate to the regulation of energy commodity derivatives shall be superseded by future Congressional financial regulatory reform if it comes forward.

Specifically, the manager's amendment would add section 358 that renders ``null and void'' the sections of the American Clean Energy and Security Act dealing with energy commodity derivatives, as well as all related agency regulations, after Congress adopts future derivative reform legislation.

I and many of my colleagues in the New Democratic Coalition have expressed concerns about many of the provisions included in subtitles D and E of this bill. The energy bill is not the place to set regulatory policy over our financial services industry.

In coordination with the New Dems Financial Services Task Force, I'm in the process of crafting a bill that will take some of the best ideas of the President and the Congress to forge a consensus that protects American jobs and financial innovation. And while I and many of my colleagues would have liked to strike altogether much of the derivatives language from this bill, we understand the need to move this process forward and section 358 will allow us to provide a clean slate when we take up comprehensive reform this year.

Despite the mess at AIG, the over-the-counter derivative market helps companies manage risks and create jobs. We also live in an age of a truly global economy. And if we don't get this right, many of our financial sector jobs, particularly in New York, will just disappear or be shipped offshore.

Again, Madam Speaker, I thank our chairmen for the inclusion of section 358 in the manager's amendment. I and the New Dems look forward to working with you and having future discussions with the Senate and the White House.

Thank you, Chairman Frank, and to all the chairmen for your strong leadership in crafting this important piece of legislation and reaching out to form this consensus.

With that, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2454.

Parliamentary Inquiry

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment which I offer along with my esteemed colleague from Connecticut, the great Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, together with my great colleague from Connecticut, Joe Courtney, and my great colleague from the great State of New Mexico, Harry Teague.

Like my colleagues, I too am alarmed at the statistics coming out of the armed services. Nearly 150 soldiers took their lives last year, the highest figures since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began.

In 2009, it is already reporting 64 potential active-duty Army suicides. One-to-one mental health screenings with a certified mental health professional is the least that we can offer to our servicemen and women that sacrifice so much for this country.

This amendment creates a well thought-out pilot program that would assess the feasibility of such screenings and would hopefully lead to legislation in a broader sense.

For this reason, I urge my colleagues here today to support this amendment on behalf of the men and women who serve this country so proudly.

Madam Chair, during rollcall vote No. 442, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted ``aye.''

I ask unanimous consent that my statement appear in the Record immediately following rollcall vote No. 442.

Part B Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mr. Neugebauer

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2410, and I would like to thank the great gentleman from California, Chairman Berman, for working with all the members of this committee, the more senior and the junior as well, and in particular for including provisions that are raised by so many of my constituents back home in Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York.

As we know, effective diplomacy complements defense strategy and requires a combination of several important efforts, and as my colleague the great gentleman from Virginia, Gerald Connolly, was mentioning, Secretary of Defense Gates himself has said, ``Long-term security challenges require our government to operate with unity, agility, and creativity, and will require devoting considerably more resources to nonmilitary instruments of national power.''

Mr. Chairman, the United States must be more serious about its diplomatic commitments, responsibilities, and presence overseas to ensure a more secure future for her own citizens. I hope that all of my colleagues will join with us today in supporting this important legislation and send an important message that will be heard loud and clear around the world.

Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 305, I was detained unavoidably from reaching the Chamber. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge, congratulate and celebrate the 93rd Birthday of a prominent Brooklyn community activist and civil rights trailblazer, Mary Crisalli Sansone and the 93rd Birthday of her beloved and devoted husband of 60 years, Zachary Sansone.

Since her early days of union organizing with her father, to her involvement with the late Bayard Rustin of the civil rights movement, Mary has fought for social justice and human rights throughout her life.

Mary is the founder of three very influential New York City organizations. Mary organized the first coalition of African Americans, Latinos and Italians in New York City in the 1960s to promote racial harmony, which resulted in the formation of an organization comprised of community leaders known as CURE, Community Understanding for Racial and Ethnic Equality. CURE builds bridges between all racial, ethnic and religious groups to promote tolerance through education and cooperation.

In the 1970s, Mary founded CIAO, the Congress of Italian Americans Organization, which has developed and continues to run many social service programs to help the poor and needy. Mary is and has been a political godmother and angel to those in need.

Mary also is the founder of New Era Democrats (NED), an independent political association. NED is a good government group that promotes and assists government leaders and candidates for elected office who espouse the utmost integrity and independence, regardless of party affiliation.

Zachary Sansone was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in Naples, Italy. After law school, he was inducted into the Italian Army as a First Lieutenant. Zachary served as the Mayor of the town of San Antonio in

Naples. Upon his return to New York in 1949, he married Mary Crisalli-- and Zachary and Mary have been happily married for 60 years. Zachary worked as a checker and clerk at the waterfront for over 20 years. In 1970, he organized and directed the Mott Street Senior Center in Manhattan. Now retired and celebrating his own 93rd Birthday, he dedicates all of his time to CIAO, CURE and the Ralph J. Sansone Foundation.

Zachary and Mary Crisalli Sansone have dedicated their lives to helping others without ever asking anyone for anything in return. I am honored to stand here today both to recognize Mary and Zachary Sansone on their 93rd Birthdays, and to acknowledge their 60th Anniversary.

Madam Speaker, the tragic events that occurred at Camp Liberty in Iraq are a sad and prominent reminder that the mental health needs of our service men and women are simply not being met.

I have co-sponsored H. Res. 471 not only to express my sympathy, but because I know that such a tragedy could have been avoided.

A month ago, 46 of my colleagues in the House and I sent a letter to Chairman Murtha and Ranking Member Young of the defense appropriations subcommittee, supporting Secretary Gates' recommendations to increase mental health funding in the FY10 DOD budget by $300 million.

I hold fast to this request and hope that this increase will contribute to an increase in mental health professionals to treat the invisible wounds of our men and women in uniform.

Mental Health screenings should be confidential, mandatory and comfortable for those who have witnessed the unimaginable on the battlefield. H.R. 1308, The Veterans Mental Health Screenings and Assessments Act, which I have introduced with my colleague, Congressman Tom Rooney aims to do just this by eliminating the stigma of mental treatment through mandating screenings for all returning service men and women.

Again, my heart goes out to the families of the victims of the Camp Liberty shootings. We, in the Congress, must act to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.

Through granting Secretary Gates' request and enacting H.R. 1308, we will ensure that the victims of the awful Camp Liberty tragedy will not be forgotten and hopefully, prevent such catastrophes from occurring in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael A. Mazella, Jr., a principal, teacher, and alumnus of the St. Ann School in the Dongan Hills community of Staten Island, New York who has touched the lives of thousands of Staten Island children.

Born and raised in Dongan Hills by his mother Lee Mazella and his father, the late Michael Mazella, Michael Mazella, Jr. was a member of the first graduating class of the St. Ann School, the former Augustinian Academy on Grymes Hill and St. John's University.

Mr. Mazella taught 7th and 8th grade classes at St. Ann School for over 17 years before becoming its first principal who was not a member of the clergy. He has served as principal for the past 22 years. Besides his work as principal and classroom teacher, Mr. Mazella has also served as a gym instructor for St. Ann's 6th, 7th and 8th grade students, the boys' varsity basketball coach, and a moderator of the St. Ann's Parish Christian Youth Organization sports program.

As principal, Mr. Mazella has worked hard to bolster St. Ann's academic programs, spearheading efforts to re-establish the school's kindergarten program and institute requirements for foreign language, art and music appreciation, and computer science. He also played a central role in the effort to secure and maintain the school's Middle States accreditation.

Principal Mazella has also supervised two major renovation projects at the St. Ann School. In 1992, the school added a wing to house a new pre-school, the computer center, a library, and a faculty room. And in 2005, in commemoration of the school's Golden Jubilee, Principal Mazella oversaw a key modernization effort that provided St. Ann students with state of the art lighting, Smart Boards, new desks and chairs, and air-conditioning.

Mike Mazella's achievements as a principal and teacher have been widely recognized far beyond the confines of St. Ann's Parish. He is the recipient of numerous awards including: Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America in 1975, the Jack Anglin Memorial Trophy, the Maurice Wollin Award, Staten Island Teacher of the Year in 1984, the Distinguished Graduate Award in 1991 from the N.C.E.A., and the Medal of Honor from the Catechetical Office of the Archdiocese of New York.

In addition to his lifetime of dedication and 40 years of service to St. Ann School, Mike Mazella has been a positive influence on the lives of countless Dongan Hills public school children, serving as a CCD program coordinator for over 30 years.

Outside of his professional life, Michael Mazella is a devoted family man, married to Pamela Smith of West Brighton for almost 40 years. He is the father of three children, Michael, Julie and Jessica and the beloved grandfather of Ryan, Justin, Erik, Georgia, and Keira.

Michael Mazella will retire from his role as principal of the St. Ann School this June when the academic year comes to a close. He will leave behind a legacy of service to St. Ann's and the larger Staten Island community, having improved the lives of thousands of children through his work as teacher, coach, principal, mentor, and role model. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending Michael A. Mazella, Jr. and his extraordinary contributions to Staten Island and the St. Ann School.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of Admiral Robert E. Peary and Matthew Henson becoming the first documented explorers to reach the North Pole on April 6, 1909.

Admiral Peary and Matthew Henson through careful planning, foresight, and extreme fortitude reached the North Pole through great danger and peril to themselves. Where many men had failed and perished, these two men succeeded.

Completing their mission took over eighteen years and was delayed, hampered, and restarted many times. Through all the failures and hardships these two brave men would not allow adversity or disappointment to keep them from their goal.

Their path to the North Pole was long and arduous, but through ingenuity and with help from the Native Inuit, they managed to plant the American flag at the North Pole and survive the trip back.

Peary and Henson had made previous trips north before their ultimate success. They suffered through the arctic cold and they even needed to turn back because of the rough weather.

Despite not reaching the North Pole on these previous attempts, they had voyaged further north than any men in recorded history.

While pursuing his dream of reaching the North Pole, Peary was on leave from the United States Navy where he was a civil engineer. Upon successful completion of his eighth and final expedition, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral.

Matthew Henson's contributions to the success of the exploration remained obscured and ignored for many years. His eventual induction into the Explorer's Club and acknowledgement by President Eisenhower can be recognized again by celebrating this important anniversary.

Admiral Robert Peary and Matthew Henson achieved their dreams and proved to America and the rest of the world that we can accomplish anything if we put our minds, hearts, and souls into it. Their drive and hard work still shine as an example to us all.

I am proud today to honor Admiral Robert Peary and Matthew Henson.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment which I offer along with my esteemed colleague from Illinois, Congresswoman Bean.

Like all Americans, I was appalled at the bonuses from AIG. These bonuses were wrong in so many ways, and anyone with any sense of the frustrations and of the challenges that average Americans are facing knows these bonuses could not pass the smell test, but we must be thoughtful and measured.

Mr. Chair, we know the government has to play a role to keep our financial institutions solvent.

A bank failure of the size of some of our largest institutions would reverberate throughout the economy with the cascading effect not only on depositors but would greatly affect the ability of individuals to access credit. In my city of New York, these institutions also mean jobs, hundreds of thousands of them from the trading floors to the restaurants and the car services. We are intrinsically linked to the success of this industry, and I want to see it recover.

Our amendment is simple. When an institution which took TARP funds starts to pay back the TARP funds, we will lift these restrictions on pay. Merit bonuses are an important part of employee compensation in the financial services industry. And I know it is also important to my city because we are dependent on the income from the bonuses to pay for critical municipal services. They directly help to put teachers in schools, cops on the street, firefighters in the firehouses.

This amendment is an incentive for these companies to get back their financial health. Once companies that receive TARP funds start repaying the TARP funding, we will lift these restrictions. If you continue to repay, you will have the ability to reward longevity and performance with bonuses. If for some reason you stop repaying, then you fall under these restrictions of this bill.

All of us want to see the U.S. taxpayers made whole. This gives an incentive to the employees who are working at these companies trying to right the ship to know that when they turn their company around and pay back the taxpayer, they will be justly and fairly rewarded as well.

For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support the Bean-McMahon amendment.

Mr. Speaker I rise in support of House Resolution 234.

Designating March 30th as ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day'' is long overdue.

This day is not only in remembrance of the over 58,000 members of the Armed Services that lost their lives in Vietnam, but serves as a lesson in conduct and appropriate public debate in regards to our veterans.

March 30th, 1973, has taught us lessons that unfortunately will soon be very relevant to the present day.

No matter the various views of the war in Iraq, I am confident that our servicemen and women will return home to an atmosphere of appreciation and reception.

Unfortunately, the 543,000 troops that returned from Vietnam did not all receive the same respect, but their legacy has ensured a brighter future and degree of tolerance exercised towards the next generation of armed servicemembers.