Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the TAA health care tax credit rollback provision included in the Taxpayer Protection and IRS Accountability Act. Make no mistake, I support taxpayer protection and IRS accountability. But something is wrong, rotten in Congress today. Why would the House leadership try to slip in such a harmful provision in a noncontroversial bill?

It is clearly a sneaky attempt to destroy workers' protections and help leverage big insurance companies' profits. There is no doubt this unpopular provision would never survive unless it was tucked into a popular bill such as this. This measure would strip away the protections for dislocated workers and allow insurers to cherry pick healthy workers and exclude those who are older or in poor health, those who need the coverage the most.

Many dislocated workers in Maine are currently enrolled in this program. Our State has been among the first approved program in the Nation. These hard-working men and women have lost their jobs; they deserve some type of health care protection. I would ask the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) to reconsider this provision. There are some areas in the State of Maine where unemployment is over 32 percent. There are other areas abutting that high-labor market area with double digit employment numbers because we are getting killed by imports because of our trade agreements. Granted, this is a 65 percent tax credit. However, when you are on unemployment, you have mortgage payments to make, automobile payments and health care payments. To come up with the employees' share, it is difficult. I hope Members oppose this bill until the TAA health care tax credit rollback provision is excluded.

Mr. Speaker, the recent tax bill carelessly neglects 12 million children in America's low-income working families by cutting them out of the child tax credit plan.

I asked the House Committee on Government Reform to investigate what this would mean to the State of Maine. They found that in my home district, 21,000 working families will receive no benefit. These are families who work hard, pay taxes, play by the rules, and who were still left out in the cold.

Cutting these people out was just plain wrong. That is why I have introduced the Working Family Tax Credit Act of 2003, along with my good friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel). This bill will fix the problem and assure that all working families get some benefit. In a tax bill that gives $90 billion of its tax cut exclusively to millionaires, making sure that working families who make $25,000 a year should be able to get some tax relief is the least this Congress can do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with you the wonderful story of Toni Orestis and her lifetime of achievement. Marois Restaurant, a Lewiston landmark since 1919, is closing on May 31, 2003. Started by Antoinette Marois Orestis' grandfather, carried onby her father Leon, and now run by Toni for more than 35 years, Marois is a first class restaurant that has anchored the downtown area of Lewiston for almost 85 years.

Marois started as a lunch counter business and expanded over the decades into the full service restaurant that it is today. During the Second World War, the restaurant was open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, feeding the shipbuilders and other workers involved in supporting the war effort from home. When Lewiston and Maine had a need, Marois was always there to meet it.

Toni started working in the restaurant at the age of thirteen. She and her three sisters worked for their grandfather and father all through the years. In fact, no one knows the restaurant business better than Toni. Throughout the past 65 years she has performed every role, from starting as a helper, to becoming a server, then cook, and now owner and executive. Toni and Marois are an example of downtown Lewiston at its finest.

Along with her remarkable work ethic and business acumen, Toni has also been there for so many people in the community. From baptisms to bar mitzvahs, from weddings to anniversaries, from office and retirement parties to Christmas parties, and yes for funerals too, Toni is always there with wonderful food and hospitality. So many people remember fondly the food, the dessert cart, the French and Greek menus, the formal and correct table service, but most of all, the genuine and generous personality that is Toni Marois Orestis. No one ever went away hungry and everyone went away with a smile.

Now Toni, at 78 years young, is finally retiring. When asked if she wanted to keep working, she said ``Yes, but part time, maybe 35 or 40 hours a week''. That is the true mark of dedication; a life lived purposefully and well. Mr. Speaker, please join me and the residents of Lewiston in congratulating Toni Orestis on her retirement and thanking her for all she has done for her community.

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

I am pleased that the House has taken up the extension of the unemployment benefits tonight. The unemployment in my congressional district is a glaring 30 percent in the Millinocket and East Millinocket labor market area, 13 percent in the Calais labor market area, 12 percent in the Jonesport labor market area, and the list goes on and on. Mill after mill are either shutting machines down or closing their doors completely.

As far as the Statewide unemployment, it is in the single digits. But as far as the northern part of the State, as I mentioned, it is over 30 percent in some of the labor market areas. It is not as if you could drive an hour away or so to go to where there is low unemployment. You have to drive about 6 hours away.

The aid we deliver tonight is desperately needed, but, Mr. Speaker, we can do so much more. We should be voting on a bill like H.R. 1652, the Rangel bill, of which I am a cosponsor. The bill would extend benefits by 26 weeks and give an additional 13 weeks for unemployed workers who have exhausted their benefits.

This would help the 2,700 workers in Maine who have exhausted their benefits and who would be left behind, because this bill would not consider them tonight. These are people who are left stranded by the economic downturn,

jobless through no fault of their own, and are desperately looking for work but cannot find the work.

For those who do not know, I have worked in a mill, paper mill, over 30 years in northern Maine. I know what it is like to lose your job. These neighbors, they are neighbors of mine, they are family, and they are friends. They do not want a handout, but, with no other recourse, they do need a helping hand.

Until we get this economy moving again and providing new jobs, instead of the 2 million jobs that we have lost over the couple of years, they will need this help desperately. But we can do much better for my constituents and people across this country, so I urge that we amend this bill to increase the unemployment compensation.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the ranking member for yielding me this time; and I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1683, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2003. I would like to thank the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for their leadership on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I fully support H.R. 1683 and am proud to be an original cosponsor of this measure. This legislation would provide important cost-of-living adjustments to the rates of disabled compensation payments for veterans with service-connected disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, this bill would also increase the rate of dependency indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans. As in the past, the percentage would be equal to the increase for benefits provided under the Social Security Act, which is calculated based upon the change in the Consumer Price Index.

Mr. Speaker, our veterans and their survivors deserve the full and fair benefits of a grateful Nation. By providing this modest cost-of- living adjustment, we take a small step in the right direction. But we must continue to ensure that our veterans' earned benefits remain at a respectable level. Our veterans and their families deserve more, and we must continue to fight for their well-being. This bill will help many veterans and their family members to keep pace with the rising cost of living.

Mr. Speaker, I know that veterans and their survivors from my State of Maine will appreciate the efforts of our committee to bring forth this legislation. I fully support H.R. 1683 and urge my colleagues to pass this measure.

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

I rise in strong support of H.R. 1257, the Selected Reserve Home Loan Equity Act, and I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for their leadership on this issue. H.R. 1257 would make the home loan program for members of the Selected Reserve permanent.

Currently the program is scheduled to expire as of September 30, 2009.

In 1992, the Congress granted eligibility for VA home loans to persons who served in the Selected Reserve, including the National Guard. This benefit is a useful recruiting and retention tool. Mr. Speaker, this legislation would also equalize the fees charged to members of the Selected Reserve and active-duty veterans for VA home loans. Currently, qualifying members of the Selected Reserve are charged a higher funding fee than other veterans. According to VA, members of the Selected Reserve have a lower foreclosure rate than other loan guarantee beneficiaries. This higher rate is not justified.

Mr. Speaker, in recent years our Guard and Reserves have been increasingly called upon to participate on active duty for lengthy periods of time. As the recent military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq clearly demonstrate, the Selected Reserve is an integral part of America's total force. Clearly, reservists have earned the right to receive equal lower fees with other veterans.

I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 1257. This legislation will assist the many members of the Guard and Reserves living in my home State of Maine. I fully support H.R. 1257 and urge my colleagues to pass this measure.

Madam Speaker, I stand before my colleagues today to call on this Congress to pass an extension of unemployment benefits immediately. Just listen to the unemployment numbers from labor market areas in my congressional district; they are glaring: 30 percent in the Millinocket and East Millinocket area, 13 percent in Calais, 12 percent in Jonesport-Millbridge, 11 percent in Dexter-Pittsfield, 11 percent in Machias-Eastport.

The fact is behind those figures are real people and real families, and they go to bed every night with the uncertainty that hangs over their beds.

As a mill worker in northern Maine myself for nearly 30 years, I know the stories of those who have lost their jobs. I know the people. They are my neighbors, they are my friends, they are my relatives. They are the very men and women whose hard work fueled a decade of economic expansion, which they barely enjoyed, and they have now become the victims of a fallen economy.

The Federal Government reported that 8.8 million Americans are out of work and that our country's unemployment has risen to 6 percent. Over the past 2 years, the economy has lost over 2.7 million private sector jobs, and our economy has suffered a net loss, on average, of more than 74,000 jobs a month.

In Maine, over the last 8 years, we have lost over 22,000 manufacturing jobs alone from companies like Georgia-Pacific to Dexter Shoes to Fraser Paper Company to Great Northern Paper Company to Hathaway Shirts to Foster Manufacturing, just to name a few. Almost every week my office receives news of yet another company that has shut its doors or has laid off people.

By the end of May, over 2,700 workers in Maine will have exhausted their benefits, and 10,600 workers in Maine could be helped by an extension, not to mention the nearly 4 million jobless Americans.

How can this Congress turn its back on them?

An extension would also do much more than provide just aid. At a time when we are trying to get this economy moving again, putting money in the hands of people who will spend it on consumption is one of the best investments that we can make.

According to an independent research group, each dollar devoted to UI extension would boost the economy by $1.73. By contrast, each dollar that is connected with the tax reduction dividends would boost the economy by just 9 cents. I think the choice is very clear.

But, despite these facts, last Friday this House passed a so-called recovery plan that is centered around reducing taxes on capital gains and dividends. Madam Speaker, 94 percent of the people in my district will get an average tax cut totaling only $52 from the cuts on capital gains and dividend taxes. How will that plan put money in their hands to spend and consume so they can stimulate the economy? How will this help get them jobs?

After nearly 30 years working in a paper mill, I know what working people need, and the bill that was passed last Friday will not help working people at all. It will not help the people in Millinocket, Jonesport, Dexter or Bangor.

By contrast, an alternative plan that I supported would actually deliver billions of new tax relief. It would give incentives so companies will hire the long-term unemployed, it would deliver $44 billion in aid to struggling States like Maine, and it would also extend unemployment assistance to those struggling to find a job. This would deliver over 1.1 million new jobs.

We could do all of this in 10 years at zero cost, nothing; no additional budget deficits, no more borrowing from Social Security. This is the best course for the State of Maine. This is the best course for America.

So let us take the first step, and that first step is we must pass an unemployment insurance extension today so those areas with high unemployment such as 30 percent unemployment in the Millinocket area will be able to benefit and get the economy moving again.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 517, a bill to authorize the conveyance of two Coast Guard cutters to nonprofit organizations so they can use them for education and historic displays.

The 180-foot buoy tender Bramble was commissioned in 1944 and served our Nation until its decommissioning on May 22, 2002. The Bramble has sailed the waters from Alaska and Hawaii to Puerto Rico. Since 1962, she has served on the Great Lakes and has been homeported in Port Huron, Michigan, since 1975.

H.R. 517 will authorize the conveyance of Bramble to the Port Huron Museum of Arts and History where she

will continue to be open to the public for educational and historical display purposes.

H.R. 517 also provides for the conveyance of the 180-foot buoy tender Planetree to the Jewish Life Corporation. The Planetree was commissioned in 1943 and served our Nation until it was decommissioned in 1999. During her service to our country, the Planetree served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Since 1974, the Planetree has served in Ketchikan, Alaska. The Jewish Life Organization will use the Planetree to teach the public about the original 66 Exodus ships, their crewmembers and the 77,000 Holocaust survivors those vessels carried to Israel.

These conveyances include the standard requirements that Congress has used in the past for similar vessel conveyance, including prohibition of the vessel from being used for commercial transportation purposes, agreeing to make the vessels available to the Federal Government in a time of war or national emergency, and a requirement that the organizations have the necessary funds to operate and maintain the vessels in good working condition. There must be a minimum amount of at least $700,000 in financial resources available.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 517.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 281 is a bill to designate the Federal building and courthouse in Dayton, Ohio, as the Tony Hall Federal Building and the United States Courthouse in honor of our former colleague from Ohio, Tony Hall. The bill has strong bipartisan support.

Tony Hall is a true son of Ohio. He was born in Dayton in 1942. After attending local schools, he graduated from Denison University in 1964. He was accepted into the Peace Corps and served as a volunteer in Thailand from 1966 until 1968. Upon his return he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, and in 1972 he was elected to the Ohio Senate. In 1978, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he served for 12 terms.

Tony Hall currently serves as United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture. Tony Hall was a founder and cochair of the Congressional Hunger Center, a nonprofit organization created to bring awareness to the growing persistent problem of world hunger. He also served as chairman of the House Select Committee on Hunger from 1989 until 1993. Congressman Hall sponsored legislation to help immunize the world's children against major diseases and to increase United States funding for Vitamin A and C.

His passion for protecting and ensuring human rights and combating hunger brought Congressman Hall to such places as North Korea, Peru, Sudan, Bosnia, Rwanda, Somalia, Bangladesh, and Haiti. In 1994, he helped nominate Bishop Carlos Belo for the Nobel Peace Prize for the bishop's role in protecting civilians during armed conflict.

Congressman Hall was an example to all with his steadfast commitment to promoting humanity and peace in a world stricken with poverty and war. This designation is a fitting tribute to his exceptional public service, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 281.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this event needs little introduction. 2003 marks the 35th anniversary of the D.C. Special Olympics. The torch relay event is a traditional part of the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics in the District of Columbia.

Each year, approximately 2,500 Special Olympians compete in over a dozen events. More than 1 million children and adults with special needs participate in the Special Olympics worldwide programs. The event is supported by literally thousands of volunteers.

The goal of the games is to help bring mentally challenged individuals into larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted and respected. Confidence and self-esteem are the building blocks of these Olympic games.

I enthusiastically support the resolution and the very worthwhile endeavor of the Special Olympics. I urge support for House Concurrent Resolution 128.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, today in some parts of Maine, unemployment is over 30 percent. Under this plan, 94 percent of the people in my district will get an average tax cut totaling only $52 from the cuts on capital gains and dividends. How will this plan put money in their pockets to spend and consume so we can stimulate the economy? How will this help them get jobs?

I spent the last 29 years before I was elected to Congress working in a paper mill. I know what working people need, and this bill will not help the working people at all. I have no problem with tax cuts. I support the marriage penalty relief, estate relief tax, bonus depreciation, additional expensing, and expanding the 10 percent tax bracket; but we have got to choose measures that we can afford, and we have to choose measures that actually stimulate the economy.

Let us not run up a greater deficit or put Social Security in danger with a tax cut that even Alan Greenspan thinks will not help the economy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me this time.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 100, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. I would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), ranking member, for their leadership on this legislation which restates, modernizes and improves the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940.

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act gives our military personnel the piece of mind they deserve. It allows them to do their military duty for our country and to provide for the national defense without having to worry about their obligations back home. Beyond clarifying and updating, H.R. 100 expands legal and administrative protections for our men and women in uniform. It would increase the rental eviction protection from $1,200 to $1,700; allow for termination of property releases if personnel are activated or deployed before living in the property; and provide professional liability protection, health insurance, and guaranteed residency for military purposes.

I am also pleased that this legislation acknowledges the importance of women in military service and is appropriately titled Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. And I am pleased that H.R. 100 includes recognition of the Federal protections recently extended to members of the National Guard who are called upon under title 32 of the U.S. Code. When our men and women risk their lives to protect this country, it should not matter under which law that they are called.

Mr. Speaker, the war on terrorism is not over, and the peace in Iraq is not yet won. Our military personnel are still in harm's way overseas, and they deserve to know that their sacrifices will not have a negative impact on their obligations here at home.

I fully support H.R. 100 and urge my colleagues to do the same. I would also like to take this opportunity to say good-bye and good luck to Michael Durishin, the Democratic staff director for the Committee on Veterans Affairs. While I have not known Michael for long, I would like to thank him for the years of his dedication and service to this institution and to the people of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, with our nation at war, young men and women in uniform are placed in harm's way and risk losing their lives. Sadly, some have already made the ultimate sacrifice. We owe these brave individuals a great debt, and we also owe that debt to their families.

The surviving spouses of military personnel who die in service and veterans who die as a result of service-connected disabilities become the sole caregivers for their children. They deserve the best assistance that our nation can provide. For this reason I am introducing the Veterans' Surviving Children's Benefits Act.

In 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs completed a congressionally mandated evaluation of survivorship benefits paid to the families of men and women who have given their lives for their country. According to the results, a surviving spouse with dependent children needed to receive an additional $250 per month in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). With the additional $250 per month, the benefits provided to a surviving spouse with children would be comparable to the benefits received by a surviving spouse who did not have children. The study found a $250 increase in monthly benefits was needed regardless of the number of children in the family.

The Veterans' Surviving Children's Benefits Act would provide a $250 monthly increase in survivor benefits recommended for surviving spouses with children. While no amount of money can ever compensate a child for the loss of a parent, I believe that we should assure that surviving spouses with children have their needs met to at least the same extent as surviving spouses without children.

I ask my colleagues to join me in providing this small but necessary comfort to the surviving children of military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Mr. Speaker, today, nearly 65 million Americans go without adequate prescription drug coverage, yet drug prices continue to rise, forcing more people to choose between medicine and food.

Today, I am introducing America RX, which uses the power of the free market to negotiate fairer drug prices for Americans. Like the law we passed in Maine, it is a fresh approach that will not cost the taxpayer a single dime. This approach is simple, it is fair and it works.

Everyone has heard of a volume discount. That is exactly what we are talking about when we are talking about America RX. More Americans can afford to buy prescription drugs, which means higher volume, low prices.

The time has come to lower drug prices so that more Americans are not forced to ride a bus to Canada.

I invite my colleagues to join me in moving this initiative forward.

Madam Speaker, I rise today out of deep concern about the budget that was passed last week. The Committee on the Budget resolution cut mandatory spending in many areas, but one of the most unconscionable cuts is the $15 billion reduction for veterans programs like service disability compensation, pension for low-income wartime veterans, and veterans housing programs. At a time of war, how can we vote to neglect our veterans like this?

In recent days we have heard from the American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans, all strongly opposed to these cuts.

I will continue to stand with them and to oppose this dishonorable treatment of our most honorable men and women. I urge my colleagues to do the same.