Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 549, the National Bombing Prevention Act of 2009, and am pleased that the House has moved quickly early in the 111th Congress to act on this important legislation. On January 15, 2009, I introduced H.R. 549, which authorizes the Office of Bombing Prevention within the Department of Homeland Security. In the previous Congress, the full House passed similar legislation by bipartisan voice vote on June 18, 2008.

The Office of Bombing Prevention will provide much needed analysis and coordination of our Nation's bomb-prevention capacity. This will inform State and local governments on how to best protect our citizens from the threat posed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The terrorist attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan; the attacks in London in 2007 and 2005; the Madrid bombings in 2004; and the countless other bombing attacks around the world serve as reminders that terrorist organizations utilize IEDs to target civilians and military personnel.

Within the United States, we have been subject to our own share of explosive attacks, including the 1993 World Trade Center bombings; the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing; the Centennial Olympic Park bombing; and others. State and local bomb squads across the country have formed and trained to respond to these types of threats. But at the national level, there is no analysis of our nationwide capability to respond to explosive threats, or to identify where gaps exist in training, equipment, and personnel against a national baseline. The Office authorized by this bill gives us that ability.

This analysis will also assist State and local officials in applying for homeland security grants to fill these gaps. Further, the bill requires the Office to continue to share information with State and local officials and promote IED security awareness. This information is distributed through a secure website, known as ``TRIPwire,'' which provides to appropriate law enforcement officials access to current IED tactics, techniques and procedures--updated in light of new events and as terrorists change their methods. ``TRIPwire'' includes analysis and reports by experts making it a ``one-stop shop'' for actionable information.

Information sharing with law enforcement is only one part of preventing an IED attack within the United States. Another key component of the Office of Bombing Prevention authorized in this bill is the establishment of an awareness program for the public regarding the threat of IEDs. This program will educate merchants, for example, on types of materials that are explosive pre-cursors, so that sellers can watch for, and recognize, suspicious purchases.

Recognizing that our military has developed invaluable expertise in recognizing and countering IEDs, this legislation instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security to work closely with the Department of Defense to leverage lessons learned by our troops in combat. Adapting appropriate tactics and technology from overseas will improve the capability of our first responders here at home.

The Office of Bombing Prevention has been in existence at the Department of Homeland Security since 2005, but has not yet been authorized by statute. The continued need for the Office of Bombing Prevention is clear. While there are many Federal agencies that bring expertise and roles to countering an explosive threat, this Office provides a unique role to assist and assess State, local, and tribal capability.

By supporting H.R. 549, we take another step in upholding our responsibility to protect the lives and livelihood of American citizens. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 6146, legislation that will prohibit the recognition and enforcement of foreign defamation judgments based upon a publication that concerns a public figure or a matter of public concern. This bill, like legislation (Free Speech Protection Act) that I introduced earlier this year attempts to deal with the issue of ``libel tourism'' that threatens not only Americans' First Amendment freedom of speech but also their ability to inform the general public about existential threats; namely, who are the terrorists and who are their supporters. As the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Homeland Security I am regularly briefed on dangers to the homeland and know how grave these threats are. We cannot allow foreigners the opportunity to muzzle Americans for speaking the truth about these dangers!

Libel tourism is a recent phenomenon in which certain individuals are obstructing the free expression rights of Americans (and the vital interest of the American people) by seeking out foreign jurisdictions (``libel shopping'') that do not provide the full extent of free-speech protection that is enshrined in our First Amendment. Some of these actions are intended not only to suppress the free speech rights of journalists and others but also to intimidate publishers and other organizations from disseminating or supporting their work.

Unlike in the United States where the burden of proof is on the plaintiff to show that the publication was not only false but also malicious, in countries such as the United Kingdom it is the reverse: The defendant is required to appear in court and prove what he has written was 100 percent factual. And some of the ``tourists'' claims of jurisdiction are tenuous at best. In many cases, not only are none of the individuals (author, litigant, or publisher) associated with the case living in the venue of jurisdiction, but neither are the books

published there. These ``tourists'' stretch the law by claiming a handful of copies of the book were purchased over the internet in that country. The author must then hire an attorney, travel to the foreign country, and defend himself or likely face a default judgment against him. Consequences include (but are not limited to) fines, public apologies, pulping of books, and the removal of them from bookstores and libraries.

We cannot change nor would we want to change other countries' (libel) laws. We must respect their rule of law as they ought to respect ours. However, we cannot allow foreign citizens to exploit these courts to shield personal reputations when it directly contradicts Americans' First Amendment protected speech, especially when the subject matter is of such grave importance as terrorism and those who finance it. We rely on a variety of sources for intelligence and we cannot allow foreign litigants and foreign courts to tell us who can write and who can publish what. That is a dangerous path we do not want to follow.

Furthermore, the governments and courts of some foreign countries have failed to curtail this practice, permitting lawsuits filed by persons who are often not citizens of those countries, under circumstances where there is often little or no basis for jurisdiction over the Americans against whom such suits are brought.

Some of the plaintiffs bringing such suits are intentionally and strategically refraining from filing their suits in the United States, even though the speech at issue was published in the United States, to avoid the Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence and frustrate the protections it affords Americans.

But this issue is also very troubling for the authors, journalists, and even publishers who attempt to write on these subjects. Already we have seen examples of authors having difficulty getting their articles or books published because of publishing houses' fear of being sued overseas. Some companies have even gone as far as to pay large settlements to avoid having to go to court. So not only are authors being injured for the works they have previously written but they and their publishers are being intimidated from writing future works on these important topics. The free expression and publication by journalists, academics, commentators, experts, and others of the information they uncover and develop through research and study is essential to the formation of sound public policy and thus to the security of Americans.

The Americans against whom such suits are brought must consequently endure the prohibitive expense, inconvenience, and anxiety attendant to being sued in foreign courts for conduct that is protected by the First Amendment, or decline to answer such suits and risk the entry of costly default judgments that may be executed in countries other than the United States where those individuals travel or own property.

In turn, the American people are suffering concrete and profound harm because they, their representatives, and other government policy-makers rely on the free expression of information, ideas and opinions developed by responsible journalists, academics, commentators, experts, and others for the formulation of sound public policy, including national security policy.

Having said that, the United States respects the sovereign right of other countries to enact their own laws regarding speech, and seeks only to protect the First Amendment rights of Americans in connection with speech that occurs, in whole or part, in the United States.

That is why earlier this year I introduced the Free Speech Protection Act, H.R. 5814, to defend U.S. persons who are sued for defamation in foreign courts. This legislation allows U.S. persons to bring a Federal cause of action against any person bringing a foreign libel suit if the writing does not constitute defamation under U.S. law. It would also bar enforcement of foreign libel judgments and provide other appropriate injunctive relief by U.S. courts if a cause of action is established. H.R. 5814 would award damages to the U.S. person who brought the action in the amount of the foreign judgment, the costs related to the foreign lawsuit, and the harm caused due to the decreased opportunities to publish, conduct research, or generate funding. Furthermore, it would award treble damages if the person bringing the foreign lawsuit intentionally engaged in a scheme to suppress First Amendment rights. It allows for the expedited discovery if the court determines that the speech at issue in the foreign defamation action is protected by the First Amendment. Finally, nothing in this legislation would limit the rights of foreign litigants who bring good faith defamation actions to prevail against journalists and others who have failed to adhere to standards of professionalism by publishing false information maliciously or recklessly. The Free Speech Protection Act does, however, attempt to discourage those foreign libel suits that aim to intimidate, threaten, and restrict the freedom of speech of Americans. I am proud to have worked closely with Senators. Arlen Specter and Joe Lieberman who have introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

I support the passage of H.R. 6146, a Federal version of New York State's ``Rachel's Law,'' which will provide protection to U.S. authors, journalists, and publishers against the domestic enforcement of defamation judgments from foreign countries with less free speech protections than the U.S. The protection of free speech enshrined in the First Amendment is one of America's most cherished rights, and it is unacceptable that First Amendment rights of Americans can be potentially undermined or restricted by foreign court judgments based on lower free speech standards.

The impetus for a Federal ``Rachel's Law'' is the case of Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld, a U.S. citizen and Director of the American Center for Democracy. Dr. Ehrenfeld's 2003 book, ``Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed and How to Stop It,'' which was published solely in the United States by a U.S. publisher, alleged that a Saudi Arabian subject and his family financially supported al Qaeda in the years preceding the attacks of September 11. He sued Dr. Ehrenfeld for libel in England though because under English law, it is not necessary for a libel plaintiff to prove falsity or actual malice as is required in the U.S. After the English court entered a judgment against Dr. Ehrenfeld, she sought to shield herself with a declaration from both Federal and State courts that her book did not create liability under American law, but jurisdictional barriers prevented both the Federal and New York State courts from acting. Reacting to this problem, the Governor of New York, on May 1, 2008, signed into law the ``Libel Terrorism Protection Act'', commonly known as ``Rachel's Law.''

I support H.R. 6146 because it prohibits U.S. (domestic) courts from enforcing these outrageous defamation suits. We must stand up to the terrorists and their financers, supporters, and sympathizers. However, this bill does not go far enough nor does it resolve the problem of ``libel tourism.'' Foreign litigants will still be allowed to file these libel suits overseas without the worry of being countersued here in the U.S. If this bill passes, they will never see a dime of those hefty judgments they were awarded, but that's not what they are after in the first place. They want the default judgment. They want the publicity. They want the apology. And they want these books to disappear. But most of all they want to intimidate. They want to make sure people are afraid of writing anything about them. And it's working. Journalists are even afraid of writing about this legislation! That's their goal here. Not to collect the money. Many of them are already wealthy, and if they really cared about collecting a monetary judgment they would file these suits in the U.S. in the first place. They choose not to, however, because they know they would never win in a U.S. court.

Finally, I support H.R. 6146 because it is a first step in the right direction. I am a cosponsor of this bill and thank Representatives Steve Cohen and Darrell Issa for introducing it. H.R. 6146 is an important and necessary part of any ``libel tourism'' bill. Unfortunately, it doesn't put an end to the problem and doesn't provide any deterrence from these suits being filed in the first place. But it is my hope that during the 111th Congress we can have hearings on this important issue and that Representatives Cohen and Issa, along with Senators Specter and Lieberman and I, can sit down together and craft a bill that we can all agree on and that will solve this problem once and for all.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following:

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Account: Military Construction, Air National Guard.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: New York National Guard.

Address of Requesting Entity: 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, NY 12110.

Description of Request: $7.5 million will be used to construct Phase II of the Pararescue Facility. The use of taxpayer dollars is justified because The Francis Gabreski Air National Guard Base improves pararescue operations and survival equipment functions on Long Island.

Bill Number: H.R. 2638.

Account: Other Procurement, Navy.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corporation.

Address of Requesting Entity: 1966E Broadhollow Road, E. Farmingdale,

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 214, a resolution granting a posthumous pardon to John Arthur ``Jack'' Johnson for his 1913 racially motivated conviction. On September 17, 2007, I introduced this resolution with Congressman Jesse Jackson, and I join today with 40 of my cosponsoring colleagues in urging the House to pass this resolution today.

Jack Johnson became the first black World Heavyweight Boxing Champion in 1908 after defeating Tommy Burns in Australia and kept the title until 1915. He was a flamboyant and controversial figure in American history who paved the way for African-American athletes to participate and succeed in racially integrated professional sports in the United States.

Prompted by his success in the boxing ring and his relationship with a white woman, Jack Johnson was wronged by a racially motivated conviction under the Mann Act. He was convicted in 1913 after fleeing to Canada, Europe and South America and served one year in prison. Being convicted ruined his career and wrongly destroyed his reputation.

Because of this, we believe the President should grant a posthumous pardon to Jack Johnson to clear his name and recognize his athletic and cultural contributions to society. I am proud to have sponsored this resolution on his behalf

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the victims and heroes on the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. As someone who lost more than 150 friends, neighbors, and constituents on September 11, my heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones. September 11th will forever remain a day of great tragedy for the United States, but it is also one of great triumph, as Americans came together and demonstrated extraordinary heroism, courage, and unity.

We commend the first responders who served on that tragic day and during the many difficult days thereafter. And, we honor those who gave their lives in responding so heroically.

September 11 served as a wake up call for our Nation. In the seven years that have followed, Congress and the Administration have worked with, and on behalf of, law enforcement, first responders, and the Intelligence Community to better secure the United States. Passage of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the PATRIOT Act, the SAFE Port Act, the Secure Fence Act, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, and the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 provided the Department of Homeland Security and the Intelligence Community with the tools they need to secure our Nation.

It is no accident that we have not been attacked since September 11. This is due to a number of reasons, including the dedicated efforts of the employees of the Department of Homeland Security, many of whom serve in the New York metropolitan area.

Make no mistake; we are more secure than we were on September 11, but more needs to be done. We will never forget the lessons of September 11th, and we will continue to work to secure the United States against radical Islamic terrorists who want to do us harm.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2007, referred to as the ``PACT Act,'' introduced by my colleague from New York, Mr. Weiner.

As we approach the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the threat from radical Islamic terrorist groups remains very real. Supporters of Hamas, Hezbollah, and al Qaeda are constantly adapting and seeking new means to further and finance their cause.

As law enforcement officials make it more difficult to raise and move money through ``traditional'' terror financing avenues, criminal enterprise is increasingly the life-blood of terrorist groups. Smuggling illicit cigarettes is a perfect example. This illicit activity is more than just a matter of health concern and hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tax revenue--it is a matter of national security.

An April 2008 Committee on Homeland Security Republican staff report based on numerous interviews with Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials, estimated that millions of dollars in profits generated by tight-knit, Arab-based illicit cigarette smuggling operations are being remitted to the Middle East, where these funds directly or indirectly finance groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and al Qaeda. The report outlined how these criminal and terrorist organizations purchase tax free cigarettes on Indian reservations or in lower tobacco tax States, transport them to New York City, affix counterfeit tax stamps, and sell them for full retail price. A well- organized network could generate up to $50,000 on an average load of 1,500 cartons of contraband cigarettes.

The report further found that New York State's policy of forbearance, despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld States' rights to tax all cigarettes sold on Indian reservations to nonmembers of the tribe, has resulted in an environment where cigarette smuggling rings operate with virtual impunity.

The PACT Act aims to attack part of the problem in States such as New York. It strengthens current Federal contraband cigarette laws through increased transparency in recordkeeping, enhanced existing penalties, and increased compliance standards for Internet sellers. In addition, it provides law enforcement more resources to help close critical gaps in enforcement that will make it more difficult for criminal and terrorist organizations to exploit disparities in tobacco tax rates among States.

Another way to restrict terrorist organizations from obtaining revenue by exploiting low-cost cigarettes is for States like New York to abandon their policies of forbearance and take action to fully enforce their tax laws. By refusing to collect taxes on cigarettes sold to nonresidents of Indian reservations, the State of New York is fueling a boom in illicit cigarette smuggling and inflating the profit margins of criminal and terrorist smuggling networks. Enforcing the tax laws will generate up to $800 million in lost tax revenue while cutting off a revenue stream to those who wish to do harm to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, while H.R. 4081 is a good first step, I look forward to working with my colleagues to strengthen this bill as it moves through the legislative process to help keep terrorists from exploiting this revenue source.

I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5531, the Next Generation Screening Act of 2008, and I urge my colleagues to support passage of this critical homeland security bill.

I introduced H.R. 5531 on March 5, 2008, to enhance the effectiveness of the Department of Homeland Security's radiation detection capabilities. Over the past several years, the Department of Homeland Security has made significant progress in deploying radiation detectors at our Nation's ports of entry. While this capability provides a critical layer in our defense against radiological and nuclear terrorism, Customs officials are overburdened by alarms due to radioactive material that is not a threat, such as medical therapeutics, cat litter, and fertilizer.

To reduce this burden on Customs officials, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office within the Department of Homeland Security, initiated an aggressive research program to develop, test, evaluate, and deploy the next generation of radiation detection technology. This technology, known as the Advanced Spectroscopic Portal, or ASP, is capable of identifying, as well as detecting, radioactive material.

Preliminary results from actual field tests of the ASP systems show a reduction in nuisance alarms by a factor of 20. This means that ports such as the Port of Long Beach in California could reduce the number of radiological alarms that require secondary inspection from 500 per day to 20 per day--resulting in an enormous savings in time and resources for Customs officials.

Although technical progress has been made, the ASP system has not yet been deployed. There have been a series of delays with the ASP program due to miscommunication or misunderstanding between the government agencies involved, the stakeholders, and additional certification requirements established by the Congress.

Therefore, this bill addresses system capability, which appears to be the largest source of miscommunication between the agency preparing the ASP--the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office--and the agency responsible for using the ASP in the field--Customs and Border Protection.

Specifically this legislation directs the Director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection to enter into a memorandum of understanding regarding the minimum standards of operational functionality in order to deploy ASP systems. This is not in any way an attempt to rush development of a system, but merely a requirement to spell out in plain English what type of system is required by those who will be operating that system in the field.

This legislation also clarifies a provision in title IV of division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 110-161, which requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress certifying that ``a significant increase in operational effectiveness will be achieved'' with the ASP system before ``funds appropriated under this heading shall be obligated for full-scale procurement of Advanced Spectroscopic Portal Monitors'' and requires that ``the Secretary shall submit separate and distinct certifications prior to the procurement of Advanced Spectroscopic Portal Monitors for primary and secondary deployment that address the unique requirements for operational effectiveness of each type of deployment.''

H.R. 5531 requires the Secretary to develop a quantitative definition of ``significant increase in operational effectiveness'' and develop appropriate metrics for measuring this effectiveness.

In addition to authorizing the ASP program, this bill also authorizes the Securing the Cities Initiative, which is a successful program that enhances security in the New York City metropolitan region. Funding for the Securing the Cities Initiative is used to deploy next generation radiation detection technology to detect the illicit transportation of nuclear and radiological material in urban areas. The Securing the Cities Initiative has fostered unprecedented collaboration and coordination among its Federal, state, and local partners and has enhanced the security of the New York Metropolitan region. H.R. 5531 authorizes $40 million for this vital program, which is the same amount appropriated in Fiscal Year 2008, to ensure its continuation in Fiscal Year 2009.

The full Committee on Homeland Security approved H.R. 5531 by unanimous voice vote on June 26, 2008. I urge all Members to join me in supporting passage of this bill.

I submit the following:

Requesting Member: Congressman Peter T. King

Bill Number: H.R. 6599.

Account: Military Construction, Air National Guard.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: New York National Guard.

Address of Requesting Entity: 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, NY 12110.

Description of Request: $7.5 million will be used to construct Phase II of the Pararescue Facility. The use of taxpayer dollars is justified because The Francis Gabreski Air National Guard Base improves pararescue operations and survival equipment functions on Long Island.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and recognize the tireless efforts of Debra Brown Steinberg on behalf of the families of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks against our country.

For the past 7 years, Ms. Steinberg has worked passionately as an advocate for these families and to ensure they are treated equally, regardless of their respective citizenship or immigration status. She has played a significant role in drafting and implementing various bills to benefit 9/11 families including New York State's September 11th Victims and Families Relief Act, the September 11th Family Humanitarian Relief and Patriotism Act and the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund. In addition, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Ms. Steinberg and the Department of Homeland Security to allow eligible spouses and children of 9/11 victims to receive humanitarian parole and remain in the United States.

Of course, all of her efforts have been pro-bono and her persistence in seeing that these families are taken care of is truly remarkable. On behalf of the 9/11 families, many of which are constituents of mine, I salute Debra Steinberg for her devotion and positive contributions to their lives.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H. J. Res. 93, a resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act (P.L. 108-61). I am proud to have once again introduced this legislation; this year with the gentleman from New York, Mr. Crowley.

In 2003 Congress passed the Burmese Freedom & Democracy Act, legislation that I co-authored with my friend, the late Tom Lantos. President Bush signed this bill into law and we have reauthorized these import restrictions every year since. The legislation bans imports from Burma and the issuance of visas to those officials affiliated with the State Peace and Development Council, SPDC, the military junta that rules Burma and brutally represses its people. This law also bans U.S. financial transactions that involve individuals or entities connected with the SPDC.

These sanctions are critically important to keeping the pressure on the Burmese junta. The government continues to have one of the worst human rights records in the world and routinely violates the rights of Burmese citizens, including the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, as well as slave and child labor. The Burmese regime has destroyed more than 3,000 ethnic villages, displaced approximately 2,000,000 Burmese people, more than 500,000 of which are internally displaced, and arrested approximately 1,300 individuals for expressing critical opinions of the government. And it continues to hold Aung San Suu Kyi, the head of the National League for Democracy and the democratically elected leader of Burma, under house arrest.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, it does. In August 2007, after the SPDC cancelled fuel subsidies resulting in skyrocketing fuel prices, student leaders, democracy leaders, and Buddhist monks marched peacefully through the streets to demand human rights, freedom, and democracy. But the military responded by attacking these protestors. Hundreds of innocent people were killed, arrested, imprisoned, or tortured as part of this violent crackdown.

Then in May 2008 came Cyclone Nargis. Hundreds of thousands of Burmese citizens lost their lives because the government did not inform them a storm was approaching and, even worse, delayed and prevented humanitarian aid from reaching its people.

We must continue to stand with the Burmese people and expose the despicable and reprehensible actions of the SPDC. Sanctions are critical to putting pressure on the junta, Just last week the House passed the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act (H.R. 3890) which would ban the importation of Burmese gems into the United States and freeze the assets of Burmese political and military leaders. But we need to urge others to do the same. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, the European Union, EU, and the United Nations Security Council, UNSC, must all impose multilateral sanctions against Burma's military regime including a complete arms embargo.

I urge adoption of the resolution.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the Special Olympics, an outstanding organization which provides 2.5 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to participate in year-round, Olympic-style, athletic competitions.

July 20, 2008, will mark the Special Olympics' 40th anniversary. Thanks to hard work from thousands of dedicated volunteers, families and athletes, the Special Olympics has grown from its humble beginnings in Eunice Kennedy Shriver's Maryland home to over 200 programs located throughout 180 countries. The Special Olympics provides its athletes with 30 Olympic-style games--varying from alpine skiing to bocce--and includes children as young as 8.

In my home State of New York, the Special Olympics has a great tradition as one of the leading charitable organizations for the intellectually disabled. For this, the New York Special Olympics plays an irreplaceable role in the National Special Olympics Program. Today, New York is home to an astounding 43,000 athletes who participate in over 400 Olympic-style competitions.

The benefits of the Special Olympics go far beyond gold medals. The skills and relationships built during the athletes' participation give them the courage, self-confidence and ability to excel on and off the field. Not only does the Special Olympics serve the athletes, but also families, volunteers and communities who gain respect, tolerance, and understanding for persons with disabilities.

I would like to thank the millions of volunteers, the organization of the Special Olympics and, most importantly, the athletes, for providing the world with an invaluable service.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act (H.R. 6184) introduced by the Gentleman from Delaware. It's a good bill and a good follow-up to his 50-State quarter bill we have all enjoyed. However, Madam Speaker, I would like to make a point in the process of supporting this bill.

The idea of following the State quarters by honoring national parks is a very good idea, and I salute Mr. Castle and his co-sponsors, Mrs. Maloney and Mr. Gutierrez. I even want to suggest a place in my district as the one for the back of the New York quarter--the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, the beautiful summer home of former President Theodore Roosevelt, in Oyster Bay.

But that brings me to the point I'd like to make Mr. Speaker. Teddy Roosevelt, as the bill itself notes, is known as the first great champion of the country's National Parks, and in my view, the front of this new coin should bear the image of Teddy Roosevelt.

I, of course, mean no disrespect to George Washington. He was the Father of our Country, and his image has appropriately been on the one- dollar bill and the quarter. But I think, as a recent editorial in Coin World magazine pointed out, that it's about time we honor Teddy Roosevelt by placing his image on U.S. currency--after all, he's the only one of our four great Presidents honored on Mount Rushmore, who does not appear on a U.S. coin or banknote.

Mr. Speaker, I do not mean to criticize this legislation, and I intend to vote for it enthusiastically. But I hope all Members will think about the fact that without Teddy Roosevelt's championing of the ideas of conservation and National Parks, we would still have national parks, but the commitment to them would not have been as great, or so early. So, I hope the sponsors of this bill will work with me to help find a place somewhere in the U.S. system of money for the image of the great Rough Rider on a coin or banknote.

With that I urge adoption of the bill.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following:

Requesting Member: Congressman Peter T. King.

Bill Number: H.R. 5658.

Account: Military Construction, Air National Guard.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: New York National Guard.

Address of Requesting Entity: 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, NY 12110.

Description of Request: $7.5 million will be used to construct Phase II of the Pararescue Facility. The use of taxpayer dollars is justified because The Francis Gabreski Air National Guard Base improves pararescue operations and survival equipment functions on Long Island.

Requesting Member: Congressman Peter T. King.

Bill Number: H.R. 5658.

Account: RDT&E, Army, Medical Technology.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Notre Dame.

Address of Requesting Entity: 403 E. Madison, South Bend, IN 46617.

Description of Request: $1 million will be used to improve the diagnosis, evidence based treatment, and prevention of depression and other mental disorders among members of the military. The use of taxpayer dollars is justified because this project will implement programs recommended by the Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health 2007 Report ``An Achievable Vision.''

Requesting Member: Congressman Peter T. King.

Bill Number: H.R. 5658.

Account: RDT&E, Army, Medical Advanced Technology.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: New York University Medical Center.

Address of Requesting Entity: 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016.

Description of Request: $2 million will be used to expand the space capacity of the emergency department. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because it will enhance the ability for medical personnel to diagnose and treat patients during a national disaster, local emergency, or other public health crisis in Lower Manhattan.

Requesting Member: Congressman Peter T. King.

Bill Number: H.R. 5658.

Account: RDT&E, Navy, University Research Initiatives.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Webb Institute.

Address of Requesting Entity: 298 Crescent Beach Road, Glen Cove, NY 11542.

Description of Request: $7 million will be used to construct a ship model testing facility at Webb Institute. This use of taxpayer funds is justified because the Navy currently faces a shortage of graduates who are educated in the design of hulls and internal marine engineering systems. Webb Institute is one of only two civilian schools in the country to provide a naval architecture/marine engineering double degree program. Construction of a model test facility will provide undergraduate research applicable to new hull forms the Navy is developing or fielding. This will assist the Navy by increasing the number of graduating students who will be educated to work on Navy programs.

Requesting Member: Congressman Peter T. King.

Bill Number: H.R. 5658.

Account: Other Procurement, Navy.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corporation.

Address of Requesting Entity: 1966E Broadhollow Road, E. Farmingdale,

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of TIAA- CREF's 90th anniversary and to recognize the important contributions that this company has made to New York and across the country.

TIAA-CREF is a company with a rich and distinguished history. As a trustee of Cornell University in my home State of New York, philanthropist and businessman Andrew Carnegie was appalled by how many college professors could not afford to retire. He then established the Carnegie Foundation to support pension plans for professors. Soon, he realized the Foundation's endowment was too limited for the increasing number of qualified professors and, in 1918, established the Teachers Insurance Annuity Association with an initial million-dollar subsidy from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. At the time, TIAA was the only large, portable, fully-funded private pension system in the country.

In 1952, TIAA created CREF, the College Retirement Equities Fund, the world's first equity variable annuity and today the largest equity mutual fund. That year, an editor of Fortune magazine wrote, ``This is the biggest development in the insurance-investment business since the passage of the Social Security Act.''

Now, TIAA-CREF is a Fortune 100 company serving 3.4 million active and retired employees of more than 15,000 institutions. TIAA-CREF is also one of the largest employers in the United States, employing almost 1,200 individuals in New York and over 7,000 Americans nationwide.

Headquartered in New York City, TIAA-CREF provides financial services for over 10,400 participants with assets totaling over $1.3 billion in my home district and administers plans for 1,784 nonprofit educational, research, and health care institutions across New York State.

The important work that this company does in helping Americans plan for retirement and to save for a quality education is unparalleled. I am proud to be honoring them today and wish TIAA-CREF continued success.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to mark the anniversary of the Armenian genocide which began on this date ninety- three years ago. From 1915-1923 the Ottoman Empire carried out the deportation of approximately 2 million Armenian men, women, and children from their homeland of which 1.5 million were killed. And to this day, neither the Ottoman nor Turkish governments have been held to account for their involvement.

The 20th century witnessed some of the worst violence and atrocities in history: the attempted extermination of the Jewish people during the Holocaust, Tutsis slaughtering Hutus in Rwanda, Stalin's campaign of mass murder and starvation, the killing fields of Cambodia, and, of course, the Armenian genocide. Millions upon millions of innocent people were killed solely because of the color of their skin, the tribe they belonged to, or the religion they practiced.

As you know, too often in the past the world has stood by or looked the other way when genocide was taking place. And now we see it happening once again in Darfur. We most stop this horrible violence taking place in Sudan at once and make sure genocide is never repeated anywhere around the world. The call of ``never again'' must not just be exclaimed but rather acted upon.