Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, we are at the point where this administration has tried to finance three wars with three tax cuts, which has resulted in $450 billion in annual deficits and $3 trillion in additional debt. There is a right way to cut taxes and meet our obligations, both here at home and abroad; and then there is a wrong way.

I have strongly supported responsible tax cuts for middle-class families, but that is not what we have here. I have worked in the past on two budgets, both in 1993 and 1997 when we balanced the budget, reduced the national debt and met our obligations in the areas of education, health care, the environment, while we secured the peace in the Balkans; opposite of everything that is being done today. We can do it if we make the right choices and have a good strategy. We are not doing that here.

I find it ironic that we are handing out another $13 billion in a corporate giveaway on the very day that the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal cited studies and found that 82 of our largest and most profitable companies paid no Federal income taxes in at least one of the last three years and that corporate taxes were at their lowest sustained levels since World War II. In fact, corporate taxes have financed only 6 percent of the government expenses during the last two fiscal years at the very time that we have been sending people over to fight the war on terrorism. When we have a war going on, everybody has skin in the game. They cannot take a walk from this

country and enjoy the privileges that they have to be an American.

What set of values lead my colleagues to give corporations an additional $13 billion in new giveaways at the expense of middle-class families trying to do right by their kids?

In America today, corporate balance sheets are enjoying their strongest position ever, but middle-class families are struggling with flat wages and rising health care and education costs. Yet we are providing tax breaks to the very corporations that pay no Federal income tax. Everybody must have some skin in the game when we have a war going on.

What kind of value systems say this is a good thing for corporations to avoid paying income taxes while enjoying the fruits of this country?

Mr. Speaker, the leadership is about making choices. As President Kennedy once said, to govern is to choose. My colleagues today have reflected the choices they have made on behalf of corporate America at the expense of our middle-class families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 772, which recognizes the importance of residents of long-term care facilities to the Nation, including senior citizens and individuals living with disabilities. This resolution calls for the week beginning October 3, 2004 to be celebrated as National Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Week.

We should do all that we can to help senior citizens and individuals living with disabilities maintain their rights and dignity in their daily lives as they strive to participate in the community and make meaningful contributions to our society. Helping them achieve their goals and dreams, and empowering them with the resources they need to lead rewarding lives depend on making sure their rights and benefits are preserved and strengthened. The objectives set forth under this resolution are consistent with these laudable goals.

Our nation's elderly include approximately 1.7 million who are living in 17,000 nursing homes and 1 million living in 46,000 assisted living facilities in the United States. About 160,000 people younger than 65 years of age live in the Nation's nursing homes. These numbers show the elderly and disabled constitute growing significant segments of our population and that we should recognize their specific needs and challenges and how to best serve their interests. I encourage my colleagues, therefore, to support the goals and ideals of National Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Week, and I welcome the participation of long-term care advocates as we strive to help those in such facilities lead productive and rewarding lives.

My commitment to our seniors in long-term care facilities and who are cared for by their families is why I introduced ``The Elder Justice Act'' (H.R. 2490). This bill will elevate problems associated with abuse against seniors to national attention by consolidating existing government functions dealing with the problem in several different federal agencies under a new Elder Justice Office within the Department of Health and Human Services. My legislation will also help States and local agencies combat neglect and exploitation--whether it is physical, psychological or financial--such as assisting victims and at-risk seniors through ``safe havens'' and supporting local and state prosecution of abuse perpetrated against the elderly.

Mr. Speaker, we should fulfill our commitment to seniors and disabled Americans. And we must ensure that resolutions like these move forward to demonstrate our obligations to those who need our help. I thank the gentleman from California, Mr. Waxman, for introducing this important resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support passage of H. Res. 772.

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

I would like to commend the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders), the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht), the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) for their leadership on this issue.

We have been down this road before. We dealt with this earlier where a bipartisan group of Members of Congress came together and sent a clear message as it relates to retirement and pensions that you cannot do what IBM and other corporations tried to do. And Congress in that issue was not left versus right. As my colleague from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht) always says, it is about right versus wrong. And a bipartisan group came together as it relates to the retirement plans of Americans who negotiated a deal and woke up in the middle of the night and had that deal abrogated, and that is not right.

Now, as my colleague from Minnesota said, there is a right way and a wrong way and you can create a win-

win situation. For the older workers who have a defined benefit plan, we are going to honor that. And for younger workers, we are going to get you into a 401(k) or what is called typically a defined contribution, that can happen as well. But you cannot wholesale change something people negotiated in good faith, won at the negotiating table and try in a backhanded way to take that money away. And if we had done that, and as my colleague from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) has shown, if Members of Congress had opposed all of the sudden a cash balance type of retirement system, people here with 18, 20 years would lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in their retirement plan. They would not think it is right. And if it is not right for a Congressman, it should not be right for people who are employees of companies who agreed to something. That would be wrong.

Now, we are dealing with two cases here: the particular case of IBM and the general issue of retirement plans. On the IBM case, I think it is appropriate for this amendment because to date the Treasury Department has consistently tried to find a way, and this is the latest vehicle to get involved in this IBM case as it relates to the retirement plan and IBM's attempt to go to a cash balance retirement plan which would cheat older workers of many years of their retirement savings that they agreed to and have knowledge that they have when they retire.

We need to stop Treasury from doing what they have been trying to do for 2 years. I do compliment them for their resourcefulness. They have never missed an opportunity to try to figure out a back door to imposing cash balance as a retirement plan.

Now, in general, the larger subject, and, unfortunately, we in this Congress have not gotten to dealing with retirement plans yet as I in my city, we have United Airlines, we have a crisis in people's retirement plans, but we have a subject here. We as a society have told people, save for your retirement outside of Social Security. It is important for you to save and not just rely on Social Security. And here you have a case of workers who have saved outside of Social Security, done everything they have been told to do, and then corporate America is allowed to walk away and cheat them of that.

You cannot tell people on one hand, you need to save for your retirement, and on the other hand let corporate America steal from it or cheat them of it. You either tell them one thing and have the laws of the land follow it, or you tell them another thing and have the laws of the land follow it.

And the deal we are having here on this, because we have no other venue in dealing with the retirement crisis in America, is that we have to tell people, you are going to save outside of retirement and the laws of the land are going to respect what you have done for your life, which is to plan for you and your spouse's retirement and so you can retire with dignity, with Social Security, health care as well as the retirement plan you have in the private sector. And our laws are not going to undercut what you have done your whole life. And we are not going to allow management, I understand the pressure management is under, but we are not going to allow them to walk away with what they agreed to.

You can create, as Secretary of Treasury John Snow did at CSX when he was in private sector, he went to a cash balance, and did right. He did right to older workers. He did right to younger workers, and he did right to his bottom line and his shareholders; and he did not cheat anybody.

It is high time the folks in the Treasury Department get their greedy little hands off and stop trying to figure out every way to undermine working men and women in this country and retirees from what they have earned rightfully at the negotiating table.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise to recognize the American Indian Center of Chicago, the longest-running urban Indian organization in the country and the leader of the National Urban Indian Family Coalition. I would like to congratulate the American Indian Center on its family oriented activities and publication of the new book ``Chicago's 50 Years of Powwows.'' I would also like to congratulate them on the special honor of being selected by the Smithsonian Institute as the only organization representing contemporary urban American Indians to be featured in the opening of the new Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. This museum celebrating the past and present of American Indians, and their rich history, opened today.

The American Indian Center of Chicago is showcased in the new Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian exhibit Our Lives: Contemporary Life and Identities. Our Lives presents the American Indian culture from a first voice perspective and tells stories of modern American Indian communities, examining the personal and collective identities of American Indian peoples in the 21st century.

The American Indian Center of Chicago was organized in 1953 by the Chicago American Indian community, in response to the Indian Relocation Act. That bill brought an influx of American Indians to Chicago, which soon became home to individuals from more than 50 tribes, including Oneida, Ojibwa, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Potawatomi, Lakota, Navajo, Blackfoot, Papago, and many others.

Throughout its history, the American Indian Center has been the principal cultural resource for American Indians in Chicago, promoting cultural awareness and cultural education within and outside the American Indian community. Over the years the center has hosted powwows, potlucks, bingo, birthdays, special celebrations, wakes and commemorative dinners, and many other special events.

Today, the American Indian Center of Chicago is a family-focused urban center and educational organization. It is also the cultural institution where the richness of American Indian traditions and culture are celebrated. The center serves as a model for other American Indian urban organizations in the country.

Mr. Speaker, on this historic day marking the opening of the new Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall, I wish to congratulate the American Indian Center of Chicago on its leadership and work with the American Indian community, and high honor of being selected by Smithsonian as part of its grand opening exhibits. On this remarkable day, I am proud to join the American Indian people of my district, as well as those of American Indian descent throughout the country, in celebrating this historic event.

Mr. Speaker, the Nation is talking about Dan Rather, CBS, and the false National Guard memos. Republicans are saying that he misled the Nation, that it is a scandal that threatens our body politic. Congressional Republicans are talking about an ethics investigation. And yesterday on a radio show, Bill Bennett said the Dan Rather incident went beyond bias. He said, ``This is corruption.''

Let me tell the Members something. Dan Rather is going to get a whopping, and he deserves it. CBS has a black eye, and they earned it. There is no excuse for what happened. However, all this outrage from the self-righteous right wing of this country has taken hypocrisy to a new low.

Let me ask my colleagues where was the moral outrage and where is the moral outrage when the President of the United States here in the State of the Union at this podium used falsified evidence to allege in his State of the Union that Iraq had attempted to purchase yellow cake uranium from Nigeria?

Where is their moral outrage when Condoleezza Rice and Dick Cheney repeatedly link Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda, all the while knowing that no evidence supports the claim?

Where is their moral outrage when our President said we would find tens

of thousands of pounds of chemical and biological weapons when we invaded Iraq, even though he knew there was no absolute proof?

Where is the their moral outrage when we are told that Iraq purchased aluminum tubes in order to refine uranium, even though weapons experts said otherwise?

Where is their moral outrage when Paul Wolfowitz told the Congress that Iraqi oil money would pay for reconstruction, all the while knowing that the burden would be placed on the American taxpayers?

And where is their moral outrage when we discovered that the chief architects of the Iraqi war, Vice President Cheney, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, Richard Perle and Donald Rumsfeld, paid Mr. Ahmed Chalabi $49 million in U.S. taxpayer money for faulty intelligence claiming that Iraq had mobile weapons labs and that we would be greeted as liberators? If this is how Iraqis greet liberators, they have a funny way of saying ``welcome.''

Mr. Speaker, the outrage of the self-righteous right over the falsified National Guard documents is nothing more than opportunistic partisan politics at its worst.

Did Dan Rather do wrong? Undoubtedly, and he is going to get what he deserves, as will CBS. Dan Rather deserves criticism and he should be held accountable.

But I fail to understand why Dan Rather's credibility has raised such a moral outrage, but the same critics cannot find that the President's credibility equals that of Dan Rather's. What civics class did they go to, where they learned that Dan Rather's credibility weighs more important to the fabric of this country than the President of the United States?

As far as I am concerned, both individuals have a piece of the public's trust; both individuals have to be accountable for what they say. Dan Rather said he was wrong and he will be held accountable. We have yet to hear that same explanation from the President of the United States.

I say this in all seriousness: I do not think the President of the United States takes it lightly. Dan Rather's poor judgment and false statements did not lead to where the country is today in Iraq and the cost we have paid both in lives and in our treasure. Time and again, this administration has used false statements and false documents to justify their actions, and America has paid dearly.

Mr. Speaker, my challenge to my friends on the right wing is, I will join you any time you want to condemn Dan Rather. If you want to have an hour debate here on the floor, I will be down there. But I offer you the invitation to come and join me any time you want to have an hour debate about the President's false statements and what he used to justify a war, knowing all the while that was not true.

Dan Rather will pay for this, as will CBS. But the President of the United States also has credibility, all of our credibility, and when it is misused, we all pay dearly for it.

So I ask the people on the right who usually talk about moral consistency to stop being so inconsistent in their moral relativism, where they see Dan Rather's credibility and his character as more important than that of the President of the United States. Understand that the President, our President, speaks for all of us, and his credibility is our credibility, and when we use it in front of the world and we are questioned from here forward because we no longer have told the truth and people do not believe us, we all pay a price that we are seeing every day in the news.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Denver the President said, ``When the American President speaks, he must mean what he says.''

That is interesting coming from an administration that told us the Medicare bill would actually cost $395 billion, all the while knowing it would cost $540 billion.

From an administration that said it would take less than 100,000 troops to secure the peace in Iraq and then fired General Shinseki, who told us the true number.

From an administration that promised to leave no child behind but purposely left them $10 billion short.

From an administration that said Iraq had reconstituted their nuclear capability, even though its own intelligence report said the opposite.

From an administration that said a memo detailing al Qaeda's plans to attack the United States was historical and not a warning.

From an administration that says it will cut the deficit in half while proposing $3 trillion in additional new spending.

From an administration that said their economic policies would create 5.5 million jobs. We are only 2.6 million short.

From an administration that promised a tax cut for everyone but failed to include a provision increasing the child tax credit for 6.5 million working families and military families.

Mr. Speaker, this is a funny way to promise to restore truth and honesty to the White House.

Mr. Speaker, last week we passed the 1,000th casualty mark in Iraq. Since then, we have lost another 12 of our fellow citizens in service to their country and its ideals. 1,012 American families are grieving the loss of their loved ones; 1,140 when we count the theater of Afghanistan and its conflict.

Mr. Speaker, we salute our Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Sailors, Reservists and Guardsmen called to duty. We thank them deeply for their service and their sacrifice and that of their families. We must honor their service and pay tribute to their heroism.

For these reasons, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner) and I have written a letter to the Speaker asking that the Capitol Rotunda be used for a temporary memorial to honor the troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

This memorial would display pictures of each fallen soldier, along with biographical information, and would give visitors to the Capitol Rotunda, the People's House, an opportunity to pay tribute to the troops. They could write notes, letters, anything they want to the families, so they know in this time that they have the thoughts and the prayers of their fellow countrymen.

I have done this outside my office as an individual gesture, as the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), a colleague of mine from the other party, has done outside his office, so you could write a note, you could write a card, some way to let this family know, whether they are from your State or not, that in this moment of pain and grief they are not alone; they have the thoughts and the prayers of their fellow countrymen.

The gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is from the other party. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, it is not whether you were or were not against the war; it is a way of paying respect.

Throughout our history, the Rotunda has been used for public viewing of our fallen heroes, bestowing upon them one of our Nation's highest honors. After World War I, we saluted fallen soldiers in the Rotunda. For World War II, Korea and Vietnam, we did the same. It is only fitting that we use the Capitol Rotunda to honor those who have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The war in Iraq is not over, and there will certainly be more lives lost, unfortunately. But this tribute is for all Americans, to show their respect for the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice, as well as to their families.

I do not often agree with President Bush, but I do agree with the sentiment he expressed in his Saturday radio express. ``Since September 11, the sacrifices in the War on Terror have fallen most heavily on members of our military and their families. Our Nation is grateful to the brave men and women who are taking risks on our behalf at this hour, and America will never forget the ones who have fallen, men and women last seen doing their duty, whose names we will honor forever.''

I agree with the sentiments expressed by President Bush, and I hope that the Speaker and the Republican leadership would take up those sentiments and do a temporary memorial. I am now doing it outside my office. The gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), as I mentioned, is doing it outside his office. I would ask that it no longer be an individual gesture, but it be an institutional gesture of that sentiment that the President expressed Saturday in his radio address.

Mr. Speaker, since this Congress convened, we have found time to name no less than 70 post offices, and we named another one just yesterday. I think we can, indeed, it is our duty and responsibility, find the time to properly honor those who have sacrificed everything in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. Speaker, this tribute was initiated by an individual Member of the House. We should make an institutional decision today in the People's House to expand it to an institutional gesture for all people who come to the People's House to remind those families that they have our love, our respect, our prayers and our thoughts in this time.

I hope that all this body will join me in saluting their families.

Mr. Speaker, today, in The Washington Post, there was a story about a senior executive from Pfizer who announced that reimportation of pharmaceutical drugs was safe and could be worked out. Peter Rost, vice president of marketing for the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, publicly announced his support for drug reimportation.

In addressing the issue of safety, which the pharmaceutical companies continue to raise as their main concern with reimportation, I want to quote this executive from Pfizer, ``This has been proven safe in Europe. The real concern about safety is about people who do not take drugs because they cannot afford it. The safety issue is a made-up story.'' This, from an executive in Pfizer Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, today seniors are traveling to Canada and buying their medications there where they save up to 40 to 50 percent. Kaiser Foundation found that 29 percent of seniors had not filled prescriptions because they could not afford them.

The issue of safety is a hoax, and when somebody tells you it is not about money, folks, it is about money. It is time we do right by the American seniors and taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise on behalf of more than 111,000 of my constituents who are of Polish descent in the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois on Chicago's northwest side. It is my privilege to recognize the 25th anniversary of one of the most celebrated cultural events and the pride of the Polish-American community in Chicago--A Taste of Polonia.

This year's anniversary event was held over Labor Day Weekend and featured hundreds of Polish handicrafts and artistic exhibitions, musical performances and other cultural displays. An abundant variety of Polish cuisine, including some of my personal favorites--kielbasa and pierogi--were enjoyed by tens of thousands of Chicagoans, including many who don't have Polish-American background but nonetheless wanted to join in the celebration and appreciate such an extraordinary assortment of food, music and art unique to ``A Taste of Polonia''.

Mr. Speaker, I also salute the Copernicus Foundation, a leading advocate for Polish-Americans in Chicago and throughout the country. The Foundation is a shining example of dedication to promoting our city's ethnic pride. It has hosted a variety of cultural, educational and civic programs, town meetings, political debates, live theater performances, concerts and films. It has been home to the Polish Film Festival in America since 1987. The Foundation has proven time and again its commitment to showcasing the many cultural and civic achievements of Polish-Americans and ensuring that they continue to flourish as demonstrated by its sponsorship of ``A Taste of Polonia''.

Today, it is especially important to reaffirm our appreciation and respect for Polish culture, particularly as the United States and Poland broaden a mutual partnership in the global economy and in fighting the global war against terror. Our special relationship with Poland exemplifies our mutual commitment to democratic ideals of liberty and human rights.

Mr. Speaker, ``A Taste of Polonia'' is a source of great pride for Polish-American citizens living in Chicago and indeed across the State of Illinois. I invite my colleagues to attend this celebration in the future and again congratulate all those who contributed toward another successful and joyous celebration of our city's Polish heritage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Victory Gardens Theater of Chicago for their twenty-eight memorable seasons of excellence and artistic achievement on the occasion of the world premiere of The Family Gold by Annie Reiner.

Since 1974 Victory Gardens Theater has flourished in its mission to support some of Chicago's most talented playwrights. In only a few years time, the theater became a major staple of the Illinois performing arts community, producing such successes as Stacy Myatt's The Velvet Rose.

In 1977, Dennis Zacek was recruited as the theater's new Artistic Director. Nationally renowned for his 150 productions, Zacek quickly moved the theater in many new innovative and creative directions, meriting the prestigious 1997 Sidney R. Yates Arts Advocacy Award.

Over the years, the Victory Gardens Theater has allied with several established production companies, most notably the Body Politic Theatre, as well as emerging groups including MPAACT, Roadworks Productions and Remy-Bumppo. These collaborations have brought to Chicago the finest and most imaginative on-stage productions available. Featured playwrights have included Steve Carter, whose drama Pecong went on to productions in London, Newark, Minneapolis and San Francisco, and James Sherman, whose Beau Jest went on to become the longest-running show in the history of the Lambs Theatre in New York and has subsequently been translated into four different languages and performed in eight countries.

In 2001, the Victory Gardens Theater was globally honored with the Tony Award for its continuous level of artistic achievement in the development of playwrights and their work.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the high level of creative writing and acting consistently produced by the Victory Gardens Theater. I join with the people of Chicago in congratulating Victory Gardens Theater on their numerous achievements both on and off the stage, and wish them continued success with The Family Gold and all of their future productions.

Mr. Speaker, today, nine more Americans gave their lives in Iraq, nine more families are going to be without their loved ones this holiday season, and nine more American families are grieving.

Out of those nine, two soldiers and seven marines, perhaps your neighbor, and they are our neighbors, because they are always going to be America's neighbors, holds the distinction of becoming the one thousandth American casualty in Iraq. We salute our soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors, reservists, and guardsmen who are called to duty. We thank them deeply for their service, their valor, and their sacrifice for this country.

The one thousandth casualty in Iraq is a milestone and one we must acknowledge as we continue to reflect on the cost of the war on our Nation's families and the American people. We must honor the service of our troops and pay tribute to their heroism.

For that reason, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner), a veteran, and I have written a letter to the Speaker of the House asking him to arrange a temporary memorial in the Capitol Rotunda to our fallen troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, explaining the pictures of each fallen soldier, along with biographic information, which would also provide an opportunity for visitors in the Rotunda of the people's House to write notes in honor of those soldiers to their families, their loved ones, their brothers, their sisters, their mothers and fathers, and husbands and wives.

Throughout its history, the Rotunda has been used for public viewing for fallen heroes, bestowing upon them one of the Nation's highest honors. After World War I, we saluted the fallen soldiers in the Rotunda. After World War II, Korea, Vietnam, we did the same. It is only fitting that we use the Capitol Rotunda of the people's House to honor those who have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The war in Iraq is not over, and there will certainly be more lives lost, but this tribute is for all Americans to show its respect for the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice as well as to their families. In honor of those lost soldiers, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said, ``He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die, that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives and through it, he lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.''

Just as President Roosevelt honored the fallen of World War II, we believe this tribute would honor our most recent heroes and their families.

Mr. Speaker, since this Congress has begun, we have found time to name, I think at last count, 65 post offices, including 2 tonight. I think we can, and, indeed, it is our duty and our responsibility, to find the time to properly honor those who have sacrificed everything in Iraq and Afghanistan. I hope that we do this as an institution, as a Congress, to use the people's House to pay tribute to those families and allow all those families to know that for everybody who comes here who writes a card, a note, a tribute, that those families who have lost their loved ones will know that they will always be in America's prayers and in America's thoughts.

A colleague, a Republican colleague, outside of his office has that memorial put up. I think it is a great idea. I have asked the Speaker to take that idea and now make it an institution rather than an individual's decision. Regardless of politics, regardless of where you were on the idea of going to war in either Iraq or Afghanistan, we use the people's House, put on that memorial, and let the families know as they get the letters from everybody who visits it, the cards, the letters, the notes, the tributes, they will always be a part of America's family, and they will never be forgotten.

And they will always be in our prayers and our thoughts. I think this is something we owe these families. And I hope we can accomplish this, unlike other matters, in a bipartisan fashion. It is an idea I saw one of our colleagues had done outside his office, and I am hoping now the institution will take it up and make it its own in a proper tribute; and it be would be a temporary tribute for all those families and to all those who have fallen in both the theaters of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Wrightwood Neighbors Association (WNA), and its President Michael Lufrano, on their ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of members of the Wrightwood community, on the occasion of the 21st annual ``Taste of Lincoln Avenue.''

The Wrightwood neighborhood--part of the Lincoln Park community--is located on Chicago's North side, bounded by Diversey Parkway on the north, Halsted Street on the east, Fullerton Avenue on the south, and Lakewood Avenue on the west.

Since 1962, the work of the WNA has been essential to the ongoing success of the Wrightwood community. The WNA strives to maintain a vibrant urban community for people to live, shop, play, and raise families. The Association has helped Wrightwood preserve its historic and cultural treasures, while also encouraging architectural development to add beauty and rejuvenation to the neighborhood. With this combination, lifelong Wrightwood residents are able to remain, as new generations bring their own flavor to the area.

The vision of the WNA has given Wrightwood the ability to continuously emerge as an area with a strong sense of community, diversity, and heritage. The WNA's committees have enhanced the schools, maintained and improved local parks, and reviewed land development to guarantee the character of the community.

Known as the ``Granddaddy of Chicago street festivals,'' the ``Taste of Lincoln Avenue'' provides Wrightwood neighbors the opportunity to enjoy the summer and spend time with friends. With food, craft vendors, live music, and other entertainment, it is an occasion for Chicagoans to sample the diversity of this great neighborhood.

Since its beginnings in 1984, the ``The Taste of Lincoln Avenue'' has raised over $1 million, and last year alone, over $135,000, in order to improve schools and parks, aid non-profit organizations, and increase the beauty of the community. The WNA's ``Taste of Lincoln Avenue'' celebrates the history of Wrightwood and ensures the community's continuous improvement in the future.

It goes without saying that the enthusiasm, hard work, and leadership of Michael Lufrano, organization officers Jeff Kwiat, Stacey Hawk, Anne Durkin, and Chris Connors, and the other members of the WNA have brought a secure and lasting vision to Chicago's North side. I thank them for the enthusiasm in making the Wrightwood neighborhood one of the jewels of Chicago.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois, and indeed all of Chicago, I am privileged to congratulate the Wrightwood Neighbors Association on continuing to enhance the quality of life in Chicago, and wish them tremendous success with the upcoming ``Taste of Lincoln Avenue.''

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to recognize the contributions of Chicago's Korean American Chamber of Commerce toward preserving the glorious heritage and culture of Chicago's Korean community, on the occasion of its 9th Annual Korean Street Festival.

The Korean Chamber of Commerce continues to be an integral part of the Korean Community in Chicago. As a strong advocate for commercial, financial, and industrial member rights, the Chamber has played an essential role in local Korean American economic and community development. From educating members on renewing and issuing licenses, to aiding small businesses and forming cooperatives for purchasing products, its services have been indispensable to the greater Chicago area.

Among the valued contributions of the Chicago Korean American Chamber of Commerce is their joint effort with the Korean Street Festival Committee for the annual street festival. The Annual Korean Festival on August 14th and 15th will showcase the rich culture and traditions of the Chicago Korean Community, while celebrating the Centennial of Korean immigration.

Since 1996 the Korean Street Festival Committee has planned its celebration to enrich Chicago's summer season. Last year's display of arts, cuisine, music and dance performances, and variety of merchandise, brought over 40,000 local Chicago residents and travelers from around the Midwest region.

The Chicago Korean American Chamber of Commerce has consistently demonstrated its commitment to keeping the Korean heritage alive in Chicago. Their various programs and services all contribute to the success of the organization, and I applaud those who work and volunteer their time to continue this important mission. But, the Korean Street Festival is much more than good food and entertainment. It is a chance to remember and honor all of the hard work and accomplishments made by the Korean Community. It is through this awareness in which younger generations can pass on the traditions and values of Korea.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored on behalf of the Fifth District, and indeed all of Chicago, to call attention to all of the meaningful work occurring at the Chicago Korean American Chamber of Commerce at the time of its 9th Annual Korean Street Festival. I wish them a glorious festival and a thriving future in Chicago.

Mr. Speaker, at every critical juncture in American history, each preceding generation has been asked to pick between equality and inequality, justice and injustice. In that struggle, our predecessors always tipped the scale in favor of equality and justice, and always widening the circle of democracy. And in widening that circle of democracy, America's character and her democratic values were renewed.

Today we are taking a reactionary departure from constitutional history. Our congressional predecessors never successfully attempted such an extreme measure as this, because they knew it would violate every principle that defines America, but this Congress and its majority leaders, in its infinite wisdom, will take that radical step today.

The majority leader asked for a debate known for its tolerance concerning a piece of legislation that is neither tolerant nor respectful of debate. The proponents of this legislation say, this is an effort to protect the institution of marriage. Half of all marriages end in divorce. Divorce threatens marriage. So why do we not deny access to the Federal courts to divorcees?

If you are worried about your marriage, read your vows and leave our Constitution alone.

Today we are not defending marriage; we are defeating the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal, but maybe George Orwell is more appropriate today: all are equal, but some are more equal than others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3684, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act. This act mandates clear labeling to protect consumers from medical problems caused by the eight major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. These irritants are found in a wide variety of packaged foods, and account for an estimated 90 percent of all food allergies.

Food allergies can drastically affect the quality of life for the seven million Americans who suffer from them. Approximately 30,000 individuals each year require emergency room treatment for food allergies, and about 150 die each year. The eight percent of all children in America who have these allergies and their families deserve our help and support in dealing with the challenges they face in their daily lives.

As there is no cure for food allergies, the only protection against reactions to these foods is to avoid them altogether. But without proper labeling, parents cannot ever be sure their children are safe. One mislabeled product, one misleading claim, can be fatal. We need tough standards to ensure that food producers provide adequate information on packaging. This legislation provides those standards by requiring that foods containing any of the eight major food allergens be labeled in a clear and easy-to-understand way, so parents can feel confident in their choices.

This bill also addresses trace allergens, another major concern of those who live with food allergies. Products which claim to be allergen free can still be contaminated with these products during the manufacturing process. This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to effectively track which foods are unintentionally contaminated with major food allergens during the manufacturing process, and to recommend alternate processes to reduce such contamination.

Mr. Speaker, food allergies create a major obstacle for allergy sufferers and their families. The dangers of allergic reactions restrict options for travel, socializing, working and learning. This legislation can help prevent avoidable allergic reactions and provide additional peace of mind to families. I commend the gentlelady (Mrs. Lowey) from New York for bringing this legislation to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to support it.