Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor the 50th anniversary of WWLP-TV22, which on March 17, 1953 became the first station to broadcast on the air in Western Massachusetts.

As an NBC affiliate, WWLP is a leader in broadcasting, news, and ratings in Western Massachusetts. In 2003, the station was recognized by the Massachusetts/Rhode Island Associated Press as having the Best TV Newscast, the Best Sportscast, and the Best Public Affairs Program. Also, the station hosts

the longest running high school program in the country, ``As Schools Match Wits.'' WWLP's history of public service programming includes the live broadcast of the Gubernatorial Democratic Debate, which originated in the new, all digital studio, in Chicopee. The corporate owners of WWLP, the LIN Television Corporation, opened the Northeast Operations Center out of the Chicopee office to accommodate five television stations being controlled out of a single, state of the art facility.

WWLP continues to provide quality service to the community through their innovative Skylink program, which utilizes mobile satellite technology to broadcast live from anywhere within driving distance. Additionally, WWLP has a back up generator on Provin Mountain, and a UPS system and back up generator in Chicopee. Therefore, the back up systems will provide uninterrupted service to the viewers even in the event of a power outage at the transmitter or studio location.

As the station celebrates its 50th anniversary, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to their continuous service to the community. WWLP is the only weekday morning news at 5 am, and the only weekend morning newscast in the area. Through the 31 hours of weekly news broadcasting and live Doppler radar updates, WWLP is a leader in news coverage.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in opposition to the legislation that is in front of us for a variety of reasons, but I want to speak specifically to a couple of issues in the tax portion of this bill that I think ought to raise the concern of every Member of this body.

Earlier today, Mr. Chairman, this House voted for a resolution drafted by the majority which calls for an end to tax loopholes, and not 1 hour later did the House begin consideration of an energy bill which cements into law a $4 billion tax loophole. Now, I know this might sound strange this far after April Fool's Day, but sadly it is true.

The bill we are considering today will protect all corporate expatriates who have already left. And for the viewers, understand these are corporations who have moved offshore for the purpose of avoiding American corporate taxes at the very same time that 400,000 men and women in uniform are in Iraq. But let us, for a couple of moments here, discuss who these privileged few corporate expatriates are, why they are being protected in this bill, and what this means for America's energy sector.

If Tyco, who left New Hampshire for Bermuda, paid the $400 million a year in U.S. taxes it now avoids through the Bermuda loophole, we could easily afford all of the new section 45 wind energy and other related credits called for in this bill.

If Ingersoll-Rand, who left New Jersey for Bermuda, paid the $40 million a year in U.S. taxes it now avoids, we could easily afford the new credit for energy efficiency improvements for existing homes called for in this bill.

If Cooper Industries, who left Texas for Bermuda, paid the $55 million a year in taxes it now avoids, in 1 year we could pay for an entire decade of business and nonbusiness-qualifying fuel cell tax credits called for in this bill.

That is not enough? Well, if Weatherford, who left Texas for Bermuda, paid the $40 million a year in U.S. taxes it now avoids by the Bermuda loophole, we could easily pay for the new electric and clean fuel vehicle tax credits called for in this bill.

Furthermore, if the loophole was closed today, rather than permanently granting special protection as this bill does, we could fund almost all of the conservation items in this bill. And yet, because we are not, we will be dipping into Social Security and Medicare to fund these broadly supported energy conservation incentives. Here is the frustration that the minority feels in this House.

Last year, I filed a bill to close the loophole that allows U.S. corporations to set up phony shell headquarters in Bermuda and thereby avoid paying U.S. income taxes. For a whole year that bill has languished, thwarted by the Republican leadership, that refuses to allow a floor debate on closing the Bermuda tax loophole. Mr. Chairman, the American taxpayer deserves better.

We are moving into the final weekend when average Americans are going to sort and move through a host of pieces of paper and receipts as they attempt to put together their tax obligation, and yet we cannot take the time over 12 months to close this Bermuda tax loophole.

I have repeatedly said on this House floor that we should bring this legislation to the floor; that there will be more than 300 votes for this legislation in this House of Representatives. It will sail through here. People will break their wrists trying to get to these small voting devices on the back of the seats so that they can vote ``yes'' on this provision to close that Bermuda tax loophole, which saves $4 billion as estimated by the Joint Tax Committee.

We can do much better, Mr. Chairman. Let us close the Bermuda tax loophole. And I urge my colleagues here, because of this loophole, to vote down this bill.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if this is more this evening about amnesia or cranking out a press release for April 15. When you listen to these folks, they talk about changing the Tax Code. They have now been in charge since 1994. We are no closer to changing the Tax Code today than we were in 1994. But we were told we were going to pull the Tax Code up by its roots, we were going to drive a stake into the heart of the Tax Code, we were all going to a long funeral procession for the Tax Code.

Well, this resolution today is like their commitment to term limits: You hope that the public is not watching, and you change your position on the issue.

We have an opportunity to do something real about the Tax Code, and we could do it tomorrow, and everybody on the other side knows it, because I share their late-stated interest in closing tax loopholes.

I filed a bill last year that would close the most egregious tax loophole that confronts the American people, and that is for those U.S. corporations who claim their headquarters are really in Bermuda so they can avoid paying U.S. income taxes.

Well, my bill has languished for a whole year despite the fact we have had 186 signatures last year on a discharge petition, 125 bipartisan signatures this year on the bill, and they do not seem to think that there is any speed with which they can act.

Let me give a few names tonight. Here are some of the corporate expatriates who are taking advantage of the Bermuda loophole: Tyco, they avoid paying $400 million a year in U.S. taxes; Ingersoll-Rand, $40 million a year in U.S. taxes, and by the way, walk outside and see the machinery that says Ingersoll-Rand on it, where they win contracts with the Federal Government while our troops are overseas in Iraq, and they will not pay their fair share of income taxes while they win these contracts; Cooper Industries, $55 million a year in U.S. taxes they avoid. How about Weatherford, $40 million a year in U.S. taxes?

The Joint Tax Committee scored my proposal. We save $4 billion over 10 years if they would enact an opportunity to close the Bermuda tax loophole.

We hear the majority tonight that is concerned about a code that is riddled with decades of loopholes, but we cannot close this one?

We are going to vote tomorrow on an energy bill which cleverly includes a protection for a loophole. I mentioned earlier there are many who exploit this $4 billion loophole, but in fact, tomorrow, in that energy bill, they are going to grandfather a whole element that is left, and they think they are doing it in the disguise of tax reform.

The Treasury Department estimates that $70 billion a year in taxable income remains untaxed in offshore accounts. Sound familiar? Of course, this is what I and 125 Members of this body think we should be addressing. But instead we get a meaningless resolution

and a bill to cement the loophole into law on the same day. Oddly enough, one of those expatriates, by the way, and listen to this one, listen to this one, they currently hold a $50 million contract with the IRS to help the IRS collect taxes from the rest of us.

Mr. Speaker, the American taxpayer deserves better. There is no reason on Earth why that Bermuda tax bill is not on this floor in front of the American people for an up-or-down vote.

I would suggest this to you tonight: If they put that bill on the floor, there will be a rampage to get to the well to vote for this measure, and there will be at least 300 votes in this House if the Republican leadership would let the bill come up.

Close the Bermuda tax loophole.

I thank the gentleman very much for yielding me this time.

Mr. Chairman, today in Northampton, Massachusetts, they are having problems funding a homeless shelter for veterans. As we watched the morning headline and the evening newscast, we are struck by the brave commitment of our men and women on the borders of Iraq and perhaps, as I speak, within the borders of Iraq as they prepare for an all-out invasion of Iraq. At a moment like this when we are watching this commitment, it is important to think of the significant and personal sacrifices these brave men and women are making. But at the same time that we are creating hundreds of thousands of new veterans through their distinguished service, the Congress today debates a Republican budget that mandates cuts in veterans programs.

I talk to these folks at the Northampton VA, I meet with them regularly, and they point out there simply is less money every year in the VA for honoring the commitment we made to our soldiers.

I know that the Republicans today through another manager's amendment, only because when they went back to their membership, the membership said to them, ``what are you thinking of,'' that they have added in this amendment a few more dollars in an attempt to ameliorate some of their cuts. But the compelling truth is that this nominal increase will quickly be overcome by more than 2 percent in annual cuts in the years following. According to the Congressional Budget Office, their spending on veterans' health care and benefits is not enough to maintain purchasing power, which simply means real cuts in veterans programs.

As the National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans said of this budget being proposed by the majority Republican Party in this Congress, ``This budget dishonors the service of millions of service- connected disabled veterans, including combat-disabled veterans, and seriously erodes the Nation's commitment to care for its defenders.''

Stand strong today for the Democratic proposal. Honor the commitment we made to our veterans and vote down this Republican budget proposal.

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Budget,

Washington, DC, March 20, 2003.

American Legion Declares Spratt Budget ``Better Approach''

Dear Colleague: The Republican budget that will be

considered on the floor today cuts discretionary funding for

veterans health care below the level needed to maintain

purchasing power at the 2003 level by a total of $14.2

billion over ten years. Their budget also directs the

Veterans' Affairs Committee to cut $14.6 billion from

mandatory benefit payments to veterans, including

compensation for service-connected disabilities, burial

benefits, and veterans education benefits.

Unlike the Republican budget, the Democratic alternative

rejects any cuts to veterans' benefits over the next ten

years. And it addresses the rising demand for veterans health

care by funding veterans' health programs, including medical

research and construction, at $2 billion above the level

needed to maintain purchasing power at the 2003 level over

the next ten years. For 2004, the Democratic budget provides

$633 million more for veterans programs than the Republican

plan, and it provides $30.3 billion more for veterans than

the House Republican budget over ten years. The American

Legion calls the Democratic alternative ``a much better

approach toward reaching a balanced budget''.

The four groups--Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS,

Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign

Wars--that assess the needs of veterans and the funding they

believe is required to meet those needs, known as The

Independent Budget, have reviewed the Republican plan and the

Democratic alternative and have concluded that the Democratic

alternative ``represents a solid step forward in meeting the

very real needs of veterans''.

I have attached these letters and ask that you give them

your attention before you vote on the Budget Resolution

today.

Sincerely,

John M. Spratt, Jr.

Ranking Member.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honor the 125th birthday of Hampden, Massachusetts, March 28, 2003.

Hampden is located in the core of the 2nd district congressional district of Massachusetts. At the time of separation from Wilbraham in 1878, industries were becoming active in Hampden. There is evidence that Hampden could have well turned into one of the many New England factories or industrial towns. However, it underwent an agricultural period that ultimately resulted in the establishment of Hampden as a residential town.

Throughout the course of Hampden's history many key points have characterized the town and helped it to retain the essence of its founders. Elizabeth Sessions, a prominent founding member of Hampden, is part of a four-generation legacy. The Sessions resided in Hampden from 1790-1933, and provided the present day town hall that is utilized by the town of Hampden. Also, the parents and siblings of Foster Fiercely, the Governor of Massachusetts, resided in the town of Hampden and made it a point to invite the residents to his inauguration. Additionally, in the early industrial days of Hampden, Edwin Marcus Chaffee (1806-1872), invented the mill and calender, which are used in the processing of Rubber. Andrew Jackson Davis became a multimillionaire copper king in Montana, but was born in Hampden during its industrial era. Another famous name to come out of Hampden is Thornton W. Burgess, an author of a variety of children's books. Furthermore, his home and land became part of the Audubon Society to preserve the legacy for future generations.

In celebration of the 125th birthday of Hampden, Massachusetts, the Hampden Historical Society is hosting a dual celebration. the March 28, 2003 event is dedicated solely to the presentation of all Proclamations received and the original petitions presented from 1878. On Memorial Day, additional festivities are being held, which will consist of a parade and fan-style celebration. In closing, I would like to honor the 169 people, who in 1877 set aside differences with neighboring towns to finally petition, and ultimately create, what is now known as the town of Hampden.

Madam Speaker, today I join with a number of concerned shareholders to encourage Tyco to come home to America. Formerly a resident of New Hampshire, Tyco renounced its U.S. corporate citizenship in 1997 and left for Bermuda. For many of these corporate expatriates, the sunny climate of Bermuda is not the main draw; it is the lacks regulatory structure and the low taxes that lure these former U.S. companies to island tax havens.

For Tyco, it has meant the ability to avoid $400 million in U.S. taxes. Joint Tax has estimated that if all these corporate expatriates were to pay their Federal income taxes again, as legislation I have filed would require, listen to this, we would save $4 billion in tax revenue.

Certainly, as we discuss the ``shared sacrifices'' during a wartime economy, should these corporations not contribute as well? We are sending our children, men and women off to Iraqi shores, and we are asking these corporate patriots to go to Bermuda?

Today, Madam Speaker, I urge shareholders to approve proposal article number 7, despite the opposition of Tyco's management, and, Madam Speaker, I urge the Republican leadership to bring up my bill, the Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act, so we can tell all of these corporate expatriates, come home to America.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to enter into the Record today these remarks to acknowledge the accomplishments of Seamus Connolly. He is the Director of the Boston College Irish Studies

Music, Song, and Dance Program. Mr. Connolly is an established Irish Fiddler and Gaelic musician, and his great success and technical precision in competitions in the '60s were extremely influential in setting a high standard of craft for today's players. Mr. Connolly first came to the United States in 1972 as a member of the first Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) tour. After immigrating to the United States in 1976, Mr. Connolly settled in Groton, Massachusetts, and entered into the realm of teaching to extend his knowledge of music at the request of Larry Reynolds, President of the local branch of CCE. His presence and committed teaching in Boston is influential throughout the East Coast, making it a badge of honor for the area's musicians to have a tune from Mr. Connolly, and his work with the Gaelic Roots Summer Program at Boston College makes the tradition accessible to an ever broadening circle.

In 1993, Mr. Connolly began the Gaelic Roots Summer Program as an indoor festival, which has progressed into an array of workshops, exhibitions, classes, and a concert series. In addition to his teaching, Mr. Connolly is a recipient of the Irish Echo Traditional Artist of the Year Award for 2002, and a ten-time winner of the Irish National Championship. He has produced numerous recordings, and a 132- page book with more than 50 Irish tunes and collaborations with other artists. Mr. Connolly has had the honor of representing Ireland on three ``Masters of the Folk Violin'' tours organized by the National Council for the Traditional Arts. In 1990, he won a Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowship Award, one of three recipients from over 2,500 applicants. Also, Mr. Connolly appeared on the nationally televised ``Today Show'' and was profiled by Boston's WCVB-TV5 ``Chronicle Program.'' He initiated, produced and cohosted with Larry Reynolds Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann's ongoing weekly radio program of traditional Irish music on WNTN-1550 AM Boston. He also co-hosted the Irish segments of Boston's WGBH National Public Radio series ``Ethnicity.''

Mr. Speaker, it is with great appreciation and gratitude for Mr. Connolly's dedication and leadership to Irish music that I ask he be recognized. Mr. Connolly possesses the intelligence and poise of an excellent fiddle player, and graciously extends his talent to the community.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into the Record today these remarks to honor the accomplishments and life of Munir H. Abbasy, M.D., who died in a single engine airplane crash that he was piloting on July 29, 2001.

Dr. Abbasy graduated from Liaquat Medical College in Pakistan in 1969, and completed his internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Abbasy followed his internship with a position as a general surgeon at Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago, and a neurosurgical residency at the University of Pittsburgh. After moving to Massachusetts in 1976, Dr. Abbasy joined the Neurosurgical and Neurological Group Inc. in Springfield. Additionally, he was on the medical staff of the area hospitals, including Baystate Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, and Holyoke Hospital. Abbasy served as the Chief of Neurosurgery at Mercy Medical Center from 1988-1993, and extended his services to Baystate Medical Center from 1993-2001. Also, Dr. Abbasy was the assistant clinical professor in the neurosurgery department at Tufts University.

Dr. Abbasy was an established neurosurgeon who was commended on his extreme precision during surgery. Accordingly, Abbasy was the first neurosurgeon in Western Massachusetts to perform a ``Jannetta Procedure,'' which is a microvascular decompression of a cranial nerve for those who suffer from a tic douloureux and hemifacial spasm. Dr. Abbasy pioneered the practice of lumbar microdissectomies as an outpatient service at Baystate Medical Center in 1996, which reduced recovery time and created savings for the hospital.

As a resident of Longmeadow, MA, Dr. Abbasy was extremely involved in his community. He was a member of the Hampden District Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the New England Neurological Society, the Pediatric Section of AANS/CNS, and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Furthermore, he was a director of the Longmeadow Montessori School.

According to his colleagues, friends, and family, Dr. Abbasy was a remarkable, bright, and extremely dedicated surgeon. He brought passion to his practice and always wanted to better the institutions and process of healthcare. He is survived by his wife, the former Ann O'Connor, a son, Jamil, and a daughter, Shareen Abbasy.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Abbasy was a valued member of the community and an amazing individual. He served the medical community for 25 years and his work will be remembered and appreciated. He will be missed by all who had the opportunity to know him.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague and friend, Representative Amo Houghton, in reintroducing legislation to make three important changes to two of the most popular and efficient housing programs before Congress: the Mortgage Revenue Bond (MRB) program and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.

First, this bill repeals the Ten-Year Rule, a provision of the MRB program that restricts states from using homeowner mortgage payments to make new mortgages to qualified purchasers. This provision is obsolete and detrimental to the program. Every day, states lose millions of dollars in financing for first-time homebuyer mortgages due to this handcuffing provision. Our bill removes this unnecessarily restrictive provision to allow states to finance additional lower income mortgages.

Next, the bill replaces the present limit on the purchase price of the homes these mortgages can finance. The plain fact is there are no reliable comprehensive data that exist to determine average area home prices. The current price limits were issued in 1994 based on 1993 data and are well below current home price levels in most parts of the country. We propose a simpler formula limiting the purchase price to three and a half times the qualifying income under the program. This will work to preserve the goals of current law while providing a realistic limit on the program for almost all areas of the nation.

Finally, the bill facilitates lower income apartment production in rural areas by allowing states to use the greater of statewide median incomes or area median incomes as the basis for the income limits in the Housing Credit program. It is clear that the current rules do not provide sufficient incentives to build apartments in very low-income rural areas. Our bill addresses this by applying to the Housing Credit program the same methodology used in the MRB Program to determine qualifying income levels.

This bill is identical to the one 360 of our House colleagues cosponsored in the last Congress, which earned the support of the National Governors Association and every major national housing organization along the way.

Mr. Houghton and I believe these changes will ensure a strong, effective housing program that will meet the needs of our constituents now and well into the future. We ask for your support to ensure that these important provisions are enacted as part of tax legislation this year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this ``day late and dollar short'' Republican bill.

I fear that a lot of desperate families back in Springfield, North Hampton, and Milford, MA, are watching this debate today with confusion and anxiety. Well over 2,000 families of displaced workers in my district lost their unemployment compensation on December 28. Those desperate families,who thought losing their job in an economic slump was plenty to deal with, encountered even more pain with the loss of their financial life-line during the holidays.

Almost a million families around the country today, who are struggling to get back into the workplace, will not see their benefits resume if this bill is enacted.

In a successful effort to provide fewer benefits to fewer workers, the leaders of this House scuttled any chances for meaningful relief back in December when we knew this crisis was upon us.

What we are asking for in our substitute is not unusual. Congress has previously acted to temporarily extend unemployment benefits during periods of economic recession of high employment. And, unfortunately, the Nation reached an 8-year high for unemployment in November, 2002.

While the majority has recently decided that extending these benefits is the right thing to do, this bill is literally too little and too late. I urge my colleagues to support the substitute providing more financial security to more displaced workers. Every penny we provide to the families of laid-off workers goes right back into the economy. Support this economic stimulus proposal.