Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mother Teresa of Calcutta for her life-long dedication to the poorest of the poor. She did not do it out of obligation, but out of love and goodwill. On October 19, 2003, Mother Teresa will be beatified by Pope John Paul II in Rome.

Mother Teresa dedicated the majority of her life to helping the poorest of the poor in India. While supervising a school in Calcutta, Mother Teresa was faced with the suffering and poverty that was outside her convent walls. These images made such a deep impression on her that, in 1946, she received permission from her superiors to leave the convent school and devote herself to working among the poor in the slums of Calcutta.

In 1950, Mother Teresa, while doing her charity work, founded Missionaries of Charity, an order of nuns dedicated to serving the poor. Originally, the convent began with just 12 sisters; today, it has over 3,000 sisters in over 100 countries worldwide with 517 missions.

Mother Teresa's compassion for the suffering knew no boundaries and has served as an inspiration to the world. She fed the hungry, sheltered the homeless, and cleaned the wounds of those injured; but what is even more important is that she made them feel good, loved, wanted, and gave them back the dignity that poverty had taken away from them.

For her endless amount of volunteer work and selflessness, Mother Teresa was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, an honor that she deserved for laboring in loving dedication. She was also acknowledged for her work in 1985 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Even late in her life, she continued to dedicate her time and energy to those who were in need. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mother Teresa for her selfless devotion and extraordinary contributions to the world community.

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

Mr. Chairman, the question before us tonight and tomorrow is whether to give the President a blank check of nearly $87 billion or to fashion a bill that represents and promotes the best interests of our troops and the American people. I, for one, will not write the President a blank check for $18.6 billion in reconstruction funds of American taxpayers' money based on a reconstruction plan just sent to Congress, which rebuilds Iraq's electricity infrastructure, among other things, when ours is not functioning here at home; which modernizes Iraq's medical facilities and medical equipment, when millions of Americans here at home are living without health care; which pays for that which we did not damage and did not previously exist in Iraq; and which sends $18.6 billion in grants to a country that has the second largest oil reserve in the world valued at over $7 trillion.

I do not intend to add another $18.6 billion to this year's deficit, estimated at over $480 billion, and that is why we demand an Iraq package that will not bankrupt future generations, that is paid for.

This administration failed to present a financially responsible plan for reconstruction in Iraq. It failed in its responsibilities to our troops in Iraq. Was it responsible to send American troops into Iraq without adequate planning, with tens of thousands of our troops without border armor, without an exit strategy, without a realistic troop deployment and rotation schedule, without a plan to get them eventually back home? No, and that is why we support our troops and the Democratic proposal to improve the funds in this bill that go to protect them.

Our troops and the American people have paid the brunt of the cost in lives lost and resources spent. In our war on terror and our war in Iraq, they are looking for honest leadership and demand a realistic plan from this President.

So we must give our men and women in uniform the resources they need to do the job they have been given, and we must do all we can to return them to their families quickly and safely. It does not mean cutting and running, but it does mean protecting them while they are there and finding a plan to have them ultimately exit and to bring more people from the international community to bear in Iraq.

However, our troops should not be held hostage to an outright grant for Iraq's reconstruction, and I bristle when I hear already the beginnings of suggestions that question those who have a different view. We demand an opportunity to vote for the money for our troops and at the same time to limit the unbridled grant money to fund reconstruction in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Dawood Farahi on his inauguration as the seventeenth president of Kean University. Dr. Farahi was inaugurated on Tuesday, September 30, 2003, at the Wilkins Theatre on the campus of Kean University.

On February 24, 2003, the Kean University Board of Trustees unanimously elected Dr.

Dawood Farahi to be the seventeenth president of Kean University. Dr. Farahi has been described as the embodiment of Kean University for his commitment to educational quality and affordability for its students. His leadership will undoubtedly bring Kean University to an even higher level of academic excellence.

Dr. Farahi was recently special assistant to the president of Kean University for both operations and technology. During this time, Dr. Farahi was responsible for the supervision of budget management, position control, enrollment services, and the office of computers and information systems. He created and implemented the Technology Institute, which provides training for faculty and staff in order to integrate computers into the curriculum and begin developing distance- learning courses.

Dr. Dawood Farahi has worked closely with state, county, and municipal officials in problem solving and technical capacities. Dr. Farahi developed and implemented a strategic information plan for the City of Elizabeth, New Jersey. As a result, the Elizabeth Police Department has been lauded as one of the 10 best in the nation. Working with the Elizabeth public school system, Dr. Farahi created the Vision 2000 Strategic Plan, which is now used as a model for many urban schools in New Jersey and throughout the nation.

Dr. Farahi was a Fulbright Scholar, and received a Ph.D with honors from the University of Kansas. He has been a full-time professor at Kean University since 1989, teaching Quantative Methods, Management Information Systems, and Strategic Management, and was honored in 1993 as the Graduate Teacher of the Year, and was named Teacher of the Year in 1996.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Dawood Farahi on his appointment as the seventeenth president of Kean University.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Neil DeSena for his years of dedicated leadership throughout the community of Bayonne, New Jersey. Mr. DeSena was unanimously selected as the Grand Marshall for this year's Bayonne Columbus Committee parade to be held on Sunday, October 12, 2003.

Mr. DeSena has been a devoted member of the Bayonne community for over thirty years. His exemplary work in local organizations and his understanding of the needs of Bayonne residents have provided a great service to the entire community. First elected as the Third Ward Councilman in 1970, Mr. DeSena served four consecutive four year terms. In 1986, Mr. DeSena was re-elected to the City Council as a Councilman- at-Large. He currently serves as a personal aide to Mayor Joseph V. Doria, Jr.

A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Mr. DeSena fought on behalf of his country with great honor and valor, receiving an honorable discharge with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

A licensed broker, Mr. DeSena opened his own insurance company in 1982. His natural leadership qualities led him to serve as the president of the Local 164 Insurance Workers International Union, and as a member of the Union's General Executive Board.

Mr. DeSena has received several awards from various community and business organizations, including the Patriots Award for God, Country, and Home from the Catholic War Veterans Post 1612 and the Ladies Auxiliary. He recently received the 2003 Honor Citizen Award from the New Jersey Honor Legion Police, and is a recipient of the Rudy DeAngelo Foundation Award and the Boy Scout Distinguished Award.

Mr. DeSena pursued professional studies at the Professional School of Business, St. Peter's College, Seton Hall University and Fairleigh Dickenson University. He and his wife Marie are the proud parents of Robert, Julianne, and Neil, and the grandparents of Jessica and Robert Thomas.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Neil DeSena for his years of service and dedication to the citizens of Bayonne.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Carmel Galasso for her outstanding commitment to serving her community. She was presented the Mary T. Norton Memorial Award by the United Way of Hudson County on September 16, 2003, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Ms. Galasso has demonstrated a remarkable passion for helping those in need and has provided, and continues to provide, valuable services that have touched many lives throughout Hudson County. As a member of the Saint Peter's College Alumni Board, she currently works on special projects for the college, as well as the community as a whole. Since 1996, she has served as the program coordinator of Catholic Community Services for the Hudson County Parish Access Center in Jersey City.

Over the years, Ms. Galasso has worked tirelessly to improve her community. She began as a grammar school teacher and guidance counselor at Saint Aedan's School in Jersey City, where she taught for 8 years. She then became assistant director of Campus Ministry at Saint Peter's College for 10 years, where she spearheaded food and toy drives and walks against hunger. As program coordinator for the Parish Access Center, Ms. Galasso was instrumental in establishing a registration site for families to apply for New Jersey Kid Care and creating satellite offices that provide critical services for families in need. These offices have provided countless family baskets, Christmas gifts, toiletry items, and food gift certificates.

Ms. Galasso's dedication is also evident in her immediate response to the tragedy of September 11. In the days following the tragedy, Ms. Galasso led efforts to provide sandwiches, water, and other supplies needed to help support those impacted by the World Trade Center disaster. With the help of the United Way of Hudson County, Ms. Galasso was able to process 186 cases for families who were impacted by the attack.

Ms. Galasso continues to be involved with the Resurrection Parish and the Bon Secours Health System. She helps coordinate the Parish Nurse Program, which offers medical care to parishioners at local churches through a holistic approach to physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Ms. Galasso was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. She received her bachelor's degree in Education from Saint Peter's College and her master's degree in Adult Christian Community Development from Regis University in Colorado.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Carmel Galasso for her outstanding contributions to the success of community programs that have served countless individuals throughout New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Christian Children's Parade and Multicultural Festival, which celebrated its 25th annual parade on Saturday, September 13, 2003, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

For 25 years, the Christian Children's Parade and Multicultural Festival has been providing a wonderful celebration for children and parents, and has enriched the spiritual development of young people throughout Jersey City.

By dedicating the Christian Children's Parade and Multicultural Festival's annual parade to the second anniversary of the September 11th attacks, this event will provide an opportunity for us to remember those who were lost, and to recognize the strength and unity of families and friends who lost loved ones on that horrible day.

Led by the Reverend Jose C. Lopez, president of the Christian Children's Parade and Multicultural Festival, the parade will end with a ceremony in Hamilton Park. I extend my gratitude to Reverend Lopez and his staff for making this important event possible for the children and residents of Jersey City.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Christian Children's Parade and Multicultural Festival for its years of dedicated service to the children of Jersey City, New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Hispanic- American Chamber of Commerce of Essex County for its efforts in developing and advancing the role of Hispanics in small businesses, and in enhancing the interests of Hispanics throughout Essex County and New Jersey. On September 25, 2003, the Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce of Essex County will hold its 15th Annual Corporate Lunch and Scholarship Awards Presentation at the Newark Club in Newark, New Jersey.

The Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce of Essex County (HACCEC) has contributed to the increased prosperity and achievement of Hispanics throughout the State by forming new partnerships with Latin America, bringing products and jobs back to New Jersey, and creating further economic development and business opportunities throughout our region. As a member of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the HACCEC has successfully brought the issues and concerns of Hispanic-owned businesses to the forefront of the national economic agenda. The Chamber is currently advancing its mission by building the first Hispanic Business Center in Essex County. This will provide the HACCEC with the resources to develop and support economic opportunities for the Hispanic community of Essex County and throughout New Jersey.

I would like to extend my gratitude and congratulations to this year's honorees: Miguel E. Rodriguez; Mario E. Moyano; Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.; Hector M. Corchado; and Anthony F. Ambrose.

Currently president of the HACCEC and former Deputy Mayor of Newark, Miguel E. Rodriguez has led a career proven in leadership and commitment to the Hispanic community. His vast community resources, marketing and management experience, and commitment to diversity have helped make the HACCEC a great resource for small businesses.

The president of American Latin Travel Agents in America, Mario E. Moyano, has been a leader in Newark for over 20 years. Born in Ecuador, he came to the United States in 1969, and by 1975, had established his own business, the Moyano Agency. He is currently the voice of over 160 travel agencies throughout the Newark area.

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., has brought quick and impressive change to Essex County. One of his first actions as county executive was establishing the Office of Cultural Diversity and Affirmative Action to ensure adequate minority participation in county affairs. Heavily involved with the Essex County Parks system, Mr. DiVincenzo is the founder of the Newark ``Small Fry'' basketball program, the Rick Cerone Little League, and other recreational programs.

Newark City Councilman Hector M. Corchado has been an effective and dedicated member of his community. A longtime resident of Newark, Councilman Corchado was elected to the City Council in 2002. Mr. Corchado began his career in the Newark Police Department over 14 years ago, where he served as a detective and sergeant in the Community Affairs Division. A natural leader in the police department, he went on to become deputy mayor of Newark before serving on the City Council.

As the chief of police for Newark, Anthony F. Ambrose, III, has served with the Newark Police Department for 17 years. Chief Ambrose rose quickly through the ranks of the Department, and has been a dedicated officer and a true public servant, always keeping the interests of the community at the forefront.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Hispanic- American Chamber of Commerce of Essex County and its honorees for playing a critical role in the success of Hispanic businesses throughout Essex County and New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael Leggiero for his leadership and dedication to the North Hudson Community Action Corporation. Mr. Leggiero was honored with the Louis T. Scialli Memorial Award by the United Way of Hudson County on September 16, 2003, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Secaucus, New Jersey.

As President and CEO of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation, Mr. Leggiero's vision and leadership has helped make the organization the largest and one of the most highly regarded community organizations in Hudson County. The North Hudson Community Action Corporation is currently the largest provider of health and social services in the county and serves as a model for the quality of services it provides the community.

Mr. Leggiero first came to the North Hudson Community Action Corporation in 1971. Through his hard work and communal spirit, Mr. Leggiero assumed directorship in 1978. At that time, the North Hudson Community Action Corporation administered seven programs, which served 5,000 residents per year. After 25 years under Mr. Leggiero's leadership, the North Hudson Community Action Corporation now runs 20 programs that serve over 55,000 Hudson County residents each year.

Mr. Leggiero's foresight and understanding of community issues has been a great asset to the North Hudson Community Action Corporation. Mr. Leggiero helped create a state-of-the-art community health center, which now provides care and assistance to over 2,000 patients each week. In 1996, Mr. Leggiero spearheaded the production of 49 new affordable housing units and just recently completed a similar venture, which provided the North Hudson community with 37 new housing units.

Michael Leggiero is a lifetime resident of Union City, where he lives with his wife Lois. An active member of his church, Mr. Leggiero is known for his love and dedication to his congregation, with whom he shares a commitment to giving back to the community.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Michael Leggiero for his outstanding leadership and service to the people of Hudson County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the victims of the Katyn Forest Massacre of 1940. A Memorial Service sponsored by the Katyn Forest Massacre Memorial Committee of the New Jersey Division of the Polish American Congress was held on Sunday, September 21, 2003, at the Katyn Monument in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The Katyn Forest Massacre Memorial Service is a tribute to the bravery of the Polish people who fought valiantly during World War II. Over sixty-three years ago, during the Soviet invasion of Poland, over 15,000 Polish military officers, intelligentsia, prisoners of war, clergy, and Polish civilians were attacked and killed by Soviet military and secret police. Over 4,500 bodies were discovered in the Katyn Forest in a single mass grave.

This year, the Katyn Massacre Memorial Service will also pay special tribute to the brave men and women who perished in the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001. Although more than 60 years apart, the loss of innocent lives in both tragic events have had a profound effect on our society. To lay wreaths and flowers in memory of all of the victims is a fitting tribute, as the site of the Katyn Monument in Exchange Place in Jersey City once looked upon the towers of the World Trade Center just across the Hudson River.

Today, I ask that my colleagues join me in remembering the victims of the Katyn Massacre and the September 11th attacks, and honor their sacrifice and courage. May we continue to honor the memories of those who were lost, so we will not be destined to repeat the horrors of the injustices suffered by these innocent victims.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor La Casa de Don Pedro for providing invaluable community programs and services for residents of New Jersey. La Casa celebrated its 30th anniversary on Friday, September 12, 2003.

Since 1973, La Casa de Don Pedro has been providing a wealth of services to the residents of Newark, New Jersey and surrounding communities. La Casa currently provides over 20 programs and services that have made a profound difference in many lives. A true community- based organization, La Casa was founded and continues to be driven by members committed to changing and improving their community.

La Casa de Don Pedro has been tremendously successful in providing critical services for children, young people, adults, and families ranging from education and job training to emergency assistance. In 2002, La Casa provided after-school programs to more than 300 children, ages 6 to 18, and Early Childhood Education programs for parents of 130 families, 80 percent of whom maintained employment or remained with the program. La Casa's Weatherization Assistance Program helped 294 homes become more energy efficient, which will help families save thousands of dollars in energy costs.

More than 410 adults received English language education or citizenship assistance from La Casa, and over 130 adults received immigration assistance. La Casa's Welfare to Work initiative had one of the highest job placement rates in Essex County in 2002, and its Telecommunications Learning Center served as a model for New Jersey's new Workplace Literacy Program. From its inception, La Casa has been a leader for the quality and wealth of services that it provides to members of the community, and its success proves that it will continue to be a model for similar organizations.

La Casa de Don Pedro received the 2002 Excellence in Hispanic Leadership Award from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs' Center for Hispanic Policy Research and Development and was listed as one of the top 25 Hispanic Nonprofit Organizations of 2002 by Hispanic Business Magazine.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring La Casa de Don Pedro for thirty years of outstanding and dedicated work, and for making critical differences in the lives of many New Jersey residents.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Maureen Walliser for her tireless commitment to community service. She was presented the Memorial Mary T. Norton Award by the United Way of Hudson County on September 16, 2003, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Secaucus, New Jersey.

For over 30 years, Ms. Walliser has been working to improve the lives of individuals living with disabilities. She has been a leader in her field, and continues to promote employment for individuals with disabilities.

Currently, Ms. Walliser serves as the governmental affairs chairperson of Access New Jersey, a statewide community-based employment service organization that serves individuals with severe disabilities. Previously, Ms. Walliser served as vice president and two terms as president of Access New Jersey. Ms. Walliser was also a co- founder of one of the first thirteen charter schools in New Jersey.

Ms. Walliser began her career as a rehabilitation counselor for the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. She then began working at the Occupational Center of Hudson County, where she has served as president for the last 15 years. Under her direction, the Center has flourished into an organization that provides a wealth of services beyond rehabilitation. Now known as Hudson Community Enterprises, the organization provides school-to-work programs, job training and placement, and is creating social enterprises that will open up further opportunities for individuals with disabilities seeking to gain employment.

Committed to expanding the field of vocational rehabilitation, Ms. Walliser has been an adjunct professor at Saint Peter's College and New Jersey City University, and was a vocational expert for 5 years at the Social Security Administration. She continues to be an active member in her church in Woodbridge, where she provides support and services for individuals with disabilities. She also works with many professional groups in Hudson County, including the Private Industry Council and the Hudson County Human Services Advisory Council.

A native of Jersey City, Ms. Walliser received her bachelor's degree from the College of Saint Elizabeth, and her master's degree in Special Education from New Jersey City University.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Maureen Walliser for her commitment to community service and for her advocacy and support of people with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the city of Elizabeth's Estuary Day 2003. Estuary Day was held on Saturday, September 20, 2003, at the Marina in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Estuary Day 2003 provides families from the city of Elizabeth and surrounding areas the opportunity to learn about and celebrate the importance of the Elizabeth River and the Arthur Kill. In addition to providing recreational uses for residents, these two estuaries have a unique historical significance to the city of Elizabeth.

Elizabeth's Estuary Day is part of National Estuaries Day, which seeks to promote awareness about the importance of estuaries. The National Estuary Program has been critical to administrating the goals of the Clean Water Act, and to improve the quality of estuaries nationwide. This program mandates the protection of public water supplies and the protection and propagation of indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife.

Estuary Day provides an opportunity for many residents to become aware of the natural wonders present in their backyard. As estuaries are some of the most important ecosystems on the planet, it is important for residents to view our waterways as part of the community, and to maximize their recreational and environmental uses.

Estuary Day presents the importance of protecting and appreciating our natural resources to the people of Elizabeth, by providing fun and educational activities. Such interactive environmental educational opportunities, presentations and environmental boat rides, allow for an in-depth and hands-on approach to learning about life within and around estuaries.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Future City Inc., in conjunction with the city of Elizabeth's staff and Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, a committed member of the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary Management Committee, for planning Estuary Day 2003 in Elizabeth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Maria Nolfo for her 32 years of leadership and dedication to the students of Bayonne. Ms. Nolfo will be honored with the Italian-American Educator Award by the Bayonne Columbus Committee at the 2003 Honoree Dinner-Dance on September 27, 2003, at the Chandelier Restaurant in Bayonne, New Jersey.

Since 1972, Ms. Nolfo has been an exceptional educator in Bayonne's public schools. She began her career in the school system teaching English as a Second Language, helping children adapt to a new language and new environment. Her dedication and gift for teaching led Ms. Nolfo to teach courses in conversational Spanish for fellow teachers in the Bayonne school district.

In 1974, Ms. Nolfo became a teacher at Bayonne High School, where she remained until her retirement in 2002. In her final year, she was voted Bayonne High School Teacher of the Year by her students and peers.

Born and raised in Bayonne, Ms. Nolfo attended the Academy of Saint Aloysius and received her bachelor's degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ms. Nolfo received a master's degree from Rutgers University.

Ms. Nolfo is not only an inspiration in the classroom but a leader in her community. A member of Our Lady of Assumption Parish, she is a mass lector and former director of the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults program. Ms. Nolfo was also president of the Bayonne Italian American Committee for Culture and Education.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Maria Nolfo for her tireless work in educating the youth of Bayonne and leading them towards a brighter future.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of my friend and Jersey Journal political editor and columnist Peter Weiss, who passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 6, 2003. In the countless tributes to his life since his passing, Peter Weiss has been described as the chronicler of the political landscape and people of Hudson County and the State of New Jersey.

In the three decades that I was fortunate enough to know and work with Peter Weiss, he abided by the highest journalistic standards and pursued his stories in Hudson County, New Jersey, with honesty and dedication. From my early start in politics when, as a 20-year-old, I ran for school board and hand-delivered my first press release to him, to the more recent race for House Democratic Caucus Chairman, Peter Weiss always kept a watchful eye on me.

Those of us, who had the privilege to work with Peter Weiss, will miss his boundless energy, wit, and honesty in pursuit of the story behind the story. His sense of humor was of such an infectious nature that even the most serious matters could be discussed in a more relaxed and friendly environment.

He lived and breathed Hudson County politics, understood the machinations of our world, brought to light the backroom dealings, the infighting and competition among New Jersey's powerbrokers, and helped us understand the historical context of present-day politics. He came to the Jersey Journal in 1970 after having worked at the New York Post and Long Island Press. In those 33 years, his institutional knowledge of Hudson County was second to none--with his death, we lost what amounts to the national archives for Hudson County.

Throughout the recurring turbulence of Hudson County politics, Peter Weiss was always a reliable, steady, and, above all, honest force. And with every request for an interview from Peter Weiss, I knew we would embark on a new adventure. As his own paper described, ``He savored the scene as a chess player who took delight in anticipating the next moves. For him, though, it was the progression of the game that was most fascinating, not the end result.''

Peter Weiss, the Brooklyn native and graduate of Erasmus Hall High School and Long Island University, was a kind, warm, and selfless man, who will be missed dearly. As we all come to terms with this immeasurable loss, our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Margaret Schmidt, loved ones and the entire Jersey Journal family. We will always feel his presence in our midst, and will never forget him and the incredible void he leaves behind.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to strongly oppose the Flake amendment. I would like to make a series of points in response to some of what I have heard.

First, what the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake) does is, in essence, invite lawlessness. It says that we will prohibit the Treasury Department from doing what the law says. It does not undo the law. It, in essence, prohibits the Treasury Department from enforcing the law. So this Congress would promote lawlessness.

Yes, it is illegal to travel to Cuba under certain circumstances, but we will look the other way. We will not allow that element of law enforcement within the Treasury Department to enforce our laws. What a slippery slope that is when we begin a process that says the law is the law, but we are not going to allow it to be enforced. What a slippery process that is.

To my dear friends who talk about the Soviet Union and how they fell because we went over there, the reality is the Soviet Union fell because they could not keep up with the arms race with the United States, and they decided internally on Glasnos and Perestroika. And when they unleashed those forces of opening, then the people of what was the Soviet Union began to move. But that crumbling began with from within, not from without.

I hear about failed policy, let me tell you about a failed policy. The failed policy is millions of visitors, millions upon millions of visitors from Canada and Mexico and Spain and other part of Europe and Latin America in the last decade and what has happened? Not one positive action towards democracy and human rights has taken place. That to me is a failed policy. It is a failed policy when prostitution flourishes inside of Cuba so that foreign tourists can take advantage of Cuban women. That to me is a failed policy.

It is a failed policy when we believe that by having millions of Americans go to Cuba and sun themselves on the beaches of Varadero, smoking a Cuban cigar, and sipping Cuban rum is the way in which we are going to liberate the Cuban people. What is incredible to me is the deafening silence of those who advocate these amendments, but when repression takes place in Cuba, they are virtually silent, and their silence is deafening.

I say that a vote for this amendment, particularly at this time, flies in the face of all of those who languish inside of Cuba who risked their liberty and their lives to make change within their country.

A vote to support this amendment is a vote to fund the Cuban economy and Cuban tyranny. A vote to support this amendment is a vote to support a regime that executed three men by firing squad after closed- door summary trials. A vote for this amendment is a vote to continue to fund the regime that brutally arrested and jailed over 75 activists this spring for doing nothing more than demanding human rights for their people.

A vote for this amendment is to say to those who languish in Castro's jails, we will go visit the beaches of Cuba, we will smoke the cigars that were mentioned here, but you will continue to languish in Castro's jail.

The Cuban government sentenced many of these innocent dissidents to 14 to 27 years in Cuban jails after holding one-day, closed-door summary trials. Our answer to that is, let us have a grand old time on Varadero Beach. That is our answer to all those who languish.

A vote to support this amendment is a vote to support the jailing of these activists who suffer without clean water, edible food, sanitary conditions and who languish in Castro's jails.

The tales emerging from their prison cells include allegations of beating, psychological torture, solitary confinement in jail cells infested with rats and scorpions.

The prison conditions are so deplorable that 15 Cuban dissidents who were jailed in the crackdown started a hunger strike to protest the inhuman conditions. In a letter explaining the protest, family members said that the

prison conditions had led them, the prisoners, to make the terrible decision to declare themselves on a hunger strike that compromises their health and, in many cases, even their lives.

So let us recall Raul Rivero, Miriam Leiva, Gisella Delgado and others that, in fact, their suffering and their languishing in those jails are responded to by us having more tourism.

Vote against this amendment. Vote against such an infamy and let us begin to speak up for those people who are risking their lives and liberty.

Travel Ban Amendment

To prohibit the use of funds to enforce the ban on travel to Cuba by U.S. Citizens.

Congress has already passed the law that supports the travel ban. This amendment would only create sloppy legislation. The amendment doesn't change the underlying law. Instead, the amendment would prevent Treasury from supporting the existing law.

The belief that Americans can change Castro through tourism flies in the face of evidence that millions of visitors from Canada, Mexico, Spain and other parts of Europe and Latin America visited Cuba in the last decade, without impacting one iota of positive change toward democracy and human rights.

Cuba Travel restrictions are constitutional, according to the Supreme Court [Regan vs. Wald 1984]. Other courts: the 9th Circuit 1996, and the 11th Cir. 2000, agreed.

Cuba has been on the list of state-sponsored terrorism since 1982 and remains on the list for supporting Foreign Terrorist Organizations, for providing safe haven to U.S. designated foreign terrorist organizations including the ELN and the FARC from Colombia. Cuba also continues to harbor fugitives from the U.S. justice system.

Due to the end of Soviet Subsidies and his disastrous economic policies, Castro is bankrupt. His lack of cash restricts his ability to engage or support anti-American actions around the world. Castro has used American tourist dollars to take the place of Soviet payments.

The money obtained from tourism is not invested to benefit the Cuban people. It is invested to reinforce a state security apparatus that is used in developing a tourism infrastructure which only benefits the government.

The tourism infrastructure doesn't benefit average Cubans. Instead, Castro sets aside hotels, beaches, stores, restaurants, even hospitals for foreigners, prohibiting Cubans from staying in those hotels and patronizing those facilities. American tourism under current conditions would freeze in place Castro's tourist apartheid.

The infusion of U.S. tourist dollars will provide the regime with a lifeline. Lifting the travel ban without securing meaningful changes in Cuba will: (1) Guarantees the continuation of the current totalitarian structures, and (2) Strengthen Castro's security forces.

amendment to end the embargo

Why would members of Congress even suggest ending the embargo at a time when we are seeing the worst wave of repression in Cuba since right after the Revolution? The State Department calls this new wave ``the most despicable act of political repression in the Americas in a decade.''

A vote to support this amendment is a vote to fund the Cuban economy and Cuban tyranny.

A vote to support this amendment is a vote to support a regime that executed three men by firing squad, after closed door summary trials.

A vote to support this amendment is a vote to support a brutal government which arrested and jailed over 75 activists this spring for doing nothing more than demanding human rights for their people.

A vote to support this amendment is a vote to support this massive crackdown and Cuban style justice, or more accurately, injustice. The Cuban government sentenced these innocent dissidents to 14 to 27 years in Cuban jails after holding one-day, closed door, summary trials.

A vote to support this amendment is a vote to support the jailing of these activists who suffer without clean water, edible food, and sanitary conditions and who languish in Castro's jail. The tales emerging from their prison cells include allegations of beatings, psychological torture, solitary confinement and jail cells infested with rats and scorpions.

The prison conditions are so deplorable that 15 Cuban dissidents, who were jailed in the crackdown, have started a hunger strike to protest the inhuman conditions. In a letter explaining the protest, family members said that the prison conditions, ``have led them (the prisoners) to make the terrible decision to declare themselves on a hunger strike, which compromises their health and even their lives.'' While the names of the dissidents on the hunger strike have not been published, the letter in support of the strike was signed by the wife of poet and dissident journalist Raul Rivero (sentenced to 20 years in jail), Miriam Leiva, wife of economist Oscar Espinosa Chepe (sentenced to 20 years in jail), and Gisella Delgado, the wife of activist Hector Palacios (sentenced to 25 years in jail).

A vote to support this amendment is a vote to support the government that has jailed Oscar Manuel Espinosa Chepe. Mr. Chepe, a Cuban economist and independent journalist, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for criticizing the Cuban government. At age 62 Mr. Chepe, according to the Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights, is suffering from a chronic kidney condition, a thoracic hernia, persistent hypertension, and severe weight loss. The Cuban government refused to provide him with medical treatment. Only when he was near death and only after intense international pressure, was he transferred to a hospital.

A vote to support this amendment is a vote to allow funds to flow to the government that jailed Oscar Elias Biscet. Dr. Biscet founded the Lawton Foundation for Human Rights, one of the first independent civic groups in Havana. On February 27, 1999 he was arrested for hanging the national flag sideways at a press conference and was sentenced to three years in jail. After his release, he organized seminars on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Cubans. And he was arrested again in December of 2002 for organizing these seminars. In April of this year he was sentenced to 25 years in jail and sent to a special state prison.

A vote to support this amendment is a vote to support the jailing of Marta Beatriz Roque Cabello. She is an economist and director of the Cuban Institute of Independent Economists and is the only woman who was detained. She is the recipient of the 2002 Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award of the New York Academy of Sciences. In April, she was sentenced to 20 years in jail for her opposition work. She is in acute pain, has nausea attacks and the left part of her body has become numb, according to the opposition news agency CUBANET. In spite of her pain, she must sit on a stool throughout the day since prisoners are not allowed to stay in bed during the daytime.

I'll say again, a vote to support this amendment is a vote to support the tyranny and brutality of the Cuban government. The embargo is our strongest weapon against the Castro regime. Vote, ``no''' to this amendment. Show the men and women who suffer in Cuban jails for the right to freedom that we stand with them in their fight for human rights, justice, and a county free of dictatorship.

Mr. Chairman, I have great respect for the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt), and we are working on a series of crucial issues in Latin America; but I have a fundamental disagreement with the gentleman certainly on the issue of Cuba and particularly on this amendment.

My two points that I want to make, number one, we hear a lot about Cuban-American families and their families in Cuba, and those of us who are Cuban Americans struggle with this all the time, the desire to help our families, at the same time propping up a regime that oppresses them.

But the amendment goes beyond that because the law permits remittances from non-Cuban Americans, from ordinary Americans who have no relationship to Cuba whatsoever, to make remittances into any Cuban individual inside of Cuba. Now that means that the potential for unlimited amounts of money by nonfamily members having no relationship with Cubans on the island to send monies into Cuba would be unlimited.

And when we know of Castro's history of his support of terrorism, of his harboring fugitives from the United States, imagine those who support those who think about that in our own country being able to send U.S. dollars into Cuba without restriction as to amounts or process, not for Cuban families, but ultimately for those who wish

us harm. That is the risk with the gentleman's amendment and that is the law of the land today. We, in fact, as Americans, can send money into Cuba, and you do not have to have any family inside of Cuba. To now permit unlimited amounts of that happening is against the national interest of the United States and the national security of the United States.

Finally, I would point out that yes, this does help the regime because not only can nonCubans send money, but at the same time what does Castro do, in order to be able to grab those dollars and for him to control its use inside of Cuba, the only way those dollars work are at government dollar stores which are at inflated prices and in essence, gouge the Cuban people. He does get the money and resources, and he gouges the Cuban people in doing so, but it is their only remedy under this totalitarianism. So ultimately, yes, the regime gets the money we are sending. Sending unlimited amounts without limitation and sending it to dollar stores inside of Cuba does not make sense. The amendment does not make sense.