Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the students from Half Hollow Hills East High School in Dix Hills, New York for their hard work in the ``We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution'' national finals.

The students, Carolyn Abott, Emily Chin, Samuel Dixon, George Duroseau, Jason Feinstein, Steven Frank, Antonia Fthenakis, Carrie Gerber, Qais Ghafary, Hannah Goldsmith, Bruce Halperin, Emily Kratter, Sami Rashid, Dan Rogove, Jessica Rosenbaum, Gayle Rudofsky, Lauren Shikowitz, Ricki Silvernman, Rohini Singh, Caryn Teitelbaum, Shara Venezia-Wallerstein, Jason Vinokur, Nicole Weinstock, Joshua Wolinsky, and Joseph Wolken, led by their teacher Scott Edwards, demonstrated a remarkable understanding of the fundamental ideals and values of American constitutional government.

It is truly an honor to call these outstanding young Americans my constituents. Their success in this competition is also a testament to the exceptional teachers at Half Hollow Hills East High School and elsewhere on Long Island.

I offer my congratulations on their hard-won honorable mention and commend these students on their dedication to the study of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Mr. Speaker, on April 24, Nathan Bruckenthal became the first member of the Coast Guard to die in battle since Vietnam. His bravery and sacrifice shines a light on the often overlooked sacrifices made by the Coast Guard in our Nation's defense.

Nathan is survived by a proud father in Northport, New York, village police chief Rick Bruckenthal and his wife, Patricia, a loving mother, Laurie Bullock of Ashburn, Virginia. Nate is also the brother of Matthew, Michael and Noa Beth, and the husband of Patricia in Florida.

When I called Rick Bruckenthal, he simply said, ``My son served his country.'' He did serve and he did sacrifice. And now we have an eternal debt to his memory and his family, to support our troops when we send them into dangerous places, to support their families back home, to support our veterans, to do these things in our hearts, in our budgets, and in our prayers which are with the family of Nathan Bruckenthal, the police department of Northport Village, the United States Coast Guard and Bates Neck Station, today and all days.

God bless the Bruckenthal family and God bless America.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this substitute. Last week when we debated the marriage penalty relief, I said this: That the bill that we were debating was not an act of Congress. It was an act of Harry Houdini. Here today, gone tomorrow. Give with one hand, snatch away with the other. And one week later here we are again, another act of Houdini.

The majority's AMT bill says to middle class taxpayers, we are going to do a little bit today and nothing tomorrow. Their bills says to middle class taxpayers who are bleeding from the largest tax increase in the history of the middle class, take two aspirins, call us next year. Millions of middle class taxpayers are hurtling to a cliff, our cops, our teachers, our nurses, our firefighters, they will fall off that AMT cliff, and what you want to do is simply build them a bigger ramp. That is the Republican plan.

Here is our substitute. If your adjusted earnings are $250,000 or less, no AMT. No filings, no calculations, no confusion, no AMT tax. You do not have to worry about it. We say, tax relief for the middle class now. You say, keep taxing them. We say we are going to get to it now and fix it. You say we are just going to talk about it. We say, protect the middle class. You say, protect the big offshore corporate tax shelters and havens. We say reform. You say status quo. We say, solve the problem now and in the future. You say, let us keep pointing the partisan fingers of blame at the past and not solve this problem for the middle class.

They deserve better, the middle class. They deserve a real choice. They deserve real tax relief and meaningful reform which is why this substitute makes sense, and why the act that we are being given today is nothing more than more Harry Houdini trickery on the middle class taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker, I can tell the gentleman who I think is in charge of spending and taxing in this administration and in this Congress; it is Harry Houdini. Because if Harry Houdini was a Member of Congress, he could not have come up with a better ``now you see it, now you don't'' tax gimmick. That is what we are doing today.

My Republican colleagues want to pass what they claim is a $96 billion tax cut for married couples today, but then the AMT denies $99 billion in promised marriage penalty relief tomorrow. ``Here today, gone tomorrow.''

We have just heard the gentleman from Illinois state that 36 million families deserve this tax relief today, but the AMT is raising taxes on 41 million taxpayers by the year 2010. In 2001, we promised taxpayers real relief. At that time 1.8 million were paying the AMT. This year, 3 million of them pay the AMT. By the year 2010, 41 million of them will pay the AMT.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle rush to give the deepest tax cuts to people making over $1 million, then sit idly by while taxes are skyrocketing for 70 percent of people making between $75,000 and $100,000: our cops, our firefighters, our nurses, and our teachers.

The American people do not have to listen to this debate and take a side. They get it. All they have to do is listen to their accountants. I got a call from a constituent in Northport, New York, today. He told me this story. He is newly married. He now has two children. He and his wife both work as educators. They are exactly the kind of family we want to help, but here is the effect of the Houdini tax policy on him. He went to his accountant in April. They figured out his taxes. And just when he thought it was safe to mail in his tax form, presto, the AMT. His deductions for property taxes, disallowed; his deduction for business exemptions and child exemptions, disallowed.

Congratulations. Only in Washington do we turn a tax cut into a $6,000 tax increase for that middle class teacher.

Mr. Speaker, we owe it to our constituents to be honest and accountable. We have to get away from these Houdini policies of making tax cuts appear and disappear. We have to get away from this stealth and secret tax on the middle class. We have to give meaningful tax relief to the American people. That is what the Rangel substitute does, and that is why I will support it today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor four cadets from Suffolk County, New York, for their achievements with the Civil Air Patrol, Squadron 7. On April 13, 2004, Cadet 2d Lieutenants Daniel Umpa and Nicholas Calarco were presented with the General Billy Mitchell Award, and Cadet Captains Ryan Elliott and Matthew Cooney were presented with the Amelia Earhart Award.

The Civil Air Patrol has a long history of service to our nation as the official civilian volunteer auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Formed in 1941, just prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Civil Air Patrol sank two enemy submarines and rescued hundreds of crash survivors during World War II. Currently, the Civil Air Patrol focuses on cadet programs, aerospace education and emergency services. The four cadets that I honor today are sure to continue that legacy.

The General Billy Mitchell Award is earned by cadets who have completed the first eight achievements of the cadet program, fulfilled physical fitness requirements and passed an exam on leadership theory and aerospace. I commend Cadet 2d Lieutenant Daniel Umpa and Cadet 2d Lieutenant Nicholas Calarco on this great accomplishment.

The Amelia Earhart Award is awarded to recipients of the General Billy Mitchell Award who have completed the first eleven achievements of the cadet program and passed an exam on leadership theory and aerospace. I commend Cadet Captain Ryan Elliott and Cadet Captain Matthew Cooney, who join nearly 10,000 other cadets who have received this prestigious award over the last 30 years.

The Civil Air Patrol is actively involved in protecting America from the threat of terrorism, and I am confident that these four cadets will continue to make important contributions in securing the safety of our nation.

Mr. Speaker, if we wanted to understand the line that divides good versus evil, it was drawn in Fallujah yesterday.

Four people were providing security to deliver food to the people of Fallujah, and some of the people that they were seeking to feed killed them, mutilated them, massacred them.

Mr. Speaker, today's Wall Street Journal said this of the situation in Iraq: ``It is not a good sign that Iraqis feel free to mutilate the bodies of dead Americans in front of the world's TV cameras.'' Then it goes on to say, ``A year without justice has also been a year without enough deterrence, and Fallujans now have more reasons to fear the consequences of working with the Americans than the consequences of killing them.''

Today we mourn the deaths of four people who believed in a better world.

In the White House, the Pentagon, and the State Department, we must redouble efforts to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are punished. Justice will lead to security, security will lead to stability, stability will lead to democracy, and democracy will bring again justice and liberty for all.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first begin by thanking the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis), the Gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) and all members of the Committee of Government Reform for reporting H.R. 3917 so promptly.

I also thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for managing debate on this bill that honors former Suffolk County Presiding Officer Maxine S. Postal, who died so tragically this past January after a courageous battle with the rare brain disorder Creutzfeld-Jakob.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Members to support H.R. 3917, a bill I introduced that designates the Copiague, New York post office as the Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office.

The speed this legislation moved through the House is a tribute to the great respect and admiration held for Maxine Postal. She was a good friend and wonderful public servant.

Maxine was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 24, 1942. She graduated from Brooklyn College, achieving a master's degree in fine arts.

For the past three decades, Maxine served her Long Island community with distinction and tireless dedication.

I had the honor of first knowing Maxine and working with her in 1987, when she became the first woman to represent the 15th Legislative District in Suffolk County.

Maxine achieved many legislative accomplishments, including efforts to protect the environment through recycling and preserving open space, ease the tax burden, ensure access to better health care and treatment, and work to revitalize and beautify community centers.

She never stopped fighting for the best interests of the people she represented, the working families of Suffolk County.

Maxine died on New Year's Day, a few weeks after being diagnosed with Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease. CJD is an extremely rare brain disorder, affecting only one person in a million.

Maxine was diagnosed with the sporadic form, which is not associated with contaminated beef like the variant form. In most cases, CJD causes the rapid development of neurological and neuro-muscular symptoms and often proves fatal in less than a year after the disorder becomes apparent.

To those of us who knew Maxine, we will remember her bravery and courageous battle against this fatal disease.

We will continue to miss her, but will always be inspired by her leadership. She had an unparalleled ability to stand firmly on principle while bringing diverse views together in bipartisan coalitions that moved Suffolk County forward.

Franky, not just Suffolk Country but New York and our country could use more elected officials like Maxine Postal. She is a model of what a public servant can and should be.

The Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office will serve as a lasting tribute to her many years of public service and her invaluable impact on Suffolk County. So that years from now, a new generation of Long Islanders will cherish her service and honor her memory.

She was an extraordinary New Yorker, a proud American and a vital member of our community.

I ask for my colleagues' unanimous support of H.R. 3917 in honor of Maxine S. Postal's bravery and outstanding accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of SPC Jacob S. Fletcher, a fallen soldier from my district. SPC Fletcher gave his life on November 13, 2003 in Samarra, Iraq.

Jacob was the most recent in a long line of heroes to make the ultimate sacrifice for his country. In the two and a quarter centuries of our nation's history, our country has faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But in generation after generation, Americans have risen to the occasion and met every challenge.

In the 18th century, our forefathers were able to beat back the greatest military superpower in the world to secure our independence. In the 19th century, Americans defeated the greatest injustice in the world--slavery. And in the 20th century, millions of patriots, in what has come to be known as America's greatest generation, defeated the greatest evil the world has ever known--the Nazis. Jacob was part of a generation that faces a newer, but no less dangerous tyranny.

He was born and raised on Long Island. In many ways, he was very much like the hundreds of thousands of other children in our country--with one remarkable exception. Jacob was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to secure the blessings of liberty--for his countrymen, for our children, and for America's future. By sacrificing himself for our way of life, Jacob died an American hero.

By fighting for a better world, Jacob, as the poet John Gillespie Magee, Jr. wrote, ``slipped the surly bonds of earth'' to ``touch the face of God.'' May his name be remembered throughout history, and may he serve as a source of strength and pride to future American generations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 264 to commemorate next year's 200th anniversary of the birth of Constantino Brumidi. I was pleased to join with my colleague, the gentleman from Florida, as an original cosponsor of this resolution.

Constantino Brumidi is known today as the Michelangelo of the United States Capitol building. He is most known for The Apotheosis of George Washington, the painting that depicts our first president's ascension into heaven, that adorns the interior ceiling of the central rotunda.

Brumidi was unknown in America when he began a mural to honor George Washington in 1855 shortly after immigrating to the United States. Over the next 25 years, he also painted the corridors on the first floor of the Senate wing and the first tribute to an African-American in the Capitol by depicting Crispus Attucks's patriotic death that touched off the Boston Massacre in 1770.

Initially, some believed that Brumidi's artistic styles and abilities were more suited to the Vatican and other buildings in Europe, places he contributed works before coming to America. But many historians have noted that Brumidi was the only person capable of painting the Capitol building in the glorious manner befitting the literal crowning achievement of liberty and democracy that it represents. Few in the United States had Brumidi's special talents as a fresco artist that utilized painting with watercolors on wet plaster.

Constantino Brumidi's experience is not unlike the ancestors of more than 26 million Americans of Italian descent that blended their centuries-old traditions with the relatively young history of the United States. Our country is indebted to their time, talents and skills that have beautified our country and inspired great achievements.

Each year, hundreds of Long Island school children gaze upward at Brumidi's work in the Capitol building's rotunda and sprawling corridors. They see important scenes in American history, from the development of the steam engine to the ending of the Civil War. Brumidi's work not only beautifies the Capitol, but it brings history to life and makes one dream of what the future holds for our great nation.

It is important that Brumidi's contributions and sacrifices are remembered. He is every bit as important to American history as the epic scenes and figures he brought to life. It is my hope that all of my colleagues will join me today in honoring Brumidi's legacy by voting in favor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues an address that I delivered at the memorial service of Raheen Tyson Heighter, a fallen soldier from my district on November 11, 2003.

Raheen Tyson Heighter went to the Middle East willingly,

sacrificed selflessly, and served proudly.

In the two and a quarter centuries of our nation's history,

our country has faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But

in generation after generation, Americans have risen to the

occasion and met every challenge.

In the 18th century, our forefathers were able to beat back

the greatest military superpower in the world to secure our

independence. In the 19th century, Americans defeated the

greatest injustice in the world--slavery. And in the 20th

century, millions of patriots, in what has come to be known

as America's greatest generation, defeated the greatest evil

the world has ever known--the Nazis.

Raheen is part of a generation that faces a newer, but no

less dangerous tyranny.

He is a child of Long Island. He went to this high school.

In many ways, he is very much like the hundreds of thousands

of other children in our community--with one remarkable

exception.

Raheen was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to secure

the blessings of liberty for his countrymen, for our

children, and for America's future.

By sacrificing himself for our way of life, Raheen, in the

words of his mother, ``died an American hero.''

By fighting for a better world, Raheen, as the poet John

Gillespie Magee, Jr. wrote, ``slipped the surly bonds of

earth'' to ``touch the face of God.''

May his name be remembered throughout history, and may he

serve as a source of strength and pride to American

generations yet unborn.

Mr. Speaker, I was regrettably unable to cast votes on Tuesday, January 28 and Wednesday, January 29, 2004 as I was part of a Congressional Delegation visiting our troops in Iraq. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes:

``Yes'' on rollcall No. 6, passage of H.R. 1385, authorizing the U.S. Postal Service to issue stamps supporting breast cancer research.

``Yes'' on rollcall No. 7, passage of H.R. 3493, the Medical Devices Technical Corrections Act.

``Yes'' on rollcall No. 8, the Baldwin substitute to S. 1920, regarding the Extension of chapter 12 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code.

``Yes'' on rollcall No. 9, the motion to recommit S. 1920 with instructions.

``Yes'' on rollcall No. 10, final passage of S. 1920, regarding the Extension of chapter 12 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code.

``No'' on rollcall No. 11, motion to instruct conferees on S. 1920, regarding the Extension of chapter 12 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the courageous efforts of the New York Air National Guard's 106th Air Rescue Wing during the recent CH-47 Chinook helicopter rescue operation in Iraq. These American heroes saved the lives of two soldiers whose helicopter was downed in a terrorist attack that took the lives of 16 of their brave comrades.

Located at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton, Long Island, the 106th Air Rescue Wing's mission is to provide air rescue support. In December of 1994, they established the record for the longest over-water helicopter rescue mission, while saving a Ukrainian sailor in the North Atlantic. Their efforts in an attempted rescue in 1991 were memorialized in Sebastian Junger's book ``The Perfect Storm,'' which was later made into a major motion picture.

I would like to offer my sincerest thanks and appreciation to Colonel Mike Canders and his entire Unit for their dedicated service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, last June I was one of nine Democrats who voted to move Medicare modernization into a House-Senate conference. That bill was flawed, but I wanted to give it a chance for bipartisan compromise and improvement. It saddens me that this bill was not improved, Medicare was not modernized; it has been privatized in this bill. I said when I voted for H.R. 1 that if it looked like privatization, if it sounded like privatization, if it felt like privatization, if it smelled like privatization, that I would oppose final passage. This bill sounds, it feels, it smells, it looks, it is privatization; and I have to oppose final passage.

Now, some say, well, it is not really privatization; this is just an experiment in six different areas. Do not worry. Mr. Speaker, when you are the guinea pig, you tend to worry.

We could have done a much better job with this bill, Mr. Speaker. We could have come up with a bill that Republicans and moderate Democrats could embrace, a bill that protects seniors and does not subvert them. I gave this bill every chance that I could. Tonight this bill robs our seniors of any hope that they have had for true Medicare reform. Medicare should be the Federal Government's obligation to seniors who need the right bill, not a profit center for the special interests who wrote this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the work of school psychologists in Suffolk County, New York during the week of November 10, 2003.

The children of Suffolk County have a natural desire and propensity to learn and the inalienable right to an education. It is imperative that our society supports the needs of children and youth and invest in education as our top priority.

Children's mental health is closely linked to their successful learning and development. Schools must apply sound psychological principles to instruction, learning and oversight, cultivate children's intellectual, social and emotional development, meet the educational and developmental needs of culturally diverse student populations and promote prevention and early intervention to ensure students' achievement.

Suffolk County schools must ensure a safe, healthy learning environment for all children and be able to recognize and respond to their emotional and psychological difficulties.

Suffolk County school psychologists and other trained school-based professionals have the opportunity and ability to help parents identify and access needed community resources to help their children.

Suffolk County school psychologists are leaders in delivering mental health services to children. It is appropriate that Americans recognize the important and vital role that school psychologists play in the personal and academic development of our Nation's children.

Mr. Speaker, As Veterans' day approaches, I want to take the time to recognize the patriotism and sacrifice of a special group of women. I rise today to honor and recognize servicewomen who served as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during the Second World War.

The generation that defeated the Nazis has correctly been referred to as the ``Greatest Generation.'' But for many years, the contributions of this select group of young women pilots were overlooked.

As the first women in history trained to fly American military aircraft, the WASP shattered traditional conceptions about women's roles and became pioneers, heroes, and role models for generations of women to come.

They compiled an admirable record, performing essential services that freed males for combat-related service overseas, but their accomplishments did not come without a cost. Thirty-eight members of the WASP made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in the course of their service.

Although these women had answered the call to duty at America's time of greatest need, when the WASP were disbanded on December 20, 1944, they received no GI benefits or military honors.

America tried to forget them, leaving them with only their personal satisfaction that they had done their duty.

Congress finally corrected this wrong in 1977 when it formally recognized the service of members of the WASP as active military service, making them eligible for veterans benefits.

As we watch women serving bravely in the War Against Terror, it is safe to say that the future of women in the military seems assured. But it is important to remember that this was not always the case.

It is not an exaggeration that we owe a big part of the freedom we enjoy today to these women pilots. Their love of country and love of flying is something for which we will always be grateful.

At this time I would like to thank the thirty-eight who gave their lives. Let us remember Jane Champlin, Susan Clark, Margie L. Davis, Katherine Dussaq, Marjorie D. Edwards, Elizabeth Erickson. Cornelia Fort, Frances Grimes, Mary Hartson, Mary H. Howson, Edith Keene, Kathryn B. Lawrence, Hazel Ying Lee, Paula Loop, Alice Lovejoy, Lea Ola McDonald, Peggy Martin, Marie N. Michell, Virginia Moffatt, Beverly Moses, Dorothy Nichols, Jeanne L. Norbeck, Margaret Oldenburg, Mabel Rawlinson, Gleanna Roberts, Betty Scott, Margaret J. Seip, Helen J. Severson, Marie Sharon, Evelyn Sharp, Betty P. Stine, Marion Toevs, Gertrude Tompkins, Mary Trebing, Bonnie Jean Welz, Betty T. Wood, and Mary L. Webster.

In these dangerous times, their courage is an inspiration for all Americans. I encourage everyone to learn more about the history of the service of these courageous women.