Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, small businesses are the local engines that drive our national economy, so we must always keep their needs as a centerpiece in our budget priorities in Congress. As we analyze our future budget outlook in the weeks ahead, we need to work together to protect our small businesses.

Yesterday, I met with a group of small business owners from the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce back in my district. Hearing them talk about the myriad challenges facing them and their businesses served as a reminder of how critical it is for us to continue providing them the tax relief that they need to continue to create new jobs across our country. We need to extend and make permanent small business tax relief provisions that are critical to our continued economic growth.

We need to continue the increased expensing rules for small businesses, and we should increase the deduction this year to an amount of greater than $100,000. This Congress has many concerns where it needs to focus on budgetary concerns, but let us not forget the needs of America's small businesses.

The more we do to help small businesses, the more jobs they create for local residents in New York and across the country. Small businesses in America create almost seven out of 10 new jobs. We need to keep those small businesses and the people working.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to work more collectively and comprehensively in Congress during the legislative year ahead to help our local small businesses. The President stressed last night that the tax and economic policies to help small businesses lead to continued economic growth and new jobs. Now is the time to put those words into action.

During the past month, I have held town hall forums with small business owners and employees in New York's Hudson Valley. We agreed that there are five areas that we should focus our efforts to help our small businesses:

One, lower health insurance costs for small businesses.

Two, stop excessive and redundant Federal regulations on small business.

Three, level the playing field for small businesses and give them the same advantages as larger companies.

Four, permanently end the death tax that is a direct hit on family- owned small businesses and family farms.

Five, extend tax relief for small businesses to help them grow and create jobs.

Let us fully demonstrate our commitment to small businesses by continuing to pursue legislative solutions to the challenges being faced by small businesses in the Hudson Valley and throughout our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroism and courageous act of self-sacrifice of four U.S. Army Chaplains. On a chilly February day in 1943 during the perilous times of World War II, these four soldiers selflessly gave their life jackets to their fellow comrades as the USS Dorchester sunk to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. The chaplains may have perished on that fateful day but their memory of sacrifice lives on forever.

The chaplains included: LT George L. Fox, LT Alexander D. Goode, LT Johnny P. Washington, and LT Clark V. Poling. The four honorable men represented differing religious faiths ranging from Catholic to Jewish to Protestant. Not only did each chaplain teach of their respective religion, but with their humble act exercised their faiths inherent principles of goodwill and charity toward others.

I would like to commend the American Legion Argonne Post No. 71 in Brewster, New York, who on Monday, February 6, 2006, will remember the four Army chaplains in ceremony. Honoring the requests of the Argonne Legion post I gratefully join them in remembering February 5th as Four Chaplain's Sunday. As a Nation, it's imperative that we follow the lead of the American Legion and join in honoring these four brave and courageous soldiers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote for this bill, although I do so with a great deal of disappointment.

This bill does reauthorize TRIA for the next 2 years, and failure to reauthorize the program would lead to gaps in insurance coverage that could kill economic growth and recovery nationwide. Unfortunately, this bill contains none of the improvements to the TRIA program that the House passed earlier. The bill before us today lacks group life coverage. It lacks coverage for domestic terrorism. It lacks a commission to study the availability of terrorism insurance for the World Trade Center, and other sites after this current extension ends.

The other body's refusal to negotiate with this House on ways to make TRIA work better for the taxpayers, policy holders, and regulators is beyond seriously disappointing. As Chairman Oxley said, and you have heard from other Members, this legislation simply kicks the can down the road. It is an opportunity that has been lost.

I want to thank Chairman Oxley and Chairman Baker for their hard work. I want to thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. We have worked together to try to create a very strong bill that would help the United States of America economically.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to immediately working with them on a better, stronger reauthorization of the program before it expires again in 2009.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1047. I have the privilege of representing the West Point Mint, the home of our nation's bullion coin programs. Since 1986 the mint and its employees have produced the American Eagle series of silver, gold, and platinum bullion coins with unmatched skill and quality. Each of the tens of millions of American Eagle bullion coins that has been sold is an investment in America, a savings for taxpayers, and a vote of confidence in the workmanship of the West Point Mint.

S. 1047 builds on that legacy by authorizing two new bullion programs, an American Presidential Spouse 24 karat gold bullion coin and an American Buffalo $50 gold bullion coin. Passage of this bill into law will ensure that the West Point Mint remains at the center of American and global bullion coin production for years to come. I urge the members of the House to join me in passing this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4314, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision Act of 2005. This is important legislation. It builds on the success of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act we passed after 9/11.

In New York, the terrorist attacks of September 11 caused many insurers to eliminate coverage in the area. At a time when the economy was suffering, business leaders who wanted to rebuild were stopped by a lack of insurance coverage. Some of my own constituents had this problem.

The passage of TRIA in 2002 allowed job growth and construction to resume in New York and nationwide.

The Treasury Department reported this year that TRIA has lowered premiums and increased coverage for cities across the country that face the risk of terror.

The bill before us today recognizes the successes of TRIA and changes the program to even make it better. It recognizes that after the London bombings, there can be no real distinction between domestic and international acts of terror.

It provides coverage for group life plans from attacks that could target a single employer or an industry. Perhaps most importantly, this bill creates a commission to examine the long-term provision of terrorism insurance in this country.

Making terror insurance available after the expiration of this bill, particularly at the World Trade Center and any other locations that have been victims of terror and face special challenges in obtaining insurance, will be a vital responsibility of this commission.

The bill does not exist to benefit insurers. It benefits the taxpayers. The House bill will protect taxpayers from losses from terrorist attack, while ensuring that taxpayers can insure their homes and property against terror.

Failure to pass this bill will be an open invitation for economic attacks against this country and against our citizens.

I urge the Members of this House to support this bill, and I urge an immediate conference with the Senate so that we can act before the current program expires.

Mr. Chairman, I know that the amendment that we put into the bill that was authored by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) that prevents restrictions from being put on lawful foreign travel and prohibits excessive rates on foreign travel was not the subject of a hearing in our committee. I would like to explore the possibility of working with the chairman on possibly having a hearing about that to see the extent of what actually is occurring with regard to restrictions on travel to different countries.

I would be interested in the chairman's response to that. While I fully support travel to Israel, I do not know how many other countries this might be affecting.

Mr. Speaker, I rise as a cosponsor of this legislation. It protects millions of middle class working families. In New York alone, if the middle class exemptions are not extended for 2006, the new taxpayers forced to pay the alternative minimum tax will more than quadruple to 1.6 million next year.

The AMT is an atrocious burden for middle class families. We have got to send a message home that we are here to protect Americans. We must support this legislation against the stealth tax.

Mr. Speaker, I rise as a cosponsor of this legislation to urge my colleagues to protect the millions of middle-class working families who stand to be penalized by the Alternative Minimum Tax if Congress does not act this year.

The AMT (has been allowed to grow out of control) and if we don't pass this bill before the end of the year when middle-class exemption amounts will expire, it will attack middle-class families for whom the AMT was never intended.

In New York alone, if middle-class exemptions are not extended for 2006, the new taxpayers forced to pay the alternative minimum tax will more than quadruple to 1.6 million next year.

Make no mistake about it, these are middle-class taxpayers--some earning less than $50,000--who are working to pay their bills and take care of themselves and their children.

Now, they are faced with the possibility of having to pay thousands of dollars in additional Federal taxes to Washington. Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable.

The AMT has become an atrocious burden for middle-class families. We must send a message home that we are here to protect Americans from the unfair and unintended consequences of the Alternative Minimum Tax.

Let's do the right thing for the middle class and pass the Stealth Tax Relief Act today, and I thank my friend, the gentleman from New York, Mr. Reynolds, for his leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly urge this House to act before the end of the year to protect middle class families from the alternative minimum tax.

When a 1993 tax increase failed to adjust the AMT exemption amounts for inflation, what was intended to be a tax on high-income taxpayers became a tax that punishes the middle class. If the middle class exemptions are not extended for 2006, the numbers of New Yorkers forced to pay the alternative minimum tax will more than quadruple to 1.6 million families next year.

Make no mistake about it, these are middle class taxpayers that would be apprehended by the AMT because we have not changed the law. Many of them live in the Hudson Valley that I represent.

This is an unfair tax on middle class Hudson Valley residents who would be forced to pay an average of $4,000 in new taxes next year. This is money middle class families need to pay their own bills and put their own family needs in order. The last thing we should be doing is forcing middle class families in New York to send more of their money to Washington, D.C.

Let us do the right thing for the middle class. Let us extend the AMT exemptions before the end of this year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the efforts of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America in fighting Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Today, the Foundation will visit Capitol Hill and ask for our support of H.R. 3616--The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research Act.

Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that afflict approximately 1.4 million Americans, 30 percent of whom are diagnosed in their childhood years. IBD represents a major cause of morbidity from digestive illness and has a devastating impact on both patients and families. The cause is unknown, and there is no medical cure.

I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the bipartisan Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research Act that I'm sponsoring with the gentleman from Illinois, Jesse Jackson, Jr. The IBD Research Act builds upon legislation we sponsored last Congress, which garnered 183 cosponsors. This Congress--we look forward to even more support. Together we can help millions of children and adults that suffer from these devastating diseases.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to honor the sacrifices of their local veterans by cosponsoring H.R. 1951, which would mint a coin for America's disabled veterans. The proceeds would be used for a Disabled Veterans Memorial on the National Mall. The Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart all support our bill for a first-of- its-kind tribute to America's disabled veterans.

This Congress needs to remember the sacrifices of veterans not only on Veterans Day, but throughout the year. For that purpose, we also must pass the SAVE U.S. VETS Act to restore the equitable VA funding to veterans health care facilities in the Northeast. The VERA formula is unfair and ineffective. A GAO study found that through 2002, VERA misallocated nearly $1 billion in funds that should have gone to the Northeast veterans hospitals like Montrose and Castle Point in New York's Hudson Valley.

New York veterans served our country in areas throughout the world. They should not be punished now for living in the northeast area of our country that is being neglected by bad funding through the VERA formula. VA funds must reach these areas where veterans' needs are the greatest. The health care needs of all northeast veterans must be met, as they count on us to protect them with the same loyalty with which they protected our country.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1953) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the Old Mint at San Francisco, otherwise known as the ``Granite Lady'', and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1953, the San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act. This legislation, which I and two-thirds of this House have cosponsored, will recognize the unique contribution to American history of the Old San Francisco Mint by authorizing 100,000 gold half eagles and 500,000 silver dollars to be struck to raise funds to preserve this facility.

The San Francisco Mint was authorized by Congress in 1852 to convert Gold Rush bullion into coins for our growing economy. This landmark facility was one of the only public buildings to survive the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and become a rebuilding center and symbol of the city's recovery. Just 9 years after the earthquake in San Francisco, the San Francisco Mint struck the coins for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition celebrating the rebirth of San Francisco and the opening of the Panama Canal.

These coins include the celebrated 50-dollar commemorative gold pieces, the largest denomination commemorative coins ever struck in this country, as well as the only hexagonal coin ever struck in this country.

The design of the coins authorized under this act will join the Panama Pacific Coins and other famous coins struck at the Old San Francisco Mint as monuments to coin design and the history of our Nation.

I urge the Members of the House to join me in supporting this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, one can see that this is a strong bipartisan bill that deserves the support of every one of our colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, as we near the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to emphasize that we must continue doing everything possible to help women across our country suffering from breast cancer. This Congress must remain committed to increased breast cancer research and ensure that necessary laws are in place so that no woman is forced to fight breast cancer and red tape at the same time.

I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act that I sponsored together with the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro). One hundred and fifty-one cosponsors in the House have recognized the importance of passing this bill, but we need more support. Together we can improve treatment coverages and access to inpatient care for the more than 200,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

The widespread commitment to fighting breast cancer was seen in so many amazing community efforts this past month. I particularly want to recognize the outstanding efforts of Lillian Jones and our Hudson Valley chapter of the American Cancer Society. They organized our very successful Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Central Valley, New York. Also deserving of tremendous praise are Willa Wright and the Putnam County chapter of ACS and so many other groups in New York's Hudson Valley who continue to unite to fight breast cancer.

Congress must unite and fight breast cancer right along with them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the village of Nelsonville, New York, which this month celebrates its sesquicentennial. I extend my sincere congratulations to town officials, residents and supporters on this occasion, which symbolizes an accumulation of 150 years of hard work and diligence by a community.

On an early autumn day in October 1855, the village of Nelsonville was born and with it a quaint community founded on good will and hard work. Some say the essence of the village can be seen in the elaborate picture painted by the landscape of historical buildings on the village's timeless Main Street. This can be seen in the current Village Hall which, prior to 1955, housed the local the Fish and Fur Club for over half a century.

Nelsonville commemorates their 150th Anniversary this month with a parade which surely will prove memorable as local leaders, organizations and community members come together to remember an impressive history that has provided the building blocks for an promising future.

Undoubtedly, the success of Nelsonville could not have been realized without the support and kinship of the surrounding town of Philipstown and Putnam County. For years to come, Nelsonville will remain a great place to live following the lessons of the past and by continuing participation in camaraderie with surrounding communities.

There have been over 30 mayors since the village's inception. From Mayor Purdy in 1855 to Mayor Mitch Dul in 2005, the village has seen many challenges, but has always stayed on steady course. The village retains a timeless quality easily identifiable by those taking a walk down its streets. On behalf of the people of the 19th Congressional District of New York, I wish Nelsonville continued success and another 150 exceptional and prosperous years.

Mr. Chairman, prior to my election to Congress, I was a patient advocate and rape crisis counselor in New York's hospitals. I saw first-hand the debilitating effects domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault can have on a woman. It was there, as I counseled thousands of victims of rape and assault, that I recognized that more resources need to be provided to prevent these types of attacks, to assist victims in receiving justice, and to help these women put their shattered lives back together. That is why I feel so strongly about the Violence Against Women Act.

VAWA literally transformed the way our society deals with these types of attacks. Over the past ten years, it has provided vital resources and protections for victims. It has provided increased training for police, prosecutors, and court officials, and overhauled how the criminal justice system responds to victims of violence.

I ask all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3402, which reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act, because it works. It is an effective tool in reducing the number of women living with violence.

H.R. 3402 develops new programs that meet the needs of battered women and creates a comprehensive approach to ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Congress must reauthorize these historic women protections, and I ask that all of my colleagues support it later today.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to honor a dedicated and heroic public servant from the Nineteenth Congressional District of New York. We nearly lost one of our finest citizens when Town of Chester Police Officer Robert Ferrara was critically injured while serving in the line of duty.

Officer Robert Ferrara, age 34, was seriously wounded on the night of July 20, 2005, when a drunk driver smashed head-on into his police vehicle. He suffered multiple fractures throughout his body including: a punctured lung, a ruptured spleen, a lacerated liver, a kidney abrasion, and a laceration to his head.

Officer Ferrara has dutifully served the Town of Chester since 1999 as a police officer. Previously, he spent 4 years working as a Deputy Sheriff with the Orange County Sheriffs Office. In addition to his public service, Officer Ferrara is the dedicated father of a 7-year-old girl.

Office Ferrara's relentless determination and resolve to overcome tragedy has served as a guiding light. His willpower and inner strength have touched his family, his friends, and even those who never met him but have heard of his courage. His community has been inspired by Officer Ferrara. Over 200 people recently participated in a blood drive in his honor, with some waiting in line for hours.

Officer Ferrara deserves recognition for he symbolizes the likes of an exemplary officer and diligent public servant possessing an unwavering commitment to serving others and protecting the well-being of the community.