Gary Ackerman

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I certainly believe that the United States needs to be vigilant in protecting our nation and combating terror; however, we must be careful that we do not unnecessarily sacrifice our civil liberties in pursuit of our enemies. While many of the provisions were needed, both then and now, when Congress passed the original PATRIOT Act in October 2001, we rightfully placed sunset clauses on certain provisions that infringed on our civil liberties and granted extraordinary powers to federal authorities. These sunset clauses were incorporated in order to provide us with the opportunity to reexamine and reevaluate whether the need for such invasive powers continues to outweigh their sometimes overly intrusive nature. Rather than providing Congress with the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of a measure and correct any abuses, the PATRIOT Act Reauthorization would renew two of the original sunset provisions for a period of ten years and make the rest of the temporary provisions permanent. This would effectively remove all Congressional oversight over the PATRIOT Act. As a result, Americans would forever forfeit some of their most cherished privacy rights and precious civil liberties. One of these provisions gives federal investigators authority to examine and access individual records at libraries and bookstores. Under this measure, federal authorities do not have to demonstrate probable cause of criminal activity or of an individual's connection to a foreign power. In addition, libraries and bookstores are prohibited from informing patrons that the government is monitoring their reading transactions. While there is broad bipartisan opposition to this provision, the Republican leadership, in a gross abuse of the democratic process, failed to allow even a vote on an amendment that would repeal this egregious provision. Measures like this are not going to help us prevail in the war against terrorism. Instead, we should be providing our law enforcement agencies with sufficient risk-based funding, so that they can be adequately equipped to protect our homeland. Yet, the Bush administration continues to cut funding for state and local law enforcement, the men and women in our communities who serve on the front lines of domestic security. I too am committed to keeping our nation safe while we are fighting the war on terror. But at the same time, it is just as imperative that we protect our constitutionally guaranteed civil rights. A free society is what makes our nation great, and now, more than ever, it is crucial that we protect our civil liberties with unshakable resolve.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos).

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the Department of State pays for services to protect foreign missions and officials in the U.S. In New York City, the city lays out the money and gets reimbursed. Under this program, it is the New York City Police Department that protects foreign missions and officials, including meetings at the United Nations such as the General Assembly. Over the past several years, Congress has authorized and appropriated approximately $10 million per year for this program. However, the cost of providing these services has increased substantially, as we can imagine, since September 11, 2001, while the authorizing appropriated level for the program has remained the same. This has led to an accumulation of State Department debt which was approved but remains unpaid to the City of New York. While New York is not the only city where such services are called for by the State Department, Los Angeles and Chicago occasionally, among others, provide these services as well, New York is the only city owed money by the State Department. The amendment raises the authorized level for the program to $15 million in each year for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and also authorizes the State Department to pay $19.58 million in back payments for expenses incurred since 2002. Mr. Chairman, in New York City the State Department has found a flexible and consistent partner willing to front the money as well as a cost-effective solution to address an important security concern when leaders from around the world gather at the United Nations or elsewhere in New York. The least we can do is authorize the program at a level that allows the State Department to pay its bills in a timely way. I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for their support and cooperation and leadership and help, and to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), who is the cosponsor of this amendment, for his great work in solving and resolving the issue. I urge all of our colleagues to support the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey), who controls the time, yielded 2 minutes, which is an allocation of time to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), should not the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) have 3\1/2\ minutes even if they are New York minutes? Mr. Speaker, 1\1/2\ plus 2 are 3\1/2\ even in Florida.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Reclaiming my time, of course it takes away a recognized form of protest and freedom of expression. If a person burns the flag, if they burn someone else's flag, that is a crime. If they urinate in public, as the gentleman's side is so apt to talk about, on the flag, which is a despicable thing to do, there are laws that protect against those things occurring in public.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, further parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. ACKERMAN. No, that is not true. That is absolutely not true. What my colleagues are doing is amending the Constitution which, for the first time since Prohibition, takes away the right; and there was such a hue and cry in Prohibition and that was because more people happened to drink than burn the flag, appropriately so, I might say.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would appreciate it if the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) does not leave the floor for a moment. I appreciate very much his lecture about 9/11. I happen to live in New York. I am a New Yorker. I am a New York Representative. I was born in New York, and let me tell the gentleman how proud we are of those firemen. Let me tell the gentleman how proud we are of the act that they did in raising that flag and how proud each and every one of us is of that flag. But let me also tell the gentleman this: we are proud of that flag because it represents a set of values that are different from al Qaeda's values, from oppressors' values. That flag represents our Constitution, and that Constitution is what makes the difference between us and others. It is not a flag because it is a different shape or has different colors. It is what it represents, and for the gentleman to stand up and cite why we are against doing this and citing history, we have laws against, as the gentleman from Florida said, public urination or nudity in public. Those laws, could the gentleman tell me where there is a constitutional amendment to ban that? There is none. We take care of that with other laws. In the history which the gentleman is so fond of citing in this country, never has there been a case where we amended the Founding Fathers' Bill of Rights. We have never amended the Constitution's Bill of Rights. We have never once taken away rights of Americans.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I love our flag and that for which it stands. It stands for a Nation founded by people fleeing from oppressors. It stands for freedoms, not the least of which is the freedom of opinion and the unimpeded expression thereof, including the freedom to protest. This was a Nation founded by protesters. When our Founding Fathers sought to guarantee these freedoms, they created not a flag, but a Constitution, debating the meaning of each and every word, every amendment of the Bill of Rights, each and every one of which gives people rights. They did not debate a flag. The flag would become a symbol of these rights. What is the threat to the Republic today that drives us to dilute the Bill of Rights? Well, someone burned the flag once this year. Whatever happened to fighting to the death for somebody's right to disagree? We now choose instead to react by taking away a form of protest. Most people abhor flag burners; but even a despicable, low-life malcontent has a right to disagree and to disagree in an obnoxious fashion. That is the true test of free expression. Flag burners are rare, but vile, acts of desecration that have been cited by those who would propose changing our founding document, but these acts do not harm anybody. If a jerk burns a flag, America is not threatened. If a jerk burns a flag, democracy is not under siege. If a jerk burns a flag, freedom is not at risk. We are offended. To change our Bill of Rights because someone offends us is, in itself, unconscionable. Who bans flag burning? Hitler did. Mussolini did. Saddam Hussein did. Dictators fear flag burners. The reason our flag is different is because it stands for burning the flag. Though we in proper suits may decry the protesters and the flag burners, protecting their right is the stuff of democracy. The real threat to our society is not the occasional burning of a flag, but the permanent banning of the burners. The real threat is that some of us have now mistaken the flag for a religious icon to be worshipped as would pagans, rather than to be kept as a beloved symbol of our freedom that is to be cherished. It is not the flag burners who threaten democracy. Rather, it is those who would deny them. The Constitution this week is being nibbled to death by small men with press secretaries. If the flag burners offend us, do not beat a cowardly retreat by rushing to ban them. Meet their ideas with bigger ideas, for an even better America to protect the flag by protecting democracy, not by retreating from it. The choice today is substance or symbolism. We cannot kill a flag. It is a symbol; and, yes, patriots have died, but they have died for liberty. They have died for democracy. They have died for the right of the protestors. They died for values. The flag is a symbol of those values. Saying that people died for the flag is symbolic language. What they really died for are American principles. The Constitution gives us our rights. The Constitution guarantees our liberties. The Constitution embodies our freedoms. It is our substance. The flag is the symbol for which it stands. True patriots choose substance over symbolism. Diminish the Constitution by removing but one right and the flag shall forever stand for less. Do not pass this amendment. Do not diminish the Constitution. Do not cheapen our flag.

Mr. ACKERMAN. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, they were there to protect lives and protect Americans. They raised the flag in an act of patriotism, to show why this great country is different from those that attacked us, and that is because we have a Constitution.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Is what counts in the rules of procedure of the House what the gentleman's intent was or what the gentleman did?

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the Benjamin family of Glen Head, New York in celebration of the 50th birthday of Mrs. Deborah Benjamin, which will be commemorated this Saturday, June 25th, 2005 at Gotham Hall in Manhattan. Deborah Ann Coyle Benjamin was born on June 28, 1955, in Peninsula Hospital in Rockaway Beach, New York. Deborah is the eldest of Ken and Gladys Coyle's three children. Her sister, Denise DeVita, and brother, Ken Coyle, Jr., both live on Long Island in New York. Deborah spent her childhood and early adulthood in Rockville Centre, New York, where she attended Hewitt Grammar School, and graduated from South Side High School. After high school she attended Elizabeth Seton College in Westchester, New York. In the years after college, Deborah worked for her father's insurance company, the Wheatley Agency, for 20 years and retired in 2000 as Vice President of Group Insurance Sales. In 2000, Deborah married her long-time best friend, Alvin Benjamin of Glen Head, New York. Alvin is the Owner/President of Benjamin Development in Garden City, New York. They currently reside in Glen Head, Manhattan, and Highland Beach, Florida. Since her retirement, Mrs. Benjamin has devoted much of her time to charitable organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children. She is most actively involved with the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, which is dedicated to finding a cure for this rare, but serious blood disease. Additionally, Mrs. Benjamin has lent her support to Palm Beach County-based Kids In New Directions, which assists children in making positive life choices and developing leadership skills. Countless children in New York, Florida, and throughout our nation have benefited from Deborah Benjamin's philanthropy and her generosity of time and spirt. Al and Deborah Benjamin enjoy spending time with their families, friends, traveling, giving to charities in the New York and Florida area, and remain lovingly devoted to one another after 5 years of marriage. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me now in thanking Deborah Benjamin for her selfless contributions to society, in congratulating her on her 50th birthday, and in extending our best wishes for her future success and happiness as she marks this important and joyous milestone.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the achievements of a man who exemplifies the finest combination of civic consciousness, personal achievement, and familial responsibility. Thomas J. Pellegrino, Mayor of Port Washington North, has been a catalyst of progress and success for the community he has served for more than three decades. Half a century ago, Thomas began his career as an advertising media trainee. Fifty years later, he has directed campaigns for some of America's greatest corporate luminaries, founded his own innovative franchise, and supervised operations for three nationally successful magazines. Despite his national success, Thomas has never faltered in his commitment to his local community. During his years as the Mayor of Port Washington North, Thomas has overseen the construction of hundreds of housing developments built for the elderly as well as the enactment of important safety ordinances in the housing and public health sectors. He has watched an entire generation grow into a thriving community under his tenure. Thomas steps down from his municipal office after thirty-four years as the longest-serving mayor in New York State. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize such an accomplished individual and commend Mayor Thomas J. Pellegrino for his years of dedicated service to his community. On behalf of his wife, his five children, his fifteen grandchildren, and the Village of Port Washington North, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to please join me in honoring Mayor Thomas J. Pellegrino and wishing him many years of success as he celebrates his well deserved retirement.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005. Stem-cell research holds tremendous promise for advances in health care for all Americans. Stem- cell research may one day lead to treatments for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, spinal- cord injuries, Lou Gehrig's disease, strokes, severe burns and many more diseases and injuries. However, Mr. Speaker, nearly 4 years ago, the President made an arbitrary and shortsighted decision to limit federally funded embryonic stem-cell research to stem-cell lines that already existed. At that time, on August 9, 2001, the President promised 78 stem-cell lines would be available to Federal researchers, yet almost 4 years later, there are at most, only 22 lines available. Even worse, many of these lines are contaminated with animal cells that make them unusable for human therapeutic study. Mr. Speaker, the time has arrived for Congress to unshackle our researchers and scientists and allow them to expand the number of stem cell lines that are eligible for federally funded research. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, our own top scientists and officials at the National Institutes of Health, NIH, have stated that the President's 2001 limitations have caused us to fall behind in this research field. The NIH should be leading this cutting-edge research, yet it is in jeopardy of failing in this role should the President's policy be allowed to continue. Some States, such as California, are attempting to fill the void left by the lack of Federal funding. However, Mr. Speaker, as the Director of the NIH has warned, this could lead to a patchwork of stem-cell policies, with different laws and regulations which could defeat the type of collaborative research NIH is chartered to carry out. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 810 would simply allow Federal funding for research on embryonic stem-cell lines regardless of the date on which they were derived. This means researchers and scientists would be eligible to utilize their Federal funds for research on a new stem-cell line as long as it met the strict ethical guidelines contained in the bill. Those rules restrict stem cell lines to embryos that have been created originally for fertility purposes, and that are no longer needed for fertility. Second, the bill requires that the embryo have no further other use and be intended for destruction. Also, there must be written consent for donation of the embryo from the individuals for whom the embryo was created. Finally, the bill calls for the Director of NIH to issue guidelines to ensure that federally funded researchers adhere to ethical standards. Mr. Speaker, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 is needed to ensure that the full promise of embryonic stem-cell research is fulfilled. H.R. 810 allows research to take place in a safe, structured, and ethical manner. While all stem-cell research is important, the unique ability of embryonic stem cells to give rise to any tissue or cell in the body that makes these stem cells critically important to medical research. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and lift the President's restrictions that now obstruct effective federally funded embryonic stem-cell research.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, today is Yom Ha-Shoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, and I rise to honor the memory of the 6 million Jewish souls extinguished in the greatest act of organized depravity in history. There have been many barbaric regimes and there have been many other vicious campaigns of annihilation undertaken both before and after the Holocaust. Some even produced more victims. The Shoah, however, is unique and is thus deserving of special attention, not because the victims were Jews--many millions of innocent non-Jews were murdered by the Nazis--but because the Holocaust revealed a painful and abiding truth about humanity that remains with us. In squalor of the camps, in the ashes of the crematoria, and in the fires of the ovens, it was demonstrated that the norms of civilization, the boundaries of morality, and the protections of society and government are no more protection than a fragile tissue of behavior, one torn aside with shocking ease to reveal the latent bestiality in human beings. The imperative of Holocaust for us today, as legislators and participants in American government is the same for all Americans and, in truth, all humanity. That imperative is to remember. There are many reasons why: To remember all those people murdered for the crime of their birth and rededicate ourselves to preventing such a crime from being repeated. To remember that bigotry and ignorance can metastasize in politics with horrific consequences. To remember that whole communities can be wiped out with the power of the modern state and to recommit ourselves to the protection of the weak and powerless. To remember all those men and women and children who were cremated and dumped into mass graves, not just to end their lives, but to deny their very existence. But most of all we must remember because it can happen again. It is happening again. It is happening in Sudan. Right now. Today. Some 400,000 Sudanese have already been killed and, if today is a typical day, 500 more will join them as the world wrings its hands and wonders what to do. This lassitude, this fecklessness, this disgraceful toleration of genocide is nothing new either. We saw it when there was slaughter in Southeast Europe. And we saw it as a genocide was perpetrated with machetes in Rwanda. And even before the Holocaust, it happened to the Armenians and today we debate whether it ever happened at all. We must remember the Holocaust because genocide is real. It is not history, it is reality. Today, genocide is a reality in Sudan. Tomorrow, when Iran acquires nuclear weapons, will we see the mullahs attempt to finish Hitler's barbaric work? Impossible? Incomprehensible? Sophisticated people will ask, ``Who would harness the power of a modern state to the absurd goal of killing Jews? Who would risk their state over it?'' We must remember. A world that doesn't keep Auschwitz fixed in its mind will see it rebuilt. We must remember.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join millions of Greeks and Greek-Americans in celebration of the 184th anniversary of Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire. Through it was 184 years ago this day that the Greek people fought for their unquestioned freedom, the Greek tradition of liberty and self-governance extends back thousands of years. The city-states of that storied peninsula were truly the forefathers of our democratic lineage. Our own founders drew upon the teachings and experiences of the ancient Greeks in their pursuit of individual freedom. There is no area of human thought that does not pay homage to the enduring contributions of Greece. Our greatest masters of mathematics, literature, science, art, architecture, theatre and philosophy all trace their intellectual heritage through its people. It is without question that the ancient Greeks were responsible for bringing light on what was an otherwise dark world. In two centuries, we have watched as a new democracy has been reforged where the very idea of democracy was born. The Greek people have also helped build America as well. Greek-American communities continue to add to the richness and tradition of many of America's cities, not least of all, in my own district in New York City. Our shared values of freedom and individual excellence have made Greek- Americans an important part of the quilt of American society. Mr. Speaker, on this occasion in which we celebrate Greeks independence, let us all remember the great debt we owe to the civilization that has given so much of itself to become the foundation of all democracies. By carrying on the great tradition of democracy, let us remember and honor the legacy of ancient Greece, as we stand with our Greek friends and allies of today.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, late last year, the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress took a very destabilizing action when it voted to submit an ``Anti-Secession Law'' to the full Congress, which convened on March 5. That Anti-Secession Law was subsequently adopted by the full Congress and is now Chinese law. There can be absolutely no doubt about the intent of this law, which is to create the legal justification for a military attack against Taiwan. The law spells out a range of activities which, if taken by the Taiwanese people and their democratically elected leaders, would legally constitute secession to the Chinese. Many of these activities, such as Constitutional reform and popular referenda, are the mainstay of any democracy. Yet the Chinese would use them as an excuse for a military attack on the 21 million people on Taiwan. The United States fully understands Taiwan is in a very difficult bind. It is a flourishing democracy, one of the most vibrant in Asia, with freedoms of speech, the press and assembly and intensely competitive free political parties. Yet it is claimed as a sovereign territory by the People's Republic of China, which is not a democracy and has no freedom of the press, speech or assembly. And this neighbor now threatens to annex Taiwan by force. Under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act, which is the legal bedrock of our policy, the United States insists that the future of Taiwan must be determined by peaceful means. And we have stated that no actions should be taken by either Taiwan or the People's Republic of China, that endanger the peace and stability that now exists across the Taiwan Strait. Mr. Speaker, during the past year, the Bush Administration cautioned Taiwan about actions which might appear to challenge this status quo. Now the PRC, through this provocative legislation, is challenging the status quo in a very big way. The State Department said this legislation is highly unhelpful. I strongly agree with this position and register my strong opposition to the enactment of the Anti- Secession Law.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary International, the world's first service club, and to mark the 52nd year of the Rotary Club of Great Neck. Since their establishment on February 23, 1905, by Paul P. Harris, the members of Rotary International have been completely dedicated to fulfilling the goal of their motto: service above self. Over the past 100 years, Rotarians have been providing humanitarian services in communities, workplaces, and throughout the world. In doing so, Rotarians have developed numerous community service projects that assist communities in responding to the critical issues they face, including hunger, poverty, illiteracy, vocational and career development, the environment, and protecting at risk children. The popularity of Rotary International has quickly spread throughout the world, with clubs forming across the United States and on six continents. Currently, there are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians who belong to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs in 166 different countries. The Rotary Club of Great Neck was chartered in 1953, and since then their members have been very active in local and international humanitarian projects. Each November, the Rotary Club of Great Neck holds a Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, where volunteers pack more than 26 tons of food into complete Thanksgiving dinners and distribute them to needy families in the New York metropolitan area. The Great Neck club is also very active in the Gift of Life Program, which provides life saving open-heart surgery to needy children across the world, at no cost to them or their families. Great Neck Rotarians also work with and mentor local students on a weekly basis, teaching them about the joys of giving back to the community and assisting the students with their own service projects. Mr. Speaker, I commend Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Great Neck, and Rotarians across the world for their continued and dedicated service. These fine men and women selflessly volunteer their time to help make our world a better place, and their contributions are immeasurable. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to please join me in honoring Rotary International as they celebrate their 100th anniversary.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 90th birthday of Israel G. ``Tex'' Seeger and to honor his great contributions to the United States. Tex turns 90 on March 21, 2005, and he will celebrate this momentous occasion on March 26, 2005 at a special dinner with family and friends. Tex's courage and brave dedication have made our country and the great State of New York extremely proud. Tex volunteered for the United States Navy on June 30, 1941. After graduating second in a class of 500, from the U.S. Navy V-7 Midshipman Training Program, Tex was awarded an officer's sword for achieving the highest grade in engineering for deck midshipmen. Tex began his service as Deck Division Officer and Boat Group Commander aboard the USS Edward Rutledge, an attack transport, during the invasion of North Africa. He then went on to serve as Operations Officer aboard the USS Harry Lee, another attack transport, during the invasion of Sicily, Tarawa, Kwajelein, and New Guinea. In May of 1944, Tex was one of 50 Naval Officers selected to take the Preparatory Staff Course at the Naval War College. Following his graduation, Tex served as Operations Officer and Flag Secretary on the Staff of Rear Admiral Oscar C. Badger, where his duties included preparing contingency operation plans for the Fast Battleship Striking Force, the Divisionary Bombardment on the southern coast of Okinawa prior to the invasion at Naha, and the shore bombardments carried out on the Japanese islands of Hokkaido and Honshu. Tex also established the Pacific Fleet Headquarters at the Yokosuka Naval Base Administration Building, where an impressive flag raising ceremony for Admiral Nimitz took place on August 30, 1945. On September 30, 1945, Tex was separated from the Navy and subsequently received the citation and award of the Bronze Star Medal from Admiral Halsey. On January 1, 1949, Tex was promoted to the permanent rank of Lieutenant Commander, and he was retired in that rank in 1954. Tex continued his commitment to service through his role as Judge Advocate and as a Director of the U.S. Navy League, New York Council. Tex currently resides in Manhasset, New York, and although he claims to be semi-retired, he is still an active member of the New York bar and is engaged in the practice of law in New York. Mr. Speaker, I commend Israel G. ``Tex'' Seeger for his years of dedicated service to this country. Tex's integrity, bravery, and stature have certainly made a significant impression on the great many lives he has touched. In recognition of this, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to please join me in honoring Israel G. ``Tex'' Seeger as he celebrates his 90th birthday.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 44th anniversary of the Peace Corps and to celebrate National Peace Corps Week, which ran from February 28 to March 6, 2005. Last week, we honored Peace Corps Volunteers for their dedicated work in promoting world peace and friendship across the globe. In an era where global interdependence and camaraderie has become increasingly important, the Peace Corps plays an integral role in connecting individuals from different countries, races, and creeds. Since the inception of the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, over 178,000 volunteers have served in 138 countries. Currently, there are more than 7,700 Peace Corps volunteers serving in 72 countries around the world-- the highest number of volunteers in the field in the past 29 years. Peace Corps volunteers are quite a diverse group, serving as teachers, information technology consultants, youth and agriculture workers, health and HIV/AIDS educators, and business advisors. I am proud to say that the 5th Congressional District of New York currently has 12 of its own as Peace Corps volunteers. They are, in alphabetical order and followed by the countries in which they serve: Kimberly A. Beers, Dominican Republic; Ling-Yun Chen, Turkmenistan; Michael E. Garris, Armenia; Seth B. Gazes, EI Salvador; Melissa Gonzalez, Costa Rica; Orlando Gonzalez, Costa Rica; Amy Y. Han, Uzbekistan; Grace E. Lee, Madagascar; Pei-Zei Lin, Burkina Faso; Erin C. McNally, Turkmenistan; Richard Z. Mo, Paraguay; Debbie Nip, Moldova. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to please join me in honoring all of the past and present Peace Corps volunteers who selflessly serve abroad, empowering individuals in developing countries and spreading their message of world peace and friendship. These fine men and women have committed years of their lives to helping total strangers and to making our world a better and friendlier place. We salute your unselfish acts.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 90th birthday of Horace H. Heymann. Horace was born a citizen of Germany in 1915, and grew up beneath the rising specter of Nazism. Fearing that they would become victims of the Holocaust, he and his family separated in 1932 and fled from their native country. Horace made the journey to the United States, where he found his family safe in their adopted nation. Horace served his new homeland with fierce loyalty, enlisting in the Navy upon the United States' entry into World War II. After serving honorably in the Sea Bees Battalion, he returned to his Hollis Hills, Queens County, New York home and began his most significant work, that of raising a family. At the age of 90, Horace is a proud father, grandfather, and United States veteran. His life is a shining example of the emblematic vision of hope that America inspires in the persecuted, and of the powerful influence a loving father has on his children and his children's children. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of three generations of Americans, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to please join me in honoring Horace H. Heymann as he celebrates his 90th birthday.