Gary Ackerman

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 35th Anniversary of Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington and its Chairman, Myron Blumenfeld, for his strong leadership, dedication and commitment in making Port Washington a more beautiful town. In 1968, Myron and a group of concerned citizens founded Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington with the simple plan to plant a tree by a gas station. Soon, the people of Port Washington began to organize daily for environmental action and Myron's organization slowly grew from a handful of members to a prestigious and influential non- profit action group. Today, Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington boasts more than 2,000 active members who cross political, racial, religious, ethnic and economic divides to preserve and enhance the environment of Port Washington and the surrounding communities. Among the major projects the group has spearheaded are: protecting drinking water, building waterfront trails, contributing thousands of dollars to the Port Washington Board of Education to fund projects which helps students to learn about our ecosystem, planning the Main Street Park and Town Dock, and of course, planting hundreds of trees throughout Port Washington. As the founder and chairman of Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, Myron Blumenfeld has consistently displayed his lifelong passion and spirit to improve our environment and our quality of life. A graduate of Syracuse University with a Masters Degree in Business from New York University, Myron was vice president of Bloomingdales for 34 years where he routinely answered his phone with ``Save Hempstead Harbor''. Myron's commitment to the environment was quickly recognized by then Governor Cuomo who appointed Myron as Chairman of the Long Island Parks Commission. As Chairman, Myron initiated the first Long Island Parks environmental education program. Myron also served as Chair of the Sierra Club's Atlantic Chapter and formed the Sierra Club's first Long Island Chapter. In addition, Myron served on the boards of the Environmental Planning Lobby and American Friends of Neot Kedumin. In November of 2002, Myron and the Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington received the well deserved Environmental Advocates of New York State Award. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent such an exceptional individual and commend Myron Blumenfeld for his dedication to preserving and working for the beautification of Port Washington. On May 18, 2003, Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington will recognize Myron's important contributions at its 35th Annual Gala. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to please join me in wishing Myron Blumenfeld and the Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington many more years of success as they celebrate their 35th Anniversary.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 35th Anniversary of Residents for a More Beautifid Port Washington and its Chairman, Myron Blumenfeld, for his strong leadership, dedication and commitment in making Port Washington a more beautiful town. In 1968, Myron and a group of concerned citizens founded Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington with the simple plan to plant a tree by a gas station. Soon, the people of Port Washington began to organize daily for environmental action and Myron's organization slowly grew from a handful of members to a prestigious and influential non- profit action group. Today, Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington boasts more than 2,000 active members who cross political, racial, religious, ethnic and economic divides to preserve and enhance the environment of Port Washington and the surrounding communities. Among the major projects the group has spearheaded are: protecting drinking water, building waterfront trails, contributing thousands of dollars to the Port Washington Board of Education to fund projects which helps students to learn about our ecosystem, planning the Main Street Park and Town Dock, and of course, planting hundreds of trees throughout Port Washington. As the founder and chairman of Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, Myron Blumenfeld has consistently displayed his lifelong passion and spirit to improve our environment and our quality of life. A graduate of Syracuse University with a Masters D6gree in Business from New York University, Myron was vice president of Bloomingdales for 34 years where he routinely answered his phone with ``Save Hempstead Harbor.'' Myron's commitment to the environment was quickly recognized by then Governor Cuomo who appointed Myron as Chairman of the Long Island Parks Commission. As Chairman, Myron initiated the first Long Island Parks environmental education program. Myron also served as Chair of the Sierra Club's Atlantic Chapter and formed the Sierra Club's first Long Island Chapter. In addition, Myron served on the boards of the Environmental Planning Lobby and American Friends of Neot Kedumin. In November of 2002, Myron and the Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington received the well deserved Environmental Advocates of New York State Award. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent such an exceptional individual and commend Myron Blumenfeld for his dedication to preserving and working for the beautification of Port Washington. On May 18, 2003, Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington will recognize Myron's important contributions at its 35th Annual Gala. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to please join me in wishing Myron Blumenfeld and the Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington many more years of success as they celebrate their 35th Anniversary.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to call to the attention of the House Mr. Edward J. McElroy, an extraordinary federal employee--a person who would typically be referred to in this chamber as a bureaucrat. Indeed, he is one, the interim director of the Department of Justice's new Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York. But in my community in New York, we don't think of him as a bureaucrat, or as a cog in the impersonal and vast machinery of the federal government. In Queens, Ed McElroy is a hero. About 3 weeks ago I called him after discovering that a young man in my community, Mohammad Sarfaraz Hussain, was on the verge of being deported. Now eighteen, this young man came to New York from Pakistan when he was a seven year old little boy, to be with his mother as she died in the hospital. Only a few short years later, his father died of a heart attack leaving him an orphan. Despite these tragedies, Mohammad thrived in Queens. Living with his aunt and uncle, and with the support of his siblings and cousins, his school and his friends, Mohammad has grown to be the kind of young man all of us hope our society produces: decent, modest and responsible, a varsity basketball player with a crowd of friends and a bright future ahead of him. But in February, after reporting to immigration officials in New York under the special registration program implemented after 9/11 to screen male aliens from high-risk states, Mohammad was told that he was in our country illegally and that our federal government would seek his deportation. He was supposed to appear before a federal judge today. A terrible tragedy was unfolding, a young man, an orphan, who since he was in second grade had only known life in America, was only weeks away from being sent to Pakistan, where he had no family and knew no one. Mr. Speaker, this scenario is not what we had in mind when the special screening procedures were put in place. The new screening policy makes a lot of sense for the security of our nation, it made no sense when applied in this case. The most threatening thing about Mohammad Hussain is his jump shot. But the story has a happy ending Mr. Speaker because in New York, the federal government is lucky enough to have Ed McElroy making decisions about the enforcement of immigration laws. Instead of ducking his head, instead of hiding behind rules and regulations to avoid making a decision, Ed McElroy did the kind of job we all hope our federal employees will do. He investigated, he looked deeper, he performed due diligence, he protected the interests of the United States and most importantly, he did the right thing. After taking all the steps necessary to ensure that America's interests were met first, Ed McElroy notified me that he had reviewed Mr. Hussain's case would exercise prosecutorial discretion in not removing him from the United States. Mr. Speaker, there is a lot to be proud of in a case like this. There is, of course, Mohammad Hussain, a young man like millions of others who has come to this country in tragic circumstances and has come to know, love and live the American dream. And, making the continuation of this American story possible is a federal employee, a bureaucrat. A hero named Ed McElroy who understands that his responsibility as a guardian of our nation's borders and laws is not just the implementation of regulations, but the use of judgement in the pursuit of justice. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call the House's attention to the great job Ed McElroy has done, and I know the whole House will join me in thanking him for his service, which is a credit to the entire United States government.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to pay tribute to a great man who has dedicated much of his life to improving relations between Taiwan and the United States. Dr. Lyushun Shen has served as Deputy Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) for the past four years and will be leaving Washington soon to accept a new challenge as Director General of TECRO in Geneva. At his new post, he will be working on, among other things, finally bringing Taiwan into its rightful place as a member of the World Health Organization, a development I strongly support. As the Deputy Representative of TECRO, Dr. Shen has carried out many responsibilities ranging from interacting with Members of Congress to serving as a senior liaison with the large and vibrant Taiwanese community in the United States. As almost all of our colleagues know, TECRO--Taiwan's unofficial embassy here in Washington--and its employees are devoted to making certain the United States and Taiwan work closely on matters of mutual concern and importance in the areas of trade, investment, commerce, culture and security. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Shen is an old Washington hand. He is presently serving his third tour of duty in Washington, where he previously was Director of TECRO's Public Affairs Division from 1994 to 1996, as well as a Staff Consultant for Congressional Liaison from 1982 to 1986. In between his postings in Washington, Dr. Shen remained focused on U.S.- Taiwan relations. From 1996 to 1999 he was Director General, Department of North American Affairs at Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and from 1991 to 1993 he headed the Kansas City office of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs, TECRO's predecessor organization. This important position gave Dr. Shen a firsthand perspective on America's heartland, which oftentimes offers a different perspective than Washington. Dr. Shen's professional experience has been built on a strong academic foundation. Dr. Shen received both his master's degree in international relations and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. While working in Kansas City, he was a visiting professor of international relations at the University of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Shen has developed many friendships and a wealth of goodwill on Capitol Hill. He has served as a trusted resource of information regarding Taiwan and Cross Straight relations. Many fellow members of this body have been fortunate to have traveled to Taiwan with Dr. Shen. Mr. Speaker, I am certain that our colleagues will join me in extending our best wishes to my good friend Lyushun as he takes up his new assignment. We also hope that he will be able to make his way back to Washington in the future. In the meantime, we expect many great things from this tireless advocate for Taiwan's interests. He is indeed an important asset for the 22 million people on Taiwan.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to pay tribute to the four brave Chaplains of the U.S.S. Dorchester who sacrificed their lives in order to save those of others. On February 3, 1943, a German U-boat off the coast of Greenland sank the U.S.S. Dorchester, carrying approximately nine hundred American servicemen. A torpedo struck the Dorchester mid-ship, killing hundreds instantly, and sending those still alive into confusion and terror. As the Dorchester began to sink it became clear to many on board that the situation was becoming increasingly dire. Unable to signal for help, or call nearby ships due to security reasons, the U.S.S. Dorchester faced disaster on its own. It was in spite of such confusion that George L. Fox, Clark V. Poling, Alexander Goode, and John P. Washington, the four chaplains of the U.S.S. Dorchester calmly worked to bring order to the catastrophe. Distributing life jackets with composure, the chaplains--one Catholic, one Jewish, and two Protestant--worked together to save the lives of many American servicemen. They did this at the cost of their own lives, giving the final four life jackets to needy American soldiers. Linked arm in arm, praying to the one God to whom they all served, they sank with the Dorchester, leaving America eternally in debt to their gratitude. The inspirational service, and dedication of these four courageous chaplains saved many American lives in the frigid waters of the Atlantic. Their story continues to be one of inspiration to many religious communities throughout America. Furthermore, their willingness to stand together, linked arm in arm, disregarding religious boundaries can be viewed as a true testament to the beauty of religious freedom--a moral value that the United States of America has incessantly fought to protect. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues of the House of Representatives to join with me to honor George L. Fox, Clark V. Poling, Alexander Goode, and John P. Washington, the four courageous chaplains of the U.S.S. Dorchester.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Alfred Cahn, upon celebrating his 90th birthday. Al Cahn has worked with the Coler-Goldwater Memorial Hospital on Roosevelt Island for nearly thirty years. He has been a passionate member of the Patient Care Committee, fighting to help improve the lives of patients. Al and his devoted wife, Lee, took the time to create a family council to work with hospital administration to help make Coler-Goldwater an even better place. Al's dedication led him to serve as both president of the council and vice-president of the Community Advisory Board at the hospital. Al's extensive interaction with the patients at Coler-Goldwater is remarkable. Al not only visits patients, he brings out those that are able and serves as a feeder for those that are less fortunate. Al and his wife are also known for their annual barbecue which they host at their Whitestone home. With homemade food and fresh fish, caught by the Cahn's themselves, the outing has been a truly uplifting time for all of the attendees. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Alfred Cahn on this truly special occasion as he celebrates his 90'h birthday. Al is an honorable man who has spent such a large portion of his life aiding and honoring, the lives of others. May he continue to celebrate throughout this year and for many more to come.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, as we move toward the conclusion of the 107th Congress, I think it is fair to say that we will look back on this period as a time when South Asia became a major focus of U.S. foreign policy. Obviously, Afghanistan has occupied much of our attention, as our forces have routed the Taliban and Al Qaeda forces, which had turned that country into a base for international terrorism. But a South Asian relationship that has perhaps received fewer headlines, but which I believe will prove to have a long-lasting and deep value for both countries, is our growing relationship with India. After September 11, when so much changed for America and the world, India immediately stepped forward in full support and solidarity with the United States in the war on terrorism. But this level of cooperation and partnership between the U.S. and India in the struggle against terrorism was nothing new. The two countries had actually been cooperating on counter-terrorism efforts since the establishment of the U.S.-India Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism in January 2000. Further, this cooperative system for addressing the problem of terrorism was part of a much larger realignment in relations between the world's two largest democracies. When President Clinton traveled to India in March 2000--the first visit by an American President to India in more than 20 years-- bilateral relations had already been showing signs of slow but steady improvement. President Clinton's trip to India, and the visit a few months later in September 2000 by Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee--marking the first time that two lndo-U.S. summits had taken place in the same year--resulted in the development of a new framework for bilateral relations that was spelled out in ``A Vision for the 21st Century.'' This Vision Statement called for a greater institutional dialogue, including a U.S.-India Financial and Economic Forum, a U.S.- India Commercial Dialogue, a U.S.-India Working Group on Trade, and joint groups dealing with such wide-ranging issues as energy and environment, science and technology exchange, and cooperation on the promotion of democracy internationally. I am pleased to report that these cooperative bodies have been active and have produced substantive results. Since assuming office in early 2001, the Bush Administration has continued the progress begun by its predecessor. After 9/11, there was an upsurge in U.S.-India relations, given the urgent need to address the source of terrorism in Afghanistan. While India and the United States are united as democracies that have been the victims of horrendous terrorist violence, much of it coming from the same extremist sources based in Afghanistan and Pakistan, our relationship is by no means limited to our alliance in the war on terrorism. At their November 2001 meeting, President Bush and Prime Minister Vajpayee issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to continue transforming our relationship, including increased exchanges and technical cooperation in the defense and security areas. They also called for policies to enhance the economic and commercial ties between our nations and agreed to dialogue and cooperation in the areas of energy, the environment, health, space, export controls, science, biotechnology and information technology. The cordial relationship between President Bush and Prime Minister Vajpayee, like the warm ties that President Clinton continues to enjoy with the Prime Minister, serves as a visible symbol of the friendship and partnership between our countries on so many levels. In his visit to the United States this September for the UN General Assembly meeting, Prime Minister Vajpayee attended commemoration ceremonies for 9/11, demonstrating again that the Indian and American peoples stand together as supporters of democracy committed to standing steadfastly against the scourge of international terrorism. Mr. Speaker, India's commitment to democracy is not just some abstract principle. For 50 years, India's political system has been based on free and fair elections. We have just witnessed the latest example of this commitment in India's state of Jammu and Kashmir. Despite the ongoing threat of terrorism, much of it emanating from neighboring Pakistan, four rounds of elections have just been completed in Jammu and Kashmir for the state assembly. Despite efforts by the terrorists to intimidate voters and candidates, the elections have been successfully concluded. Voter turnout has been estimated at a respectable 44 percent, and the early indications are that the current ruling party will lose its majority in the assembly. The fact that the state government will peacefully change hands as the result of an elections is but further evidence that India's democracy is not only alive and well, but thriving. Mr. Speaker the progress in U.S.-India relations that has been made over the last several years has allowed us to broaden and deepen a relationship with a sister democracy in a part of the world where the United States has significant interests. It is a relationship that can only continue to bring both countries great benefits.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner).

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Lampson), the conscience of the Congress on the issue of finding lost children.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. This is in accordance with the agreement set prior to the beginning of the debate, and I appreciate the cooperation. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield 1 hour of my time to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), and that he be allowed to control that time and yield it to others.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin).

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith).

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden).

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega). (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), a member of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Madam Speaker, the President continues to make his case before the Congress, before the American people, and before the United Nations to garner support and legitimacy in the case against Saddam Hussein. There is no question about any of the facts the President has cited in making the case for urgent action against the threat posed by the Iraqi current regime. Only the deliberately obtuse can doubt that Saddam Hussein is a murderous, rapacious dictator with an addiction to aggression, and a long record of gross miscalculations. Since seizing power and killing all of his domestic rivals, Saddam spent the entirety of his rule either committing acts of gross unprovoked aggression, preparing for war, conducting war, brutalizing his own countrymen, or committing crimes against humanity. Madam Speaker, if we believe there is good in the world, surely we must recognize that there is also evil. Saddam Hussein is pure evil. The litany of Iraq's bad behavior is very familiar, and there is no real question about Iraq's appetite for weapons of mass destruction and his thirst for nuclear weapons. We know beyond a shadow of doubt that even after defeat in the Gulf War, and even while the United Nations inspectors were attempting to verify Iraq's United Nations mandated disarmament, Saddam Hussein's regime continued his covert and comprehensive plans to acquire those weapons and the means to deliver them. All of these facts are established and known, and the President made them all very clear last night. The single question we must answer, the single decision from which all other decisions will naturally descend is what to do about this threat. It is grave. It is immediate, and it will not satisfactorily resolve itself without action. We cannot simply hope that Saddam Hussein will be deterred. He has shown himself to be an inveterate and dangerous gambler. We cannot simply hope that Saddam will not share weapons of mass destruction technology with terrorists. We know al Qaeda elements have already been at work soliciting Iraqi aid in this field. We cannot simply hope that U.N. inspections will rout out Saddam Hussein's weapons of terror. We know that he has defeated inspections for 10 years and is prepared to risk his regime in order to preserve them. Madam Speaker, hope is not a plan; nor will hope ensure our national security. I believe that we all want a nonviolent resolution to this problem. As the President said last night, ``Military action is not imminent or unavoidable.'' Madam Speaker, it is not our first choice, but the only way for us to be clear about Saddam's obligation is for us to speak with one voice. Madam Speaker, we have fought wars that we have not declared, and we have declared wars that we have not fought. Let us hope that this is one of the latter. I believe that authorizing the President to use force, if necessary, is the best way to avoid war and is the best way to make clear that preservation of peace depends on Iraq's compliance with its obligations. But if we must use force, then the central issue to my mind is how to secure the greatest and the broadest international endorsement for our proposed course of action. Madam Speaker, since World War II, the United States, on the basis of broad bipartisan consensus, has been leading the world through the creation of a system of international security based on shared norms and institutions. The international order our Nation has established and sustained since the presidencies of Roosevelt and Truman and Eisenhower, the so-called Pax Americana, has succeeded for decades because it has been perceived internationally as legitimate and is not just self-interested. The peace of the Americans, not just the peace for the Americans. The goodwill that we have built up for decades is not simply the product of our support for democracy and free markets but rather our enduring and substantial material support for international institutions such as the United Nations and NATO and, through them, our commitment to international cooperation in the pursuit of global security. The global idea that we are all in this together has enabled our country to lead for decades without any significant backlash. The real questions that we should be asking are not about whether something should be done about Iraq. Something must be done. Our national security requires it. The key questions that remain are about international order and our relationship with the rest of the world. The President's speech to the U.N. seemed to be the first step in our effort to build a coalition. Last night's speech was another. These were necessary efforts, and we must continue. Because a preventative war devoid of any sort of international consensus is not a precedent that we choose to establish. Our Nation used to refer to that kind of project as aggression. Like it or not, we will need the international community when and if the time comes for the reconstruction of Iraq. But beyond our efforts in Iraq, we continue to need the international support for the war on terror. We cannot scorn international concerns and reservations without lasting harm to our larger and longer-term objectives. While I am prepared to endorse the President's request for authorization to use force to respond to the threat by Iraq, I continue to have grave concerns about the administration's complete failure to explain what an unsupported war on Iraq will do to our efforts to establish a stable global order. I continue to have grave concerns about the administration's complete failure to explain how an unsupported war in Iraq will advance international cooperation in the war on terror. And I continue to have grave concerns about the administration's complete failure to explain how we will restore a post-Saddam Iraq to the family of nations. Madam Speaker, all that being said, we must recognize Saddam Hussein's regime is a reign of evil, promising the world nothing but terror and death. A decent people have an obligation to confront evil in its womb. Madam Speaker, I will support the resolution, but I fear that defeating Iraq and deposing Saddam are likely to be orders of magnitude much easier than repairing a potential breach in international perceptions about our Nation's intentions and our values.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to point out to our colleagues and the American people who might be listening that we are talking about somebody who is alive and well. These kinds of speeches are usually made about somebody who has passed from the scene. But Ben Gilman is an actual living legend here in the Congress and in this great land of ours. Mr. Speaker, I have been privileged the years that I have been serving here in the Congress to have served just about my entire congressional career on the Committee on International Relations with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman). We sit on opposite sides of the aisle, and we have done that throughout our careers; and I have to state that there is nobody that has more respect than does Ben Gilman for both sides of the aisle and within the ranks of our committee. We do not always agree on every single issue, but we have to respect Ben for the positions he takes and the things that he fights for, many of which, if not 99 percent of them, I associate myself with. I want to point out to some of the Members, especially some of the younger Members of the House, that some of the most important things that they can do here, because especially with the dimension that our world is taking today, is to travel. I have had the pleasure of going on quite a number of trips together with Mr. Gilman, both when our party was in the majority and when his party was in the majority and he was the Chairman; and we learned so much on those trips, not just about each other, which is very, very important, but about the rest of the world. Ben did not travel to those parts of the world where people think a person goes to because they are luxurious and they are vacation spots. I remember once we went to India together and we flew over there courtesy of the Air Force, and when we got there, one of the things we were going to do besides visiting people of all kinds was to meet with His Excellency, the Dalai Lama. There had been a tremendous typhoon that had come through the night before. The Air Force thought it might be dangerous and then figured out that indeed our Air Force plane could not go up to the mountain where the Dalai Lama was. Ben was able to talk to the people within the government of India. They provided us with a flying boxcar that could actually get up there and land, and we did that. It must have been close to 120 degrees in that plane without windows. Our lunch melted. And yet Ben was so determined that we meet with His Excellency, the Dalai Lama, that we made that trip, a very, very difficult trip. Ben and I have gone up mountains together. We have done that in Colombia where, in meeting to fight the scourge of drugs, something in which you have been a leader in for three decades now, recognizing that problem way before almost anybody else in this House of Representatives, it took close to 1,500 of the national police of that country to protect us when we stood overnight there against the drug lords in Cartagena. So many trips, so memorable, some with our wives when they were not as dangerous as others. Just on a personal vote, to give my colleagues the dynamics of this man's career, I have been serving in the House for 20 years. I was not born when Ben Gilman was flying those missions in World War II, in the Army Air Corps, serving with my dad. That is how long Ben has been serving this country. When I grew up as a little boy, sharing a religion and a tradition that Ben Gilman does, one that is really a very small percentage, a small minority in this country, there were very few people of my faith to look up to as role models in the business of politics, elected office in America in those days. My mom told me that there was this guy in our State in New York named Ben Gilman, who was a great American, who stood for great principles and great values; and he was somebody that we could all look up to. And, indeed, I did; and it was a blessed day that I was elected to be able to serve side by side with Ben Gilman and to fight with him for so many of the causes that all of us believe in. For that, I have to tell Ben, for that, all of us are very, very grateful; and we thank him for his great service.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. William McShane, on the occasion of his retirement, from the Suffolk County Board of elections. For the past 30 years, Mr. McShane has tirelessly devoted himself to public service. He has most recently served as the campaign finance director of the Suffolk County Board of Elections. Previously, Mr. McShane worked for a member of the legislature before running for office himself. Mr. McShane is a veteran of the Army Air Force who has served both his country and the state of New York well. As a Bronx native, the former owner of a small business in Nassau County and a longtime member of the Deer Park Community, Mr. McShane embodies the true spirit of a New Yorker. His professional achievements are more than matched by his personal success. His lovely wife, Anne, is a retired school teacher. Together, they raised 5 beautiful children and have been blessed with six amazing grandchildren. I am proud to recognize such an accomplished individual and commend Mr. McShane for his dedication and service to his community. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to please join me in wishing William McShane many years of success as he celebrates his well deserved retirement.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the conference report to accompany H.R. 1646, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act. Mr. Speaker, at the outset, I want to commend Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos for their diligent efforts in producing a bill which will truly assist in the conduct of our foreign affairs. There are a few specific provisions in the conference agreement which I would like to draw attention to. The first is the Middle East Peace Commitments Act. This section requires the President to report to Congress on the Palestinians adherence to their commitments to resolve their conflict with Israel through exclusively non-violent means. If the President cannot report to Congress that the Palestinians are complying with their commitments to peace, and unless the President utilizes a national security waiver, the legislation requires the imposition of one or more of following sanctions: the denial of visas to PLO and Palestinian Authority officials; the downgrading of the status of the PLO office in Washington; the designation of the PLO, the PA, or any of their constituent groups or arms as Foreign Terrorist Organizations; or the cut-off of all non-humanitarian aid to the West Bank and Gaza. Mr. Speaker, the problem with the U.S. policy to date isn't that we're disengaged--far from it. The problem is that for all our effort, we haven't gotten any commitment to peace from the Palestinians. It doesn't seem to matter how many envoys and senior policy makers the President sends to meet with Palestinian leaders, these visits have failed to produce any change in Palestinian behavior. With the adoption of these sanctions, Congress is sending a strong message to the Palestinians that America's never-ending supply of last-chances has run out. Another important provision in the conference report concerns Taiwan. Last year, President Bush altered arms sales discussions between the U.S. and Taiwan from once a year to an as needed basis. The experience with this policy has thus far been satisfactory and has removed a major irritant in U.S.-PRC relations by removing the focus an annual meeting between the U.S. and Taiwan provides. However, in order to ensure Congress's historic role in assessing Taiwan's defense needs under the Taiwan Relations Act, the bill requires that the Administration consult with the Congress twice annually regarding Taiwan's defense needs. This provision will ensure that the Congress retains its unique role in determining the types and quantity of defense articles and services that should be provided to Taiwan. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, the conference report authorizes the final payment of our U.N. arrearage. For too long the late payment of our dues has set an example for other nations to follow and has caused serious budget problems for the U.N. At a time when the President has challenged the United Nations to be a forceful advocate for peace and security, or risk irrelevance, it helps for us to demonstrate that we support the U.N. by putting our money where our mouth is. Mr. Speaker, I commend Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos for their extraordinary work on this measure and I urge my colleagues to support the conference report.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate September 18th, 2002, the 14 year anniversary of one of freedom's great tragedies. On this day in 1988, a military regime assumed power in the country of Burma during a brutal crackdown, slaughtering approximately 10,000 nonviolent demonstrators in the streets of Rangoon and throughout the nation over a period of months. Were these demonstrators committing some crime? Had they broken the law of the land? Were they planning some heinous act of treason? The answer is no on all three counts--they did not, had not, and were not. The people of Burma are guilty only of sacrificing for the same dreams that have summoned greatness in men and women alike throughout history: freedom, democracy, and human rights. As Burma's 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said, ``. . . even under the most crushing state machinery courage rises up again and again, for fear is not the natural state of civilized man.'' September 18th, 1988 was not only a tragedy, however. It was also a day of great hope. Since 1988, the Burmese people's courage has never for one instant waned or even cooled. In 1990, despite harassment, arrest, and intimidation, the National League for Democracy was voted into power with an astounding 82% of the seats in parliament. We members of Congress, as elected officials, in particular should understand the uniqueness of this victory. I know most of my colleagues in this building would do anything for that kind of mandate. In 1991, 1996, and 1998, the people of Burma and the National League for Democracy demanded recognition of this election with demonstrations and party gatherings that resulted in widespread arrests and subsequent torture. And, in August of this year, Burmese students again took to the streets in Rangoon, calling for the release of all of Burma's political prisoners. We know from our own history that the struggle for freedom is not easy nor is it without sacrifice. The sudden rush of change might come at any time, whether through the crumbling of a wall or a crowd's deafening cry for democracy in the streets. We do know, however, that the United States of America has always stood for the principles that our nation was founded upon, and we will continue to support those that share our dreams. Burma's military regime should be put on notice that the United States will neither forget September 18th, and what it represents for the Burmese people, nor tire in our belief in freedom. Most importantly, the regime should also know that many of us in the United States Congress are growing weary of the constant stalling and delaying of a full-scale political dialogue that includes Burma's ethnic nationalities. Now is the time for change in Burma and I urge my colleagues to join me in calling for that change.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to praise Mr. James Mahoney, the recipient of the National Volunteer Fire Council's Scott Health and Safety Volunteer Firefighter of the Year Award for the Year 2002. In 1973, Mr. Mahoney joined the Northport Fire Department. In an illustrious career that spanned three decades, Mr. Mahoney has been the consummate firefighter. From the Northport Lumber Yard fire in the 1970s to the fire at the Long Island Oyster Farm, Firefighter Mahoney valiantly responded to the emergency needs of his community during times of great danger and uncertainty. In addition, Mr. Mahoney has diligently worked to unite the Northport Fire Department with its surrounding neighborhood. His impressive accomplishments include serving as an elected captain of the rescue squad three times; chairman of the 100th anniversary committee; chairman of the fire prevention committee; coordinator of the baby- sitter course, chairman of the annual Meet Your Friend the Firefighter event; and seven-year Safety News columnist for a local newspaper, The Observer. Mr. Mahoney has also been a valuable member of my own interview committee for military academy appointments. In addition, he has been president of the Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters Burn Center Committee; President of the Northport Running Club; Commander of Northport American Legion Post 694; and co-chairman for the Day of Remembrance following the terrorist attacks of September 2001. Before his career as a firefighter, Mr. Mahoney answered the call of his country, serving in the Korean War for two years. In his professional life, Jim Mahoney worked as an educator for 34 years, teaching in various elementary schools on Long Island. In addition, he was Principal of the New Lane Elementary School in Seldon, NY. Jim is a life long resident of Northport, New York, where he resides with his wife Sophie, his four children and his four grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, 2002 has been and will continue to be a banner year for Mr. Mahoney and the Northport Fire Department. A month before he was chosen as the National Volunteer Fire Council's Scott Health and Safety Volunteer Firefighter of the Year, Mr. Mahoney was presented with the Fire Service Achievement Award for the Year 2002 by the Fireman's Association of the State of New York. Wishing him all the best as he travels first to Buffalo, New York to receive his state service award and then on to Sitka, Alaska to be presented with his national honor, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Mr. James Mahoney.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to mark the passing of one of India's greatest industrialists and entrepreneurs, Dhirubhai Ambani, who died on Saturday, July 6, 2002, at the age of sixty-nine. Dhirubhai Ambani was the ultimate success story. Bom in a rural village in Gujurat, he rose from a small trader of textiles and spices to head the largest and most profitable industrial concern in India, the Reliance Group. Through a series of shrewd. business moves and decades of hard work, Dhirubhai Ambani transformed Reliance from a minor retail concern into an entity which included the largest and most modem refinery in Asia, a petrochemical business of unparalleled quality, a five billion dollar satellite and broadband subsidiary, and petroleum and refining businesses which set the standard throughout South Asia. At the time of his death, Dhirubhai Ambani oversaw an economic juggernauht which accounted in almost 3 percent of India's GDP and 16 percent of the value of the Bombay Stock Exchange. He was one of the wealthiest men in the world, a recognized billionaire by Forbes Magazine, and in 2000 he was rightly acknowledged by Business India magazine as India's Businessman of the Century. Mr. Speaker, although Dhirubhai Ambani became very rich, his wealth was never closely held. Unlike many old line Indian companies, Dhirubhai Ambani shunned debt financing from banks and instead offered shares in Reliance to India's growing middle class. Shares in Reliance were eagerly purchased whenever offered. Today there are more than three million shareholders, almost all of whom are financially far better off as a result of their investment. For anyone who may wonder about the ability of capitalism to flourish in the Indian economy, despite that country's long dance with government intervention and control, one need look no further than the story of The Reliance Group and its departed Chairman, Dhirubhai Ambani. Mr. Speaker, as the Former Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans and a frequent visitor to India, I had the distinct privilege of spending time with Dhirubhai Ambani both at his office in South Bombay and his lovely residence. He was a gentleman of immediate warmth. A modest man who did not discuss his achievements or his generosity towards his employees, his community and his country, Dhirubhai Ambani immediately made me feel as through we had been friends for a long time. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in expressing condolences to Dhirubhai Ambani's two sons, Mukesh and Anil, who have taken over the management of Reliance, as well as his widow, Kokilaben, and his two daughters. Although they have suffered a great loss, their loss is shared, not only by India's citizens, but by many friends of India in the Congress and throughout the United States.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 393, and would like first of all to thank my colleague from New York, Mr. Crowley for his initiative in bringing this important resolution to the attention of the House. I also want to thank Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos for their support of Mr. Crowley's resolution. Mr. Speaker, every year the House considers a great number of resolutions on a vast array of topics. I'd like to suggest that the resolution under consideration right now is the perfect example of what a House resolution ought to be. H. Res. 393 is concise, timely, and most of all, important. The topic under debate today is the resurgence of a form of hatefulness that we all hoped would never again emerge in Europe. Anti-Semitism has a long and unfortunate history in Europe and its re-emergence in the past few months should serve not only as a warning that hatred and bigotry are always lurking in the margins of society, but also as a call to arms. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, 2001, our Nation and my city of New York especially, were attacked by the forces of ignorance and intolerance, the forces of hatred and exclusion, the forces of irrationality and brutality. The spirit which animated the men who attacked our Nation is the same as that which motivates the anti- Semitism of the past, the present and, we may expect, of the future as well. Pathological intolerance is nothing new, but it has, unfortunately, through technology, acquired new tools capable of wreaking massive violence and havoc. In the 1940s, the resources of an entire nation were put to the task of annihilating Europe's Jews. Today, unfortunately we see their spiritual descendants using different tools: car bombs, gas cylinders, light boats and even airplanes. But the mission of hate is the same and the results just as ghastly. Today, Europe is again facing a tide of hatred against Jews. Again we see Europe's synagogues being defiled, burned and vandalized, again we see Europe's Jews being attacked in the streets, and most disconcerting of all, again we see Europe's governments telling us not to worry, that everything will be all right, that this is a passing phase, that this is the work of a disaffected few. Mr. Speaker, I don't buy that. And more importantly, today, in passing this vital resolution, the entire Congress is refusing to accept Europe's invitation to acquiesence and passivity. Historically in Europe, Mr. Speaker, Jews have been the proverbial ``canary in the coal mine,'' the group whose welfare, acceptance and safety can be seen as a gauge for the security of all religious and ethnic minorities. And today, Europe's Jews are again in jeopardy. How we confront this awful reality is the test of the pledge our Nation made upon discovery of Hitler's extermination camps in 1945: Never again. Today, with the adoption of this critical resolution demanding that European nations live up to their responsibilities for the protection of all their citizens, I am proud to say we are living up to that great historical commitment. Again, I want to commend Mr. Crowley for authoring this resolution, and strongly urge its passage by the House.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor Justice Moses M. Weinstein, a distinguished public servant and a good friend on the occasion of his very special birthday. Moses Weinstein served for eleven years in the New York State Assembly, where he was Majority Leader from 1965 to 1968. He was Speaker of the Assembly in 1968 and served as Acting Governor of the State of New York during August 1968. In 1970, Moses Weinstein was elected to a fourteen-year term as a Justice of the Supreme Court of New York State. During his time as a legislator, Justice Weinstein sponsored the following important pieces of legislation: Creation of Crime Victims Compensation Board; creation of Temporary State Commission for Transplantation of Vital Organs; increasing number and amount of Regent Scholarships; and creating Mid-Atlantic States Air Pollution Control Committee. Justice Weinstein has also been an integral member of his local community. The following is a list of some of his countless activities in his home community: Director and Treasurer of the Queens County Multiple Sclerosis Society; organizer of the Queens Children's Rehabilitation Service; charter board member of the Mid-Queens Child Guidance Center; and counsel to the Kew Gardens Hills Athletic Association. Justice Weinstein has also been the recipient of countless awards and dedications. Among his awards are: ``Human Rights'' award from B'nai B'rith for ``outstanding and distinguished leadership in the cause of human rights''; and commendation during Battle of the Bulge, United States Army; U.S.O. Man of the Year; Queens Lighthouse Man of the Year; Distinguished Service Award from the Queens Country Optometrical Society; Anti-Defamation League award from B'nai B'rith; Annual Legislative Award from the Jewish War Veterans of New York State; Annual Meritorious Citation from Affiliated Young Democrats of New York State; ``Man of the Year'' award, 1983, from Brooklyn Law School; Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, 1983, by Brooklyn Law School; President, Zion Organization of Kew Gardens Hills; Member of the National Executive Committee of Zionist Organization; President, Patrons Club of Long Island Zionist Region; Long Island Chairman of Israel Bonds Campaign; and United Jewish Appeal, Chairman. Justice Weinstein is a resident of Kew Gardens Hills where he lives with his wonderful wife, the former Muriel Marshall. The Weinsteins are the proud parents of three sons, each of whom have followed their father's example into the field of law. His son Jonathan is currently a Supreme Court Examiner in Queens County; his son Peter, formerly a State Senator in Florida, is presently a Circuit Court Judge; and his son Jeremy, a former New York State Senator, is a Justice of the Supreme Court of New York. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Justice M. Weinstein on this special birthday occasion. Justice Weinstein's illustrious career, tireless dedication and unmatched kindness will be a beacon of guidance for future generations of civil servants, jurors and legislators.

Mr. ACKERMAN

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into the Record a recent speech given by a distinguished former Member of this body, Former Congressman Lester L. Wolff before an Assembly of Asian educators on May 20th in New York. Congressman Wolff served as Chairman of the House Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee and is now Chairman of the Pacific Community Institute. Inauguration of the Pacific American International Higher Education Schools Council With a new look and focus after two decades of service, the Pacific Community Institute (PCI), continues to work towards its purpose of creating a community of interests in the Pacific Rim. With those goals in mind, I am proud to announce today the inauguration of the Pacific American International Higher Education Schools Council. Because the United States was originally an off-shoot of Europe, there is a historical tendency to think of the U.S. as an Atlantic nation only. However, the United States has historically been involved in the Pacific since 1784, its Pacific Coast is longer than the Atlantic Coast, and the State of Hawaii is in the Pacific. The commitment of the United States to the Pacific has also been sealed in active diplomacy and several wars for freedom and democracy. The basic principle of the Pacific Community Institute (PCI) is to promote community, based upon respect for individuals and the traditions of its members. Building on ties of trade and kinship, which have long existed among the countries of the Pacific Rim, PCI seeks to facilitate interaction and cooperation toward the solution of common problems. PCI aims to obviate such problems by enabling the nations of the Pacific Rim to explore together, at the working level, means to contemporary activities, and new, creative solutions to the common concerns. PCI is supplementary and supportive without competing with existing organizations. PCI believes that true community may be facilitated by the revolution in communication and information technology, but that it must be created by people in concert, in person. For that reason, PCI remains committed to facilitating face-to- face interaction as significant step toward building a climate of cooperation. The advent of the World Wide Web has made the task of the PCI simpler in some respects, by permitting the movement of information in a more efficient manner. Yet without a sense of the human being sending an e- mail, or the organization maintaining a website, the official, the executive, or the academic who may be seeking a solution remains uncertain and unconvinced. The Pacific Community Institute seeks today to promote international education based on the concept that both sides of the Pacific can learn from each other. PCI is currently working to develop a graduate level, Western-style curriculum in business. The role of the PCI is to oversee the content of the program, curriculum, the credentials of the instructors, and performance of graduates. In general, PCI fosters the idea of appropriate conferences designed to enhance the sort of personal contact that makes an e-mail message a genuine commodity, and not a nuisance. The Pacific Community Institute, in its role to improve inter-relationships, understanding, and economic well-being within the nations of the Pacific region, is in the process of organizing such an organization: The Pacific American International Higher Education Schools Council. The Council, composed of an elite professional group of Academicians, will create and oversee an MBA program to meet the high standards of the International Community and the special needs of the educational requirements of young people residing in the Pacific Rim. Selected to head the Council is Dr. Wayne Patterson who has served as Dean in Residence of the National Council of Graduate Schools. Invitations to participate in the Council have been extended to: Dr. Orlando L. Taylor, Dean of Graduate Schools at Howard University, former Chair of the Board of Directors of the Council of Graduate Schools; Dr. Marcia Welsh, Provost and V.P., Academic Affairs, Adelphi University; Dr. Sung Lee, former Vice Provost, Michigan Tech, now executive at Carnegie Mellon; Dr. Thomas Maresh, former Dean of the Graduate School at Oregon State University; Dr. J. Kent Morrison, President at Walden University; Dr. Robert Ringold, Provost at Purdue University; Dr. Robert Rudd, former Dean of School of Business at Charleston College and have met with a strong positive response. The Pacific American University was founded in 2002, as a division of the Northern Institute of Business Management, an affiliate of The Pacific Community Institute, Inc., in order to bring the highest quality of American-developed higher education to students in China and other Pacific region countries. The initial degree offering by the Pacific American University is the Master of Business Administration. The curriculum is designed to be aligned with many MBA programs in the United States. The Pacific American University is a research-oriented private university dedicated to providing educational experiences of exceptional quality, based on the traditions of American higher education, to students of high academic potential in China and in other countries throughout the Pacific region. Further, the University is dedicated to attracting and sustaining a cadre of faculty who are, through their teaching and research, committed to the development of distinguished and compassionate graduates and to the quest for solutions to human and social problems.