Michael Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to join my friend and colleague from New Jersey, Congressman Mike Pappas, to commemorate ``oxi'' day. The historical significance of this day and what it meant to the outcome of World War II cannot be overstated. By October 1940, World War II had begun, and the Nazi war machine was already in high gear. Along with Hitler's ally Mussolini, the German and Italian forces were threatening the whole of Europe. European nations were bowing to tyranny and destruction as the Germans and the Italians marched through Europe. Great Britain endured Germany's aerial bombardment, forcing Hitler to seek another avenue to subdue the British. Hitler intended to eliminate British operations in the Mediterranean in order to weaken their ability to deter German advances. To achieve this, Hitler needed the axis powers to strike at British forces from Greece. By conquering Greece, Hitler would gain access to an important connecting link with Italian bases in the Dodecanese (Do- de-ca-nese) Islands. This would give the Italians a strangle hold on British positions in Egypt, where British forces were already facing attack from the Italian Army in North Africa. The British considered the defense of Egypt vital to allied positions in the oil rich Middle East. On October 28, 1940, the Italian minister in Athens presented an ultimatum to Greek Prime Minister Metaxas (Me-ta-ksas), demanding the unconditional surrender of Greece. Prime Minister Metaxas (Me-ta-ksas) responded with the now historic word ``oxi,'' which means no in Greek. His statement embodied the true spirit of the Greek people. His words of defiance echoed the same devotion and love of country that Greek patriots exhibited during their war of independence against the Ottoman Empire when they shouted the defiant words ``Liberty or Death.'' Prime Minister Metaxas' (Me-ta-ksas) actions marked the beginning of one of the world's most heroic efforts against tyranny and oppression. After its ultimatum was rejected, it took Italy less than 3 hours to invade Greece. It is important to note that the population of Greece at the time was only 7 million. On the other hand, Italy's population was 43 million. In addition, the Italian Army had the advantage in military strength and technology However, despite their lack of equipment, the Greek army proved to be well-trained and resourceful. Within a week of the invasion, it was clear that Italian forces had suffered a serious set-back, despite having control of the air and fielding superior armored vehicles. On November 14, the Greek army launched a counter-offensive and quickly drove the Italian forces back into Albania. By December 9, the Greeks had captured the town of Pogradec (Po-gra-des) in eastern Albania. However, a lack of supplies and difficult terrain stalled the Greek march through Albania. By February 1941, the Italians had launched strong counter-attacks. However, the determination of the Greek army, coupled with the severity of the winter weather, blocked Italy's advances. In an effort to bring the war to a close before Hitler would intervene, the Italians launched another assault on March 12, 1941. After 6 days of fighting, the Italians had made only insignificant gains, and it became clear that German intervention was necessary. On April 6, 1941, Hitler ordered the German invasion of Greece. It took the Germans 5 weeks to finally end the conflict. This delay proved to be critical to the outcome of the war. Italy's inability to capture Greece enabled the British to win major victories against Mussolini's forces in North Africa. This solidified British positions in the region as well as Cyprus. In addition, it contributed to the failure of the German campaign to conquer Russia. Perhaps most importantly, the Germans never gained the advantage against the British. Although Germany had conquered much of Europe, its inability to decimate British and Russian forces early in the war would eventually prove to be fatal. Mr. Speaker, ``OXI'' day is a day that marks defiance against tyranny. As an American of Greek descent and as a lover of freedom, I am proud to honor the memory of those brave patriots who fought for freedom on this important day.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in supporting H.R. 1484, legislation to rename the Federal courthouse in Dublin, GA, after former Congressman Roy Rowland. Roy graduated from the Medical College of Georgia, and for many years, he was the only family physician in the entire Congress. He willingly shared his experience and medical knowledge with his colleagues on numerous occasions. Many times, when health care legislation was debated by the then House Energy and Commerce Committee, Roy's opinions and suggestions were sought out. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle always found them invaluable. I had the good fortune to work closely with Roy on health care reform. We both served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Veterans Committee. In addition, we served as cochairman of the Congressional Sunbelt Caucus on infant mortality. In my opinion, our greatest legislative accomplishment together was drafting two separate and completely bipartisan health care bills in the 103d Congress. H.R. 3955, the Health Reform Consensus Act, was the first comprehensive health bill introduced in the Congress that was truly bipartisan. I believe that Roy's medical background provided this bill with crucial credibility among our House colleagues. As a leader in the House rural health care coalition, Roy assisted in drafting a wide range of bills to improve the delivery of rural health care that later became law. He also authored legislation creating the National AIDS Commission to establish better coordination among programs associated with this disease. Finally, while serving as the vice chairman of the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality, he cosponsored several measures to provide prenatal and child health care services to high-risk mothers. Roy proved himself in other legislative areas as well. For instance, he was actively involved in environmental issues, and, in fact, he served on the joint conference committee that authored the 1990 Clean Air Act. He also played a key role in the 1987 Clean Water Act and served as a House conferee when the final version of this legislation was debated by a House-Senate conference committee. In addition, he served as one of the leaders in promoting the proposed balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. With regard to veterans, Roy served as the chairman of the then House Veterans' Hospitals and Health Care Subcommittee. He was a leader in fighting for improvements in the veterans' health care system and cosponsored several legislative measures to assist our veterans. These are just some of the highlights that Roy accomplished as a Member of the House of Representatives. His talents and unique insights are missed, especially as Congress considers improving our health care system. I commend Roy for his tireless efforts and strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1484.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report to H.R. 1119, the National Defense Authorization Act. This conference includes a very important provision on an issue that I have been working on for over ten years. Several programs have been enacted over the years to allow regular and reserve retired members to ensure that, upon their deaths, their survivors will continue to receive a percentage of their retired pay. However, two categories of ``forgotten widows'' have been created by omitting any benefits for survivors of members who died before they could participate in the new programs. The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), enacted in 1972, replaced an earlier unsuccessful program. It offered an 18-month open enrollment period for members already retired. This SBP open enrollment period inadvertently created the first category of ``forgotten widows.'' These individuals are widows of retirees who died before the SBP was enacted or during the open enrollment period before making a participation decision. There are 3,000 to 10,000 pre-1974 widows. In 1978, the law was changed to allow Reservists the opportunity to elect survivor benefit coverage for their spouses and children when completing 20 years of qualifying service. However, it did not provide coverage for widows of Reserve retirees who died prior to its enactment. Thus the second category of ``forgotten widows'' evolved-- the pre-1978 reserve widows. There may be 3,000 to 5,000 widows in this category. In 1948, when the Civil Service Survivor Benefit Plan was enacted, it also created some civil service forgotten widows. In 1958, Congress authorized an annuity of up to $750 per year for the widows of civil service employees who were married to the employee for at least five years before the retiree's death, were not remarried, and were not entitled to any other annuity based on the deceased employee's service. Today, all military ``forgotten widows'' have to show for their husbands' careers are memories. The 1958 civil service benefit of $750 equates to more than $3,600 in 1994 dollars. Military ``forgotten widows'' deserve at least the minimum SBP annuity allowed under current law. Therefore, I introduced legislation, H.R. 38, that would provide these widows with a monthly annuity of $165 per month. H.R. 38, has received bipartisan support and has more than 50 cosponsors. I was pleased that the Senate included a similar provision in its authorization act. The conference report that we are considering today retains this important provision from the Senate's legislation. The inclusion of forgotten widows in the Survivor Benefit Plan is long overdue. I urge my colleagues to support the conference report for H.R. 1119.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, as we debate H.R. 2204, the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, I want to highlight a very important program administered by the Coast Guard. I am referring to the Coast Guard's ports and waterways safety system [PAWSS], a new follow-on program for the vessel traffic service [VTS] 2000 project which was terminated in October 1996. The primary purpose of a vessel traffic service is to ensure the safety of vessel traffic in U.S. ports and waterways. This program saves lives, protects property and protects the marine environment by giving mariners timely, accurate, and relevant information to avoid groundings and collisions. The Coast Guard currently operates several vessel traffic services in major port areas with much success and support. The PAWSS Program is an important next step to assure the safety and efficiency of the Nation's ports and inland waterways. My interest in the VTS began when on August 10, 1993, a collision occurred in a navigation channel outside the entrance to Tampa Bay between two tug/barges and a 357-foot freighter. This accident resulted in a thunderous explosion that shot a fireball hundreds of feet into the air. In addition, approximately 380,000 gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico. The cost of the clean-up of this spill was enormous, not to mention the damage to the environment. This is not the first accident to occur at the mouth of Tampa Bay. In May 1980, a freighter, traveling through dense fog, ran into the Sunshine Skyward Bridge causing one of its spans to collapse. Some 40 people were killed. Had the VTS been in place prior to these incidences, these disasters could have been avoided. Today, the port of Tampa Bay is still without a VTS system. The VTS represents a cost-effective answer to the prevention of these types of environmental disasters. The 1993 accident resulted in over $100 million in economic penalties and pollution cleanup costs. Nationally, the cost of cleaning up accidents such as the 1993 oil spill could easily outpace the cost of operating a VTS program. Over 2 billion tons of cargo move in and out of all U.S. ports each year. Almost half of this total consists of petroleum products, which pose environmental hazards. Increased use of waterways by passenger and recreational vessels only increases the risk of serious accidents on our Nation's waterways. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the Coast Guard's port and waterways safety systems.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1703, Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Discrimination Resolution and Adjudication Act. Over the past several months, incidents of sexual harassment by several of the VA's senior career managers have come to my attention. This greatly disturbs me because Congress investigated similar problems several years ago. In fact, when I served as the ranking minority member of the Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee, we conducted a hearing on sexual harassment in the VA workplace in 1992. At that time, we heard from several VA employees who had been the victims of sexual harassment. It took a great deal of courage for these women to come forward and share their experiences with our committee. Many of these women were also subjected to acts of retaliation by their abusers and other VA employees. Their perception, which was shared by many other employees, was that the VA did not take sexual harassment complaints seriously. There was a great deal of suspicion and distrust caused by too many years of apparent toleration of unacceptable behavior. Without question, our 1992 hearing revealed that the process in place at the VA for investigating sexual harassment complaints was seriously flawed. Consequently, the Veterans' Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation, which was later passed by the House, to address the problems at the VA. H.R. 1032 would have provided for improved and expedited procedures for resolving complaints of employment discrimination, including sexual harassment complaints. When we considered H.R. 1032, VA Secretary Brown opposed the passage of this legislation because he preferred to take administrative action instead. The Senate did not act on H.R. 1032, and the bill was never enacted into law. Secretary Brown established a policy of zero tolerance of sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination within the Department of Veterans Affairs early in his tenure as Secretary. Unfortunately, it appears that this policy of zero tolerance is not being enforced. Almost 5 years after our first hearing, we are faced with a similar situation at the VA. This matter was brought to my attention again when the director of the Fayetteville VA Medical Center was found to have sexually harassed one female employee. He also engaged in abusive, threatening and inappropriate behavior toward other female employees. This director was transferred to the Bay Pines VA Medical Center which serves many of the veterans in my congressional district. He was allowed to retain a salary of more than $100,000 in a position created specifically for him. I heard from my constituents, particularly female veterans and VA employees, who were outraged by the Department's actions on this matter. They do not believe that the VA took any punitive action against this senior VA employee. At my request, the Veterans' Affairs Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing on this latest incident of sexual harassment on April 17, 1997. We heard from several VA employees who were subjected to abusive treatment while working in the Fayetteville Medical Center. Sadly, their stories mirror those that we first heard in 1992. Despite the Secretary's zero tolerance policy, it appears that the VA has failed to adequately implement sufficient administrative procedures to deal with sexual harassment complaints. Our witnesses believed that their harasser was not properly or adequately punished. In fact, they felt that he was rewarded for his actions ``by being sent to the place he wanted to be with a raise in salary.'' This certainly appears to be the case. Consequently, I am greatly concerned that the VA's policy of zero tolerance has, at best, not been implemented uniformly, and at worst, has been ignored. In 1992, I said that ``Everyone has the right to live and to go to work without fear of harassment of any sort * * * we owe all female veterans and all female VA employees the assurance that we will not tolerate sexual harassment at any level.'' This statement is just as relevant today as it was 5 years ago. Our 1992 hearing revealed that the process in place at the VA for investigating sexual harassment complaints was seriously flawed. Our 1997 hearing showed that the process is still flawed. Although I wish it were not necessary, I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of Chairman Everett's legislation, H.R. 1703. We cannot defer legislative action again. I certainly do not want to find out 5 years from now that the VA's EEO process is still broken. Victims of sexual harassment and other types of employment discrimination deserve a sympathetic and effective response from their employer. The legislation before us is essential to assure employees that mistreatment will be dealt with fairly. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1703.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program in Pinellas County, FL. This Saturday, they will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of their service to the children of Pinellas County, which is located in my congressional district. Although I will not be able to participate in their celebration in person, I want to share my thoughts on this critically important program with my colleagues in Congress. The Pinellas County Commission has proclaimed Saturday, September 27, as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County Day. I join them in recognizing one of the premier mentoring programs in the United States. The undisputable fact is that Big Brothers Big Sisters one-to-one mentoring program has a positive impact on children who participate in the program. Children who are matched with big brothers or sisters are less likely to engage in destructive or antisocial behavior than those kids who are not. The ``littles,'' as they are affectionately called by their bigger counterparts, are less likely to begin using illegal drugs and alcohol and more likely to attend school regularly than those children without the positive guiding influence of a big brother or sister. In fact, program participants are more confident at school and enriched relationships with their family members than those without a ``big'' influence. Since 1967, approximately 15,000 children have participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Pinellas County. The agency has been at the forefront in developing exciting and innovative ways to improve the program's success. Its method for screening volunteers has been widely adopted by other children's service organizations. Last year, Pinellas Big Brothers Big Sisters participated in the President's Summit on Volunteerism. Currently, there are 385 active matches in Pinellas County and there are 163 children waiting to be paired. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Big Brothers Big Sisters program in their congressional districts. These dedicated volunteers help children become productive well-adjusted and caring members of the society. I commend Pinellas County Big Brothers Big Sisters for their leadership in helping children in my district and wish them continued success in the future.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Ney] for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 134. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan legislation authorizes the use of the Capitol rotunda for a ceremony where Members of Congress may receive His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Archbishop of Constantinople and new Rome. The Ecumenical Patriarch occupies the foremost position among the National Autocephalos Orthodox Churches worldwide and has the responsibility to coordinate the affairs of the Russian, Eastern Europe, Middle and Far Eastern churches. He is the spiritual leader of nearly 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, including approximately 5 million people in the United States. It is important that Members of Congress, as leaders of a nation that was built on religious freedom and tolerance, have an opportunity to receive and honor one of the world's preeminent religious leaders. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew not only promotes peace and religious understanding throughout the world, but he is also profoundly committed to preserving and protecting the environment. In fact, he has sponsored a conference on the environment at the Theological School of Halki. Today, as the 270th successor to Apostle Andrew, His All Holiness continues his efforts on behalf of religious freedom and human rights. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Speaker Gingrich; the gentleman from California Mr. Thomas, chairman of the Committee on House Oversight, the gentleman from Connecticut Mr. Gejdenson, the ranking member, and the gentleman from Texas Mr. Armey, the majority leader, for their efforts toward bringing this resolution to the floor of the House of Representatives. I also want to express certainly my appreciation to the members of the Hellenic Caucus for their support of this resolution as well as H.R. 2248, the recommendation to award the Patriarch with a Congressional Gold Medal. In closing, I urge my colleagues to support this most bipartisan legislation.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice to those supporting this condolence resolution. I held a special order in May to raise awareness on the dangers of driving while intoxicated. I told my colleagues that ``drunk driving knows no social or economic boundaries.'' Never could I have imagined how prophetic that statement would be. It will probably be impossible to pinpoint why Princess Diana died, however, one point can be raised without dispute. We have all borne witness that drunk driving kills--and it played a significant role in the death of Princess Diana. Last Saturday's tragedy proved once again that the rise in drunk driving fatalities is about more than statistics. It's about people. It's about broken families. It's about destroyed lives and lost love. It's about two young princes, one a future king, who are now without a mother. That's why people like Tom Carey and the members of Remove Intoxicated Drivers [RID] play such an important role in combating what can truly be called a scourge on our society. RID will be holding a vigil for Princess Diana on Friday in my congressional district. I commend their work and hope that if anything good can come from this terrible tragedy--if any lesson can be learned--it is that we must all think twice before taking a drink and then getting behind the wheel. We owe it to Princess Diana, and all those who have been killed or maimed by drunk drivers, to heed this simple yet powerful lesson. I support this resolution and want to personally express my deepest sympathies to Princess Diana's family, the British people and their government.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the names of the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Canady], the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Olver] and the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] as cosponsors of my bill, H.R. 303.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank the gentleman so very much for his clarification on this issue.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. As the gentleman knows, I had originally intended to offer a bipartisan amendment with the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Visclosky]. However, based on this discussion and the one preceding it, I will not offer my amendment. It is my understanding that the concept of the Economic Support Fund was first established in the foreign assistance act of 1961 because Congress recognized that special circumstances, either economic, political or security conditions, may necessitate the need to give economic assistance to foreign countries. The ESF is a flexible but complex aid category and continues play an important role in promoting U.S. interests overseas. Last Congress ESF funds were made available to Turkey to support efforts to reform its economy. This Congress only $20 million in ESF funds will be made available as a cash transfer to the Turkish government, a 10 percent reduction from the fiscal year 1997 level.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I wish to engage the distinguished gentleman from Illinois, a member of the Committee on Appropriations, in a further discussion on the issue of Economic Support Funds to Turkey.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. If the gentleman will further yield, it is my understanding that the NGOs and PVOs referred to in the gentleman's colloquy with the distinguished gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Callahan], the chairman of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations, referred to nongovernmental organizations and private voluntary organizations. It is also my understanding that at least $20 million of the assistance available in section 571 will be spent on democracy building and other economic development activities administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development. This agency will utilize NGOs, PVOs and other instrumentalities.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, it has been an honor for me to work with the gentleman, members of the budget conference and Committee on Commerce and Committee on Ways and Means members on historic legislation which will balance our Nation's budget for the first time, the first time since Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon, and at the same time reduce taxes, save Medicare and Medicaid, provide education and other family incentives and opportunities, and guarantees $24 billion to provide better health care for children. In recent years many have said that we could not balance the budget and also reduce taxes. We have done that and more. Regarding Medicare, we have saved the program for the next 10 years without hurting beneficiaries in any way. In fact, this legislation contains many worthwhile changes which greatly benefit the elderly. Our legislation gives seniors a choice of coverage through the new Medicare Plus Program, provides consumer protections, addresses fraud and abuse, and adds additional preventive health benefits. It also creates a commission to make recommendations on how Medicare could be preserved for future generations. Regarding Medicaid, this legislation allows States to provide better and more cost-effective medical coverage for low-income people by giving States more flexibility. Under the children's grants, States will receive funds to initiate and expand health coverage and services to uninsured low-income children. This bill, Mr. Speaker, must be judged on its merits, must be judged on its benefits to our constituents today, and to their future, and to the Nation and its future. This legislation would not have been possible, Mr. Speaker, without the great work of staffers Howard Cohen, Eric Berger, Patti DeLoache, Ed Grossman, and others, many others, that put in many hours over the past several months, and I want them to know how much I and all Americans appreciate their efforts.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable woman. Jean Williamson has been a nurse at the Clearwater Free Clinic in Clearwater, FL, for 5 years. The clinic provides critical health services to many of my constituents in the ninth congressional district who otherwise would be unable to afford them. In fact, the clinic was able to treat over 7,000 patients last year alone--and that number is expected to rise this year. In 1996, Jean earned the title ``Volunteer of the Year,'' for her tireless efforts on behalf of the patients she serves. Perhaps not surprisingly, she is again likely to receive this accolade. This year, Jean gave up her summer to serve as the interim executive director of the clinic. She was compelled to do so after the previous director resigned to take a national office. This selfless act has permitted the clinic's board to carefully search for the right replacement and has made the transition period far smoother than it otherwise would have been. However, I believe the greatest tributes come not from the words of outsiders, but from those who work closely with Jean. One of her colleagues described her as, ``one of the most dedicated and conscientious volunteers anywhere . . . she has set an example few can follow.'' It was because of people like Jean that Congress recently passed H.R. 911, legislation to protect volunteers from frivolous lawsuits which arise out of their service. I am pleased to have been a cosponsor of this important bill to protect people like the volunteers of the Clearwater Free Clinic. Mr. Speaker, in an age when volunteerism has declined, I would like very much to congratulate Jean for her unselfish and outstanding work at the Clearwater Free Clinic. She serves as a shining example for other volunteers around the country. I would ask that our colleagues join me in wishing her continued success with her work at the clinic and, indeed, with all of her future endeavors.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, as a long-time supporter of programs designed to assist displaced homemakers, I support the intent of the Mink amendment. However, I do have some concerns about the mandate it would impose upon States. Since coming to Congress, I have supported transferring more authority to State and local governments. Too many times, we have adopted a one size fits all approach when we are establishing new programs or policies. In many instances, the very people that we are trying to assist could have been better served if States had been given the flexibility to create programs designed to address their specific needs. While I believe that displaced homemakers should have access to vocational training, I want to make sure that we are serving their needs in the most effective way. I believe one way that we can assist displaced homemakers is by providing a tax credit to employers who hire and train these individuals. For over 10 years, I have sponsored such tax credit legislation, and in the 105th Congress, I have reintroduced this legislation as H.R. 402. Displaced homemakers are primarily women who have been full-time homemakers for a number of years, but who have lost their source of economic support due to divorce, separation, abandonment, or the death or disability of a spouse. Many displaced homemakers are living at or near the poverty level, are younger than 35 and have children. One of every six American women is a displaced homemaker. In 1990, there were 17.8 million displaced homemakers in the United States. In my own State of Florida, there were over 1.1 million displaced homemakers in 1990--a 55-percent increase since 1980. My bill, H.R. 402, would allow employers a tax credit for hiring displaced homemakers by establishing them as a targeted group under the Work Opportunity Tax Credit [WOTC] Program. The WOTC Program is intended to combat and lessen the problem of structural unemployment among certain hard-to-employ individuals. My bill would extend the WOTC to include displaced homemakers. Under the proposal, employers could apply for a tax credit if they hire these individuals who are having difficulty reentering the job market. I see this approach as cost-effective. By providing prospective employers with the incentive to hire displaced homemakers, we avoid the much more costly alternative of publicly supporting these homemakers and their families. Mr. Chairman, these are people who are in financial need and want to work. I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 402.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from New York, Mr. Gilman, for yielding to me. And of course I also wanted to commend the chairman, the gentleman from New York, Mr. Gilman, for all the work that he has done on this important issue for many, many years. Mr. Speaker, we live in a world where regional conflicts of one sort or another are still prevalent. However, time and time again, we have seen the concepts of freedom and democracy triumph over tyranny and oppression. Nowhere was this more profoundly demonstrated than with the change of the Berlin Wall in late 1989 and with the withering of communism that followed. A divided city was reunited, families separated for decades enjoyed emotional unions. In the West, we congratulated ourselves because our persistence and way of life had finally prevailed. But Berlin was not the only divided city in the world, nor was Germany the only divided country. It is our sad duty to once again bring the plight of Cyprus to the attention of the American people. In 1974, Turkey invaded the Island of Cyprus. Some 6,000 Turkish troops and over 100 tanks forcibly seized approximately 40 percent of the island, including half of the capital city, Nicosia. In the process, they displaced and divided thousands of Greek Cypriot families. To this day 1,619 people are still missing, including five U.S. citizens. Today I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 81, which calls for a United States initiative seeking a just and peaceful resolution of the situation in Cyprus. For 23 years, the United Nations has stationed troops on the island to prevent the spread of violence, and yet the violence has not abated. Therefore, I do not believe that a lasting peace settlement can be negotiated without U.S. leadership. Some wonder why we should involve ourselves in the problems of nations as distant as Cyprus. To them I would point out Cyprus is a vital strategic and economic importance to the United States. During the Persian Gulf war, Cyprus served as a major staging point for our military operations. In peacetime it serves as a critical listening post in the Middle East. Cyprus is also close to the shipping lanes of the Aegean Sea and the Suez Canal, which is the gateway for oil and other materials. These shipping lanes are essential to the stability of the entire region and the rest of the world. In the national archives here in Washington, DC, there is a piece of the Berlin Wall on display which was sent to former President Ronald Reagan by a young American. It is my sincere hope that someday in the near future we might be able to display a peace of the wall that marks the green line which divides Cyprus. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me and the gentleman from New York, Chairman Gilman, in demonstrating our intentions with regards to Cyprus by unequivocally supporting this concurrent resolution. We must send a signal to the world that the division of a nation and the suppression of fundamental human rights are not to be tolerated. A just and peaceful resolution to the issue is a real possibility, but only with the leadership of the United States.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislataive days to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of my special order today.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments and support. The division of Cyprus, Mr. Speaker, is perhaps most obvious in the divided capital city of Nicosia, located here on a map about in the international center of the island, a city which after the collapse of the Berlin Wall is the last truly divided city in the world. At checkpoints across the city, armed guards stare at each other across an uneasy no man's land. In the center of the city, bullet holes scar buildings and serve as a powerful reminder of the events of 1974. It is no wonder that the people of Cyprus, both Greek and Turkish, are ready for peace. Nese Yahsin, a Turkish Cypriot poet, was recently featured in the Christian Science Monitor. Her poem ``Which Half?'' captures the spirit of the two people. ``Which Half?'' is the name of her poem. She writes: ``They say a person should love their homeland, that's also what my father often says. My homeland has been divided in two, which of the two pieces should I love?'' I find it symbolic that a popular Greek Cypriot composer, Marios Tokas, put this simple four-line verse to music which is often sung by Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Even with the animosity and intercommunity conflict, the divided people of Cyprus have made progress toward bicommunal living. Recently several thousand young Cypriots from both communities were able to come together for the first time in over 23 years for a U.N.-sponsored pop concert. Despite much protest, the concert was successful and Cypriots from both sides of the island took one step closer to bi-communal harmony. A couple of years ago I led a delegation over the green line to Famagusta, located here, Kyrenia, located up here, and to the tip of Karpassas, the area of the enclaved Cypriots. Sadly, this line not only divides a nation but people as well. In order for Cypriots living in the occupied zone to visit the southern side of the island, they must first fly to Ankara, Turkey, then to Athens, Greece, and then to the unoccupied portion of the island. In contrast, a trip between the occupied ghost town of Famagusta, where I have had relatives who are displaced, and the thriving holiday resort of Protoras, which is just below the line, would only take a matter of minutes by car. However, I believe that the tide may be changing and unity in the island of Cyprus is a real possibility. Just last week, Greek and Turkish leaders pledged to overcome decades of tension and threats of war by agreeing to respect each other and settle disputes by peaceful means. I am hopeful that the United States appointment of Richard Holbrooke, as others have said, as special envoy to Cyprus will accelerate the peace process. Mr. Holbrooke's appointment was well received in Cyprus, Greece, and especially in Turkey. Perhaps, because of his experience and respect in the international community, he will be in a better position than his predecessors to negotiate with the Turkish Government. It seems rather odd, though, doesn't it, to be negotiating for land wrongfully taken in an illegal invasion and recognized by only one country on Earth? The United States must re-examine its goals and interests in the region. We must send a strong message to all parties involved--that a divided Cyprus is unacceptable. Furthermore, Congress must send a message to Turkey stressing our commitment to finding a lasting peace on the island of Cyprus. In fact, I am an original cosponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 81, which reaffirms that the status quo on Cyprus is unacceptable and detrimental to the interests of the United States. Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude on a note of urgency. Now is the time to take the next step in the Cyprus peace process. Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, and the United States are finally coming together this month in New York to discuss their respective issues. Moreover, Greece and Turkey, with strong pressure from the United States, recently announced their intentions to settle all disputes in a peaceful manner. However, once the peace process begins, we should only move forward. We must insist that the United States serve as a constructive participant in the peace settlement in order to ensure a just and lasting solution. As Members of Congress, we must do everything possible to encourage this peace process. It is only through this process that we will achieve our ultimate goal--to reunite the people and the island of Cyprus. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California [Mr. Sherman].

Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank the gentleman so much for helping in that regard, and for his energy and support for this cause over the years. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. McGovern], who is also one of our freshmen, but very much interested in this subject.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for taking the time to come over to join us on this special order, and for hosting those two gentlemen during those important talks. I yield to the other gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez], who also has visited the island.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those kind remarks and thank him for consistently year in and year out joining me in this special order, and if I were not leading this, I dare say he probably would be or certainly would still be just as much involved. Mr. Speaker, in the past, our Nation has pledged its support to developing free, market democracies. The United States should consider offering trade incentives to Cyprus to allow the manufacturing sector to increase, the labor market to improve, and the infrastructure to modernize. I also welcome efforts in Congress to maintain the traditional $15 million earmarked for Cyprus. This money funds projects aimed at reunification and reducing tensions between the two communities on Cyprus. I pledge my total support to building a strong trade relationship between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus. The continued growth of their economy will provide for a more stable country, which is a key ingredient in the peace process. Mr. Speaker, the island has seen a tremendous amount of growth over the years mostly from tourism. However, the heart of Cyprus' potential growth has yet to be tapped. Hundreds of international firms recognize that the island's $15,000 per capita gross domestic product and the high education level of its people make Cyprus an ideal location for their regional headquarters. In stark contrast, and I really, I just hesitate to mention it because I do not mean to be throwing stones, but the per capita gross domestic product in the Turkish-occupied region is a mere $3,500. There is also a significantly higher crime rate in the Turkish portion of the island. I yield at this time to the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Kelly].

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman who for years and years has done the best he possibly could to try to resolve this problem. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone] at this point.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank the gentleman. I daresay that probably this constituent who was able to get to go to his former home probably had not seen it for something like 20, 21 years and would not have been able to do that were it not for the fact that he was accompanying the gentleman. I appreciate the gentleman's support. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the chairman of the Committee on International Relations.