Julia Carson

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, Concurrent receipt is the offsetting military retired pay, dollar-for-dollar, by the amount of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) service-connected disability compensation. I am appalled that this Congress has not been able to grant veterans what they have earned. The Senate version of the Defense Authorization bill completely eliminates the current offset between military retired pay and VA disability compensation. Our men and women who have given of themselves deserve more for their sacrifices than an excuse about funding. How dare those people who accept the freedom these brave people declare that any reason is good enough to deny them their due. 402 House members have cosponsored H.R. 303, a bipartisan bill that would permit concurrent receipt in precisely the same manner as the Senate language to the Defense Authorization. The Taylor Motion appropriately insists that the House conferees accept the Senate provision which would eliminate the current offset entirely and allow veterans to collect full retirement pay and disability compensation to which they are entitled. I am sure there is overwhelming support for veterans. Vote in favor of this motion to instruct. Let's prove our appreciation for the veterans who preserved the land of the free.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, let's get this straight: a preemptive war is a war nonetheless, a war the would-be preemptor starts. According to our Congressional Budget Office, the aggressive war the President wants to start against Iraq would cost our taxpayers between $6 and $9 billion a month. With most people's retirement accounts in the tank, the Federal accounts drenched in red ink and so many people out of work, don't we have better and less violently fatal ways to spend money? Despite our using parts of Iraq for bombing practice over a ten year period, Iraq hasn't attacked us. But if we carried out a campaign to destroy the regime entirely, what would Saddam have to lose by trying to sneak biological weapons into the U.S.? As we have seen in Afghanistan, it is not physically possible for us to bottle up a country so that no one can slip away. A preemptive strike without U.N. Security Council compliance is, by definition, aggression and a treaty violation. A duly entered into treaty is the law of the land. Moreover, the mandate of our Constitution is that Congress alone has the authority to start a war. And the Constitution does not permit Congress to delegate any part of that authority to the President as this proposed resolution would do. In discussing that Constitutional provision (Art. 1, Sec. 8, Clause 11), Congressman Abraham Lincoln wrote in part: Allow a President to invade a neighboring nation whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such purpose--and you allow him to make war at pleasure. There are twenty million people in Iraq not named Hussein. An invasion would kill untold thousands of those already weakened people. On Saturday the President said, ``We must do everything we can to disarm this man before he hurts one single American.'' Could that possibly mean that the President believes the American soldiers who would be slaughtered in the war he wants to start against Iraq would not be ``hurt.'' Should such stark horror be so casually inflicted on so many young Americans on such flimsy and dubious evidence? Let's get another thing straight: the al-Qaida did not invent terrorism; it is anything but ``a new kind of war.'' It went on during the reconstruction period in America and periodically since. Not long ago, President Reagan and Vice-President Bush were telling us one of the good things about their then-friend Hussein was that he was secular and not a religious fanatic. Now suddenly this President Bush is telling us that Hussein is in cahoots with religious fanatics who, even the most casual student of the mideast knows, hate Hussein's guts and would be delighted to overthrow him. Bear in mind that the Bush/Hussein friendship was still going strong after both the Hussein invasion of Iran and his use of gas weapons against his own people. For 40 years, the Soviet Union was our adversary and was armed to the teeth with awesome nuclear weapons with intercontinental capability that made Hussein the pipsqueak he is. The Soviet Union also slaughtered millions of its own people and invaded neighboring countries. The Soviets were our Saddam Hussein of the time. But no U.S. ``preemptive war.'' Not necessary because the Soviets knew use of nuclear weapons would mean their suicide. For the sake of argument, let's say Hussein had primitive nuclear weapons now, which he almost certainly does not. He and his gang aren't so dumb that they don't know use of such weapons would mean that he and his ``grizzly gang'' would be vaporized within minutes by our awesome nuclear capability. So why war now? Mr. Rove, the White House politics man, is on record as saying that war is good for his party to win elections. Is this, then, a political question or a moral one? One of the greatest dangers to an American soldier is a poor economy at election time. In good conscience, I cannot cast my constituents' vote for this latter-day Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. It is said that the only thing we learn from history is that we do not learn from history.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, as the House meets tonight in Washington, the Board of Directors of Rolls-Royce North America, whose largest manufacturing facility is located in my district in Indianapolis, is meeting at its corporate headquarters in northern Virginia. Rolls-Royce is one of our most distinguished corporate citizens, and one of the largest private-sector employers in Indiana; it employs more than 8,000 workers and produces more than $2.4 billion in North American sales annually. A global company with a British heritage and a major American presence, Rolls-Royce can attribute much of its success in the United States to Paul Heiden, the Finance Director of Rolls-Royce, plc. As the Chief Financial Officer for Rolls-Royce, Mr. Heiden was personally involved with, and strongly supportive of, major capital investment in the United States industrial base. Most significant among those investments are the facilities in Mount Vernon, OH; Park City, UT; Oakland, CA; and Indianapolis. He has fostered trans-Atlantic trade and cooperation on defense and commercial aerospace programs, including engine development for the Joint Strike Fighter, and engines for regional jet aircraft. He was directly involved in the Rolls-Royce North American ventures as a member of the Board of Directors of Rolls- Royce North America Holdings, Inc, and in that role contributed immensely to the economic health of many American communities, including my own. At year's end, Mr. Heiden will leave his post with Rolls-Royce. He will be sorely missed. At a time when our nation is most acutely aware of our good fortune in the trans-Atlantic partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom, I am reminded that it is the talent and determination of people like Paul Heiden that make this partnership so vibrant. On behalf of the people of central Indiana, I wish him every good fortune in his future endeavors.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House, and offer a privileged resolution that I noticed yesterday pursuant to rule IX, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, article 1, section 9, of the Constitution states that no money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law. It is the fiscal duty of the Congress to appropriate the money necessary to provide the funds needed to support the execution of programs and operations of the Federal Government. To date, only five of the 13 appropriations measures have been considered. Mr. Speaker, this inaction has hampered this body's constitutional duty and called into question its integrity. The failure of this unrealistic budget resolution is especially true in respect to the fiscal year 2003 transportation appropriations bill in its funding for Amtrak. This inaction has hampered this body's constitutional duty. After the events of September 11, our Nation's air transportation system ground to a halt. After the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights following the terrorist attacks, travelers turned to Amtrak. Whether people had to travel for business, to help with rescue efforts or just to get home, Amtrak kept Americans moving during a time of national emergency. Amtrak ridership and revenues skyrocketed, led by the Northeast Corridor, which had a 13.5 percent revenue growth and a 4.6 percent ridership growth in 2001. For the system as a whole, revenue rose 8.2 percent and ridership 4.3 percent. The situation not only proved that Amtrak works but that passenger rail is a critical part of our transportation infrastructure. Despite this, Mr. Speaker, we continue to drastically underfund Amtrak, jeopardizing not only the safety and security of this country but the jobs and the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Americans. We have been told that if Amtrak receives the full $1.2 billion that both it and the Department of Transportation has recommended it receive, they will be able to begin to revitalize their operations, they will be able to revitalize and build upon the successes they have seen in the Northeast Corridor, they will be able to revitalize and build on rail service to areas of the country currently underserved by rail and, Mr. Speaker, they will be able to revitalize operations at their Beech Grove maintenance facility, which is in my district. They will be able to rehire the 228 employees who were furloughed back in February and rejuvenate a facility that has served this country since 1905. Workers at the plant right now are working 7 days a week to keep the facility running.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, my question of privilege regards the integrity of our proceedings as a House as prescribed by the Constitution. The United States Constitution conveys upon this body the power to originate appropriation measures. It is not only our responsibility but our duty and obligation to restate this message in this legislation about the importance of Amtrak. I believe that we have probably not been in accordance with our constitutional responsibilities concerning appropriations and would argue that their continued inaction on such urgent priorities, as full funding of Amtrak, meets the test for privileged resolutions.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I appeal the ruling of the Chair.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House rule IX, clause 1, I rise to give notice of my intent to present a question of privilege of the House. The form of the resolution is as follows: Transportation (Amtrak) Privileged Resolution A resolution, in accordance with House Rule IX, expressing a sense of the House that its integrity has been impugned and Constitutional duty hampered by the inability of the House to bring to the floor the Fiscal Year 2003 Transportation Appropriations Act, due to the severe under funding of the National Passenger Rail Corporation (Amtrak) within the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 Budget. Whereas under Article I, Section IX, of the Constitution states no money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by law. Whereas it is the fiscal duty of the Congress to appropriate annually the funds needed to support the execution of the programs and operations of the Federal Government. Whereas to date the House has only considered five Appropriations bills. Whereas President George W. Bush has ignored the requests of Amtrak for an Appropriation of $1.2 billion, and has instead proposed only $521 million in funding. Whereas the House Appropriations Committee gutted funding for Amtrak with every Republican member on the Committee voting to cut funding, despite the dire impact this will have on their own districts. Whereas instead of strong support and consistent growth in support for the nation's passenger rail system the President's FY 2003 Budget seeks to strangle Amtrak so that the Administration can begin to implement plans to privatize the system. Whereas Amtrak provided a critical transportation need in the months after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, and has seen consistent growth in ridership despite continued levels of inadequate funding. Whereas Amtrak serves more than 500 stations in 46 states and employs over 24,000 people, and Amtrak passengers on Northeast corridor trains would fill 250 planes daily or over 91,000 flights each year. Resolved that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should complete action on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 Transportation Appropriations, with an allocation of $1.2 billion for Amtrak.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask to be heard at the appropriate time on the question of whether this resolution constitutes a question of privilege.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the honorable gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I want to first include for the Record comments from my predecessor, the Honorable Congressman from Indianapolis, Mr. Andy Jacobs, who was in the class of the honorable gentlewoman from Hawaii, Mrs. Mink. He wrote a letter to the family, John and Wendy, which simply says: ``I hurt, dear God, do I hurt. You are in my prayers and in my heart, Andy Jacobs.'' The letter referred to is as follows: Congressman Andy Jacobs (Ret.) D--Indiana. To John--Wendy, I hurt, Dear God do I hurt. You are in my prayers and in my heart. Andy Jacobs. Mr. Speaker, in the greatest book ever written, in the most universally read book of all times, it is worth recalling in this most special period in the U.S. House of Representatives an inscription in the book of Ecclesiastes. It says: ``For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which has been planted.'' Representative Patsy Mink represented her seasons and her purpose under heaven. She planted great, eternal seeds in her season, and certainly fertilized them well. Often when I would see Mrs. Mink fight for a cause on the floor, I was reminded of a cliche that we often used when we were coming up describing Patsy Mink: She was a little piece of leather, but well put together. Today I am filled with sorrow over the passing of Congresswoman Patsy Mink. She was a remarkable, extraordinary woman, and certainly a wonderful friend. Perhaps I can shed a few of those pounds that I kept saying that I was going to do now that she is no longer here. The gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) promised he was going to bring some to us. Congresswoman Mink had on her Web page a quote from a 1973 news article. She said: ``It is easy enough to vote right and be consistently with the majority, but it is more often more important to be ahead of the majority, and this means being willing to cut the first furrow in the ground and stand alone for a while if necessary.'' So please know, to the Mink family, her husband John and daughter Wendy, her many loyal constituents, they are all in my thoughts and prayers these days. I extend to all of them my heartfelt appreciation for loaning us Patsy, even if it was just for a little while, and something called the chicken pox came through and decided that she needed to do work elsewhere.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of the House that the United States will be playing host to the World Basketball Championship for the first time in the event's 50 year history. For 11 days from August 29 to September 8, 2002, 16 teams from all over the world will compete for the title of World Basketball Champions, and appropriately they will be competing for that title in what is known as the basketball capitol of the world, Indianapolis, Indiana. Long before basketball was a world game, it was an Indiana game, in fact it was THE Indiana game. There is no place in the world that follows basketball with more passion, devotion, support, and adoration than in Indiana. The term for this basketball craze is fondly called ``Hoosier Hysteria.'' A hysteria that allows Indiana to have over 30 high school gymnasiums with seating capacity over 5,000, including one arena that seats 5,600 people, not too surprising until you find out that the town's population is only 5,000. Indianapolis is also no stranger to major international sporting events. It is preparing for what is expected to be about 150,000 to 175,000 visiting basketball fans. Indianapolis not only hosts the three largest single day sporting events in the world in it's three races, but it has also hosted 4 NCAA Men's Final Fours, 14 United States Olympic Team Trials, the 2001 World Police and Fire games, and is slated to host many events in the near future. Indianapolis hopes that its Hoosier Hysteria will shine through and take on a new international light to warmly welcome the many international visitors. It is in this spirit of support and international goodwill that the entire Indiana Delegation is introducing House Concurrent Resolution 443, a resolution supporting the 2002 World Basketball Championships and welcoming the visiting teams from Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Lebanon, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Venezuela, and Yugoslavia. International sporting events such as the 2002 World Basketball Championship play an important role in continuing to foster positive international relationships between participating teams and fans. This event provides an opportunity for not only residents of Indiana, but for all Americans to unite behind their national team and also welcome the players and fans from all the visiting teams. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask that Congress join me in supporting the 2002 World Basketball Championship for Men welcoming the 16 international teams to the United States by supporting this resolution.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the important issue of passenger rail in America, and the future of Amtrak. The passenger rail system suffers from gross neglect of our investment. We have actively engaged in financing, developing, and preserving the infrastructure of all other modes of transportation. Whether bailing out the airline industry, federally funding and fixing the interstate highway system, or subsidizing airport construction. It is imperative that we build a world class passenger railroad system in the United States. We cannot wait for highways and airports to become so overwhelmed that they can no longer operate, and we cannot continue to hold the millions of Americans who rely on rail service in limbo while we refuse to provide Amtrak with adequate funding. This is why yesterday I introduced H.R. 5216, the National Defense Rail Act, which will mirror legislation introduced by Senator Ernest Hollings. This legislation provides a blueprint for the future of passenger rail in the United States. The bill will help develop high-speed rail corridors, long distance routes, short distance routes, security and life-safety needs, and will provide Amtrak with the tools and funding it needs to operate efficiently. Mr. Speaker, we consider subsidies to airlines and roads be worthwhile investments in our economy and our quality of life. We must make the same investment to create a world-class passenger rail system in order to see the same kinds of benefits. I urge my colleagues to join me by cosponsoring this bill, and show your support for a strong national passenger rail system.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to run to the floor when I saw that this was under way to give my own personal and special tribute to the Honorable Tony Hall, who has had now a higher calling, one of ambassador to the United Nations for Food and Agricultural Agencies, all the way in Rome. What a beautiful place to be, in Rome. I have not known the Honorable Tony Hall for as long as many of you have, and certainly do not hail from the same State from which he is elected; but Tony Hall has the kind of spirit that radiates across boundary lines, geographical lines, State lines. When you understand Tony Hall, the genuine spirit that he emits, knowing that he has reverence for the world's hungry and for food safety around the world, you cannot help but consider him a comrade, a colleague, regardless of the State from which he hails. Tony Hall is willing to make this sacrifice, to give up a very safe seat in the United States House of Representatives, to go on to what I consider, Tony, to be a higher calling, but a much more important calling. As the speaker before me recalled from Scripture, ``When I was hungry, did you feed me?" I do not want to get emotional about this, but when you think of all of the children around the world who need a Tony Hall there to advocate there for them, kids who go to bed hungry, kids who wake up hungry, kids who are dying from malnutrition, kids who are orphans, perpetuated by the unabated rise of AIDS and HIV and tuberculosis and lack of immunization, when their lives could be spared and their bellies could be fed, to think that you and your lovely wife are going to go out along the highways and the byways and truly be a Good Samaritan along life's highway, you remind me often of what I describe for people like you: you live not just because, but you live for a cause, living for God's people. You are reminiscent of the poet that said, ``If I can just help somebody as I am walking through, then my living will not be in vain.'' The nice thing about this, Tony, is for you to be able to sit here and hear this, because oftentimes when we lose a Member, we are memorializing the Member. But you have an opportunity to sit here and know that people love you and that people are going to miss you. I know one thing, after a speech like this in tears on national television, you better give me your address so I can come to Rome and tell the security there, I know Tony Hall, I am one of his former colleagues, and to be one of your colleagues. But to make this kind of commitment to good work, you are what I call an unsung hero, one that does not seek the spotlight. But you certainly will eternally have the high light, and that is far more important than prizes and accolades and all of those kinds of things. You have a high light that radiates eternally.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I want to applaud the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), the ranking member, for staying the course and insisting that we protect America and American investors, and also to Senator Sarbanes. I rise in support of H.R. 3763 for many reasons. I realize that regardless of what we call it, there was passed by this Congress in 1994 a bill called Private Securities Litigation Reform Act which opened up the floodgates for corporate greed. I appreciate the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) staying the course and giving more money to SEC so they have more resources to overseeing all these public companies, over 17,000 plus. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my support for the conference report on H.R. 3763, however today we are being asked to vote on the minimum that Congress should do and not the best. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, within the past year, from May of 2001 to May of 2002 the unemployment rate in my home district of Indianapolis, IN rose from just under 3% to 4.5%. Now, there are more than 39,000 people unemployed in the city of Indianapolis alone. This high rate of unemployment is severely straining my state's health care plan. According to the Indianapolis Star, enrollment in Indiana's Medicaid program will reach its highest level ever to cover nearly 800,000 residents, which is 56,000 more than are currently covered now. This increase in program participants has caused a $660 million difference between the budget and actual Medicare costs and is playing a major role Indiana's budget crisis. This is a problem that more than 40 states have to deal with in this current economic crisis. Mr. Speaker, even though we have all of these impressive statistics, they really have very little meaning to the average American worker. What means something to them is when they see their retirement benefits and life savings going down the drain because some large corporation has misled their investors. Mr. Speaker, the corporate crisis has hit home in Indiana as well. Indiana has its own Enron in AES Corporation, the global power company and new owner of Indianapolis Power and Light. Like Enron, IPALCO management sold stock while employees were encouraged to keep investing in the company plan. After AES took control the value of employee stock fell from $180,000 to around $18,000. Now, as the Indianapolis Star reported last week, people like Joe Nelson, a coal-handling supervisor at IPALCO, who had saved almost $400,000 after 31 years of work can no longer retire. Joe has been forced to open up a lawn mowing business just to help pay for the bills. Joe and his family are not alone, Mr. Speaker, many Americans are being forced to postpone their retirement. In a recent Gallup pole 20% of those surveyed said they expect to delay their retirement by an average of 4.4 years because of the recent economic crisis. We are constantly told that the stock drops are rollercoasters, binges and economic hangovers that will disappear. However, it is the retirement dreams of hard working hoosiers and the pension fund of state governments that we see vanishing with little chance of reappearance. The Conference bill before us today provides the absolute minimum protections to protect investors and restore market confidence. Still, this measure could be stronger and certainly disgorging the ill-gotten gains of these criminals and redistributing profits to the victims must be the next step. We hear frequently that there is little that Congress should do and limit our interference. However, Congress passage of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 got us to where we are today. It repealed the civil RICO, thereby preventing defrauded investors from obtaining triple damages when they bring securities fraud claims. Mr. Speaker, if we are to restore market confidence, and investors and workers are to be made whole, Congress must pass a strong bill that sets penalties, protects whistleblowers, sends wrongdoers to jail, and ensures transparency. Assets required through fraud and betrayal of confidence should not be allowed to stand when countless Americans close to retirement must now rethink how they will downgrade their retired lives. Mr. Speaker, indeed, if crime does not pay. Congress must reaffirm that truth. We cannot, and must not, remain confused and weak in our response to this crime wave. We are a free market and American business interests but American business must begin to conduct itself like it is interested in Americans.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today and have had to come in and out, because it is very difficult for me to consume the kind of emotionally charged graphic illustration and display of the subject matter that is contained in this legislation. I came to Congress, Mr. Speaker, in 1997, and since the time that I was sworn in to the 105th Congress, I have had to vote on abortion 109 times; 109 times this House, this United States Congress has brought before it this issue of abortion. It is mind boggling that we have children, on a daily basis, since we are all concerned about the well- being of our children, and I doubt that none of us are truly concerned that we have children around this country who have malnutrition, who lack proper medical care, who commit suicide, and it has been in the news on a regular, daily basis about children who are being abused, who are being sexually molested, who are being kidnapped from their homes, and there is not one squeak of any comment from the other side about the vulnerability of those children. Yet, I have to come down to this floor 109 times since I have been in Congress to vote on a matter of abortion. It does make you mighty suspicious that an issue as delicate as this, the choice that a woman makes with the help of her medical doctor, would have to come before the United States Congress. And it is especially suspicious that medical privacy is an issue here; and there is no reference to medical privacy at all. How would anyone know in the House of Representatives that a woman, in consultation with her doctor, a very private decision engaging in a very private medical procedure, how would one here know about it unless there is something in this bill that I have not read that provides hidden cameras maybe in a hospital room or doctor's office that allows some peeping tom to stand there and watch what procedure is administered against a woman in consultation with her doctor. What privilege is there in this bill that violates medical privacy? How would any Members know that a woman has had an abortion unless there is some peeping tom exemption in this bill that allows you to see what happens? It just makes me ill, and I know my opponent is recording this because the other side has called him and told him to do that. And I hope he plays the full thing. Every time this is here I vote against it. We have voted $594 million worth of pay raises for this Congress since I have been in here, but we have not done diddly squat about all of these innocent and vulnerable children who have been kidnapped from their homes who are being killed on their driveways by predators. The gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) has a concept about a DNA bank at the Attorney Generals Office. Those are the kind of issues that we need to be exploring for the children of America, and not providing some peeping tom, ill-conceived, 110th time in the Congress on an abortion issue. There is a poet that all of us are all familiar with that starts off, ``Hear my humble cry; and while on others you are calling, do not pass me by.'' And I do not want all of these kids who are victimized by these criminals in this country to be passed by while we are spending two crazy hours engaging in an unconstitutional debate that only further the feathers of somebody's political aggrandizement.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to request that all of the Members join me in welcoming and recognizing the 16 national teams that will be competing in the upcoming 2002 world basketball championship for men. For the first time in its 50-year history, the world basketball championship is being held in the United States, and, appropriately, in the basketball capital of the world, my hometown, Indianapolis, Indiana. From August 29 to September 8, Indianapolis will play host to the largest and most prestigious basketball event in the world. In total, 62 games will be played over the course of the 11-day event. It will bring ``Hoosier Basketball Hysteria'' of the NBA finals and NCAA Final Four to a new international scene with an expected visitor capacity of 150,000 people from around the world. The importance of continuing international sporting events and fostering positive relationships between countries has never been more important. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask that Congress join me in supporting this important resolution.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding me this time as well as the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers). Mr. Speaker, I will be very brief. I understand, in terms of listening to the debate, because I was not at a hearing when this bill was discussed, that the kind of action taken on this bill was quite similar to the shredding of documents by the Arthur Andersen company that gave rise to this whole debate at this time. I was not a Member of Congress, but remember very well when, and, yes, it is political, when in 1994 there was a young man who was Speaker of the House that talked about a Contract With America. In fact, it turned out to be a contract on America. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 got us to where we are today. It repealed the civil RICO, thereby preventing defrauded investors from obtaining triple damages when they bring securities fraud claims. This bill does nothing to address that problem. It is a cruel hoax. It is a farce. It should go back, perhaps on another midnight hour, and be fixed. It is broken. Today, on the Suspension Calendar, with no opportunity to amend or improve it, the House Republican Leadership will offer up a so-called corporate responsibility bill. This bill eviscerates the bill that passed the Senate 97 to 0 and that the President said ``shares [his] goals.'' Why? The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is the second leading Republican donor in this cycle, and other corporate interests lobbied to roll back the Senate bill's prohibitions on document shredding, corporate whistleblower protection, increasing the time allotted for shareholders to seek relief in court, and to create a new enhanced securities fraud law. Unlike the Senate, which sided with working families, the House Republican Leadership gave corporate fat cats everything they asked for. Not one Senate Republican voted against any of the provisions dropped by the House Republican Leadership. Specifically, the Republican leadership bill excludes: Document retention requirements on auditors. The bill passed yesterday by the Senate would require auditors to maintain all audit or review workpapers for a period of five years after the conclusion of an audit or review. This was part of the bipartisan Leahy-Hatch amendment, which passed the Senate 97 to 0. As has been exhaustively documented, Arthur Andersen impeded a Securities and Exchange Commission inquiry into Enron's finances last fall by destroying huge numbers of documents and e-mails. The Republican leadership bill drops these provisions. Giving defrauded investors more time to seek relief. The bipartisan Leahy-Hatch amendment, which passed the Senate 97 to 0, reformed the unnecessarily restrictive statute of limitations governing private securities claims. Under current law, defrauded investors have one year from the date on which the alleged violation was discovered or three years after the date on which the alleged violation occurred. Because these type of violations are often successfully concealed for several years, the Senate increased the time period to 2 years after the date on which the alleged violation was discovered or 5 years after the date on which the alleged violation occurred. The Republican leadership bill drops these provisions. Protecting Whistleblowers--The bill that passed yesterday in the Senate contained the Grassley amendment, which unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, extended whistleblower protections to corporate employees, thereby protecting them from retaliation in cases of fraud and other acts of corporate misconduct. Sentencing Enhancements--The bill that passed in the Senate yesterday had bipartisan Leahy-Hatch sentencing enhancements when a securities fraud endangers to solvency of a corporation and for egregious obstruction of justice cases, where countless documents are destroyed. The Republican leadership bill drops these provisions. Finally the Republican Leadership hides behind the penalties smokescreen, in the hopes that no one will notice everything that is missing from their bill. They mindlessly increase penalties for mail fraud and other offenses to ten years greater than the Senate bill. In reality, in most of these cases, there are numerous counts of mail fraud and whatever penalty that is assigned to the offense is multiplied by the number of counts. The difference between a ten and twenty year penalty is, therefore, negligible in these cases.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my heartfelt and enthusiastic congratulations to the team of Tashianna Avery and Mahogany Williams for placing first in the junior division of the National African-American History Challenge. I also wish to recognize William Harris, the team alternate, for all of his efforts in helping the team of Avery and Williams win this competition. The first-place team of Avery and Williams won the distinguished Hayling Cup at the 100 Black Men of America's National African-American History Challenge in Orlando, FL in June. Before receiving the distinguished Hayling Cup, Avery and Williams won first-place in the junior division of the fifth annual African-American History Challenge in Indianapolis, IN. These three young people are an excellent example that through dedication, commitment, diligence, and hard work one can accomplish great things. This extra-ordinary team has shown the people of Indiana what it means to work hard to accomplish a goal. Mr. Speaker, to Miss Avery, Miss Williams, and Mr. Harris, congratulations on your first-place win, and continue to aspire to achieve great things. The people of Indianapolis are very proud of you.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I express my opposition to this bill that does not allow senior women to be able to afford to live, particularly those senior women who suffer from cardiovascular disease. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the American people. The same American people who have been paying too much for prescription drugs and have been waiting for years for Congress to pass a fair Medicare prescription drug benefit. This plan that the Republican leadership has brought to the floor is a sham. Where is the benefit for our seniors who are living on a fixed income and cannot afford such a high co-payment? Where is the benefit for the women who, because they were stay at home mothers and did not earn a pension, cannot afford the prescription drugs that are needed for a better quality of life. The costs of prescription drugs for seniors are rising at a rate greater than that of inflation. Senior women must be accounted for and given a platform regarding prescription drug benefits because they make up almost 60% of the Medicare population. Without affordable benefits, women will be forced to pay extremely high costs for prescription drugs that they already struggle to afford. We need a plan that makes prescription drugs more affordable for the people who cannot live without these products. What the Republicans are proposing is not help for seniors, but more heartache. The ``plan'' the Republicans have drawn up would not be a benefit to anyone except the insurance companies. Forcing Medicare recipients into private plans which cover less than half of the costs of prescription drugs is not a benefit? A plan that forces Medicare recipients to pay for a gap in coverage of at least $1,800 a year is not a benefit! A plan that does not guarantee the same coverage for the entire country, that seniors in Indiana could pay a higher premium than those in a different part of the country, is not a benefit! There are over 844,835 people on Medicare in my state of Indiana. That is 14% of the population. 44% of these people are under 200% of the federal poverty level. I will not go home and tell them that I gave away their security to a private company trying to make money off of their health. Prescription drug benefits are particularly crucial for women because they tend to live an average of 6 years longer than men and are more likely to suffer from prolonged chronic illness. Senior women have a longer period of time to incur out of pocket cost to pay for prescription drugs and deserve to be provided with considerable benefits. Not only do women tend to live longer than men, but they are also at an unfair disadvantage where their income is concerned. The average annual income for women age 65 and older is $15,615, which is only half of the annual income of men. Recent surveys indicate that eight out of ten women on Medicare, approximately 17 million women, use prescription drugs regularly and most pay for these medications themselves. Senior women have a limited income and must receive affordable prescription drug benefits that they can rely on. How dare the Republicans try to give to the seniors of this country a plan that is not equal to what they receive as Members of Congress! They have stated over and over that seniors deserve the same coverage as Members of Congress. When the non-partisan Congressional Research Service did a comparison of the drug benefit under the Blue Cross-Blue Shield Standard option available to Federal Employees to the Democrat and Republican prescription drug plans, they found that the Republican plan would give about 40% of the coverage Members of Congress receive, but the Democratic plan would give comparable coverage. In addition, when given the opportunity to rectify this gap in coverage, the Republicans on the Committee voted against giving this same coverage. Whay type of thinking is this? Give the minority a voice! Let there be a vote on the Democratic Medicare Prescription Drug benefit, a plan that actually helps seniors and does not hurt them!

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, there is an old adage that says those that pay the piper name the tune. We are here tonight on a tune that was written by a $30 million dinner a few nights ago. As I understand it, the senior citizens were not allowed to even win door prizes for prescription drugs at that event. And $30 million would have undergirded the cost of prescription drugs for millions of seniors who need them across this country. Those that pay the piper name the tune. When the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service did a comparison of the drug benefit under the Blue Cross/Blue Shield standard option available to Federal employees to the Democrat and Republican prescription drug plans, they found that the Republican plan would give about 40 percent of the coverage Members of Congress receive, but the Democratic would give comparable coverage. But those that pay the piper name the tune and obviously have now begun to get their thrill on Capitol Hill. Mr. Speaker, the senior citizens still suffer with a headache or heartache from this incredible sham that the Republicans have offered.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to extend heartfelt congratulations to the Indianapolis Urban League and the local chapter of the National Achievers Society. More than 350 outstanding high school students have been inducted into the Indianapolis Urban League's local chapter of the National Achievers Society (NAS). The first induction was held June 30, 2001. The induction was coordinated by the Indianapolis Urban League, along with Urban Leagues in other cities across the country and was a part of the National Urban League's Campaign for African-American Achievement, a community-based movement that embodied the values of academic achievement, social development and civic responsibility. In Indiana, the Indianapolis Urban League was a part of (22) Urban League Affiliates chosen from (115) affiliates across the country to implement the Campaign for African-American Achievement. The League will receive a minimum of $500,000 over a five-year period to draw attention to and support for the urgent achievement and developmental challenges facing students in Marion County. Students selected were high school juniors and seniors of color who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and plan to pursue higher education. The Indianapolis Urban League encouraged youth, parents and all community members to participate in activities that highlighted educational success and achievement, and placed their names on a national registry nominating them for scholarships up to $10,000. Today, the Indianapolis Urban League awarded $222,000 in scholarships to (24) students. The highest number awarded to any Urban League Affiliate in the country. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to ensure that the accomplishments of these students from my district are forever memorialized in the Congressional Record of the United States of America. Let all who read these pages know that a very special group of people in Indianapolis, and across the country are ``Spreading the Gospel that Achievement Matters.''

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to join my colleagues in urging quick support for Amtrak to avert its collapse. The United States is not unlike any industrialized Nation in the world that has a need for quality rail passenger service, and America is not unlike any other industrialized Nation that is required to undergird financially its passenger rail service. The President and lawmakers, the United States Congress, must come together quickly to prevent the economic and human hardship that would result from an Amtrak shutdown. That hardship would be suffered by Amtrak workers and their families. It would be most harsh, and the damage to our economy would be a calamity. We have heard over and over and over, Mr. Speaker, in these Chambers during this Congress how imperative it is to provide an economic stimulus for corporate America to ensure the continuation of jobs and to provide employment for unemployed workers across this country. Yet we are here tonight begging and pleading with the powers that be to support Amtrak, which indeed needs economic stimulus for the benefit of the continuation of employment of America's citizens, the citizens who have worked long and hard over the years to do a good job and have done a good job, and they have taken care of their families and they have been taxpayers across this country. Recently, Amtrak CEO David Gunn said if Amtrak did not receive a $200 million loan immediately that it would have to begin shutting down operations. Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that we build a world-class passenger rail system in the United States. We cannot wait for highways and airports to become so overwhelmed that they too can no longer operate, and we cannot continue to hold the millions of Americans who rely on passenger service in limbo while we refuse to provide Amtrak with adequate funding. We must also engage in long-term planning to address future passenger transportation growth and show some forethought in crafting transportation solutions, not wait for this impending crisis to turn into an outright disaster. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the aftermath which followed, we found that we were vulnerable in our society and in our economy when our transportation choices were limited and our mobility severely diminished. After the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights following the terrorist attacks, travelers turned to Amtrak. The ridership of Amtrak has skyrocketed. Revenues have risen up to 20 percent, and the ridership has increased over 8.2 percent. This shows that Amtrak does work and that it will continue to work if the United States Congress and the President is about the business of quickly responding to the needs of Amtrak, not unlike the way that it did for our airline industry when we provided a $5 billion grant to that industry and $10 billion additional resources in the event that our airline services decided that additional resources were needed to be guaranteed by this country. Mr. Speaker, I would encourage Members of Congress and the administration as well to act quickly, not politically, but quickly, for the benefit of the families who rely on us as Members of Congress and who rely on the support that we have already shown that we provide for other entities in our Nation so that we can go forward. We cannot afford the luxury of being a superpower in our mind and not allowing America to, in reality, be one by having a first-class passenger rail system. It is up to us, Mr. Speaker, to sustain Amtrak.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 3686.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of the 30th anniversary of title IX, which requires public schools to grant girls the same access to athletic programs as boys. Before title IX, women were discouraged from participating in many sports, such as basketball, soccer, wrestling and hockey. Title IX legislation created new opportunities for women to explore and excel in sports traditionally limited to men. Mr. Speaker, 30 years later, title IX has been the foundation of increased funding for female athletic scholarships, parity in salary among female teachers and their male counterparts, and intolerance of discrimination among females. Title IX has allowed the number of females participating in interscholastic sports to increase from 300,000 in 1971 to approximately 2.4 million at present. It is important for young women to participate in athletics. Even a small amount of daily physical activity can contribute to health benefits that last a lifetime. By leading an active lifestyle, the risk of diseases can be dramatically reduced. Girls and women participating in sports have higher levels of confidence, stronger self-images, and less depression. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to participate in this vital initiative this week and forever more.