Joe Crowley

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, on the fourth anniversary of the Palestinian Intifada, I would like to send my condolences to all the families that have lost a loved one or suffered from a terrorist attack. These have been a long four years of violence since the Palestinian Intifada began on September 28, 2000. Today, on the fourth anniversary of this terrorist war waged against our ally Israel, I believe it is important for us all to reflect on these past 4 years. What has this terrorist war achieved--the answer to that question is only blood shed. Since the start of the Intifada, 940 innocent Israelis have been murdered and thousands more injured by terrorist attacks. Even with all the blood on the hands of these terrorists, they have been unable to come close to achieving their goal of destroying the state of Israel or creating a Palestinian state. The only thing these terrorists have achieved is the murder of so many and causing pain to their own people. A state for the Palestinian people will never be achieved while terrorists continue to strike Israel. Whether they come from territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority, through Lebanon, Syria, or Iran peace can never be achieved while extremists wage this terrorist war on Israel. It is time for the governments of the Middle East to step up and work with the Palestinian leadership to end all support for terrorism and assist a Palestinian government that can provide the security that is needed to realize their dream of a state. The first step toward achieving this goal is for Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie to crack down on terrorists who continue to strike Israel. To do this Yassir Arafat must be removed from any position of power and control of the security forces must be centralized. Mr. Speaker, this anniversary is something I hope we do not have to recognize at this time next year. I hope that peace can be achieved but until then we must continue our support of Israel and her fight against these extremist elements.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, when the other body defeated this amendment early this summer, someone one of the Senators on the majority, said gay marriage is ``the greatest threat to America as we know it.'' Coming from New York City, I think America saw what the greatest threat to this country is on September 11, 2001. But instead of capturing those responsible for that event, Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar, and the al Qaeda network, instead of passing a homeland security bill here in the House, instead of reforming our national intelligence system to prevent another 9/11, we are here talking about an issue that the Senate has already defeated; and because they have defeated it, it will not come up again. This is purely political machinations. This Congress and this President are pushing for a constitutional amendment to limit the rights of particular Americans. Why are they doing that? The answer is easy but it is still awful; because today in America, it is still okay to hate gays and lesbians in this country. Gays and lesbians represent the last minority group in this country that it is still publicly acceptable to hate. This legislation has no place in this body. It demeans the body, our Constitution, and the values of this country.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support the Hudson-Fulton- Champlain 400th Commemoration Commission Act, and I thank my colleague Maurice Hinchey for his leadership on this issue. I am pleased that the bill under consideration today will establish a Commission charged with planning, developing and executing programs and activities appropriate to commemorate the voyages of three explorers. From these early explorations and ``The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'' to today's waterfront development projects, the Hudson River has enriched life in New York for centuries. Safeguarding the rich historical legacy of these natural resources is a commitment we must all make, and we have an obligation to educate the public on the three explorers and their voyages. As the co-founder of the Hudson River Caucus, I have worked to help realize the full educational, environmental, and economic potential of the Hudson River and its waterfront. The event that will take place in 2009, commemorating the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage, the 200th anniversary of the voyage of Robert Fulton, and the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Samuel de Champlain, will help to achieve these goals. This legislation will celebrate and cherish these significant explorers and voyages, and help ensure historic preservation and increase public awareness for generations to come. I am happy to support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the resolution introduced by my good friend from New York, Congressman Rangel. This resolution encourages the International Olympic Committee to choose New York City as the host for the Olympic Games in 2012. Congressman Rangel has been relentless on promoting New York as a great choice for the Olympics and never shying away from any effort to drive this notion. As a member of the New York City delegation, I wholeheartedly support the Resolution. The United States will not host the Olympic Games for another 8 years now, bringing that span to 10 years--in 2012, I trust the Olympic Committee will see fit to bestow this honor to our great city. Bringing the Games to the United States will not only exert a huge economic boost on local, regional, and of course national level, it will also create jobs not only the for the Games, but also on the road towards them New York is uniquely qualified to invite the ``world''. The Olympic ideals of competition, fair play, and pursuit of dreams are perfectly embodied and thoroughly celebrated in the City. Olympic Games drive world wide cultural understanding and exchange and thus promoting peace. The diverse ethnicity of the City would resonate with all guests--and vice versa. Not just since the United Nations, as the epitome of those ideals, took root in New York, the City has been a beacon of freedom and a meeting-spot for the world. The City was hit hard on 9/11, but it never retreated and withdrew in its shelter. It kept embracing the world. In 2012, we want to show this yet another time. Furthermore, the current plans would allow for extraordinary Olympic Games. The so-called ``x-plan'' will bring athletes and guests right into the heart of New York, perfectly blending the atmosphere of the great New York skyline with the East River riverfront. The Olympic Games right next to the United Nations headquarters would be the biggest display of international understanding and exchange. I urge all my colleagues to join Congressman Rangel in supporting this resolution

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bill H.R. 1318. This bill, which I have introduced, will designate the Federal Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic located at 41-03 Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside, Queens as the ``Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan, Jr. Veterans Outpatient Clinic.'' On October 30, 2000, I presided at the opening of the Sunnyside Veterans Outpatient Clinic--something I had been championing on behalf of the veterans of northwestern Queens County. After the ribbon cutting ceremony, I was invited across the street for a drink with a few of the people who would most benefit from this clinic--the veterans of the John V. Daniels Veterans of Foreign Wars post. That day, I sat down with the late Adolph Seifert, Post Adjutant and Ray Murray, Commander of the Post. And they told me about Lance Corporal Thomas Noonan. Thomas P. Noonan was born November 18, 1943, in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Thomas Patrick Noonan, Sr., and Florence. He was a lifelong resident of Woodside, Queens; attended St. Theresa's Parish, Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, and later graduated from Hunter College with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1966. On December 26, 1967, Thomas Noonan enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and was subsequently discharged to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps on 31 January 1968. Private Noonan completed recruit training with the 3d Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC, in April 1968, and was promoted to private first class, 1 April 1968. Transferred to the Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC, he underwent individual combat training with the 1st Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment. Ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in July 1968, he was assigned duty as mortar man with H&S Company, 2d Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF. In August, he was reassigned to the 3d Marine Division where he saw combat as a rifleman, M-79 man with Company G, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on January 1, 1969. On February 5, 1969, his company was ordered to change the position they had been holding near the Vandergrift Combat Base in Ashau Valley. This change made especially difficult by recent heavy rains; descent down the steep hillside provided treacherous and four leading men in the company were wounded by North Vietnamese soldiers concealed in the area. The other members of the company were unable to rescue the four wounded marines in the midst of heavy enemy fire. Noonan left his position of relative safety and descended the hazardous terrain. Protected by a rocky outcropping, Noonan shouted words of encouragement to the wounded men. Bracing himself, Noonan then made a dash toward the injured men and had started to drag the most seriously wounded one to safety when he himself was hit by enemy fire. Noonan picked himself up and continued to drag the soldier away, but was mortally wounded himself before he could carry his comrade to safety. His heroic actions in the face of harrowing danger so roused his fellow marines that they launched an assault on the enemy position that forced the North Vietnamese soldiers to withdraw. Noonan was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously as well as the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Lance Corporal Noonan was survived by his parents, three sisters and one brother. I was taken by his bravery and loyalty. After the request from Adolph Seifert to name the VA clinic in honor of Thomas P. Noonan, I got to work and put together legislation to enact this change. It is an honor to be here today seeing this tribute pass the House of Representatives. This tribute today goes to his memory. But we would not be here today without the support of the late Adolph Seifert, or Ray Murray and Regis Quirin--all of the Daniels VFW Post. But this legislation enjoyed the strong support of veterans all over Queens County and the State of New York. On a State level, this legislation enjoys the support of the American Legion, AMVETS, the Vietnam Veterans of America--which is currently headed by another Queens resident John Rowan--the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Marine Corps League, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Blinded Veterans Association, the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association--based in my Congressional District in Queens--and the New York State Counsel of Veterans Organizations. Their help was invaluable in this process. But I especially would like to note the help from local Queens County veterans chapters, starting with the Daniels VFW Post--the inspiration behind this tribute--as well as John Severa and the Queens County American Legion; William Roach and the Catholic War Veterans of Queens County; Donald Haber and the Jewish War Veterans Queens County Chapter; Thomas Lakeman and the Frank Kowalinski Post representing the Polish War Veterans of Queens County; Donald McBride and the Sgt Edward R. Miller VFW Post in Glendale, Queens. I want to thank them all. I also want to pay tribute to Florence Noonan, the mother of Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan. While we pay tribute to a hero, she mourns the loss of a son. Lance Corporal Noonan's indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Marine Corps. He gallantly gave his life for his country. In 1996, to commemorate his life, his spirit and his heroism, the city of New York dedicated a public park in his honor in Queens. Now children can play and recreate in a safe community park dedicated to an American hero, who himself majored in physical education at Hunter College. Now, this Congress is taking the appropriate step to name the VA outpatient clinic in Sunnyside, Queens, after Lance Corporal Noonan. On behalf of all of my New York State colleagues--Democrat and Republican, upstate and from the city--who were all cosponsors and supporters of this legislation, I am pleased that the House is debating this legislation and I look forward to its passage and enactment into law. This is a fitting tribute to an American hero.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise in support of this free trade agreement between the United States and Morocco. It has been a pleasure for me to work not only with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith), the gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley) and others from our side, but also with Members from the other side of the aisle, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English), the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), and the gentleman from California (Chairman Thomas) in making this bill a reality today on the floor. As a Member who supports free trade and fair trade, and as a member of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia on the Committee on International Relations, I was happy to work with Members to develop this legislation, which goes beyond being just a trade bill and morphing into a foreign policy tool. Morocco has been a strong ally and friend of the United States since we declared our independence, and this agreement will continue to strengthen our long-standing relationship. This free trade agreement with Morocco will immediately eliminate duties on 95 percent of nontextile industrial imports, which will be the best market access the U.S. enjoys with a developing nation. Besides the economic benefits from the implementation of this free trade agreement, it also has spurred our friends in Morocco to create a comprehensive new labor law which just went into effect this past June. The Moroccan new labor law raises the minimum employment age, reduces the workweek with overtime rates, improves worker health and safety regulations, addresses gender equity, and promotes employment of the disabled. This labor law also guarantees rights of association and collective bargaining. I believe we can credit this movement in terms of improvement of labor standards in Morocco to hopes by Morocco of agreement on this trade agreement. Morocco has been a stabilizing force in the Middle East, and this agreement will help Morocco to continue on the path of moderation. In fact, Morocco has been a good friend to one of our strongest allies, Israel. Morocco has the largest population of Jews outside of Israel in the Middle East and has played an important role in trying to stabilize the current situation by continuing to play a role as a critical back channel for communications among Israel, the Arab world, and the United States. At the core of this trade initiative is the belief that through economic opportunity and partnership with the United States and Israel the goal of peace in this region can be furthered. I support this free trade agreement between the United States and Morocco, and I urge Members to vote for final passage.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, the White House read the 9/11 Commission report. They know how damaging it is going to be, so they leaked the Sandy Berger story to distract attention away from this report. This is a bad habit of this White House. They leak a story to change the subject when they are in deep political trouble. They leaked the identity of a CIA agent whose husband criticized this administration. They leaked Dick Clarke's memo when he criticized them. And they leaked documents to discredit Paul O'Neill after he criticized them. The timing here, unfortunately, again, is very suspicious. We need some answers here. Can we trust this Justice Department to investigate fairly and impartially who leaked this? And why is this administration trying to distract the American people again from the 9/11 Commission report, a commission that this White House did not support the creation thereof or the continuation of this commission? And most importantly, does this administration trust the American people with the truth? I think not.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding me this time. We will hear the word ``distraction'' a great deal in the next couple of weeks because that is what is happening here today. The 9/11 Commission came out with a report today and instead of focusing on and discussing the issues pertaining to the 9/11 Commission's report, we are here today debating a bill that in essence will change the Constitution without going through the formalities of actually changing the Constitution. We have 2 million people who are unemployed today in this country who would like to work but do not have the opportunity to do so today. We have 44 million Americans in this country today who do not have health insurance coverage, and yet we are here today debating this bill on the floor that will undermine the rights and privileges, not only of people who are gay or lesbian in the country but all Americans, if this bill were to become law. Mr. Speaker, I ask my friends and colleagues to vote down this bill. This bill is unfair and unjust. It will undermine the very premise of our Constitution. I challenge my colleagues to please vote down this bill.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Stock Option Accounting Reform Act, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill without any damaging amendments. This legislation is a necessary response to proposed damaging regulations by the Financial Accounting Standards Board which threaten broad-based employee stock options. This bill will not cloud basic accounting principles as investors and analysts who are interested in adjusting an issuer's income statements for the cost of stock options already have the necessary information available to them. This FASB rule will lead to greater confusion for investors as this rule actually allows corporate accountants to pick and choose their expensing methods instead of implementing a uniform standard. This FASB rule will effectively destroy broad-based stock option plans, plans that have spread real wealth creation among employees as opposed to the consolidation of wealth at the top of a corporate pyramid. The FASB rule hurts the ability of high-tech firms to recruit and retain good personnel as stock options were and still are used by start-up and venture capital firms to attract the talent that is needed when capital is sparse. Finally, FASB, by definition, does not take economic impacts into effect when issuing its regulations, meaning they did not take into consideration the negative effects of this bill when drafting this rule. This bill also actually allows for transparency at the top, the top five individuals of a corporation, those who are most at risk in putting a company in danger when they play around with stock options. Mr. Chairman, for all those reasons I urge my colleagues to support this balanced approach to the issue of stock options.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner), for being one of the leaders on this most critical issue. For too long, the United States has been sending foreign assistance and aid to a country that, quite frankly, has not been honest or trustworthy. Time and again, the Saudis have shown that they are not our allies in the war on terror. In fact, they are soft on al Qaeda terrorists operating in Saudi Arabia. Their efforts to prosecute terrorists have been fruitless and devious, and their financing of terror groups has been all but well documented. Saudi blood money does not only threaten the United States, but it also threatens our good friend and ally, the State of Israel. More than 50 percent, 50 percent of Hamas funding comes from Saudi Arabia, as Ambassador Dore Gold testified in the House Committee on International Relations. The Saudis impede American efforts in fighting our war on terror. They have denied U.S. officials access to several suspects in custody, including one Saudi who had knowledge of extensive plans to inject poison gas into the New York City subway system. The Saudi connection to al Qaeda is undeniable. In fact, al Qaeda has an implicit deal, an implicit deal with the Saudi royal family to desist from violence in the kingdom in exchange for Saudi financing. These inexcusable actions by the Saudi Government make them unworthy of any foreign assistance or aid from our country. As the U.S. is deeply engaged in this global war on terror, we need all the honest allies we can get; and, quite frankly, we simply are not getting that out of this government in Saudi Arabia. I thank the gentleman from New York for offering this amendment on keeping the foreign aid from Saudi Arabia.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment offered by my friend and colleague from California Adam Schiff. This is an amendment to ensure that we never forget the struggles of the Armenian people or that we never forget . . . Ever since I was elected to the State Assembly and now in Congress, I have been a strong supporter of the Armenian American community. However, my strong support is not only because I represent a large Armenian community in Queens but also because I see the strategic importance of Caucasus region for the United States. The contributions of the Armenian community to this great city cannot be fully appreciated quantitatively. It can only be realized by those who walk the streets of New York every day. I had the opportunity to travel to Armenia last summer. Through meetings and discussions with elected officials and even regular citizens, I have a clearer understanding of Armenia's needs and challenges. I believe that as a nation Armenia is growing and with the support of the United States and the Diasporan Armenian community--Armenia will be able to overcome the economic and security challenges in the region. I have continuously supported and encouraged closer ties between the United States and Armenia because of the strategic position and also because of the similar values of democracy and freedom. The thorny path to liberty is a concept with which the people of Armenia have been forced to contend for many years. From the Armenian Genocide, to the republic's absorption into the Soviet Union, to the current struggle for Nagorno (NA-GORE-NO)-Karabakh (KAR-AH-BAH), the path has not always been smooth. I am pleased to say that the nation of Armenia does not need to travel that thorny path alone. I am proud to stand alongside them in an effort to reach their goals. I assure you, it will never be forgotten. Armenia remains a major focus in American foreign policy. The United States recognizes the need to cultivate and support the development of Armenia. The United States has looked to Armenia to take the lead in bringing peace and prosperity to the Caucasus. The people of Armenia have overcome tremendous obstacles on the path to liberty. But again we can never forget the genocide and we must commemorate it.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of this bipartisan legislation crafted by Mr. Kolbe and my good friend from New York, Ms. Lowey. Representing one of the most diverse Congressional districts, I know how important U.S. foreign assistance is to nations around the world and I have seen the success of our assistance firsthand. I am pleased to see the committee increased international development assistance--this is a positive step by the U.S. We cannot afford to offer only military assistance to front line states in the war on terrorism. Our Nation must address some of the root causes that attract young men and women to the extremists like poverty, lack of education, and the lack of freedom in their countries. I thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for supporting priorities of mine, including the Asian University for Women that is located in Bangladesh and increased funding for the Peace and Reconciliation programs in this legislation. I believe these types of programs are a step in the right direction to help solve some of the problems that we face around the world. This bill also includes $25 million for the United Nations Population Fund. But we all know that money will not be released by this administration, because the administration seems determined to hinder the health of women around the world. And this bill continues to mandate the onerous Global Gag Rule, which keeps funding away from groups such as the Bangladeshi Rural Advancement Committee and their work to improve child and maternal health. While I am saddened to see these horrible policies continued there is much good in this bill particularly when you look at the Middle East. I strongly support the $2.2 billion in foreign military funding and economic aid in this bill for Israel. At this critical point of the peace process we must make sure that our friend and close ally receives all the support they need to protect themselves from terrorists and the states that support them. While I am pleased about the support for Israel as well as Jordan, a steadfast ally and proponent of stability, I believe the United States must do more to combat the anti Israeli and Western stances taken by our supposed allies like Saudi Arabia. The anti-Semitic statements made by Crown Prince Abdullah show the true feelings of this so called ally--my colleagues and I have raised our outrage and it is time for the Administration to speak out against these types of slanderous statements. Egypt will all receive full funding under this bill and I am pleased to see that the Egyptians are starting to take a more active role in the peace process and working to close terrorist smuggling rings in Gaza. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of my good friend from California Mr. Lantos's amendment. It is time for the United States to start redirecting aid to Egypt. the United States has been providing military assistance to Egypt for over 20 years and Egypt has made peace with its neighbors. Egypt no longer has to fear from any outside threats to its sovereignty and it's now time this aid move toward helping Egyptian people not the military. The real threat to Egypt comes from the poverty and lack of freedom that exists in the country today. We cannot continue to fund the military while people live in squalor and do not have the freedoms they deserve. Egypt must start focusing on its people and its economic reforms. Moving towards economic aid will help to push this process forward. Egypt is a consistent violator of human rights and our funding needs to address how to begin to respect these rights. Even in the State Department human rights reports, they reported that there is ``convincing evidence'' the police regularly use torture to extract confessions, and detain suspects without charging people or bringing them to trail. I continue to see Egypt's lack of respect for minority and religious rights. Our funding should not be building up Egypt military but instead on building its society. Mr. Chairman, I stand in strong support of this amendment and urge my colleagues to support the passage of this important amendment.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3\1/2\ minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the free trade agreement between the United States and Australia, and I would like to thank all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked so hard to see that this bill passes with bipartisan support today. It has been a pleasure for me to work with the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the majority whip; and my counterparts on the other side of the aisle, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), chief deputy whip; the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers); the dean of my home State, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin); the gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley); and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer). I am proud to speak out in support of this historic bilateral free trade agreement between the United States and Australia. This is a great day for our two countries and for what is arguably one of our truest and tried allies. From World War I to the war on terror in Afghanistan and in Iraq, Australia has stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States and has been a strong ally of ours throughout the world. As someone who supports free trade and fair trade, I am proud to be a leader on the Democratic side supporting this free trade agreement. Concerns have been raised, though, about the issue of pharmaceuticals this week, in fact, as of Monday. And I would like to make note of that. I support the reimportation of prescription drugs and have concerns about this trade agreement becoming a precedent for other bilateral agreements; but I want to be clear that nothing, I believe, in this agreement will prohibit the United States from passing its own reimportation laws. And this agreement does not ban the United States from reimportation of prescription drugs. Australia's domestic law prohibits the exportation of drugs purchased through its taxpayer-subsidized program, which accounts for over 90 percent of all drugs sold in Australia. Why would we ask the Australian taxpayer to subsidize Rx drugs for Americans? The issue of lowering drug prices is something that this Congress should be working on. In fact, today my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have the opportunity to do that by signing the discharge petition to give the authority to Secretary Thompson, the ability to negotiate lower drug costs for Medicare patients that were stripped away under H.R. 1. This agreement will not stop the Snowe-Doggett legislation from progressing in the Senate, and it does not stop the U.S. from changing the law and allowing for drug reimportation. I would like to reaffirm that I do not believe that this agreement should be used as a precedent for other trade agreements that USTR makes in the future on reimportation. We need to focus on the positive aspects of this agreement. This agreement will also benefit my home State of New York and New York City. New York will see immediate benefits from this agreement as it goes into effect. New York last year exported goods valued at over $392 million to Australia, and when this agreement goes into effect, those companies will see an average saving of over 5 percent. Australia is the fifth largest investor in the U.S. equity markets, meaning more jobs for my constituency and the companies that do business in my city who trade securities or work for these firms. This agreement will keep our economy growing and will be a partnership of equals and will increase the investments and opportunities for both countries. I support this agreement, and I urge my colleagues to vote for final passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) to control the remainder of my time for purposes of yielding.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran). Mr. MORAN OF Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I hesitate to use the term ``slam dunk'' any more, but if you cannot agree with this trade agreement, I do not know what trade agreement you are ever going to agree with. In fact, you would probably have to oppose agreements between the States of the United States. The fact is, of the $28 billion of trade with Australia, we enjoy a surplus of $9 billion. That means Australia is buying $9 billion more of goods and services from us than we are buying from them. The fact is that this is generating jobs in the United States. Trade can do that and trade will do that. The fact is that there is $700 million of agricultural products that we are selling to Australia, and they are now going to be able to be purchased more cheaply because there will be duty free access. We have National Treatment for our U.S. investors, guaranteeing fair and non-discriminatory treatment. Who could be opposed to that? We have guaranteed, substantial access for U.S. service suppliers, telecom, financial services, professional service providers. Australia has agreed to improve its intellectual property laws so we do not have to worry about that. We are going to have the highest level of protection throughout the world for U.S. products in that area. Even more importantly to my Democratic colleagues, Australia has the highest level of labor and environmental standards. They are tougher than ours. So it just seems to me that under this agreement we have so much to gain and very little to lose. And, again, with regard to this issue that has been brought up with regard to pharmaceutical products, Australia will not allow the export of subsidized pharmaceutical products; and 90 percent of its pharmaceuticals that are prescribed are, in fact, subsidized. So, again, let us support this agreement. Do the right thing by America's workers and its employers.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin).

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for yielding me time. I rise in strong support of this rule as well as in strong support of the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement. This agreement, as was mentioned before, has strong bipartisan support, and I have been pleased to work across the aisle with not only the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), but the Whip, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), as well as the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce); on our side of the aisle and in particular the gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley), the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) and others. We have seen the strong bipartisan support because we both believe that this is the right thing for the United States, and it comes at the right time. Australia has been a strong friend and ally of the United States, and they have fought by our side in all the past century's major wars, as well as in Afghanistan, and they now stand with our troops in supporting our efforts in Iraq. Being our ally is not the only reason to support this deal but also because Australia has a strong economy, with labor and environmental standards comparable to our Nation and, quite frankly, comparable, if not stronger, in some cases. Australia's minimum wage for their workers exceeds our own, and they provide universal health coverage and pension plans for their workers. Australia is our fifth-largest trading partner, worth $38 billion, which makes this FTA the most significant bilateral deal since the U.S.-Canada agreement. American manufacturers will see immediate benefits because this FTA will eliminate 99 percent of Australian tariffs on U.S.-manufactured exports on day one of this agreement; and 93 percent of the United States trade with Australia is from manufacturing, which is estimated to boost U.S. manufacturing exports by $1.8 billion, protecting and creating a conservative estimate of some 270,000 jobs here in the U.S. When we talk about agriculture, I am pleased to see that over $400 million of our agriculture exports will see immediate duty free access. Mr. Speaker, this Free Trade Agreement with Australia makes sense. This Free Trade Agreement with Australia makes sense for all the reasons I have just stated. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill, and I also ask them to support this rule. There is no Free Trade Agreement that is absolutely perfect, but if any Free Trade Agreement comes close to a no brainer, this is the one. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. Earlier this year, the FDA denied an application to approve an emergency contraceptive, Plan B, for over-the-counter use. Yet the evidence suggests the FDA made the wrong decision. EC can reduce the risk of pregnancy by as much as 89 percent, which--in turn--reduces the number of abortions. It is estimated that greater use of EC could halve the number of unintended pregnancies. EC does not cause abortion. One of the goals of Healthy People 2010, a publication from the Office of the Surgeon General, is to increase the proportion of health care providers who provide EC to their patients. The American Medical Association and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists endorse greater access to EC, even to the point of having dedicated emergency contraceptive products available without a prescription. Moreover, the FDA's own expert advisory panel reviewed the evidence and found Plan B to be effective and safe. The expert panel found Plan B to meet the requirements to receive over-the-counter status. So why are we here discussing this? Because this past spring the FDA put politics above sound policy. Karl Rove and his right wing agenda won again and the people who are going to suffer are the women of my district and the women throughout this country. By not approving the sale of emergency contraception, marketed as Plan B over the counter, countless women may find themselves struggling to adapt to unplanned pregnancies. The New York Times recently highlighted a young woman from the Bronx who is facing many of the issues that people in Washington like to talk about. Jasmine, born in the Bronx, is struggling to understand reproductive health issues in the context of her high school, her boyfriend, her family, and her life. The story goes on to describe very real efforts to make a relationship work with her boyfriend Alberto. Information is not always easy to come by. And good intentions are not always sufficient. But this young woman does not need rhetoric as she tried to navigate complex relationships, work, school, and her own health. She needs information and access to things like emergency contraception. Girls and women like her often find themselves torn between two choices--to have a baby, or to have an abortion. Why not provide them with another choice--the choice to use Emergency Contraception, available over the counter at local drug stores, to prevent the pregnancy in the first place. We have seen how in New York City alone, the availability of birth control and counseling at local high schools and targeted to young women has dramatically reduced the number of women having unintended pregnancies. Why is the FDA holding up something that makes common sense, something that any woman in America can use by calling their physician? This isn't about making emergency contraception legal, it already is. This is about making emergency contraception available. I urge an vote for the women of America. I urge an ``aye'' vote on the Maloney/Waxman amendment.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, to quote Ronald Reagan, ``There they go again.'' Republicans have hit a new low point. The Bush campaign has run over 49,000 negative ads nationwide, and it is understandable. With the largest budget deficit in our history, a growing tax burden on our middle class, gas prices at a 23-year high, and no positive vision for our country, the GOP have no choice but to attack. They cannot talk about the economy because we have lost 1.8 million private-sector jobs under this administration. They cannot talk about health care because insurance costs are spiraling out of control and nearly 4 million more Americans have become uninsured since 2000. So now what do they do? They blame President Clinton for the creation of 21 million private-sector jobs during his administration. They blame John Kerry and John Edwards for wanting to fight for a stronger and more positive America. But never will they accept the responsibility for egregious policies that they have passed. They are doing everything possible to create a diversion and shift attention somewhere else. Democrats are fighting for the middle-class values of fairness and responsibility. Republicans are still pushing the same old negative attack ads.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully and reluctantly rise in opposition to the amendment offered by my friend and colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman), whom I respect. As a member of the Committee on Financial Services, I have been at numerous hearings that have been held on the issue of OCC preemption. What the OCC did in promulgating these regulations is well within, in my opinion, their scope as a regulator of national banks. But I believe the issue is bigger than that of the powers of national versus State chartered banks or the presumed powers of the OCC. The real question here deals with ensuring the greatest protections of all American banking consumers with respect to stopping abusive lending practices. And that is why I salute the OCC's actions. Our constituents have no idea where their bank is chartered, and they really do not care. But they really do care about protecting their money and their investments and keeping the access to capital free flowing. This action by the OCC will allow that to happen. For example, I know much has been made in Washington by some of my colleagues about a possible weakening of consumer protections between banks and their customers due to these OCC regulations. I disagree. The famous First Tennessee case in New York proves this point, as once the OCC entered the dialogue, the case resolved in favor of the consumer in a matter of days, and the customers' losses were refunded, and their legal bills paid. Additionally, with the powers the OCC has, including on-site examiners actually in the actual banks on a day-to- day basis, they know the operations and the rules. They know how to make banks comply with them. Remember, it was not the FBI who caught Al Capone. It was the IRS. That is the same approach under which the OCC will approach its bad actors with its on-site staff that have the ability to shut down banks. Finally, these OCC regulations also created one uniform Federal standard for all national banks and their operating subsidiaries with respect to predatory lending as a way of creating a level playing field for all national banking customers. While I do believe these predatory lending regulations that have been put in place are weak at best, their establishment drives home the need for real action by this Congress this year to address predatory lending with a strong national law that governs lending at all financial institutions and their operating subsidiaries, regardless of where they are chartered.

Mr. CROWLEY

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

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, it is with no great joy that I rise to offer this amendment. My amendment seeks to transfer $50,000 from the Department leadership account funds at the Office of the Attorney General and shift those funds to the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program under the Office of Justice Program. These funds should be used by the Office of Justice Programs to provide the resources to issue the Public Safety Officer's Medal of Valor posthumously to the 414 public safety officers who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. After those awful events of September 11, our whole Nation unified together as one people. We looked with long-deserved respect at our police and fire fighters and emergency medical technicians, as well as court officers, for their heroism and their bravery. Remember, Mr. Chairman, these are the people who were running into the buildings when everyone else was attempting to escape those buildings. As a posthumous honor for these fallen heroes, I worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass a resolution 2\1/2\ years ago, expressing the sense of Congress that the Public Safety Officers Medal of Valor be presented to the public safety officers who had perished for outstanding valor above and beyond the call of duty during the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11. That resolution unanimously passed by a vote of 409 to 0. Then under Senator Leahy's leadership in the Senate, he secured passage of a resolution in that body which was identical to the one that passed here with the unanimous vote just a short while later. While nonbinding, these resolutions put the Congress on record as urging special recognition through the issuance of the Medal of Valor for those individuals. In fact, the authorizing legislation of the Public Safety Officers Medal of Valor allows the special recognition and permits the Attorney General to issue, ``and in extraordinary cases,'' an increase in the number of recipients in a given year for this award. September 11 was an extraordinary case, and the heroism we saw that day was more than extraordinary. Unfortunately, after a number of meetings with the Attorney General's office and several calls to the White House, still after 2\1/2\ years, no action has been taken, nor is it apparent that any action on this issue is forthcoming. Last year, thank you to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) and to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), at my request, they graciously included language in their bill urging the Attorney General to posthumously award the Public Safety Officers Medal of Valor to the 414 public safety officers who perished on September 11 of 2001. I do not understand the holdup of the issuance of this medal. While I do not begrudge those brave officers who have already received these honors in 2002 and 2003, I believe that the Attorney General should immediately issue these same awards to our heroes of 9/ 11. When this amendment passed, and I understand through a negotiation with the majority, they are willing to accept this amendment, it would have been the third time that this House has acted to instruct the Attorney General's Office and the administration to issue the Medal of Valor to those men and women, public safety officers, who fell on 9/11. We have a medal in place already. We do not need to create a new medal to give to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and demonstrated the highest acts of bravery on that day. If those who fell on 9/11 do not deserve this medal, I do not know who would. It would be an honor for those who have received it already and an honor for those who will one day receive this medal to know that they are among the 414 men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in bravery on 9/11. Now, it is my understanding in conversations with the administration that there is a hold on issuing this, after 2\1/2\ years of foot- dragging on issuing this medal, that there may be an attempt to create a new medal to give at maybe another time. I do not want to specify. I do not know when that time may be, but I would hate to see that this be done for political purposes. Two and a half years have gone by. Enough time has happened and dragged by. These men and women and their families have been through so much already. They have been anticipating the receipt of this medal, and yet the administration has failed to cooperate and issue this medal to these 414 families who so deservedly are expecting this medal. I think it is time to put politics aside and stop dragging feet and have this medal that is already in existence. We do not have to create another one. We do not have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to create a new medal. One exists today, already, to give to those families and the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in such a brave way on 9/11.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the chairman's demonstration of desire to make this a reality by what he has just said on the floor, and I too am the son and the grandson of a police officer. And I think most people know that my first cousin was killed on 9/11, John Moran, as well as numerous friends of mine who were police officers and fire fighters. So there is a personal element to this issue as well. I do appreciate the gentleman's offer to verbally contact the administration and the Attorney General's Office, and I hope, again, that something can be done after 2\1/2\ years of really, if nothing else that I can describe, just dragging feet. I wish I had a better answer as to why this has not taken place already. It is not the Senate. It certainly is not you, Mr. Chairman, or anyone in this House. We have spoken unanimously in the past, and as I said before, this is the third time on the floor that we will have spoken. So I appreciate the gentleman's advice and his counsel on what he will do on his side to make this a reality before this goes any further.

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