Joe Crowley

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Lucas).

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky, and I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird).

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez).

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey).

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) for her remarks. Mr. Speaker, I now yield the floor to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge).

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina. I don't know if it is appropriate, but I am happy that others are having the same problem we are having in New York; is that right? Is that fair to say?

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina. I now yield the floor to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu).

Mr. CROWLEY. I thank my fellow freshman, the gentleman from Oregon. I will also note that it is coast-to-coast, this issue. From Astoria, Queens to Astoria, Oregon, we have a similar problem.

Mr. CROWLEY. Bipartisan. Mr. Speaker, I now yield the floor to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez).

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush).

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall).

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore).

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the conditions of elementary and secondary schools in New York City. I wish to bring to light to my colleagues the dire conditions faced by students in New York and across our country. Many of my colleagues may ask why the Federal Government needs to become involved in school renovation and construction issues which are historically local concerns. The simple answer to my colleagues is because the problem has grown so large that localities or States alone cannot handle it. They simply cannot handle it. A recent survey by the Division of School Facilities in New York City concluded that in my district alone 19 new schools are needed to alleviate the overcrowding in my districts. Currently, three of the five community school districts in my district, my congressional district, are operating over capacity. The fact is, we are 9,789 seats short, 9,789 seats short. I ask my colleagues to think about that: almost 10,000 students for which the schools simply do not have any room. Mr. Speaker, that is not the worst problem. Population growth is expected to increase over the next 10 years, leaving us 44,822 seats short. This is why I support and Congress must pass the Democratic School Reconstruction and Modernization Act.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the President's plan to use the budget surplus to save Social Security. Our country is experiencing record economic growth; inflation is down; job growth and homeownership are up; and we are experiencing the first budget surplus in over a generation. I support the President's plan to use the budget surplus to ensure the long-term fiscal success of the Social Security program. In my own district of Queens and the Bronx in New York, tens of thousands of people are able to retire with dignity because of the Social Security system. For all American seniors, Social Security is truly an American success story. Madam Speaker, we must as a Congress work to ensure that this successful American program continues to be fiscally sound and economically successful in order to provide benefits for the baby boomers of today and the retirees of tomorrow. The President's budget ensures the long-term success of the Social Security system by providing tax cuts for working families. I urge my colleagues to support the use of the surplus to save Social Security.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Chairman, I rise today in reluctant support of the measure before us today. While I support the goal of the legislation and compliment the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Shuster) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), for their good work in moving expeditiously on this important authorization extension, I fear this measure will undergo substantial and dangerous changes in the other body or during conference. Madam Chairman, I object to efforts to increase takeoff off and landing slots at existing high density airports, such as La Guardia in my district. As such, I strongly oppose any efforts to add language that would accomplish this goal. As my colleagues may know, it is an open secret that legislation to increase takeoffs and landings at the Nation's four high density airports will likely be accepted in any conference on the FAA short term extension. I would strongly encourage the chairman and ranking member not to go outside of the normal legislative process by adding in conference any legislation or proposals that would increase takeoffs and landings at the four high density airports. This is an issue which deserves to be considered separately on its own merits in a full and open debate. Madam Chairman, increased competition in the airline industry, reduction of fares and expansion of the market to allow small, low fare airlines to compete with larger carriers are all worthy goals that deserve to be fully reviewed. And while I am not opposed to taking steps to increase competition in the airline industry, I cannot support efforts which would do so at the expense of the quality of life of my constituents and others who live and work near high density airports. My Queens constituency, flanked to the north by La Guardia Airport and to the south by JFK International Airport, live under the most heavily-utilized section of air space in the world. How can this Congress in all good conscience mandate substantial increases in this already heavily burdened area? Madam Chairman, while my constituents are primarily concerned about the excessive aircraft noise and associated ground traffic at La Guardia that they must deal with each and every day, morning, noon and night, they are also concerned about their safety and that of the traveling public. And in light of a number of near collisions at La Guardia Airport within the past year, it would seem that those concerns are not unwarranted. Madam Chairman, for Congress to act at this time to mandate the allocation of even more slots at La Guardia and other high density airports would be, I believe, unconscionable. At the very least, the committee should have a full and thorough debate on this issue prior to acting on legislation to increase takeoffs and landings at these airports.