Joe Crowley

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today on a motion offered pursuant to this order, it adjourn to meet at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 28, 2007, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence on House Concurrent Resolution 158, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Affairs may have until midnight on May 31, 2007, to file its report to accompany H.R. 2446.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. If I could interject, no longer will our trade agreements be negotiated by our government on behalf of and solely for the benefit of multinational corporations. This is also under this template an opportunity to negotiate and have the American worker be a part of those negotiations, at least have a sense that someone here on the Democratic Caucus is looking out for their interests and for the interests of the poor people of the countries we're talking about.

Mr. CROWLEY. They are going to want to afford our products the more they can afford our products.

Mr. CROWLEY. Let me close by just saying thank you, thank you to the gentlelady of Ohio for chairing this hour of debate, as well as all my colleagues for being here this evening and participating in this free- flowing discussion on this new template. This new template, as we go forward, it really is a new day in terms of trade negotiations, and the relationship between the minority and the majority here in the House of Representatives, the comity that has now been brought back, I think, to the Ways and Means Committee, to the House in some respects. Hopefully, this can be an example of other things we can work on in the future on behalf of all of our constituents, again, Democrat, Republican, Independent and the like, to move the agenda of America forward. I want to thank each of my colleagues for participating this evening.

Mr. CROWLEY. We're also talking about trade capacity building.

Mr. CROWLEY. We are talking about uplifting these other countries, as well, by transposing our core values as it pertains to labor standards, as it pertains to the environment. I think that is something that should not be lost on anyone when we look at what we are attempting to do here. Talking about Kennedy, talking about anyone who has looked to the hemisphere that we are in, as well as the Southern Hemisphere, in many respects you cannot move that hemisphere elsewhere. We are connected by land mass. I think as we move forward on the immigration debate and we discuss this more and more, many of us believe we should be helping those countries with direct aid and assistance, to help them become better democracies or become democracies. We see what is happening in some of those countries in South America that are trying to experiment with other forms of government that we don't necessarily agree with. It is not the way that we would prefer to see South America move. I think that is why being able to bolster some of those countries down there and show that there is a positive benefit to be gained by having a positive relationship with the United States in this template in trade and moving forward could very well be an example that could be set for other countries in the region. We have been joined by our friend and colleague from New York, Congressman Meeks, who has certainly been engaged on many trade and immigration issues, and has worked with Venezuela and other countries. And I would love to have your input as well.

Mr. CROWLEY. If the gentleman would yield, I prefer to say for every 40 packages UPS delivers, we create one additional union job.

Mr. CROWLEY. We have been joined by another member of the New Democratic Coalition, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar) who has a keen understanding of a number of the issues we just spoke about, trade being one, and immigration being another. That may be a subject for another evening for us to talk about. Henry, I know you want to weigh in a bit as well on the trade template that the new Democratic leadership has been able to forge.

Mr. CROWLEY. I think one of the aspects of the template that we are talking about this evening, dealing primarily with the environment, for instance, is something that has not gotten as much attention as the labor and the ILO declaration has gotten in terms of its incorporation within the template. But I think it is important to note for the Record that the policy, as it moves forward under this template that the Democrats have created, will require our trading partners to enforce environmental laws already on the books, that they have agreed to, and comply with several multilateral environmental agreements, MEAs, which would include: the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species; the Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depleting Substances; Convention on Marine Pollution, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Convention; the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands; the International Whaling Convention; and the Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. The U.S. is a signatory to all of these agreements, and I believe that free trade agreements cannot be used to undermine any of these MEAs. I think we all agree, as Democrats, that protecting the environment and protecting our planet is something that is an important element in any free trade agreement.

Mr. CROWLEY. I thank the Speaker for affording me this opportunity. And to the new Democratic coalition, to have an opportunity to speak a few moments on the new template that has been created as we move forward on trade here in the House of Representatives. I want to take this opportunity again to applaud the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, my chairman, Mr. Rangel, as well as chair of the Subcommittee on Trade, Mr. Levin, as well as the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and the entire Democratic leadership for what I believe was forcing the Bush administration to agree to a framework that will encompass all future trade agreements, a framework that will ensure that our trade pacts with other nations respect labor, both here in the United States and abroad; that respect the environment both here and abroad; and respect our Nation's future economic success. And specifically, the new Democratic majority achieved a long sought-after goal that our trade agreements will include enforceable labor and environmental standards. I think it is incredible that our caucus, that charged our leadership and Mr. Rangel with the authority to negotiate on behalf of our caucus with the administration, with the USTR, the principles that we laid out for him and for our leadership. And what is remarkable is the success that Mr. Rangel and our other leaders met in those negotiations. This new framework, this new template, as I said before, illustrates how Democrats, in response to public demands to work in a bipartisan way, how we were able to achieve our goals by working cooperatively with Republicans without compromising what we stand for as Democrats-- and that, in large contrast to the stalemates that we saw in recent past Congresses. I think it is a new day in many respects for the Ways and Means Committee and for the House of Representatives. I hope it goes beyond this new template for fair and free trade agreements: that this can be used as an example in other areas; that we can hopefully work in a more bipartisan spirit, not always agreeing, not always getting along, but working in the spirit of cooperation on behalf of all our constituents, be that Democrat, Republican or Independent. This new trade policy achieves the core Democratic principles and goes far beyond the provisions in any previous free trade agreement. All pending free trade agreements will be amended to incorporate key Democratic priorities and will be fully enforceable. Key demands that were met are fundamental labor and environmental protections included in trade agreements that are fully enforceable. I think it is important to note here, after years of opposition, this administration and the former Republican-controlled Congress agreed to include in the text of the agreement the five ILO worker rights: first, the right to association. Secondly, the right to collectively bargain. It also prohibits child labor. It prohibits slave labor. It prohibits discrimination. For the first time, environmental standards cannot be lowered, and will be fully enforceable in free trade agreements going forward. The agreement upon framework expands access to life-saving medicines in developing countries as well. Trade agreements with South Korea and Colombia present additional and distinct obstacles that need to be addressed. This is a framework; it is not carte blanche for every free trade agreement moving forward. The framework is about leveling the playing field for America's workers, for our farmers and businesses, and promoting a trade policy that advances U.S. economic interests around the world, but also advances what we stand for as Americans. Democrats will continue to work across the aisle to make sure our country stays in the forefront of this globalizing economy and this globalizing world. Working across the aisle, Democrats will educate our youth and upgrade worker skills on the job, and stimulate science, education and research as we move forward. Democrats are committed to moving beyond the current trade adjustment assistance, TAA system, to provide meaningful support, training and revitalization programs for entire communities which have been hurt by the effects of trade and technology. This bipartisan framework will keep America as a global economic leader and a champion for the principles Americans all believe in. I am so happy to be joined this evening by a fellow member of the New Democratic Coalition, Allyson Schwartz from Philadelphia, who would also like to share her thoughts about this new template that we have been able to create here in the House of Representatives.

Mr. CROWLEY. One of the things that I think is remarkable about the template is that this is the base. This is not the ceiling. This is where we start from. And it is also precedent-setting. We have been asking, I wouldn't say begging, but we have been pleading with the other side to include these ILO declarations for many, many, many years now. Unless you have served in the House for the past few years, you may not have the same appreciation for the dysfunctionality of the Ways and Means Committee and how it was or was not working in the past. It was either you take the agreement and you vote for it, or you don't. That is not a way, I think, to build bipartisanship. That is not a way to build consensus on any issue, let alone an issue that is as contentious as trade is for both Democrats and Republicans. I think the American people, Allison, I think you will agree, want to see us working together. It doesn't mean we always have to agree on everything, but they want to see us working together and crafting a template like this, that there is a give and take on all sides. I think when anyone enters into negotiation on behalf of any party, the understanding is there will be some give and take. There will be some who are not entirely happy with every aspect of an agreement, but I think on the whole, we have to look at what Mr. Rangel and Mr. Levin have been able to craft here and understand that just about everything we wanted as Democrats is in this template. It doesn't mean that we will all, either Democrat or Republican, support all of the free trade agreements moving forward, but it is the floor and not the ceiling, and it gives us a great place, I think, to start. One thing to also recount is that many of the nations that we have talked to, whether it was Peru or Panama or even Colombia, have said they have no problem with us including these provisions. They had no problem if the former Congresses would have included them, but they didn't include them. Under this new Congress, this new Democratically controlled House and Senate, we said, no more. It will no longer be the way it used to be. It will no longer be a rubber stamp. We are going to impose a new template that incorporates some of the things that we believe are core standards for the American worker, but also for us as Democrats and for the environment. We have been joined as well by our colleague from Wisconsin Mr. Kind, a cochair of the New Democratic Coalition. I know he would like to participate.

Mr. CROWLEY. Free from physical harm.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, let me just for a moment talk about where we are at this point with immigration reform, as from my observation I see the Senate has done some of the work. It negotiated the bill that they will then bring before their house, and further negotiations will take place, and bill amendments will be made to that legislation. Ultimately they will pass a bill on immigration reform in their house. We will then have an opportunity on our side to do a similar measure. It will be different from the Senate when they go to conference. In that conference, hopefully we will be able to get to a bill we can all agree upon, we can send to the President, and the President can sign into law. Let's not rush to judgment on what that legislation will be. This bill is not going to be amnesty. This bill is going to be one that will secure our borders, that will create a virtual fence, one that will address the issues of illegal immigration, but also address the issue of the 12 million undocumented, those who find themselves in illegal status here in the United States today. The human element is as much an important part of how we move forward to deal with this issue, and I hope that all my colleagues keep an open mind as the debate moves forward.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, on Monday, May 7, 2007 I was absent for three rollcall votes. If I had been here, I would have voted: ``Yes'' on rollcall No. 302, ``yes'' on rollcall No. 303, ``yes'' on rollcall No. 304. I would like this inserted into the Record in its appropriate place.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and accomplishments of a great American and one of my constituents, the late Joseph Petersen of the Bronx, New York. I wish to recognize Mr. Petersen for the lifetime he spent in the service of his country as a Tuskegee Airman and I thank his loved ones for the sacrifices they made as well on behalf of this nation. Mr. Petersen passed in December 2006 at the age of 97. Though he died too soon to see his unit awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest decoration of bravery that Congress can bestow, his life and spirit exemplify the heroism upon which the award was founded. Mr. Petersen and his unit fought gallantly and throughout four years of war they lost almost none of the bombers charged under their protection. Mr. Petersen was a soldier in combat in the truest form, striving against both enemy planes and domestic racism, and the courageous example he set will remain an everlasting inspiration to us all. Madam Speaker, I join with my colleagues in saluting and honoring the memory of Joseph Petersen and in mourning his passing.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support the McNerney- Giffords amendment. This amendment establishes a new competitive grants program specifically for Hispanic-serving Institutions at the National Science Foundation. I would like to thank Representative McNerney and Representative Giffords for their leadership in offering this amendment, which will increase opportunities for so many undergraduate students. This amendment will focus attention on the need to involve more Hispanic students in the science field by creating a specific program for Hispanic-serving Institutions to receive infrastructure development funding. I would also like to thank Chairman Gordon, Subcommittee Chairman Baird, and the staff at the Science and Technology Committee for their assistance in drafting this amendment, and for their commitment to increasing participation of minorities in the science and technology fields. Hispanic-serving Institutions serve the majority of the nearly two million Hispanic students enrolled in college today, and many of these institutions offer associate, undergraduate, and graduate programs and degrees in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The Hispanic-Serving Institutions Undergraduate Program created by this amendment will allow these colleges and universities to access the funding they need to enhance their educational programs. In my district alone, about 10,000 students attend Hispanic-Serving Institutions offering degrees in these science fields. Students at institutions throughout Queens and the Bronx, including Lehman College, Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College, LaGuardia Community College, Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, and the College of Mount Saint Vincent, like those all across the country, will benefit from increased access to funding to improve these degree programs. This amendment corrects a long-standing inequality at the National Science Foundation. Unlike their counterparts of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving Institutions have not benefited from a specific program to provide them with grants for research, curriculum, and infrastructure development. Without access to targeted capacity-building grants, Hispanic-Serving Institutions have difficulty increasing the ranks of Hispanics in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, where they have been historically underrepresented. Studies show that Hispanics earn less than 3 percent of doctorates in these areas, compared to more than 50 percent by non-Hispanic whites. This amendment also goes to the heart of the Innovation Agenda spearheaded by Speaker Pelosi and the new Democratic Coalition in the House to increase our nation's competitiveness and create more math and science graduates. To maintain our global competitiveness, we need to increase our pool of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. We can do this by ensuring that Hispanics, the youngest and fastest-growing ethnic population group in the nation, are prepared with the knowledge and skills that will contribute to our nation's future economic strength, security and global leadership. This grants program will educate and train a new generation of experts in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas. By engaging Hispanic-Serving Institutions in this process, we can reach out to and involve more of the Hispanic educational community. The National Science Foundation, through its undergraduate and graduate programs, can assist Hispanic-Serving Institutions in developing programs to prepare current and future generations of Hispanics and other minority professionals in the sciences. In the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002, Congress authorized the Foundation to establish a Minority Serving Institutions Undergraduate Program, which was envisioned as being parallel to the existing Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program and the Tribal Colleges Program, and would include Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Native Hawaiian institutions, Native Alaskan institutions, and all other institutions serving ``a substantial number of minority students''. Unfortunately, the National Science Foundation did not implement the provision. This amendment explicitly establishes a Hispanic-Serving Institutions Undergraduate Program. The language would capture the components of the successful HBCU-Undergraduate Program, allowing Hispanic-Serving Institutions to achieve this same level of success. The result of the amendment is that now the National Science Foundation will be able to offer three similar programs for three different types of minority- serving institutions, allowing Hispanic Serving Institutions to respond to a proposal solicitation tailored for them alone. I applaud the establishment of a Hispanic-Serving Institutions Undergraduate Program to achieve the goal of increased minority participation in the sciences, and I urge passage of this excellent amendment by Representatives McNerney and Giffords.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. I just want to simply rise to congratulate my colleagues, both Mr. McNerney as well as Ms. Giffords, both leaders on the Science Committee on this issue, in advancing our Democratic innovative agenda. This amendment will benefit Hispanic-serving institutions throughout our Nation to inspire more of our young people to seek careers in industries that will foster the growth in mathematics and science among primarily Hispanic-serving institutions. And I stand wholeheartedly behind this amendment. This will include over 10,000 students in my district who will directly benefit from this amendment. Let me just read some of the institutions in Queens and the Bronx, including Lehman College, Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College, LaGuardia Community College, Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology at LaGuardia Airport, and the College of Mount Saint Vincent. They are just a few of the colleges that will benefit from this amendment. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I wholeheartedly support it and ask my colleagues to support this amendment as well. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support the McNerney-Giffords amendment. This amendment establishes a new competitive grants program specifically for Hispanic-Serving Institutions at the National Science Foundation. I would like to thank Representative McNerney and Representative Giffords for their leadership in offering this amendment, which will increase opportunities for so many undergraduate students. This amendment will focus attention on the need to involve more Hispanic students in the science field by creating a specific program for Hispanic-Serving Institutions to receive infrastructure development funding. I would also like to thank Chairman Gordon, Subcommittee Chairman Baird, and the staff at the Science and Technology Committee for their assistance in drafting this amendment, and for their commitment to increasing participation of minorities in the science and technology fields. Hispanic-Serving Institutions serve the majority of the nearly two million Hispanic students enrolled in college today, and many of these institutions offer associate, undergraduate, and graduate programs and degrees in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The Hispanic-Serving Institutions Undergraduate Program created by this amendment will allow these colleges and universities to access the funding they need to enhance their educational programs. In my district alone, about 10,000 students attend Hispanic-Serving Institutions offering degrees in these science fields. Students at institutions throughout Queens and the Bronx, including Lehman College, Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College, LaGuardia Community College, Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, and the College of Mount Saint Vincent, like those all across the country, will benefit from increased access to funding to improve these degree programs. This amendment corrects a long-standing inequality at the National Science Foundation. Unlike their counterparts of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions have not benefited from a specific program to provide them with grants for research, curriculum, and infrastructure development. Without access to targeted capacity-building grants, Hispanic-Serving Institutions have difficulty increasing the ranks of Hispanics in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, where they have been historically underrepresented. Studies show that Hispanics earn less than 3 percent of doctorates in these areas, compared to more than 50 percent by non-Hispanic whites. This amendment also goes to the heart of the Innovation Agenda spearheaded by Speaker Pelosi and the new Democratic Coalition in the House to increase our Nation's competitiveness and create more math and science graduates. To maintain our global competitiveness, we need to increase our pool of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. We can do this by ensuring that Hispanics, the youngest and fastest- growing ethnic population group in the nation, are prepared with the knowledge and skills that will contribute to our Nation's future economic strength, security and global leadership. This grants program will educate and train a new generation of experts in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas. By engaging Hispanic-Serving Institutions in this process, we can reach out to and involve more of the Hispanic educational community. The National Science Foundation, through its undergraduate and graduate programs, can assist Hispanic-Serving Institutions in developing programs to prepare current and future generations of Hispanics and other minority professionals in the sciences. I applaud the establishment of a Hispanic-Serving Institutions Undergraduate Program to achieve these goals, and I urge passage of this excellent amendment by Representatives McNerney and Giffords.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. On April 24, 1915, the Ottoman government ordered the deportation of 2.5 minion Armenians. Over the next year, 1.5 million Armenians had been killed or sent to the horrors of concentration camps. April 24 lives in the hearts and minds of an Armenians. And while this day of remembrance is somber, the day also brings a sense of encouragement that stems from the success of Armenian-American communities here at home in the United States, as well as the independent nation of Armenia. This nation's independence has become a living testament of honor to the memories of the survivors and their descendents. I have always supported the Armenian community. In 2003, I had the opportunity to visit Armenia and to plant a tree at the Genocide memorial. We must never forget the horrors that took place 92 years ago. Let us never forget the 1.5 minion Armenians who perished in 1915 and 1916. We know such mass murder is not a tragedy from a distant past, but a continuation of the failing to recognize these barbaric acts before they are executed. Mr. Speaker, again, I wish to commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and I urge the leadership to bring H. Res. 106 to the floor for a vote. If we are to change the future, we must recognize the past.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and memory of Detective Lt. Giuseppe Petrosino. An immigrant from Padula, Salerno, Italy, Lt. Petrosino was the first Italian-American to be named detective in the New York Police Department. His contributions to the Police Force and to the worlds of criminal investigation and prevention are still honored by the governments of Italy and the United States. Lt. Petrosino is responsible for the creation of the Bomb Squad, the first unit of its kind in the United States. Additionally, he formed the Italian Branch, an elite corps of Italian-American police officers within the NYPD considered by many to be the world's first undercover police officers. Under Lt. Petrosino's guidance in the early 1900s, the Italian Branch arrested thousands of members of an Italian extortion racket referred to as the Black Hand, while simultaneously working to successfully reduce crimes committed against Italian Americans by nearly half. Not only was Lt. Petrosino the first Italian to earn the rank of Lieutenant in the United States, but he was also the first and only NYPD officer to receive funeral solemnities in both Italy and the United States. Over 25,000 mourners were in attendance for his services and President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed about his death, ``He was a just man, a worthy man, and a man to admire. I am grieved at the loss of a friend.'' We are forever indebted to the work and dedication of Detective Lt. Giuseppe Petrosino and his career remains a source of pride and inspiration for the Italian-American community that he was so committed to in New York City. It is with great honor and privilege today that I acknowledge the achievements of this hero, Lt. Giuseppe Petrosino.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 179, which calls for the establishment of a National Foster Parents Day. We should establish this day to recognize and appreciate our country's foster parents--the pillars of our child welfare system. These are the men and women who go out of their way to help children in need--children who have been maltreated or who had to be removed from dangerous home situations. Foster parents open their hearts and their homes to these children, providing them with so much more than shelter. They allow these children to feel safe and secure once again, and help them to begin the healing process. Children placed in foster care often come from some of the worst conditions imaginable. They have been abused, neglected, and broken down in ways beyond the physical. Many of these children enter foster care with serious emotional damage as well. They have learned that their home, the one place where they should feel safe, can actually be more dangerous than the world outside. It is the foster parent who helps build these children back up, reminding them how love and attention feel, and reassuring them that home can once again be a comfort. Far beyond helping a single child, quality foster care is also an investment in our communities. We have learned that being abused or neglected dramatically increases the risk that kids will grow up to commit violent crimes, which is why it is so important to have a strong foster care system to place children in as soon as possible. Research has shown that abused and neglected children who became wards of the court and initially remained at home, but were later placed in foster care because of continuing abuse or neglect, were more likely to become violent criminals than abused or neglected children who were placed in a safe foster home right away. This is why we must continue to support our foster parents. No child should be forced to remain in a dangerous situation because there are not enough available foster homes. We must make sure that funding for foster care is never capped or reduced so that our foster families can continue to receive the resources they need to provide supportive, loving spaces for these children in need. Additionally, we must increase our investment in preventing child abuse and neglect through programs such as the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program and in-home parent coaching programs. We also need to ensure that children in foster care find safe, permanent homes, either by reuniting them with their families or by adoption. The success of our foster care system is vital to protecting our children, and our child welfare system relies on people like foster parents to run smoothly. These men and women on the front lines of the child welfare fight deserve all the recognition they can get. It is my hope that a National Foster Parents Day will also draw attention to the need for quality foster care and capable foster parents, and allow this system to continue benefiting our children in need. I thank Representative Boyda for sponsoring this legislation, and I urge its passage.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate what we are doing here today. This is important, I think, for the American people to understand the critical role that Congress plays here in providing transparency and openness and helping corporate America do what they do best, and that is to generate and grow our economy. But I rise in opposition to my friend, the gentleman from Georgia's, amendment. And I do so because, it is interesting, there seems to be a double-speak, Mr. Chairman, coming from the other side of the aisle. On the one hand they say that there is too much government involvement, and at the same time their amendment would add another layer of government involvement, a further study that would slow this whole process down. I don't understand what is wrong with transparency. Transparency in our markets is what makes our markets so attractive to investors, to investors who want to know what is going on within that publicly traded company. This amendment would make the effective date of the bill conditional on the SEC's performance of a study to determine the effect of shareholder vote requirements on the ability of issuers to recruit and retain executives. The bill would not take effect if the SEC finds the vote would ``significantly hinder issuers' recruitment and retention of executives.'' In effect, this is a way to kill the bill without voting against the bill. It would permit the SEC and the business executives to effectively veto the Congress with a study. This amendment would make nonbinding shareholder votes on compensation subject to an SEC study and the SEC's finding. And I should just remind our friends on the other side that Congress does not generally make laws that apply only if agencies make certain findings. I would also note for the record that this amendment was defeated in committee by a vote of 27 yeas to 32 nays with 1 present, therefore a vote against this amendment. And again I just want to come back to what I talked about before, and it relates as well to the Putnam amendment, and that is what is wrong with transparency? What is wrong with those individuals, moms and pops, moms who are soccer field moms, understanding what their investment is doing, how their investment dollars are being spent? If the other side of the aisle wants to continue to align themselves with the Bob Nardellis and the Ken Lays of the world over Joe and Mary Six-Pack, so be it. But I would just point out that I think that the American stockholders would like to know what is happening in corporate America. I wonder how many stockholders in GE understood that when Jack Welch retired as a CEO, what that package actually entailed. GE shareholders would provide him with a ``lifetime access to company facilities and services comparable to those which are currently made available to him by the company,'' that they are unconditional and irrevocable. And don't forget about the use of an $80,000 per month Manhattan apartment owned by the company, aka the shareholders. I wonder how many shareholders know that they are supplying a rent-free apartment for Jack Welch in Manhattan; courtside seats at the New York Knicks and U.S. Open; seats at Wimbledon; box seats, and, Mr. Frank, I hope you will forgive me, at the Red Sox-Yankees baseball games; country club fees. Who paid for all this and who continues to pay for all this? The shareholders, who are the individual citizens, pension funds, 401(k)s. We the people who invest in these public corporations are the ones who pay for all this. Is it right that we pay for this and have no ability to learn about it or no ability to really hold these public corporations accountable? I don't think so. The other side of the aisle seems to think that is okay and that is how corporate America should conduct itself. I believe that shareholders have the right to know what the full compensation packages, the total compensation packages, of the employees running their, the shareholders', companies. And it goes back to Mr. Putnam's amendment again. What we need to oppose is this amendment, as well as the Putnam amendment, because it injects the government too far into the board rooms, creates new hassles for corporate America, and it disrespects and ignores the owners of shareholders, the constituency of those executives as well as our constituents that we represent. So I oppose this and the Putnam amendment.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me the time. I also just want to express briefly the support of my constituents in Queens and The Bronx in New York. Their hearts and prayers are today in Virginia with the students and faculty and parents of Virginia Tech students. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Taxpayer Protection Act, a bill that will work to protect and empower taxpayers. I want to specifically recognize and thank Chairman Rangel not only for crafting a solid, bipartisan bill, but also for continuing the comity that has, this year, become the hallmark of our committee. I would also like to express my gratitude to you, as well as to Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Ramstad for including important new provisions dealing with the earned income tax credit. The EITC has been a great benefit to my constituents, with almost 114,000 of them claiming this credit, bringing home to Queens and The Bronx $270 million. While impressive, I still have almost 23,000 constituents in my district who are eligible, but do not seek this credit, thereby missing out on an estimated $54 million in revenue, money these people need for everyday living and money that can be turned back into our communities. During both the oversight hearing on EITC and, later, the full committee hearing with IRS Commissioner Everson, I highlighted the need for the IRS to work with those who qualify for the EITC to make the process of restating past returns easier. This bill does that. Additionally, during private and, later, under committee questioning, I asked Commissioner Everson about ways to outreach EITC to more people, including those who may not file returns. Again, the sponsors heard the concerns of many of us on this committee and crafted a bill today that also mandates the IRS undertake this outing by using IRS' existing resources and data to dig deeper and find these eligible people. The people who qualify and receive the earned income tax credit, the people I am talking about, are the working poor, again poor people who work, and they need our help. This bill provides them an important helping hand. I thank the sponsors for putting working people first in this legislation. I also want to thank many of the not-for-profit groups that are helping our constituents access EITC. Just yesterday, I met with the leadership in New York City of ACORN, and they are starting a program to help our mutual constituents reach out so that they can make access of the EITC, the earned income tax credit. I once again thank the sponsors of this legislation. I welcome this new direction in Congress and in America.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my constituents, Bishop Angelo Rosario, of Bronx, NY. Bishop Rosario is being honored for his leadership and service to the community by the Committee for Effective Leadership and the New York State Democratic Committee. Bishop Angelo M. Rosario has been in pastoral ministry for the past 44 years and embarked on this path at the age of 18 while working with youth at a storefront church in the South Bronx. His ministerial work was guided by the leadership of the late Rev. Clemente Repollet. Bishop Rosario was the youngest person to be ordained at the Assembly of Christian Churches and remained there for over 25 years. He studied and eventually taught at the A.I.C. Theological Institute and the Latin American Bible Institute. Bishop Rosario and his wife, Rev. Nancy, founded and presently preside over Church of God's Children in the highly populated housing complex of Co-Op City in the Bronx. This institution presents a wide variety of year-round educational, spiritual and community-minded programs ranging from quality after-school care and pastoral counseling to job placement and health services. Bishop Rosario has organized many activities in the Co-Op City and Bronx Community, among them the Somalia Relief Fund, United Day of Prayer, Youth Day, and job and health fairs. He is a co-chair of Community Board 10 in the Bronx and is the CEO of the Borough President's Bronx Clergy Task Force whose mission is to bring all faiths together to work for the betterment of the community through quality education health care and financial stability through the houses of worship and community organizations. From the streets of South Bronx to the pulpit, Bishop Rosario has dedicated himself to helping the community. He is an advocate for community development according to biblical principles. He believes in one race--the human race. Bishop Rosario and his wife share a family of 10 children and 22 grandchildren. Madam Speaker, I join to wish Bishop Rosario best wishes and good fortune in his future projects.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my constituents, Tracey A. Lynch, of Bronx, NY. Ms. Lynch is being honored for her leadership and service to the community by the Committee for Effective Leadership and the New York State Democratic Committee. Born and raised in the Throgs Neck/Silver Beach community, Ms. Lynch has been an active member of the community for over twenty-five years. She is a graduate of St. Helena's Business School, The Wood Secretarial School, and attended Pace University as an undergraduate. She has been married to Thomas Lynch for 20 years and is the proud mother of three. Ms. Lynch has been the President of the Silver Beach Association (SBA) for the past 12 years and has coordinated a number of activities within the community to bring families together. Some of those events have included Irish step dancing classes, sign language classes, chess clubs, book clubs, and arts and crafts. Other organizations with which Ms. Lynch is involved are Throgs Neck Community Action Partnership, the Throgs Neck Homeowners Association, the Schuyler Hill Civic Association, and the 45th NYPD Precinct. Ms. Lynch has been working for the Department of Education since 2003 and is a Parent Coordinator for P.S. 14, the Senator John D. Calandra High School. In this role she serves as a liaison between the Department of Education and parents and guardians and assists parents with education, social, medical and community needs. Ms. Lynch also organizes and facilitates workshops and meetings in conjunction with the principal, teachers, staff and community-based organizations. Madam Speaker, I join to wish Ms. Lynch best wishes and good fortune in her future projects.