Joe Crowley

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) for all his work and the ranking member, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey). I want to thank the President for unifying this country. I want to thank the New York delegation for the bipartisan effort that has been taking place in making sure this bill came about. It makes me proud of the support this Congress has provided, support that has crossed partisan lines to assist New York over the last few days. Right now, my city and our entire Nation are reeling. We are digging out, optimistically searching for survivors, and regrettably, also finding dead. We have basic infrastructure problems that need to be addressed immediately, and this bill is the downpayment to fund these operations. Furthermore, this legislation allows our Nation to take the first steps toward preparing our Nation to proactively battle terrorism against our citizens here and abroad. This bill sends a signal to the people of New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and Americans everywhere that their government will not let them go it alone in times of crisis or emergency; that we are in fact one Nation, under God, indivisible. I shed tears on this floor yesterday, and hope it is the last time I do. Those were tears not of fear but of pride in our Nation and in my city and of all Americans.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, on Rollcall 338, which occurred on September 12, 2001, unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to be here to vote on this important resolution. I would like to take this opportunity to state for the Record that had I been here, I would have voted ``yea'' on House Joint Resolution 61, condemning the cowardly terrorist attacks which took place on September 11. I spent part of yesterday visiting the rescue operation team at the World Trade Center in their attempt to find more survivors within the rubble. I still find it difficult to recount the horrors that I witnessed, but I assure my colleagues that what I saw is unprecedented in the history of our country. It reaffirms my faith, though, in America and in this Congress that has moved so quickly, with such force and unity, to condemn these attacks and has guaranteed the support of the people of the United States for New York City, for Washington, D.C., and for all the victims of this vicious, vicious attack.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that I in no way, shape, form, or means wanted to come across as though I do not appreciate what the gentleman is doing, because I certainly do. If my colleagues will please forgive me, most of me is back in New York right now and only about half of me is here, so I appreciate the words of the chairman and I look forward to working with the gentleman.

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

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty), my colleague, for his kind words and for yielding me this time. I want to rise in strong and full support of the Victims' Tax Relief Act of 2001. This is just, I think, the beginning of what we are going to have to do to help to provide for many of the victims of this terrible tragedy. In first blush, looking at it, I would prefer to see that there is no tax at all for these people, their families included, for whatever income they make. Mr. Speaker, this is certainly something that we should all support. These people are going through incredible, incredible tragedy right now. I received word that the HAZMAT unit in New York, which is located in my district, is right now missing 19 members of that particular unit. So the fire department alone will have to rebuild, and I do not know if we will ever know exactly what it will take to do that. But these families are going to have to rebuild. Whatever little we can do today in reducing the estate tax by about half of what it is and exempting the income in the taxable year of their death for military, Federal, military and civilian employees from paying Federal income tax I think is the least that we can do in support and solidarity with the victims of this atrocity.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from New York, all my colleagues from New York, and my colleagues from around the country. Mr. Speaker, first let me commend my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler); the Speaker of the House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert); the Democratic leader, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), for the leadership displayed here in this House over the past few days and for moving this legislation so expeditiously to the floor. I rise today to speak with a very heavy heart and a tightened throat. Our Nation has suffered a terrible blow. Yesterday, I, along with my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner), as mentioned before, visited the epicenter, or ground zero as it has been called, of this monstrous crime. As I stood in a crater of what was once a grand and majestic building, I was looking into the heart of a criminal, of a cold thing and of an awful thing. But I also saw a picture of the American heart and of the American nature, that of the New York Police Department, Fire Department, and emergency rescue technicians. These men, who did not and have not faltered for even one second, were and continue to fight tirelessly to find any person who may have been lost and is yet still alive. My cousin, John Moran, who I spoke of not too long ago on this floor, is one of those men. John is an amazing man. He is a battalion chief, a lawyer, and a second generation fireman. His father, my uncle, was also a fireman. His brother Michael is a fireman. John is a wonderful husband and the father of two small children, beautiful boys. He understands the risks, and he understands what he might be losing, yet he continues to put his life in harm's way to save others day in and day out. This past Tuesday, while trying to rescue others at ground zero, my cousin became one of the missing. He was one of more than 300 firemen and police officers and technicians to die or go missing that day. We have also lost Reverend Michael Judge, a personal friend of mine, who was the chaplain of the fire department; Chief of the New York Fire Department's Special Operations Command, who was my cousin's immediate superior, Ray Downey; Bill Feehan, first deputy commissioner of the fire department, a wonderful man; and Peter Ganci, chief of the New York City Fire Department. In Woodside, the area I represent, we lost two firefighters on Father's Day from Rescue Company 4, and we add to that people who are missing, seven individuals, some of whom are my friends: Captain Brian Hickey, Lieutenant Kevin Dowdell, Lieutenant Terrance Farrell, Firefighter Peter Nelson, Firefighter Peter Brennan, Firefighter William Mahoney, Firefighter Durell Persall. Rescues 1, 2, 3, and 5 also sustained casualties. I also have friends who are missing: Firefighter Michael Dee. My understanding is that Firefighter Mike Weinberg from my neighborhood has been found. Another friend, from the Rockaways, Walter Heinz, is also missing. The Bible says, ``Be brave, my child; the Lord of heaven and earth grant you joy in place of this sorrow of yours.'' And so this is our solace. But I ask all Americans to honor those whose bravery, so great, cost them all their earthly pleasures by caring for those they leave behind. This bill provides an expedited payment of $151,000 to the families of the brave men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty. It is one small way that we can help families cope with this tragic loss, by providing families with the financial assistance to pay for colleges, to continue paying their mortgages and to continue onward. Let us create a legacy for those brave men and women. We have suffered tremendously in New York City. We have not only the loss of firefighters and police officers and technicians, but the loss of life itself of so many of our constituents and citizens. This is the least we can do for those who served. While men and women were screaming to get out of the building, these men and women were rushing into the building to try to save lives. Yesterday, the Governor of New York asked a fireman why he would risk his life, and the firefighter told him, ``What else do you expect? I'm a New Yorker.'' God bless America, the land of the free, and the home of the bravest and the finest.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, September 11, 2001, the most horrific terrorist attack in the history of the world was perpetrated against the people of the United States of America. Some have compared this attack to Pearl Harbor, but I do not. While Pearl Harbor was awful, it was a surprise attack against a military installation. Yesterday's cowardly attack was targeted solely against civilians. This was no Pearl Harbor, but something far worse. Our nation, especially the people of New York City, are not in a position to begin to understand the catastrophic amount of death and grief which this one day has wrought upon us. It will take time before many of us can fully evaluate the true atrocities that have taken place and begin the process of absorbing and then accepting the events of September 11, 2001. But no one was untouched by these events. All of our lives have been altered forever. I was in New York at the time of the attack on the World Trade Center and saw with my own eyes the complete destruction that befell a once great structure. Worse than that, I saw the trauma on the faces of the people who may never see or speak to their loved ones again. What we have witnessed are unforgettable sights. For the rest of our lives, and beyond, people with watch video of a plane crashing into the World Trade Center, of the Pentagon burning uncontrollably, and perhaps most terrible of all, two one hundred-ten story buildings tumbling to the earth. These are horrible images, burned forever into the American conscious. But beyond those ghastly sights, yesterday also provided us with sights I will never forget. Inspirational visions of Americans coming together to help fight these cowardly acts; coming together to show that even though terrorists can bring down buildings, terrorism cannot defeat the freedom and patriotism in the hearts of all Americans. People commonly saw how hard and cynical New Yorkers are--but yesterday New Yorkers lined up to give blood, donate supplies and cook meals to help the rescuers and the rescued alike. New York's firemen and policemen came to the rescue and saved many lives, while sacrificing far too many of their own. These acts of compassion have brought our nation together. Every member of this body will come out today and denounce these events, calling upon our government to strike back, and show that we will not bow down to terrorism, that the people of the United States will fight back against whatever terrorists throw our way. As I watched the people lining up to give blood, and heard the outspoken anger of people across this country on every news station, I realized that America has already begun to strike back. The way terrorists win is to frighten innocent people, to make them change their lives. The American people have demonstrated a complete unwillingness to let that happen. Mr. Speaker, we grieve for the thousands of people who lost their lives in New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania, and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to all of the families throughout our country who are today mourning a missing loved one. But we do not grieve for America or for the ideas of freedom upon which our country is based. They continue to thrive and without a doubt, they will guide us through these troubled times. May God bless America and all Americans.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 233. On a day when President Fox makes his first official visit to Washington, I cannot think of a better day to honor and recognize the importance of our relationship with our neighbor to the south, Mexico. The ties that bind our nations together span the course of hundreds of years. From a confrontational beginning to a cooperative future the United States and Mexico will always have a special connection. The election of President Fox represented a remarkable day in the history of Mexico. On this day, Mexico cast aside 71 years of single party rule and officially joined the community of democratic nations. It is my sincere hope that this smooth and peaceful transition of governments becomes the model for the future of Mexico. In the realm of trade, over 80% of all Mexican exports are sent to the United States, and nearly three-quarters of its imports come from the United States. Though our financial interaction is an important component, this relationship is not solely based on economics. With millions of people of Mexican descent living in cities throughout the United States, Mexican culture, cuisine, and music have become pervasive in American society. In my own district in Queens, New York, the Mexican population has been the fastest growing immigrant group. It always amazes me to watch the development of these men, women and children as they work tirelessly to succeed in the United States. Despite their presence in the United States, the homeland is never forgotten. The connection to their roots and family in Mexico remains strong each and every day. The Mexican community is truly a credit to the American economy, American culture and American values. This is why I support President Vicente Fox's effort to create a new immigration policy between the U.S. and Mexico which unites families separated by U.S. immigration law and provides the American economy with critical employees through the guest visa program. Through NAFTA and geography, our countries are connected and our economies are linked. By helping our neighbors to the south, we are helping our own country grow and prosper in the 21st century. It is these unique circumstances, which makes our relationship with Mexico so important. I look forward to working closely with President Fox and Mexican Parliamentarians on issues of mutual interest in the years to come.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my sadness over the bill before us today. Let me begin by saying that I am a cosponsor--once proud--of H.R. 2563, the Ganske-Dingell-Norwood Patient's Bill of Rights. When I signed onto this bill, this was a truly Bipartisan Patient Protection Act. But there have been some changes. And the kicker? The kicker is that I, a cosponsor of this bill, was not told what those changes were. None of us were, not until the eleventh hour. I do know that this bill has been gutted. What I know, is that there have been back room deals and secret negotiations. As a result, what was once a good bill is now one I am extremely disappointed with. The process by which new provisions have been developed has been a deceptive one. We started with a very bipartisan process to develop workable language, but unfortunately, that process was hijacked. Instead, deals were made behind closed doors. Even when improvements were suggested that would improve the language, they were ignored. This process was a disgrace to the House and the American people, who would benefit far more from a bipartisan and open process. The Patient's Bill of Rights I put my name on, is now the Providers Bill of Rights. The patient's Bill of Rights that we had yesterday would have ensured that patients come first--not HMO profits or health plan bureaucrats. The Providers Bill of Rights we have before us today, fought for by the other party, strips these provisions and makes sure a calculator, not caring physicians and concerned families retain control over medical decisions. Our bill allowed doctors to make the decisions about what is medically necessary and not an HMO bean counter. It gave patients access to information about all available treatments and not just the cheapest. Can someone from the other side please explain why that's so bad? Will they please come to my district and explain it to the working families in my hometown why this is not a good idea? And while you're at it, could you explain it to me too? Because I don't understand. I don't understand why requiring HMOs to provide access to emergency care or specialists, or direct access for women to an OB-GYN, or giving a patient a chance to try an innovative new treatment that could save their life--I don't understand why these are not rights that the other side of the aisle thinks all Americans in all health plans should have. I don't understand why Republicans in this House are opposed to putting health decisions back in human hands where they belong. Perhaps the most frustrating part of this debate has been the horrible and unconscionable scare tactics. Not a day has gone by in the past two weeks, that I have turned on my television and not seen a commercial from the health insurance companies arguing that the Ganske- Dingell bill will increase the number of uninsured. The fact remains, that the Congressional Budget Office has reported that the patient protections in this bill will only increase premiums by 4 percent over 5 years. This translates into only $1.19 per month for the average employee. But they don't tell you that. CBO also found that the provision to hold health plans accountable--the provision the other side of the aisle opposes the most and claims would cause health care costs to skyrocket--would only account for 40 cents of that amount. But they won't tell you that either. They also won't tell you that an independent study by the consulting firm Coopers and Lybrand indicates that the cost of the liability provisions is potentially less than that, estimating that premiums would increase between three and 13 cents a month per enrollee, or 0.03 percent. This is a small price to pay to make sure that health plans cover the health care services we all deserve. Mr. Chairman, this bill is a sham, these amendments, poison pills. I urge my colleagues to stand with me and pass a true Patient's Bill of Rights that provides real protections for all the 170 million Americans enrolled in a health insurance plan.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate India on it 53rd anniversary as an independent democratic republic. Fifty-three years ago India under the leadership of Mahatma Ghandi forged a path towards freedom and democracy by declaring its independence from Britain. With independence India undertook anew a responsibility as a voice of other newly independent nations in the post-colonial world. India is the world's largest democracy, and in the next fifty years it will become the worlds most populous nation. As we celebrate India's independence it is important for us to reflect on the achievements of the previous 53 years while at the time looking forward to the future. India and the United States share much in common. Both countries sought independence to create great nations based on freedom and liberty. Both nations also sought to establish a more prosperous future for its people. As we enter a new century it is important for the United States to recognize India's importance as a great democracy and as a force for stability in South Asia. While India faces many challenges it has nonetheless undertaken an important role of working towards greater prosperity and stability in the region. India is of immense strategic importance to the United States. Being the only democracy and one of three nuclear powers in the region India has the potential to be a force for economic development and political stability. South Asia is a vast region that faces many challenges, from the civil war in Afghanistan to great poverty that still haunts much of the region. It is therefore vital for the United States to maintain a dialogue with as many nations in the region as possible. India's cooperation in brining about stability to the region will be essential. Over the past ten years the United States and India have taken concrete steps to improve their bilateral relations. Trade, investment, and military cooperation have played a major role in bringing the two nations closer. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the India Caucus I have come to recognize the importance of India in South Asia. I am also proud to have worked on making additional funds available to India and other nations of South Asia for the creation of regional emergency institution similar to our own FEMA, so that we can save more lives in a future natural disaster. As you know Mr. Speaker, President Clinton worked very hard to foster U.S.-Indian relations and to bring greater regional stability. I encourage President Bush, to continue America's leadership in South Asia. I particularly encourage President Bush to call upon Pakistan to return to a democratic government and to work with India for peace in Kashmir. As the United States Representative of the second largest South Asian community in the Untied States I would like to congratulate India on this achievement, and seek greater understanding and relations between our two great democracies.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of the 75th anniversary of The Astoria Center of Israel, one of the oldest and most venerable Conservative synagogues in my district. Since its inception in 1926 the Astoria Center of Israel has been a bulwark of the Conservative Jewish community, as it provides a center for civic leadership, spiritual enrichment, and cultural relations. Mr. Speaker, this congregation has always been a vibrant one. In May of 1926, Financial, House, Membership, and Junior League committees had been established, a mere month after the building first opened its doors. Those doors open into a sanctuary that is magnificent to behold even when the services have yet to commence. The beautiful canvasses of Mr. Louis Pierre Rigal, winner of the prestigious Grande Prix de Rome award in 1919, adorn the walls with glorious Biblical imagery. Even today the synagogue continues to enrich the community's culture and spirit by offering plays, concerts, lectures, and civic meetings to any that wish to attend. It would be impossible for me to separate the merits of this institution from those of its first spiritual leader, Rabbi Joshua Goldberg. Rabbi Goldberg was the first Jewish chaplain of the United States Navy. When knowledge of the Holocaust became public, he, together with Rabbi Stephen Wise, was an active leader in the effort to save European Jews from Hitler's relentless persecution. Rabbi Goldberg was stationed in Europe during World War II, and thus began his distinguished fifty-year-long career of Navy chaplaincy. As a Rabbi, he reached out to other members of the clergy, both in local neighborhoods and throughout greater New York area. Rabbi Goldberg would often use radio broadcasts as a means of delivering his message of universal love and unity. Additionally, his efforts were integral to the formation of Queens College, my esteemed Alma Mater. He made great contributions to the establishment of other Jewish communities such as Rego Park and Forest Hills. Many prominent members of the Astoria Center for Israel continued to follow in Rabbi Goldberg's footsteps, such as Rabbi Alvin Class, the current chaplain of the New York Police Department. I also must acknowledge the Center's many congregants that proudly pursue active careers in public service in both the governmental and private sectors. It is my hope that we can fulfill the clause that concludes the Astoria Congregation of Israel synagogue charter-- ``Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity''

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 316, I placed my card in the machine and voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 316. My vote was not properly recorded. I intended to vote ``no.''

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a co-sponsor of H.R. 2603, the United States-Jordan Free-Trade Agreement. This legislation, as approved, would implement H.Doc. 107-15 as it was submitted to Congress on January 6, 2001 by former President Clinton, and would make the trade agreement we negotiated with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan operational. Jordan is a moderate Arab nation and an ally of both the United States and Israel. The free trade agreement negotiated by the Clinton administration will help to solidify trade and commerce between the United States and Jordan. As you know Mr. Speaker, free trade is vital to political stability and economic development not only in the Middle East but also around the world. With free trade nations are not only able to exchange goods but also ideas. It is the ideas of freedom and democracy that is the greatest export the United States can offer to the rest of the world. Under the agreement negotiated by the United States and Jordan, both nations have committed themselves to removing almost all duties on trade in ten years. The two countries have also committed themselves to safeguarding intellectual property and copyrights. Most importantly the agreement includes provisions to protect worker rights and the environment. The Middle East is an emerging region and the United States should do all it can to help the nations of the Middle East develop their economic potential. Jordan has played an integral role in leading the region to a freer and a more secure future. King Abdullah has made important commitments to implement necessary economic and political reforms. Jordan has also been an important partner in the Middle East peace process, and a leading voice among moderate Arab nations for normalizing relations with the State of Israel. By supporting free trade with Jordan the United States Congress will be recognizing Jordan's role as a peace partner in the Middle East. Free trade will give American companies more access not only to the Jordanian market but also to markets in Israel and Egypt. While at the same time providing for greater economic development in the region. Currently, New York State conducts $23 million worth of trade with Jordan. In the next ten years this volume is expected to increase as Jordan's economy continues to grow. This will create more jobs for my constituents and more prosperity for the people of Jordan. Mr. Speaker, it is important for the United States to continue playing its historic role in the Middle East as a voice for peace and democracy. Free trade with Jordan recognizes both Jordan's role as a peace partner in the Middle East and it reasserts America's commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. I would also like to point out the United States-Jordan Free Trade Agreement is supported by Israel, evidence of Israel's continued commitment to peace and stability in the region. At this hour of crises in the Middle East it is important for the United States Congress to stand with the people of Israel and Jordan by supporting free trade and democracy in the region.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 191. I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) for authoring this important resolution before us today. In October of 2000, Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad were abducted while on routine patrol of Israel's northern border. At the present time these men are believed to be held by Hezbollah on Lebanese soil. I am extremely troubled by the fact that the United Nations has the ability to assist in discovering the whereabouts of these men and has failed to turn over what may be pertinent information to the Israeli Government. For an organization that is a champion for human rights around the world to obstruct the recovery of these men is inconceivable. I join my colleagues in calling on Secretary-General Kofi Annan to act expeditiously in seeing that any and all information leading to the rescue of these Israeli soldiers be handed over without further delay. Since these men were captured last year, I have been in constant contact with their families. I had the opportunity to meet their families in January of this year. The fact that the United Nations has evidence that could ultimately bring their sons, fathers and brothers back to them is the last shred of hope that any of these families have. I cannot stand by and allow that to be taken away from them as well. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Frelinghuysen. Congressman Frelinghuysen, along with New York Representative Maurice Hinchey, have been tireless crusaders for the rights of our nation's veterans, and this amendment highlights this fact by forcing the VA to abandon its flawed funded formula for providing for the health care needs of America's veterans. Under the current system, VERA bases its resource allocation on sending more dollars to areas where there are more veterans--not where the needs are the greatest. While that may sound rationale--the result has been horrendous for areas of the country like Queens and the Bronx, which I represent. The facts bare out that increasingly more VA dollars are going to the South and Southwest portions of the country were more veterans live-- veterans who are often younger and healthier. The result is less resources in the areas of the country, like New York City, where the veterans are older, sicker, and in more desperate need of care. I heard a story from a constituent regarding a VA hospital he saw while on vacation in Florida. It was a state of the art facility, with plenty of doctors and nurses on call--and no patients. He and his wife informed me that the place was virtually empty--but that facility had the best money can buy. In New York City, meanwhile, we continue to see lay-offs of the professional doctors and nurses at our VA hospitals and clinics; long lines for care; and a far too high ratio of nurses per patient. I am not saying that we should deprive our veterans in the South and Southwest part of the country their fair share of resources; all we ask for this amendment is that the VA provide equal treatment and resources to all veterans regardless of where they reside. It is a shame that the VERA system has pitted veterans in one region of the country versus veterans in other regions. Therefore, I am supportive of the Frelinghuysen amendment to prohibit any Federal funds from implementing or administering the VERA system. I ask all of my colleagues from throughout the Nation to support this amendment that has caused so much pain for so many veterans.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. And the gentleman has agreed to allocate through the conference process to work to ensure that $10 million will be allocated from the AID fund that will be directed to the South Asia region, the Kathmandu office?

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. I rise today in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) to reduce funding for the Andean Initiative by $100 million. During the consideration of Plan Colombia, I had some serious concerns regarding the manner in which the $1.3 billion would be distributed. I believed that the concentration of those funds on military rather than on economic and social assistance was a grave miscalculation. The assistance provided to the Colombian military has been used to support and intensify the long tradition of human rights abuses in Colombia in my opinion. Plan Colombia has bloodied the hands of this Congress. I believe that this reduction of $100 million should be taken from the account directed to the Colombian military to send a message that these abuses of basic human rights will not be tolerated any longer. I cannot stand idly by while this body attempts to make the same mistake once again. Though I believe that the Andean Initiative takes steps toward a broader regional strategy and addresses the shortcomings of Plan Colombia, the President's request for the distribution of this account is incredibly deficient. The most glaring deficiency is the lack of support for the country of Ecuador. We are talking about a country that has struggled for years with high inflation, a high rate of unemployment and a low per capita income. We are talking about a country that provides the United States a forward operating location at the Manta Air base to conduct drug surveillance missions free of charge. Under the administration of President Noboa, Ecuador has done nothing but demonstrate acts of loyalty and friendship toward the United States. How do we repay them? By providing only $39 million, $39 million when Peru and Bolivia are receiving well over $100 million each. This is not providing support for a friend in need. This is a slap in a friend's face. Ecuador is dealing with the daunting task of keeping the coca production beyond its borders. With the increasing activity by Colombian paramilitaries in the Putumayo region, this is becoming more and more difficult every day. If the Colombian military and paramilitaries are successful in driving the guerillas out of southern Colombia, the problem will not be solved. The guerillas will simply move elsewhere to resume their business. This funding will not allow Ecuador to secure its borders or resist the movement of the guerillas into the Sucumbios region of Ecuador. Just last month, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia crossed the Rio Putumayo into Ecuador and set up roadblocks on a main highway. This is the beginning of the terror for Ecuador. We can take steps in this Chamber to nip this in the bud. Ecuador once shared a 367-mile border with Colombia. It now today shares a 367-mile border with rebel forces. Something must be done before this situation gets out of hand. No Member wants to be down on this floor next year voting for an aid package called Plan Ecuador. I sincerely believe that the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) are committed to improving the situation in Ecuador. As this bill goes to conference, I would like to offer my assistance to ensure that the underfunding of Ecuador be addressed and rectified. I also note that this money that will be redirected to child survival and maternal health as well as combating the spread of infectious disease. With so much suffering in this world today, why must we contribute to more of it? Let us take this opportunity to promote the welfare of both Colombia, the Andean region and global health entirely.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, is it the intention of the gentleman's amendment to increase the funding for AID from $200 million to $201 million?

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

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I am offering this amendment in conjunction with my colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott). As cochairmen of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) have been leaders in their work with India and the Indian-American community. Mr. Chairman, in January of this year, the Indian state of Gujarat was decimated by a devastating earthquake that killed thousands of people and turned its infrastructure into rubble. In the aftermath of this tragedy, there was a lot of Monday-morning quarterbacking as to why so many people were killed and why so much damage was inflicted. The answer, Mr. Chairman, is simple: the Gujarati Government was not prepared to deal with a disaster of such magnitude, despite the fact that this region and the south Asian region as a whole is routinely subject to such natural disasters. The Crowley-Royce-McDermott amendment seeks to provide sorely needed funds to the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Foreign Disaster Relief, the Kathmandu office, so that it may work with the governments and communities of Southeast Asia to develop emergency response and disaster preparedness capabilities. There is no FEMA in India, there is no FEMA in Bangladesh, there is no FEMA in Nepal, there is no FEMA in Sri Lanka. In many Indian states like Gujarat, there is a serious lack of emergency equipment such as ambulances and fire trucks; and as a result, many thousands of people in Gujarat died needlessly because of such shortages in sorely needed equipment. The Gujarat earthquake was but one more in a long series of natural disasters that have plagued South Asia. South Asia is in a geographical and geological crossroads that makes it very vulnerable to disasters. Massive cyclones regularly batter not only Gujarat, but also Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra, Pradesh, and Sindh. Drought is a periodic way of life in western India and Pakistan as well. Every season, countless thousands die in Bangladesh due to flooding. The instability of the Himalayan Mountains forces Nepal in northern India to constantly dig out from avalanches and other slides. Earthquakes have been a fact of life not only in Gujarat but all across the subcontinent for years. No country in the region fully has the capability to institute disaster preparedness and response programs in a manner that will be sufficient to deal with these disasters. Several countries of the region have approached the United States Government for technical assistance in order to establish their own agencies for disaster management. The establishment of FEMA-like organizations in South Asia would greatly increase the capacity of nations to deal with such disasters. USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, OFDA, currently has a representative based in Kathmandu, Nepal, who is charged with covering the entire region. Over the past 15 years, OFDA has developed a strong working relationship with these countries to help them identify the best response and preparedness system for each of these countries. An increase to OFDA's funding will allow that representative to expand and enhance programs in the region to help these nations prepare the appropriate response and preparedness capability to deal with past and future natural disasters. The $10 million for this enhancement would be offset by a $10 million decrease in the Andean initiative. This is a small price to pay to enable the people of South Asia to survive natural disasters. The countless lives that could be saved by enhancing disaster preparedness in South Asia far outweigh the small amount of arms and military training that would be sent to South America for the same funds. The consequences of natural disasters are varied. They may be considered in terms of human lives, material goods, economic activities, political impacts, associate or psychological factors. Societal and economic consequences of such natural disasters are too countless to mention. The severe cyclone that developed in the Bay of Bengal in October of 1999 hit the eastern coast of India with tremendous force, causing floods and wind damage in Orissa, Andhra, Pradesh, and West Bengal states. A second, larger cyclone, the worst storm in almost 30 years, struck India's eastern coastline further impacting those states and the Bengal states. The Indian Ministry of Agriculture's Central Disaster Mitigation Center reported 9,465 persons killed, 2,260 persons injured as a result of the two cyclones. Infrastructure destruction was catastrophic. More than 15 million people were impacted, 1.5 million homes completely destroyed, and damage to the power grid totaled more than 300 million rupees. There was a loss of substantial grain storage and limited access to safe drinking water, as well as damage to sewer systems. Basically, Mr. Chairman, the country was decimated. If we do not do this, there will be economies that may never recover.

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

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this bill. I want to commend chairman Kolbe an our ranking member, Congresswoman Lowey for crafting a fair and comprehensive bill that addresses the needs of many nations throughout the world. As conflict continues around the globe, from Northern Ireland to the Middle East, this bill has taken the appropriate steps to provide the tools for future prosperity and the potential for reconciliation. As the cycle of violence continues in the Middle East, it is essential that we take the appropriate steps to facilitate an atmosphere of peace. The Middle East package in this appropriations bill takes important steps toward that end by including balanced funding for Israel and Egypt, as well as essential funding for Jordan and Lebanon. Specifically, this bill provides economic funding in the amount of $720 million for Israel and $655 million for Egypt. Additionally, it provides $2.04 billion in military financing for Israel and $1.3 billion for Egypt. I would like to make a special note to commend Israel for voluntarily requesting a reduction in its economic assistance. It is my sincere hope that this funding will foster an atmosphere for reconciliation. I would also like to thank the committee for recognizing the work of the Galilee Society. The Galilee Society works with Israeli-Arabs and Israeli-Jews on projects that are in the mutual interest of both communities. From water purification to child immunizations, Galilee has looked beyond the religious and cultural differences that are often divisive in this part of the world for the betterment of the society as a whole. Furthermore, the funding provided for the International Fund for Ireland in the amount of $25 million is a crucial element in facilitating an environment in Northern Ireland in which all sides can live together and prosper for the common good. With the peace process on tenuous ground, programs such as the International Fund for Ireland are essential for Irish youth from the North and from the Republic to work together to improve the future of their respective homelands. It gives me great pleasure to report that the committee has also recognized the International Women's Democracy Center for its contribution to the Northern Ireland Peace Process and other quests for peace throughout the world. I had the honor of hosting several women from Northern Ireland during their visit to Washington. I was impressed by the manner in which these women worked together irrespective of faith to achieve a common objective. It is my hope that the experience that these women had in Washington stays with them upon returning to Northern Ireland. The prospects for peace depend on it. While it is not nearly enough to successfully battle the HIV/AIDS pandemic in African countries, Asia and elsewhere, I am pleased that the bill includes $434,000,000 for HIV/AIDS as part of the $1,387,000 for Child Survival and Health Programs Fund. It is $396,000,000 above the request for FY2001. I hope we can continue to do more to help this dire situation in so many developing countries. I am also pleased that there is some sorely needed help for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC). By directing that half of the $6 million being provided to the Treasury Department's Office of Technical Assistance, and the Treasury International Affairs Technical Assistance program, be provided to eight or more of the HIPC countries, Congress is helping these countries get out of their financial morass. While debt relief is a key to recovery for many of these countries, with these funds, Treasury could provide fiscal and monetary advisors to HIPC countries to help develop strong indigenous capabilities to manage financial matters more effectively. Continued assistance to Armenia is critical to regional stability in the Caucasus. Armenia has been a participant in good standing to the Minsk Group process and is working constructively to help create an equitable solution to the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. Until that occurs, and thereafter, Armenia needs our help. Its economy is struggling to survive embargoes on two of its borders and the government is taking key steps to combat corruption and move towards a democratic society and prosperous economy. The $82 million in funding will continue to help move Armenia towards those ultimate goals. Though I am leased overall with the funding levels included in this bills, I have many concerns regarding the Andean Initiative. Despite the fact that this funding is a vast improvement over Plan Colombia, I believe that it fails to address the needs of countries, such as Ecuador, to effectively combat the spillover effect from the drug war in Colombia. Furthermore, this initiative continues to provide financial and military assistance to the Colombian military. With an abysmal human rights record, the Colombian military should receive no support from the United States. It is my hope that these funding deficiencies will be addressed and rectified in conference. I congratulate Mr. Kolbe and Mrs. Lowey for their diligent work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I want to commend the gentleman from Arizona (Chairman Kolbe) and the ranking member, my good friend, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), for crafting a fair and comprehensive bill that addresses the needs of many nations throughout our world. As conflicts continue around the globe, from Northern Ireland to the Middle East, this bill has taken the appropriate steps to provide the tools for future prosperity and the potential for true reconciliation. The Middle East package includes balanced funding for Israel and Egypt, as well as essential funding for Jordan and Lebanon. Furthermore, the funding provided for the International Fund for Ireland in the amount of $25 million is a crucial element in facilitating an environment in Northern Ireland in which all sides can live together and prosper for a common good. Though I strongly support the passage of this bill, I have many concerns regarding the Andean Initiative. In spite of the fact that this funding is a vast improvement over Plan Colombia, I believe it fails to address the need of countries such as Ecuador to effectively battle in combat the spillover effect from the drug war and conflict in Colombia. Ecuador has been a true friend and ally, and deserves better treatment from us in this bill. It is my hope that these funding deficiencies will be addressed and rectified in conference. Having said that, I want to congratulate the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) for their diligent work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support for the amendment offered by my colleagues, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich). I would also like to thank my colleagues for having the foresight to offer this amendment at a time when so many developing and undeveloped countries are seeing their societies, their very social infrastructures, decimated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Mr. Chairman, last year I visited sub-Saharan Africa and saw firsthand what most Americans only read about. I saw a generation of kids growing up without parents, without teachers, and without health care providers because of HIV/AIDS. The decimation of these countries must stop. HIV/AIDS drugs are not the only solution, but they are part of the solution. Our opponents in the multinational pharmaceutical companies point to their generosity in providing HIV/AIDS drugs to the developing world. While their philanthropy is certainly appreciated, there are other ways to solve this problem than to depend on multinational corporations for handouts. UNAIDS has stated that even with all the donation programs in place, only 10 percent of those infected by HIV/ AIDS in the developing world will have access to these drugs. The Waters-Kucinich-Lee amendment would restore the ability of developing countries to pass laws and produce HIV/AIDS drugs for their citizens. The amendment would prevent World Trade Organization challenges to HIV/AIDS drug laws by the United States related to HIV/ AIDS drugs. In effect, this amendment would codify current administration policy supported by President Bush which has suspended any international copyright laws in the United States against countries in the developing world for producing HIV/AIDS drugs. This amendment allows countries to institute policies and laws to facilitate provisions of sorely-needed pharmaceuticals to those suffering with HIV and AIDS. It is not, I repeat not, designed to undermine the World Trade Organization's intellectual property rights provisions. Some have stated that pharmaceuticals used to treat and control HIV/ AIDS are too toxic to be used by those in developing countries; that the infrastructure required to correctly use these drugs is lacking in these countries. Mr. Chairman, the people in these developing countries do have watches, they can tell time, and they do know that time is running out. This amendment needs to be passed.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Commerce, Justice, State bill, and would like to express my gratitude to the chairman, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), for his hard work in crafting this bipartisan bill. I would also like to recognize my good friend, the gentleman from the Bronx, New York, (Mr. Serrano), who has worked tirelessly for his constituents, for all of New York City, and for all of America from his position on the Committee on Appropriations and throughout his many, many years in Congress. With regard to international issues, as both the representative of one of the most diverse congressional districts in the Nation and a member of the Committee on International Relations, I would like to applaud this committee for recognizing the value inherent in the United States playing a key role in the international community and in particular supporting international peacekeeping operations. Here at home, this legislation also provides important funding for a number of community service and anti-crime programs, effective programs that have helped our Nation, especially my hometown of New York City, experience the lowest crime rate in decades. We need to continue to invest in our people, both here in the U.S. and abroad. This bill does that, and I congratulate the chairman and the ranking member for their work and for their dedication.