Joe Crowley

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, on September 9, 1999, I had to be in New York on official business and missed rollcall votes 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, and 404. I ask that the record reflects that had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall vote 399, ``aye'' on rollcall vote 400, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 401, ``aye'' on rollcall vote 402--the motion to recommit the VA/HUD Appropriations, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 403, the FY 99 VA/HUD Appropriations bill, and ``nay'' on rollcall vote 404, the DC Appropriations Conference Report.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this bill, the Civil Aviation Research and Development Authorization Act, and to support research and development in the aviation industry. Research and development is an important part of the aviation industry, bringing us safer and quieter planes. We have recently seen the implementation of Stage 3 planes, which are noticeably quieter than their earlier counterparts. However, as someone who lives close to an airport, I appreciate the need for further R&D to bring us quieter planes. As a Representative of the 7th Congressional District of New York, containing LaGuardia Airport and its surrounding communities, I have pushed this Congress to press for the further study of Stage 4 aircraft. Mr. Chairman, the airspace surrounding LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark airports is the busiest airspace in the world. The noise from the jets is deafening. To quote one of my constituents, ``The noise has become so loud that I cannot watch TV, take a phone call, or even sleep.'' It is my hope, Mr. Chairman that through R&D efforts such as those authorized in this bill, individuals or families living near airports can get a decent night's sleep. To further help with the R&D effort, my fellow Congressman from New York, Anthony Weiner, and I have introduced the Silent Skies Act. The Silent Skies Act would mandate quieter aircraft engines and call on the Department of Transportation to set the standards for Stage 4 aircraft, the next generation of quieter engines. It also mandates that all aircraft be in compliance with Stage 4 noise levels no later than the year 2012. Mr. Chairman, I am confident that Stage 4 technology will dramatically improve the quality of life for residents of Queens and the Bronx, like myself, who live near LaGuardia airport. I encourage all my colleagues to join as cosponsors of this important legislation to improve the quality of life for every constituent who lives near an airport. In closing, I want to once again commend the aviation research and development process and urge the aviation industry and the Department of Transportation and this Congress to push for the development of quieter aircraft engines.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, nine out of 10 Americans support campaign finance reform; nine out of 10. The simple fact is that the cost of running for federal office today is so great that candidates are forced to devote far too much time and effort to fund-raising, rather than dealing with the issues of importance to their constituents. We can eliminate soft money entirely, rid our society of the pollution caused by sham issue ads, and increase public disclosure of who is paying for what. It is real reform versus show me the money. This is the crux of the argument today as the House will undertake the serious debate of reforming our system of financing political campaigns. The Shays-Meehan bill is real reform, eliminates soft money, increases disclosure and bans phoney issue ads. The Republican leadership support the show-me-the-money approach. They argue for more money in the system and less reforms. Real reform versus show me the money. Support Shays-Meehan and show every American that the House supports real reform and not simply more money.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1883, the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 1999. Everyone in this Congress is aware that Iran has continually threatened the peace and security of the Middle East. Even today, Iran is still committed to the destruction of Israel, opposes the Middle East peace process and supports terrorist groups such as Hamas. In fact, Iran remains the world's leading sponsor of international terrorism. Despite these very real security concerns, cash strapped Russia has supported the $800 million Bushehr project, a 1000-megawatt light-water reactor, in southern Iran. Why Iran needs such a reactor remains an open question because Iran has one of the world's largest oil and natural gas reserves. However, many security experts believe that such projects provide good cover to a nuclear weapons program and provide Iranian technicians with expertise in the development of nuclear weapons. These developments, along with Iran's successful test of the Shahab-3 missile, with a range of 800 miles, pose the greatest risk to Middle Eastern stability in history. Mr. Speaker, the results of an Iran armed with nuclear weapons are almost too horrifying to imagine. But, if current trends continue, it may become an all too real nightmare for the United States and our Middle Eastern allies. Former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu put it best when he stated, ``The building of a nuclear reactor in Iran only makes it likelier that Iran will equip its ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads . . . Such a development threatens peace, the whole region and in the end, the Russians themselves.'' Given the potential threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, I believe it appropriate to withhold the $590 million in U.S. assistance for the Russian contribution to the International Space Station. If Russian policymakers see the danger of their activities, they can certify that they are not transferring technology that would help develop weapons of mass destruction and aid will resume. Mr. Speaker, the House took similar action when we passed H.R. 1477, the Iran Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act of 1999 by a vote of 383 to 1. H.R. 1477 withholds the U.S. voluntary contributions from programs and projects of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Iran unless the Secretary of State makes a determination that they will not provide Iran with training or expertise relevant to nuclear programs' development. I was proud to be an original cosponsor of the Iran Nuclear Proliferation Act, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Iran Nonproliferation Act. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1883 passed the International Relations Committee, on which I am proud to serve, by a vote of 33 to 0. I urge my fellow Members to give this legislation the same overwhelming support on the floor, that we gave it in Committee.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Thomas substitute, as it does not represent real reform. Mr. Chairman, our campaign system is broken and needs urgent reforms and not nip and tuck around-the-edge solutions offered by the honorable chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas). Although the Thomas substitute contains some important reforms of the Federal Elections Commission, it does nothing to reform our political system, nothing to rein in those deceptive issue ads, nothing to eliminate the old powerful role of soft money in our political campaigns, and nothing to restore the faith of Americans in our political system. We are here today to debate the campaign finance reform, real campaign finance reform. the Thomas substitute is not campaign finance reform. There was only one bill on the floor this evening which will accomplish these tasks, the Shays-Meehan reform bill. Reform is demanded by our constituents. Let us vote for real reform today. Oppose the Thomas substitute and support the Shays-Meehan reform bill.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Weygand-Crowley amendment. I want to especially thank my friend from Rhode Island for his tireless work in support of every American who has dedicated his or her life to our Armed Forces. This language should serve as an unequivocal statement of support by this Chamber for the brave men and women who wore their nation's uniform into battle. Mr. Chairman, every member of this body respects and deeply appreciates the contributions of our veterans. This institution is the home of many proud war veterans--liberal and conservative; Democrat and Republican. This issue is not one of partisanship but rather one of dignity. Veterans may appear like regular people--but they are not. They are an uncommon brand of hero. These people made the conscious decision to put their own life, their hopes, and their future on hold to stand up for the basic principles of their homeland: freedom, liberty, and a proud tradition of justice. They are the men and women of courage and integrity. I would like to share with my colleagues a story of one of these men of integrity--Mr. Eugene Mozer of Jackson Heights, in my district. He was a World War II veterans decorated with a Purple Heart after being wounded in battle. He was a patriot. Mr. Mozer personifies the thousands of veterans that live in each of our home communities. This past February, Mr. Mozer passed away. His wife, Faustina Gobrili, and their son attempted to acquire a Military Honor Guard for his burial service. They believed that an Honor Guard would be a fitting tribute to this man's life--a life he was prepared to sacrifice for this nation. After contacting the military and explaining the situation, Ms. Gobrili was informed by the military that they, incredulously, could not fulfill her family's request for a military Honor Guard. Or, Mr. Chairman, I call your attention to the countless other stories of families of deceased veterans contacting the military to request an Honor Guard only to receive a cassette tape of TAPS in the mail. These are gross indignities to the people who were willing to die for our freedom--for people they would never know, let alone meet. Mr. Mozer and his family and the thousands of other distinguished veterans and their families deserve a more apt tribute--a tribute that appropriately reflects the gratitude and indebtedness of this nation. A military Honor Guard at the funeral of a veterans serves as the final salute of a grateful nation. Let us not deny them this final call of respect. I urge you to support this amendment.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, over the August recess, the message from America was clear: We do not want the GOP tax break. What is realized, the GOP plan provides little tax relief for middle- and lower-income Americans, the ones who need it the most. It does nothing to continue our efforts to reduce the Federal debt. It does nothing to strengthen Social Security or Medicare, and it does nothing, it does nothing to help the dire conditions of our schools, the infrastructure of our schools in the United States. Republicans offer only a small arbitrage provision in the recently passed tax bill as their aid for our beleaguered school system. This initiative would provide minimal tax benefits to school districts. These benefits can actually delay school construction for more than 2 years. We can fix our highways; we can rebuild our bridges. Why do we sit by and do nothing for the infrastructure that houses our Nation's greatest asset, our children? There are many chilling accounts of near fatal accidents at schools in New York, and I fear the day that conditions at our schools deteriorate to the point where accidents are simply unavoidable. I know that providing tax relief to our schools for construction assistance is not only the right thing to do as a Congressman, but the right thing to do as a new parent and as an American.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), but I rise today in support of the Nadler-Crowley-Shays amendment to increase funding for the housing opportunities for persons with AIDS by $10 million, to restore the program to its fiscal year 1999 level. While seemingly small, this increase is vital to HOPWA programs and will greatly help the individuals and families who suffer from AIDS by providing them with desperately needed housing. The housing provided by HOPWA allows people to improve the quality of their lives and access life-extending care. In 1998, the Center for Disease Control reported that 665,000 were living with AIDS and the AIDS virus; and CDC estimates that between 650,000 and 900,000 Americans live with the HIV virus. In New York and in my district particularly the AIDS crisis is particularly acute. In 1998, there were approximately 130,000 reported AIDS cases in the State of New York. Once diagnosed, individuals with the HIV virus must take on an aggressive treatment regime that requires strict timetables and strict diets. Over the past 3 years, CDC has reported a steep decline in AIDS. A decrease in deaths and the longer life spans of individuals with AIDS is a positive step resulting from nonstop research and advances in medications. Research and funding needs to be continued to effectively combat this deadly disease. Now that we have had the breakthroughs in the treatment of HIV and delaying the onset of full-blown AIDS, we must concentrate more of our efforts on preservation, treatments and assistance programs. With the longer life span comes the need for more assistance, both in medical care and in housing. Lifesaving drugs are costly, forcing many people to decide between essential medicines and other necessities, such as food and housing. No person should have to choose between extending their life or keeping a roof over their head, and the fact is without adequate housing and nutrition it is extremely difficult for individuals to benefit from these new treatments. Sadly, we here in Congress are now considering cutting funds from a program that actually saves lives. HOPWA programs provide rental assistance, mortgage assistance, utility payment assistance, information on low income housing opportunities and technical support and assistance with planning and operating community residences. These important services assist individuals and families financially, not forcing them to choose between housing and medicine. Currently, HOPWA benefits 75,000 people and 41,000 housing units. HOPWA is the only federal housing program addressing the housing crisis facing people with AIDS. Another problem is that many people with AIDS can no longer afford their homes and must look for new living accommodations. Oftentimes they face discrimination because of their illness. This was brought to my attention by an organization within my district, Steinway House, who run a Scattered Site Housing Program which locates dwellings in Queens for homeless persons with AIDS and their families. It is currently the largest program of this type in the country. Steinway House and other similar programs benefit from HOPWA, and I find it unconscionable to decrease their funds. Individuals with AIDS are living longer than ever and while we have made progress in awareness of how the virus is transmitted, recent studies show that rates of infection are decreasing at a slower rate than in years past. To remove funds from a program with increasing participation is wrong, and to take funds away from patients whose lives literally depend on it is irresponsible. To allow for this increase, my colleagues and I have proposed a $10 million offset from the National Science Foundation's Polar and Antarctic Research Program. I want to make it perfectly clear that I am not opposed to science research and understand the value it can have on our lives and the future of all human kind. However, the Polar and Antarctic Research Program is coordinated by the NSF but has 12 other federal agencies also contributing funds and participating. In sum, I believe that $10 million is a small sum to transfer to prevent individuals with AIDS and their families from ending up on the street. We ought to be farsighted in looking at problems in our global atmosphere and scientific research, but we must not be shortsighted, that we harm the citizens of this country in our efforts. I am not saying that NSF's programs are not worthwhile, but we need to have compassion for those people who struggle to live each day with AIDS. They need our assistance, and we cannot leave them out in the cold.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the comments of the chairman. And I recognize the considerable gains made in the State Department authorization bill.

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

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would limit the funding from being expended for any joint training programs between the Royal Ulster Constabulary and any Federal law enforcement agencies here in the United States. This year the FBI began joint training between the FBI and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the RUC, the police force of Northern Ireland. The purpose of this program is to address ``the new challenges that societal changes are having on law enforcement in the region.'' In a press release, the FBI said topics discussed between the FBI and the RUC included interaction between the police and the public in a new environment, human rights, recognition of the diversity and anti- terrorism strategies. The FBI National Academy has long been a vital element in continuing the improvement of law enforcement standards around the world through knowledge, training, and cooperation. Unfortunately, the RUC, in my opinion and in the opinion of many others, is not worthy of training with our best and brightest in the Federal enforcement field. Mr. Chairman, I have the pleasure of serving on the Committee on International Relations and on this committee. Through the efforts of our fine chairman and my good friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), we recently held a hearing on new and acceptable policing in Northern Ireland. One of those witnesses who testified before us was one Diane Hamill. Diane is the sister of Robert Hamill, a Nationalist who was killed by a Loyalist mob in downtown Portadown in Northern Ireland in 1997 while the RUC stood by and watched. Last year before the Subcommittee on Human Rights of my colleague the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), Northern Ireland defense attorney Rosemary Nelson testified that what she feared most from her work defending the Nationalist community in the north of Ireland was the RUC. She feared for her life because of the RUC's collusion with Loyalist militias and the history of lack of protection of the Nationalist minority in the six counties of Northern Ireland. Sadly, Rosemary Nelson is not here with us today. She was killed by a Loyalist militia car bomb. Her death silenced the voice for human rights and justice for all people in the north of Ireland. Mr. Chairman, these are just two examples of human rights violations and the RUC's history of collusion with Loyalist forces and lack of protection for the Nationalist community. Mr. Chairman, let us also talk about diversity. The north of Ireland is roughly 55 percent Protestant, mostly Unionist, and 45 percent Catholic and mostly Nationalists. The makeup of the men and women in the RUC is 93 percent Protestant, presumably Unionist, not what I would call reflective of the population of Northern Ireland. Mr. Chairman, we all know that the peace process has come to a virtual standstill in the north of Ireland. I and many of my colleagues and constituents are not happy about that. One of the processes put into place by the peace process was the reformation of the RUC. This commission, called the Northern Ireland Independent Commission on Policing, is chaired by the Honorable Christopher Patten, the former British commissioner of Hong Kong. The commission is due to publish their report this fall. Mr. Chairman, here are just a few of the suggestions to the commission that have already been reported to the press: the RUC must recruit more Catholics. The RUC must become a more representative police force of its community. And the RUC must protect all residents of Northern Ireland, both Nationalist and Unionists. Mr. Chairman, I am not saying that we do not have problems with our own police forces here in the U.S. In fact, I encourage every police department, including those in my own city, New York, to take advantage of the FBI's resources and skills this fine law enforcement agency has to offer. Mr. Chairman, what my amendment does say is that training programs with the FBI should be for legitimate police forces. The RUC is certainly, in my opinion, not a legitimate police force for Northern Ireland. Mr. Chairman, I am looking forward to the publishing of the report from the Patten commission and ways to bring about a new police force in Northern Ireland, a force that represents the whole population and reflects the makeup of a diverse society. Until that time, I do not believe that the RUC should be allowed to train with America's best and brightest in blue. Let us move the peace process forward. Let us support fair representation of policing in the north of Ireland. Support an amendment endorsed by the Irish National Caucus and Irish-Americans from all around.

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

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor the St. Bartholomew School in Elmhurst, Queens on the occasion of its 75th Anniversary. St. Bartholomew has been in the forefront of providing a quality value-based education to the children of the community for three- quarters of a century. The School, the third largest Catholic parochial school in the entire Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, currently has an enrollment of some 650 students and is accredited by the prestigious Middle States Association. St. Bart's, as it is affectionately known, first opened its doors in 1923, and has since then been an integral and significant element in the life of the Elmhurst community. Elmhurst was recently identified in the September issue of National Geographic magazine as ``Elmhurst 11373, the most ethnically diverse zip code in the United States.'' Affiliated with St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Parish, St. Bart's School ably reflects that rich diversity of heritage in a most enthusiastic way, welcoming students of many religions and national origins to participate in its outstanding academic program. In addition to a full schedule of academic subjects, students in all grades receive instruction in computer skills, physical education, and library science, and participate in a host of interesting and informative clubs and extracurricular activities. But most importantly, the religious and lay faculty cooperate in striving for the utmost creativity in education, emphasizing values and excellence in an atmosphere of healthy academic discipline. Finally, I would like to commend Sister Augusta Conter, o.p., Principal, and Mr. Thomas Straczynski, Social Studies teacher and Chairman of the 75th Anniversary Committee, as well as all of the committee members whose tireless efforts made the anniversary and its many events a tremendous success. Mr. Speaker, please join me in paying this 75th Anniversary tribute to a superb institution of learning and to the people who help make it all possible.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, this morning I proudly join my colleagues in signing the discharge petition H.R. 1660, the School Modernization Construction Act. As a member of the freshman class, I have organized numerous 1 minutes and Special Orders to allow us to share with our Republican colleagues the stories from our own districts: the overcrowding, the crumbling buildings, the rapid school-age population growth. Whether they are urban, rural, or suburban, schools across our Nation need the help of Congress in addressing the infrastructure problems. Mr. Speaker, I cannot accept that the only action taken by Congress this year to help our schools is a small arbitrage provision contained within the recently passed tax bill. This provision will not provide assistance to our beleaguered school system and could result in delays in school construction and modernization projects for more than 2 years. We can fix our highways. We can rebuild our bridges. Why do we sit by and do nothing about the infrastructure that houses our Nation's greatest assets, its children. We need to help our school districts by providing them with interest- free bonds to build new facilities and to improve the existing structures now, not 2 years from now. Mr. Speaker, before, one of our colleagues said who pays the taxes. I forgot, our children in public schools do not pay taxes. But their families do.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to my good friend from Buffalo, New York, a fellow New Yorker, to this rule and to, even more importantly, to H.R. 987, the Workforce Preservation Act. Injuries resulting from workplace stress and strain have long been studied. We cannot continue to needlessly put off a standard by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. There is overwhelming scientific evidence supporting the belief that ergonomically unsafe conditions result in repetitive strain injuries, also called RSIs. Approximately 700,000 serious workplace injuries result from ergonomically unsafe working conditions. This accounts for 31 percent of all injuries and illnesses involving lost workdays. The cost of these lost workdays has been estimated to be between $15 and 20 billion. Now, these are not made-up injuries, they are not fantasies in workers' minds. These are real injuries, not only costing billions of dollars, but destroying people's everyday lives, people who can no longer work in their chosen professions, no longer cook at home, no longer play the guitar, no longer ride their bicycles even, and even no longer picking up their little children. That is what we are talking about here. I cannot understand how my colleagues could want to delay the implementation of a standard that would not only reduce pain and suffering but save the business community of this country billions of dollars each year. I applaud last year's appropriation funding of the National Academy of Sciences study of ergonomic injuries. However, that is no reason to delay the implementation of a highly researched and needed OSHA standard. Stand up for working Americans, stand up for healthy workplaces. Vote against this rule, H.R. 987, to help prevent thousands of injuries and save employers up to $20 billion a year.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Democratic motion to instruct conferees on the Republican tax bill. America needs a fiscally responsible tax bill, not an excessive and reckless $800 billion tax cut, almost a trillion dollar tax cut. A tax bill of this magnitude stands in the way of strengthening Medicare and Social Security and threatens the progress we have made in eliminating the deficit and reducing the national debt, and it does nothing, it does absolutely nothing, to help our crumbling schools. My constituents have demanded this Congress strengthen and protect Social Security and Medicare as well as to continue to pay off the national debt, rather than give tax breaks to the top 1 percent of Americans. I am not arguing there are no Americans who need tax relief, but let me just add that no one on this side of the aisle has said no one in this country needs some tax relief, we are saying just do not give it to the 1 percent richest people on this planet. Many middle income families would greatly benefit from affordable tax cuts, however, these families are not the ones assisted by the Republican tax bill. Mr. Speaker, please listen to the American people. And if my colleagues will not listen to them, they should listen to the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Mr. Greenspan, who has vocally denounced a massive tax cut initiative such as the ones passed by the House and the Senate as potentially harmful to our Nation. This bill does not strengthen Social Security and Medicare and it does not assist our school districts with building new schools and modernizing their old, outdated, and ofttimes unsafe existing structures. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to envision one classroom in my district. A single-room classroom with 50 kindergarten students in it, two teachers, and no funds under this tax proposal to improve the situation in the near future. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this motion to instruct conferees.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight an important issue that is currently being neglected by the House, the dire need for a raise in the minimum wage for our Nation's workers. Both sides of the aisle recognize the advantages of new legislation. For this reason I question our delay in moving forward. Our hesitation is leaving cupboards empty as American families struggle unnecessarily. Today's minimum wage leaves families at 19 percent below the equivalent 1979 poverty level. There is no excuse for this abhorrent fact to continue into the year 2000. An increase in the minimum wage gives us the unique opportunity to give gifts of security and comfort to the American people. I believe that by stalling on this pertinent issue, we are directly denying our constituents the chance to live the American Dream. Opponents of increasing the minimum wage would have us believe an increase in the minimum wage would cause employees to lay off workers; that it would hurt the poorest workers and destroy the economy. But I ask, did any of these things happen when we raised the minimum wage to $5.15 in 1998? As our economy is still strong and unemployment low, clearly none of these negative predictions came to be after the legislation went into effect. Mr. Speaker, I insist we revisit the issue of raising the minimum wage. The American worker is depending on all of us.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of this Energy and Water appropriations bill and to thank the gentleman from California and the gentleman from Indiana for all their hard work along with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey). On behalf of my constituents from the Seventh Congressional District, I want to convey my heartfelt gratitude for a very important project made possible by this legislation. This bill allows for an Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study to be conducted in Flushing Bay and Flushing Creek in Queens County in New York City. This study will develop ideas for improving water quality in these bodies of water and help make them viable again for the citizens of New York. Mr. Chairman, without Federal funding, Flushing Bay and Flushing Creek would not be cleaned up. I thank the committee for recognizing the importance of this project to the people of Queens and to agreeing to help us maintain and, more importantly, to improve our bodies of water, and once again, Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky) for all his support and help in this effort.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, the massive House Republican tax break is outrageous and excessive, threatening opportunities to strengthen Social Security, Medicare, and education. Just listen to Republican analyst Kevin Phillips in comments made today: ``We can fairly call the House legislation the most outrageous tax package of the last 50 years. It is worse than the 1981 excesses. You have to go back to 1948, when the Republican 80th Congress sent a kindred bill to President Harry Truman. Harry Truman vetoed it, calling the Republicans `bloodsuckers with offices in Wall Street.' Not only did he win reelection, but the Democrats recaptured Congress.'' House Republicans have also proved that they are more concerned about big tax cuts for the wealthy than providing relief for America's school districts by failing to take a prime opportunity to include a real school construction initiative. The tunnel vision by Republicans on a big tax break for the rich senselessly blocks commonsense tax incentives that would provide crucial aid to America's schools. Republican priorities put wealthy Americans over the needs of our children. Mr. Speaker, we must put our children before the wealthy in this country.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, on July 19, 1999, I was unavoidably detained at LaGuardia Airport in New York due to poor weather conditions. The weather delays caused me to miss rollcall votes 308, 309, and 310. I would like the Record to reflect that had I been present, I would have voted in the affirmative on all three rollcall votes, numbers 308, 309, and 310.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the Trillion Dollar Tax Break and Deficit Act and to strongly support the Rangel substitute. A massive tax cut--nearly $900 billion--is totally irresponsible. It stands in the way of strengthening Medicare and Social Security, and threatens the progress we have made in eliminating the deficit and reducing the national debt. The Democratic substitute will leave plenty of room to shore-up social security and Medicare without bursting the budget. Additionally, tax cuts will be targeted more towards middle class families--the people who work hard to support themselves and their children--not the upper one percent of this country. How does this bill help our crumbling schools? How does this help replace the 10 schools in Community School District 24 which are heated by coal burning boilers? It is worth mentioning that Community School District 24 is the most overcrowded school district in the City of New York, operating at 119% capacity. This is projected to increase to 168% over the next ten years. How are education savings accounts going to help these public schools? As for arbitrage, it will only provide relief for those construction projects schools have already begun. It does nothing to address the needs to build new schools and modernize existing schools. The schools in my district need substantive school construction assistance NOW. The Rangel plan will provide $25 billion in interest free school construction bonds to state and local government for public school construction and modernization projects. This will help alleviate the high tax burdens faced by middle class communities trying to finance construction on their schools. Additionally, it will provide a tax incentive to those who invest in the bonds, by giving them tax credits on the interest. And, most importantly, these bonds will be available to our school immediately! In closing, I ask you to envision one classroom in my district: One classroom, with fifty kindergarten students and two teachers and no plans to change in the future. I urge you to oppose the bill and vote for the Rangel substitute.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a man who embodies what it means to be a true American, a dedicated family man, an accomplished professional, and a consummate citizen of New York City, William A. Gallina, on the occasion of his 60th birthday. William, or ``Bill'' as he is known by those closest to him, has lifelong roots in the Bronx. Born on his parents' kitchen table in the West Farms section of the Bronx on July 26, 1939, Bill blazed an exceptional path from the very beginning. Growing up in the South Bronx home of his immigrant parents, his mother from Germany, his father from Italy, Bill attended Public School 6, Herman Ridder Junior High School, and earned his diploma at James Monroe High School. Following high school graduation, Bill attended New York State Maritime College where he spent three years studying Maritime Engineering, then transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson University where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, he began working at Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation where he and a small group of rocket propulsion engineers successfully helped in the design of the descent engine of the Lunar Excursion Modules (L.E.M.) fulfilling President John F. Kennedy's dream and America's promise of landing on the moon before the close of the 1960s. While working for Grumman, Bill attended St. John's University Law School in the evenings, graduating in 1967 with a Juris Doctor degree. Upon graduation from law school he went to work for a major Wall Street law firm specializing in intellectual property, eventually leaving to open his own firm specializing in criminal and personal injury law. He returned to the Bronx in the early 1970s where he was instrumental in constructing a professional medical office complex where he maintained his office for the practice of law. To this day, he continues to practice law in Bronx County where he has become one of the leading personal injury attorneys in the metropolitan New York area. His parents continued to live in Bronx County until their passing. Bill's mother used the very same kitchen table on which he was born until her death in 1997 at the age of 98. Bill is married to the former Ronnie Bernon and has an 11-year-old son, three daughters from a prior marriage, and two grandchildren. He is active in local and national bar associations, in particular, the New York State Trial Lawyers where he serves as a member of the Board of Directors, fighting to protect the rights of accident victims. Bill is an avid sailor, spending his limited free time sailing the waters of Long Island Sound. Mr. Speaker, please join me in commending William A. Gallina of Bronx, New York for a remarkable life on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, the massive tax cut of the Republican Party nearly three-quarters of $1 trillion is totally irresponsible. It stands in the way of strengthening Medicare and Social Security, and threatens the progress we have made in eliminating the deficit and reducing the national debt. Republican tax breaks means higher deficits, higher interest rates, and lower economic growth. The Republican bill also declares class warfare against middle-class families. Citizens for Tax Justice finds the GOP tax plan unfairly targets its benefits towards the richest. The wealthiest 1 percent of taxpayers would receive 45 percent of the benefits from this tax break. It ultimately would receive an annual average tax cut of $48,000 in 1999 dollars, Mr. Speaker, 384 times as much as the bottom three-fifths of taxpayers. In addition, by failing to include a reasonable and effective school construction initiative in the tax bill, the Republican Congress proves they are more concerned about big tax breaks for the wealthy than providing relief for American school districts. The single focus by Republicans on a big tax break for the rich senselessly blocks common sense tax incentives that would provide crucial aid to America's school. Republican priorities put wealthy Americans above the needs of our children.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to oppose H.R. 1995, the Teacher Empowerment Act, and support the Martinez substitute. As I looked over the materials I had received regarding H.R. 1995, I found myself wondering how the Republican leadership could offer an education bill, a bill for teachers, that is not supported by educators themselves. Nor do parents, Boards of Education, or many others concerned about our education system support it. In fact, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Parent Teachers Association, the National Association of State Boards of Education, Council of Great City Schools, the New York State Education Department, and the New York City Board of Education each oppose this bill. Does this seem right? How can the American public have faith that we are going to improve their schools when nearly all education groups oppose the proposed education bill? As a newly elected Member, I can tell you that parents in my congressional district are concerned. They want smaller classes. They want assurances that money isn't going to be taken from their low- income school districts and transferred to districts with more resources. They don't want rhetoric. They want results. H.R. 1995 takes away the guarantee of smaller classes by rolling class size reduction funds into a block grant for professional development purposes and class size reduction. While class size reduction is a ``mandatory use'' under H.R. 1995, there is no commitment that serious funds will be used for that purpose. We should not reverse the process that was put into place last year when a bipartisan commitment was made to fund the first installment of a program aimed specifically at reducing class sizes. Instead, we should show our local school districts that we will be there with the followup funds so they can retain the teachers they are hiring this year and continue their class reduction efforts. Furthermore, H.R. 1995 severely undermines the original goal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act--to provide assistance to the neediest students. This bill fails to direct sufficient resources to schools that need the most help: the highest poverty districts in each state and district. Overall, H.R. 1995 would divert resources away from districts, like many of those in New York City, that need the money the most. Altering the funding formula from 80 percent of the funds being allocated to high-poverty districts to having only 50 percent being allocated to districts, combined with the loss of class size reduction funds, would result in a $22 million loss for New York City's public schools. I am sure that this result will be mimicked in cities and towns across the country. I know my Republican colleagues will argue that a hold harmless provision has been added to the bill. However, that hold harmless is for the first year only. After that, there is no guarantee that funding for class size reduction will not be dramatically decreased. We must not abandon our commitment to class size reduction and to helping our neediest students. The Martinez substitute ensures that we honor our commitment to class size reduction. Additionally, the Martinez substitute does not alter the intent of the ESEA, to assist the neediest school districts. We should pass the Martinez substitute, and, if not, we should defeat H.R. 1995.