Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of bringing relief to thousands of seniors who are unfairly punished by the Social Security earnings penalty. For too many seniors, working after they turn 65 isn't an option--it is a necessity. They can ill afford a smaller Social Security check each month. We should fix this inequity and do what is fair and right for our seniors. They deserve nothing less. Last week, I met with a group of working seniors in West Haven, Connecticut. One was Mary Grabowski. Mary recently retired, but she quickly realized she had to continue to work after she turned 65 because she simply couldn't afford not to. It wasn't a choice. It wasn't so she could make a little extra money on the side. It was about being able to pay her bills. I also listened to the story of Estelle Stuart. Estelle is also a recent retiree who came to realize that Social Security simply isn't going to be enough for her to get by. In particular, Estelle is forced to work in order to pay for the prescription drugs she desperate needs. Mary Grabowski, Estelle Stuart, and the thousands of other seniors like them who must continue to work after 65, are perfect examples of why the earnings penalty is wrong and why we need to end it. I want to thank both of them for sharing their story with me. Ending the earnings penalty today is a good start. It's important to thousands of seniors. But tomorrow, let's get to work and pass a responsible plan that will strengthen Social Security and Medicare, and provide our seniors with a prescription drug benefit. It is a plan that honors our seniors and protects our values. We've taken a positive first step today. Let's get to work and finish the job.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to join with the West Haven Black Coalition as they honor my dear friend, Elsie Cofield, with the Distinguished Citizens Award. Elsie, as founder of AIDS Interfaith Network, has demonstrated a unique commitment and dedication to the comfort and care of those members of our community living with AIDS and facing the many challenges of this terrible disease. An educator for 31 years, Elsie founded AIDS Interfaith Network, an organization dedicated to providing care to New Haven residents afflicted with HIV and AIDS, after her retirement in 1987. Elsie, recognizing the need, focused her attentions on the inner-city. AIDS Interfaith Network provides a full circle of assistance with social service agencies, support groups, individual counseling, transportation, food and clothing--offering both physical and spiritual comfort. Elsie's enthusiasm and passion has improved the quality of life for many residents of New Haven. Beginning with a few volunteers, Elsie built a solid foundation and for eleven years has assisted hundreds of families as they face both life and death simultaneously. What began as a small, volunteer-staffed program in a small church basement has flourished into a national working model for church-based AIDS programs. Under Elsie's strong leadership and endless faith, AIDS Interfaith Network has grown to hold nine full-time and six part-time employees. ``Putting a face to people with AIDS'' has been her enduring philosophy and it is this personal approach that has made this program so successful. It is rare to find an individual that demonstrates the personal touch the way Elsie has--every man, woman and child she sees is special to her. She has traveled to hospitals at midnight to hold a hand, attended the funerals of clients she has served, and written commemorative poems memorializing those she has known best. A myriad of awards and citations adorn her walls--testimony to her undaunted spirit and inspirational dedication. Devoting their attention to predominantly minority families and neighborhoods, AIDS Interfaith Network has caught the attention of local, state, and national organizations. Honors from the Yale Divinity School, State of Connecticut, the National Organization for Women, and an invitation to join President Clinton at his announcement for programs aimed at stemming the spread of AIDS in minority communities all speak to her success. Elsie's commitment to her work is well-known throughout the community and was further affirmed as former New Haven Mayor John Daniels declared October 11, 1990 Elsie Cofield Day. It is with sincere thanks and appreciation that I stand today and honor Elsie Cofield for her outstanding and invaluable service to our community. She has made a difference in so many lives and has truly distinguished herself as a community member and citizen.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, our seniors face skyrocketing prices for prescription drugs. Many of my constituents have written to me about having to choose between buying food and paying for the life-saving medicines that they need. For millions of seniors, a prescription drug benefit is the difference between getting the medicine they need for healthy, independent lives, and pain and suffering. For those who are skipping meals or missing rent payments, a prescription drug benefit is a necessity that would bring dignity to their lives. I urge my colleagues today to sign the petitions at the desk to allow a debate on proposals that would end price discrimination and provide a prescription drug benefit for all seniors. We have an historic opportunity to make medicine affordable and accessible. We could do this in a heartbeat if the Republican leadership would allow debate on this floor. Modern science has blessed us with many wonderful new medicines, but if seniors cannot afford them, these medicines are of little use. I implore my colleagues, sign the petitions at the desk. Begin substantive discussion on how to make prescription drugs affordable to the people who need them.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this misnamed and misguided piece of legislation under the guise of helping small businesses succeed, which is a goal that we can all support. This bill gives cover to businesses that make faulty products, that injure and even kill. This bill would protect companies that make cheap, poorly made firearms. These are weapons that are not made for hunting or for home protection; they are made to give criminals more bang for the buck. Let me give my colleagues an example. Intratec is best known for its inexpensive assault pistols, notably, the TEC-9, the TEC-DC9 and the AB-10. The TEC-DC9 was one of the guns used in the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado. This is also the company that markets Saturday night special handguns or what they call junk guns. Their advertising copy brags, and I quote, ``that our guns are as tough as your toughest customers.'' In fact, this legislation, my friends, would provide cover to the makers of the weapons that were used at Columbine. I am dismayed that the Republican majority would not allow this House to consider an amendment that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren) offered, which would have removed the protection from just the gun makers. This is wrong. We ought to be in the business of encouraging responsibility across the board, including small businesses; but this bill takes us in the wrong direction. It puts consumers, it puts our kids at undue risk by weakening key protections.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of providing real marriage penalty relief to middle class families. I also rise in opposition to a Republican tax scheme which goes far beyond the marriage penalty. Their irresponsibility jeopardizes Social Security and leaves nothing to strengthen Medicare. Marriage penalty relief is the right thing to do. Married couples should not find themselves penalized because both need to work. The Tax Code has penalized marriage for too long and any tax cut proposal should attack this problem. That means acting within the framework of a balanced budget that will pay down the debt, protect Social Security, strengthen Medicare, and make needed investments in education. These are the priorities of the American people. Hardworking Americans, Democrats, independents, and even Republicans have sent us this message loud and clear. The only people who do not seem to be listening are the Republican leaders in this Congress. If they were listening, they would hear the families out, those who say do the right thing. Instead, Republicans come to this floor with a massive tax bill that not only squanders the surplus, it fails to provide true marriage penalty relief. In fact, over 70 percent of the tax relief in their bill goes to the wealthiest Americans, most of whom do not even pay a marriage penalty. Meanwhile, families that need relief the most would receive less than 41 cents a day. Democrats support real marriage penalty relief that targets those who need it most. Our plan provides more tax relief to low- and moderate-income Americans who work hard for their paycheck each and every day and deserve to keep more of their money. It would ensure that more working families can take advantage of the earned income tax credit. One hundred thousand of my constituents in my district, those on Social Security, will be hurt by this Republican bill, and the Democratic alternative would cover both those who are suffering from the marriage penalty and those who are on Social Security. We should not be fooled by the numbers that are being brought up on the other side. The Democratic proposal would cover both.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, American families deserve a responsible plan for the surplus that strengthens Social Security and Medicare, that pays down the national debt, and that gives tax cuts that directly benefit the middle class. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership seems determined to pass an irresponsible tax cut before it develops a plan for the long term. Last year they tried to pass a trillion dollar tax bill that would have benefited the richest in our country. This year, they are trying to pass that package piece by piece. Madam Speaker, we need to eliminate the marriage penalty; and I support a proposal to do that. But this Republican scheme is irresponsible. The bill helps working families, middle class families very little, yet it gives huge tax breaks to the wealthiest couples. Millions of American families with children will get absolutely no relief at all. We must instead support a Democratic alternative which will both alleviate the marriage penalty and strengthen Social Security and Medicare while paying down the national debt. We need the surplus to be used in a responsible way that strengthens our country, not for another political gimmick, that the American people have already heard and have already rejected.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, last year the Republican majority failed to act on the basic issues facing hard working Americans. Time and time again, they sided with special interests over the public interest. Today, the Republican leadership continues to stall attempts to pass measures that would help middle class families such as saving Social Security and Medicare, improving our public schools and passing real HMO reform. The American public wants to protect Social Security and Medicare first. We should also be paying down the debt, instead of giving tax breaks to the top 5 percent. We need to pass a real Patients' Bill of Rights that lets doctors and patients make medical decisions, not HMO bureaucrats. And we need to provide a prescription drug benefit for all seniors. These should be our top priorities. The Republican leadership needs to put the public's interest ahead of the special interests. Our families and our communities deserve a Congress that fights for them. We need the opportunity to address the real needs of the American people.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, 4 months ago we passed a bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights. This is a monumental piece of legislation to reform HMOs. It provides basic rights of care for all Americans. It ensures that we are able to choose our own doctors; that we have access to the nearest emergency room; that we have a specialist when we need one, if we need one for our health; and, yes, indeed, to hold HMOs accountable for the medical decisions that they are making every single day. Unfortunately, the GOP leadership continues to stall this legislation. I call upon the Republican leadership to stop their delay tactics, pass meaningful HMO reform. This is a bipartisan bill; we have broad support amongst the rank and file Members. We must act to give 160 million Americans access to health care in this country. We owe it to the American people to enact this legislation and to enact these reforms now.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, we have begun a new year, some say a new millennium, and it is a new session of the Congress. Yet working families have come no closer, no closer, to reclaiming control of their medical decisions. It is long past due that we enact the Patients' Bill of Rights. Let us put health-care decisions where they belong, in the hands of doctors and families. Every single Member of this House has heard the heart wrenching accounts of the prescriptions and the procedures that have been denied. Quite frankly, that is why we were able to take that giant step forward last year when we passed a bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights. It is a balanced bill. It would protect patients' rights without reducing health care coverage. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership of this House has worked long and hard to try to kill managed care reform. It continues to stand in the way of this bill. Four months, 4 months they have taken, they stacked the deck against patient care when they chose to negotiate the final bill. The fact of the matter is they are in charge, they could bring this bill up anytime they want. They are stalling. Let us stop.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, over the past 7 years, we have made significant progress in creating jobs, creating a budget surplus, and expanding opportunity. We now have the historic and unique opportunity to prepare for the future and to bolster American families. Let us strengthen Social Security and Medicare for future generations, including a prescription drug benefit for all Medicare beneficiaries. Let us provide tax cuts that eliminate the marriage penalty, help working and middle class families afford health care, child care, and a college education, enact HMO reform that puts medical decisions in the hands of the doctors and patients, and allows people to hold their HMOs accountable. Let us improve our schools, modernize our classrooms, reduce class size, and increase discipline and standards in our school. Let us pass gun safety reforms and keep guns out of the hands of kids and criminals. These are sensible proposals. They have bipartisan support. Let us take up the unfinished business of 1999, make good decisions for the long term, and prepare our families and our communities for the 21st Century.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend John W. Olsen as he receives the State of Israel Bonds Labor Medal for his lifelong contributions to the labor movement in the State of Connecticut. Created in 1951, State of Israel Bonds serves as the cornerstone of Israel's economy. Committed to improving Israel's infrastructure as a whole, Israel Bonds provides financial support for the construction of research facilities, transportation networks, communications links, and the expansion of port and airport facilities. Its commitment to the betterment of Israel's people and its economy is unparalleled--helping transform the state of Israel into one of the world's leading industrial nations. In many ways, John's commitment to the labor movement is reflective on Israel Bonds' commitment to the state of Israel. Since he began his career as a member of the UA Local 133, Plumbers and Pipefitters, John has dedicated his life to working families. He has fought for better wages, more comprehensive health benefits for workers and their families, and safer work environment. As President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, John has forced the largest corporations in Connecticut to listen to their employees' and afford them these basic rights. He has been a true leader for our working families, giving them a voice during the hardest of economic times. John has also worked hard to make Connecticut a better place to live and grow. He has been active in state and national politics, serving on the Democratic State Central Committee and the Democratic National Committee. He also serves on a number of boards and commissions with the purpose of making Connecticut's workers the most productive in the nation. Over the years, John has become an ambassador for the labor movement, spreading its message of helping and protecting working families through lectures, newspaper columns, and on the radio. We in Connecticut have much to thank John for--his contributions have been truly invaluable. It is with great pride that I rise to join friends and family in saluting my dear friend, John, as he receives the State of Israel Bonds Labor Medal. Congratulations.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the Republican leadership is packing its bags. It is heading for the exits without addressing the most critical needs of American families. This summer, they tried to spend a historic surplus on an irresponsible tax plan that would have benefited only the wealthy. Now they are planning to leave town without taking meaningful steps to make our communities safer and our families stronger. The list of items killed by the Republican leadership is long. The Patients' Bill of Rights, campaign finance reform, and Medicare prescription drug benefits, extending the life of Medicare and Social Security, sensible gun safety, minimum wage. Time and again, the Republican leadership has joined with special interests to bury important legislation that, in fact, would have improved the lot of American families. One of the most critical items to fall by the wayside has been sensible gun safety legislation. Common sense should be applied when it comes to the safety of our schools, our neighborhoods, office buildings, and places of worship. Mr. Speaker, this Congress should not adjourn without closing the loopholes that lets guns fall into the wrong hands. It is time for responsible action.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to call attention. Earlier this afternoon there were speakers on the floor who challenged a press conference that was held this morning. I wanted to, and my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy), wanted to try to set the record straight on this press conference. In fact, there were several of the Democratic women who today unveiled a sad symbol of this Congress' inaction on the very important issue of gun safety, gun safety legislation. The Columbine clock was unveiled. It ticks off the days, the hours, the minutes, the seconds since the Columbine tragedy, which was at 1:30 p.m. on April 12, 211 days ago, 211 days and 3 hours. It represents the inaction of this Congress on an issue of absolute importance to American families, to their families and to their children. Since April 20, many of my colleagues, many of the Democratic women in this House of Representatives, have worked hard to address the issue of gun safety and gun violence in a very thorough and thoughtful way, but for the last 7 months the Republican leadership has consistently obstructed every single attempt to pass meaningful gun safety measures in this body. This is done so despite overwhelming support among mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandmothers across this great country of ours to pass sensible measures: child safety locks, closing the loophole on background checks at gun shows, banning the importation of the high capacity ammunition clips. This is legislation that was passed in the Senate, a bipartisan piece of legislation, a compromise piece of legislation. We are asking that the Conference Committee on Juvenile Justice which takes up the issue of gun safety please meet, do something, respond to the will of the people in this country. In fact, it is a conference committee that has met one time, one time; no debate, no discussion, no clarity of thought on what direction we take on gun safety measures in this country. No one here is grandstanding. No one here is saying, let us not have a piece of legislation because what we want to do is to keep this issue around. That is not why we were sent here. We were sent here to do the people's business in the people's House. Every single day 13 children die from gunfire in this country. It is wrong. That is why we had the clock, as a way to say the days, the hours, the seconds, the minutes are being ticked off and our kids are dying. Guns are getting into the hands of criminals and children. It is wrong. If we are not going to do anything about it in this final day, these final days of the 106th session, we commit to the American public that we will spend every single day, minute, hour, and second of the next year of this session working hard to pass gun safety legislation in this country to protect our families and protect our children.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Our colleague from Maine will talk about this whole issue of prescription drugs. In the framework that we are talking about, this is not a program here, a program there. That is not what this is about, because budgets and legislation is created out of need. It is reflective of priorities, of values, of how you approach problems that people have. If you reflect on values and who we are and what you want to try to do with responsibility and providing opportunity and doing those kinds of things which is what this body is all about, one has to take a look at all of this through that prism of values and where our values lie in this body, because that is what infuses all of this. That is what prompts us to act. It is what we believe is the right thing to do on behalf of the people. That is what runs through all these pieces of legislation. They are not out there by themselves. I am sorry to take time from my colleague from Maine.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, let me make two quick points. My colleague, the gentleman from Maine, when he was talking about the Republican argument on the Democrats raiding social security trust fund, it is somewhat disingenuous when we have the majority leader of the Republican party who, in 1984, indicated that social security was a rotten trick, a bad retirement, and who only in recent years talked about phasing out social security. So this sense of the Republican majority saving social security, I think the public sees through that, given the history. But I wanted to make a quick point on the issue that the gentleman brought up on the tax cut, this trillion dollars, which ultimately came down to $800 billion in a tax cut. I think it is important to note that Democrats are for tax cuts. We support tax cuts. But it is a question, when I talked about values and priorities, and where the focus is, where are tax cuts? Let us look at families in this country. Let us look at working families. Let us look at the marriage penalty, home health care, education tax credits to get the kids to school, small business tax cuts. We put a package together where the tax cuts were paid for. We are for tax cuts, but we want to make sure that it is not the richest 1 percent or 2 percent of folks in this country who are the beneficiaries, but hard-working folks of modest means who are finding it more difficult day in and day out to make ends meet. That is where our direction has to be. That is what we have to do. That is about values. That is about priorities. That is about who in fact should benefit from what goes on in this country.

Ms. DeLAURO. I thank my colleague from New Jersey for taking this time to talk about really quite a serious issue. I think we should try to put this in some kind of a perspective. First of all, let me mention that we are going to be gone from here within the next few days. We do not know how many more days there will continue to be the deliberation on the budget, but the fact is that if we do have an opportunity after the Republican leadership has been fighting tooth and nail, more cops on the beat, more teachers, reduced class size, if in fact there are some gains in that area, we will feel vindicated and we will be very, very pleased. They are important victories for working families. That is what we want to do. That is why we come here. We want to try and protect those vital priorities. But that leads me to say that one has to take a look at why we are here. Each of us comes as a direct result of elections, people cast their votes and they say, Frank Pallone of New Jersey, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, of the Third District, we think you will do a good job on our behalf. Each of the 435 Members who comes here has that kind of trust. It is a responsibility as well as an opportunity. What we try to do is to take very seriously that responsibility, those obligations, and try to reflect the will of the people in this body. It is the People's House. But the kinds of issues that you have talked about, the health issues and as you go through the list of the unfinished business and whether it is HMO reform or prescription drugs or gun safety or minimum wage, Social Security or Medicare, in each of these areas we know that the public is clamoring for some kind of relief. If it is on HMO reform, they are desperate to get back to doctors and patients and themselves making their medical decisions. They are desperate and clamoring for the notion that, my gosh, if something goes terribly wrong with a course of medical action that has been, if you will, prescribed by an HMO, that they in fact cannot get any accountability, any relief, they have no place to go. They worry about that for themselves and their families. You mentioned prescription drugs. You know and I know that people are making those hard decisions every day as to whether or not to fill their prescriptions or buy food, because the cost of prescription drugs continues to escalate. Gun safety. We know that it is now 7 months since Columbine, that terrible tragic case and there have been subsequent tragedies, and yet modest gun safety legislation cannot seem to see the light of day, when we have parents and children saying, help us to make our communities safe. Minimum wage. We are at a time in this country over the last 10 years where chief executive officers of corporations have seen their wages escalate 481 percent over the last 10 years. In fact, workers have seen only a 28 percent increase and quite frankly if workers' salaries had gone up as much as the CEO salaries, the minimum wage would be roughly about $22. People want to raise their standard of living. They are working very, very hard. Social Security and Medicare, bedrock programs which have lifted, really lifted and provided a retirement future, retirement security for so many hardworking men and women in this country. These are the issues that people speak to us about. These are the issues that they are concerned and worried about. This is what they feel that they have given us their trust to do something about. Yet there is a hard core minority within the majority party, within the Republican Party here, that has said ``no'' to these pieces of legislation, when there has been real bipartisan support. As you know, HMO reform, campaign finance reform which I did not mention, but there were bipartisan gun safety measures in the Senate. If this were just one-sided, you might say that, ``My gosh, all these folks on the Democratic side are wrong. These are not issues that people care about.'' But, in fact, it does not make any difference what party you are about, what your party identification is. Prescription drugs, HMO reform, gun safety, minimum wage, Medicare/Social Security, they know no party affiliation. People just expect that we are going to do the best we can on their behalf. And, yet, this majority party, this Republican leadership, has bottled these bills up after they had passed in the House, after they have real bipartisan support. They have said ``no.'' So they thwart the will of the Members who serve here, but much, much more importantly, they thwart the will of the American public. It is wrong. It really is. That is not why we were sent here. We cannot subsume all of this legislation that in fact has a tremendous impact on what people's lives are about because we may have some individual views or there may be some special interests out there that provide us with funding for campaigns, for some reason that we do not like, that I do not like or the gentleman from New Jersey does not like or the gentleman from Maine does not like that particular thing. That is not why we are here. We have an obligation. We have responsibilities to those people who send us here. We do not come here on our own. We are sent here to do the public's work. What this does, when the Republican leadership thwarts the will of the public, they fray that public trust. And we find wherever we go people say, ``Well, I have got to make it on my own, because those folks in Washington are not going to make a difference in the lives of my family, of my work.'' That is sad, that is very sad, because that is not what we are supposed to be about. I lament that, you do, my colleague from Maine does, and people on both sides of the aisle. My hope, and it certainly is not going to happen in the next few days of this year, of the 106th Congress, but we have to make that commitment that we will come back, and every day of the last year of this 106th Congress, of this session, that we pledge to make the fight for prescription drugs and HMO reform and gun safety legislation and Social Security and Medicare and the minimum wage. The public has got to know that we want to do that, and we are on their side on these issues. There are those in this body who would do harm. Unfortunately, they are in the leadership of the majority party. That is wrong. I thank my colleague for calling us all together tonight.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dorothy Johnson, as she receives the Augusta Lewis Troup ``Pass it on'' Award for her contributions to the labor movement in New Haven. The Augusta Lewis Troup ``Pass it on'' Award is presented annually to those individuals who have committed a lifetime to fighting for workers rights. Born in New York City in 1849, Troup, a career journalist, became the first female national officer of a trade union in the United States when she was elected Corresponding Secretary of the National Typographical Union in 1868. Troup dedicated her life not only to ensuring workers rights, but also raising awareness and fighting for women's rights to vote. Troup came to New Haven as an active suffragist, and is remembered as an untiring activist--striving to alleviate the conditions of local working people and the poor. As President of the United Electrical, Radio, and Mechanical Workers Local 299, Dorothy has fought long and difficult battles with companies all over the New Haven area, organizing small manufacturing workforces into proud, active members. Dorothy spent 6 years struggling to win union recognition for workers at Circuitwise in North Haven, finally achieving her goal in 1994. Today, workers at companies like Circuitwise are assured of a livable wage, health insurance for themselves and their families, and a safe working environment; thanks to Dorothy's efforts. It is with great pride that I rise to join friends, family, and the New Haven community in saluting Dorothy, as she receives the 1999 Augusta Lewis Troup ``Pass it on'' Award. Congratulations.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good friend, Nicholas Aiello, as he receives the Augusta Lewis Troup ``Pass it on'' Award for his contributions to the labor movement in New Haven. The Augusta Lewis Troup ``Pass it on'' Award is presented annually to those individuals who have committed a lifetime to fighting for workers rights. Born in New York City in 1849, Troup, a career journalist, became the first female national officer of a trade union in the United States when she was elected Corresponding Secretary of the National Typographical Union in 1868. Troup dedicated her life not only to ensuring workers rights, but also raising awareness and fighting for women's rights to vote. Troup came to New Haven as an active suffragist, and is remembered as an untiring activist--striving to alleviate the conditions of local working people and the poor. For over a half century, Nick Aiello has dedicated his life to the principles which Augusta Troup expounded. As an organizer and leader of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union Local 125, Nick fought tirelessly for the rights of garment workers in New Haven. As the daughter of a garment worker, this fight holds a special place in my heart. My mother toiled in the sweatshops of New Haven's garment factories, sewing shirt collars for pennies a piece. Nick has also worked his entire life to make his community a better place to live and grow. He has been active in local and state politics. He was the Commissioner on Equal Opportunity for the city of New Haven, which strives to ensure that workplace standards are strictly adhered to in all city employment. Nick's work on these and other community organizations is truly commendable--he has helped make New Haven a successful, vibrant community. It is with great pride that I rise to join his son, Michael, friends, family, and the entire New Haven community in saluting my dear friend, Nick, as he receives the 1999 Augusta Lewis Troup ``Pass it on'' Award. Congratulations.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to honor an exceptional member of the North Haven, Connecticut community and a good friend, Dom Palumbo. On Saturday, November 13, the North Haven High School honored Dom by inducting him into their Sports Hall of Fame. Dom has been an outstanding contributor to the sports programs at North Haven High School as well as an invaluable member of our community. Throughout his time in North Haven, Dom has been incredibly generous with his time, devoting himself to young athletes and supporting the athletics department in innumerable ways. He contributed to the building of the North Haven High School locker room at Northford Pavilion and opened his home countless times to young athletes to celebrate victories and successes. From sponsoring youth baseball, midget football, and summer basketball teams to helping purchase weight room equipment to hiring a bus for players and spectators, Dom's contributions to the North Haven community and its youth will be felt for years to come. Dom's efforts have fostered a sense of teamwork and sportsmanship in hundreds of North Haven youths. Dom's commitment to the residents of North Haven extends far beyond his involvement with the high school. Today, retired from the ceramic tile business he started, Dom is a member of the Board of Directors of the Quinnipiac Council for Boy Scouts of America and will resign this year after a fifteen year tenure as the Secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee. He has served on the North Haven Democratic Town Committee for 32 years, the Planning & Zoning Commission for 29 years, and the Democratic State Central Committee for 25 years. Dom's commitment to his community has enhanced and enriched the lives of our children and families. It is with great pride that I rise today to join with his wife Judy, his sons, Richard, Robert, Ronald, and Raymond, the North Haven High School, and the North Haven community as my dear friend, Dom Palumbo, is inducted into the North Haven High School Sports Hall of Fame as the 1999 Service Award Honoree. My sincere congratulations on this wonderful occasion.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution offered by Representative Myrick in honor of the more than 400,000 women who served the United States in military capacities during World War II. Tomorrow we honor all our veterans to whom our nation owes a tremendous debt. These courageous men and women sacrificed so much-- whether in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or the Gulf War-- to ensure the freedom and opportunity that we so often take for granted. Now, however, we take a moment to honor the brave women who overcame the traditional stereotypes of their place in society to play vital roles in the effort to bring victory to the United States and its Allies in World War II. It is our responsibility to repay these courageous women for the sacrifices that they made to ensure peace and freedom for this country. We must also express our appreciation for their strength in paving the way for future generations of women, opening new careers opportunities and possibilities. We must thank the 150,000 women who risked their lives serving the Army despite the fact that they did not have the same protection as men under international POW agreements; the more than 30,000 women who served the Marines and the Coast Guard; the WASPs who ferried planes from factories over a total distance of 60 million miles to airfields; and the WAVES who taught aircraft recognition, navigation, air combat information, and other essential skills. I urge my colleagues to honor these women for their determination and bravery and vote for this bill.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Thompsons and other residents of Killingworth, Connecticut who will provide a 100 foot tall spruce tree that will serve as New York's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. I am proud, as are the residents of Killingworth, of the special role our tree will play in the national celebration of the holiday season. This amazing Norway Spruce tree currently stands along side the farmhouse of Jim and Cathy Thompson. When Henry Marquard planted this tree 100 years ago, he never could have imagined its ultimate fate. But now the Thompsons find themselves the proud ``parents'' of what is to be the tallest tree in Rockefeller Center history. The tree was first spotted by helicopter last April and later selected by Rockefeller Center officials as the 1999 Christmas tree. Over the summer the huge tree was carefully maintained, despite a record-setting drought. The people of the small town of Killingworth also managed to maintain a huge secret. The public did not know that this tree would become the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree until this week. The secret broke when the state police began to guard the tree around the clock. It will soon be carefully cut down and transported to New York City's Rockefeller Center, where it will stand throughout the holiday season. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is world-renowned. It has been capturing the magic of the holiday season for generations. This year it carriers a special significance as the tree that will usher in the new millennium. We in the Third District of Connecticut are especially proud that our tree was chosen for this special year. We are also proud of how the tree will be used after the holiday season. At the conclusion of its stately reign, the branches will be mulched for use at a camp in New Jersey, and its trunk will be cut into sections for use at the U.S. Equestrian Center, where the U.S. Olympic team will practice. While the Thompsons, and the people of Killingworth, will surely be sad to see the tree leave home, they are undoubtedly thrilled that the world will see one of the many wonders of their small town. I rise today to acknowledge this once-in-a-lifetime event for the Thompsons and this great honor for the citizens of Killingworth.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for bringing this bill to the floor. As a cosponsor of the Wartime Violation of Italian American Civil Liberties Act, I rise in strong support of the bill. This bill rights a terrible wrong against our parents, our grandparents and the upstanding elders of our communities. A century ago, Italian Americans left behind their homes to make their way in the new world. It is places like Wooster Square in New Haven, Connecticut, where I grew up that they came with little else but a determination to work hard and make a new life. They raised their families, and built strong, tightly knit communities. The values that Italian Americans shared are the same values that have made this Nation great; hard work, family, community, faith. My own father, an Italian immigrant, served in the United States Army. And yet in our history, 600,000 Italian Americans were treated as enemies in their own land. Ten thousand were forced from their homes, and hundreds lost their jobs or were shipped to internment camps, all because they were Italian. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio) for keeping up the pressure on the Federal Government to acknowledge the nightmare that Italian Americans lived through, loyal U.S. citizens, leaders of their communities, during World War II. I know I speak for both my family and myself when I say it is an honor to stand here today to call on our government to recognize this terrible injustice. This wrong must not be hidden in the shadows any longer. I am very proud to stand here and to support this bill. Again, I thank my colleagues.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the Republican majority has failed to act on the basic issues facing hard-working Americans. The Republican leadership started the year by trying to spend the surplus on an $800 billion tax break for the wealthiest Americans, and they did this despite the fact that we need to strengthen and protect Social Security and Medicare. Their current plan fails to extend the life of Social Security by even one day. It neglects the need for a Medicare prescription drug benefit and hurts every American family in some way. The Republican leadership stifles common sense gun safety measures like child safety locks and background checks at gun shows, despite the fact that 13 children are killed every single day by guns. The Republican leadership is siding with the gun lobby and letting gaping loopholes remain open. This Congress should not leave town before its work is done. The Republican leadership should listen to the public, enact sensible gun safety laws, strengthen Social Security and Medicare, pass a prescription drug benefit bill and a minimum wage bill. Our families deserve better.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the Republican leadership was irresponsible in trying to spend the surplus on $800 billion worth of tax breaks for the wealthiest in this country. Now it is trying to skip town without addressing the needs of American families. The failures of this Republican leadership are many. Their budget does not extend the life of Social Security by a single day. It fails to strengthen Medicare with not even a penny to provide for a prescription drug benefit for seniors who are desperately looking for that kind of a benefit. The Republican leadership has ignored American families. Families overwhelmingly support common sense gun safety, laws that keep firearms out of the hands of kids and of criminals. The Republican leadership has allowed the special interests to write our gun laws. Common sense should be applied when it comes to the safety of our schools, of our neighborhoods, of office buildings and places of worship. This Congress should not adjourn without closing the loopholes that let guns fall into the wrong hands. No more deadbeat leadership. It is time for responsible action.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, to my prior colleague, I would just say there is no money to deal with his budget and it is because they had an $892 billion tax cut for the wealthiest people in this country. Had they not tried this trick, we would be in a different position here today. This year, the final year, of the 20th century, has been a disappointing one for the American families. Every time Congress has had the opportunity to help families in a meaningful way, the Republican leadership has sided with the special interests over the public interests. The list of casualties is long: A patients' bill of rights, campaign finance reform, Medicare prescription drug benefits, smaller class sizes, and sensible gun safety reform is also being killed. Since the Columbine tragedy occurred more than 6 months ago, the Republican leadership has consistently stifled every attempt to pass common sense gun safety measures, and yet 13 children every day are killed by guns, with 100,000 kids bringing guns to school every year. They should be ashamed of themselves, the Republican leadership, for letting the NRA write our gun laws and obstructing our attempts to close the loopholes that give criminals and children easy access to guns.