Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Obey amendment. It provides a fiscally responsible way to address real emergencies, of supporting our troops in Kosovo, aids thousands of fleeing refugees, helps farmers who are being left high and dry here at home and the Central American communities trying to rebuild after the destruction of hurricane Mitch. It is a responsible alternative, rather than the Republican bill which is loading up with nonemergency defense items and from a group of people who just last week decided that it was not in the best interest of our troops who are in the field, men and women in the field, to support their efforts, that they come back and try to pile on in this supplemental appropriation. The Obey amendment represents the values of American families. We affirm Congress' commitment to our men and women in the Armed Forces who are carrying out a brave and vital mission. It sends an important message to Milosevic that his savage campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Kosovar Albanians will not be tolerated. Mr. Milosevic continues to wage war on ethnic Albanians through his acts of violence, mass murder of innocent families and driving thousands of people and whole communities from their homes to refugee camps. Make no mistake, Mr. Chairman. This is Milosevic's war. If you do not want to listen to me, listen to Margaret Thatcher, Jacques Chirac, President Schroeder, Prime Minister of England Tony Blair. Mrs. Thatcher has said Milosevic's regime and the genocidal ideology that sustains it represents something altogether different, a truly monstrous evil. If you want to be serious about supporting our troops in this effort, support the Obey amendment.

Mr. DeLAURO

Mr. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, tonight we celebrate Carmel Casabona, who retired from Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) on January 22, 1999 after 20 years of dedicated service. As a committed vocational education teacher with ACES' Secondary Program and later as a Job Coach with the ACCESS program, she has worked tirelessly to assist adult clients with disabilities, and engage them in their community. It is with tremendous pleasure that I rise today to salute this incredible woman, who has been a dear friend to me and has contributed so much to the Greater New Haven area. For more than two decades, ACES has been a crucial source of support and assistance for people with a range of disabilities. Many individuals have benefitted from the nurturing, caring environment, and innovative approach that ACES offers. From employment opportunities to residential skills, this institution is an invaluable resource for the disabled. Carmel certainly reflects these goals. Carm's long career with ACES is characterized by a lifetime of dedication to her adult clients. Although supervising 28-30 clients, Carm carefully assessed each person's abilities, and chose the appropriate work experience. By focusing on each individual's specific needs, she has helped her clients reach their full potential, while providing positive reinforcement. She also offered each participant increased independence, encouragement and dignity. Aside from her daily work responsibilities, Carm offered her personal time in organizing the annual Christmas party for her program participants, their families and friends. This event was eagerly anticipated every year as a time to come together to enjoy the holidays. When called upon by Carm to assist with party plans, volunteers could not refuse. Carm, through her volunteer crew, prepared all the food, provided music and hung decorations, all of which were done with tremendous energy and care. On a personal level, I have witnessed Carm's interaction with her clients. It is easy to notice her genuine affection for them, as well as their fondness for her. She always approached her work with a compassionate heart, a cheerful smile, and a wonderful sense of humor. She will be sorely missed by clients and colleagues alike. Because of this level of dedication, it is with great pleasure that I commend Carmel Casabona for 20 years of hard work and public service. I join with her daughter Tracy, her three grandaughters, family members, and friends in thanking her for caring so much for her clients, and in wishing her a very enjoyable retirement.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I truly am honored to stand here tonight with my colleague from California (Ms. Juanita Millender-McDonald), who has taken a leadership role in our Women's Caucus, along with the Congresswoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who spoke as well this evening, in trying to forge a unified coalition on two of the most important issues that face this Nation, and that is Medicare and Social Security. Quite frankly, we cannot talk about one without the other because of their importance in terms of what they have done in lifting older Americans out of poverty in this country, what they have done to change the face of health care for older Americans. They have come to be two programs that working families rely on in retirement security. They have become, if you will, the twin pillars of retirement security. As my other colleagues who have joined on the floor tonight, they too understand the effect that the Social Security system and Medicare have had on all Americans, and most particularly for tonight's discussion, for the stability and the financial well-being of women in their later years. They also understand the need to protect these programs, to strengthen these programs, to view them as successful programs upon which we need to build, and to expand so that not only people today who are eligible and women today who are eligible for these programs, but those in my generation and the generation of my children and their children can utilize for their retirement security. That is what is at stake. I might just say, with regard to Medicare, that what we need to continue in that effort is to make sure that, in fact, there are defined benefits that people know they can avail themselves of in Medicare and that primarily we can build on the Medicare system so that, in fact, we can offer some opportunity for some relief on prescription drugs. I think all of us today who are talking with seniors with regard to Medicare and their health benefits would tell us that the single biggest difficulty that they have and where they put their health and their safety at risk is because they cannot afford prescription drugs today, and if we are going to strengthen and protect Medicare, that we must not turn it into a voucher program where people are told, ``Here is a sum of money, you go out and find it on your own, ferret out a program, you are on your own, my friend,'' when what we ought to be doing is making sure that this program allows for the benefits to be there that they need and for them to be able to purchase and get some kind of relief for the costs of prescription drugs. Let me turn, if I can for a moment, to Social Security. Because, as I have said, it is really our country's success story. More than half of the elderly population would live in poverty today in this country were it not for Social Security. Now, I have an 85-year-old mother and she said to me, ``Rosa, these are supposed to be the golden years, but in many instances they turn out to be the lead years.'' And what she is doing is expressing the frustration, she gives a voice to that frustration that so many elderly women feel that in their older years. They face all kinds of obstacles to stability and to security, and without Social Security these obstacles would be even greater. My colleagues have focused tonight on talking about the plight of women and how, in fact, Social Security does work for women today. And it is because they live longer, they are in and out of the work force, they make less money, they are often dependents, they rely on a cost- of-living increase, they rely on a month-to-month lump sum of money which they receive. Much of that goes away if we follow a program which people are talking about today, and that is to get us to privatize the Social Security system. Those pieces of cost-of-living increases, benefits if you are a spouse, getting a month-to-month lump sum, consideration of less money earned by women, consideration of their being in and out of the work force, all of that is taken into consideration in the Social Security program today. That all goes away if we privatize Social Security. I will speak for just a moment on my State of Connecticut. Social Security has lowered the poverty rate among elderly women from 46 percent to 8 percent. That means over 100,000 women are lifted out of poverty by Social Security in my State of Connecticut. I want to mention one proposal that is on the table now that has been offered by the majority party, by the Republican leadership, and that is the Archer-Shaw plan which was promoted last week. I just want to say a few words about this plan, and I want to caution people to look at it very, very carefully. This plan may be cloaked in the rhetoric of reform, but if we take a closer look at it, it is a risky scheme that will end Social Security and put millions of elderly women and men in jeopardy. We cannot let this happen. This is a delayed execution of the Social Security plan. Let me just say that that is the goal. But even if the true goal of my colleagues or some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle was to improve retirement security, this plan does not get it done. It is flawed from a policy perspective. It claims to use the budget surplus to create individual retirement accounts. These accounts are personal in name only. The CATO Institute, which is a very conservative organization, has talked about this proposal, and Michael Tanner of the Institute told the Washington Post last week, and I quote, that ``The individual accounts are phoney accounts. They are made up of a tax credit equal to 2 percent of each person's Social Security taxable wages. It would flip Social Security on its head by allocating, if you will, more money and resources to the wealthiest in our society.'' It hurts women particularly. The claim is that the plan would extend Social Security further than the President's plan to protect the program. They hold up a Social Security actuary report that estimates that their plan would keep Social Security solvent for 75 years. But, my friends, the devil is in the details. They do not talk about the specifics of the program. They hide the fact that ultimately this plan eliminates all the surpluses, it forces the Federal Government to have to increase taxes, cut spending in necessary programs, such as domestic programs that benefit women elsewhere in the budget. They evade the fact that if the rate of return on these individual accounts drops by just one percentage point, that the whole plan goes up in smoke and Social Security will fall short by about 10 percent. The long and the short of it, one needs to look at it very carefully and very closely. What it attempts to do is deal with, as I talked about earlier, privatizing Social Security in the long run, which in fact is a detriment to the Social Security program, in my view, in general and in particular with regard to women. One of the purposes of why we are here tonight is to talk about it, is public education. We need to let people know what is at stake and that, in fact, when we take a look at some of the schemes that are on the table, they are meant to turn Social Security on its head, to change the focus and the nature of this program that has meant so much in the lives of families today, and our specific topic, for women's lives today. Again, we cannot afford to let it happen. I know that my colleagues are committed not only to speaking on the floor of this House but taking this message to the country to start to talk about women and Social Security, what it means, what it has meant in the past, what it means for the present, and what it means in the future, and that we are not going to allow this program, which has meant so much to the safeguard of women and the independence of women in their later lives, be jeopardized in any way. The American public needs to know what is at stake. The American women need to know what is at stake. And I am proud to join with my colleagues tonight as we begin that program of public education. I cannot thank my colleagues enough for letting me participate in this effort tonight.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to remember and pay tribute to a Connecticut woman who, during her life, worked tirelessly to advance the rights of women. Marilyn Savin devoted nearly two decades to promoting and protecting a woman's right to choose. Through her work with the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL), both locally and nationally, Marilyn became a leading activist in the pro-choice movement, having a particular impact in the Republican Party. As a direct result of her influence, Connecticut Republicans stand out in the nation for their support of reproductive rights--an outstanding illustration of the power of her commitment and dedication. Indeed, Marilyn was a true leader in advancing reproductive rights, family planning, and women's health. Marilyn translated principles into action by public speaking engagements and public surveys. A women's right to choose is one that is constantly under attack. Those who fight to ensure that women maintain this right and have access to safe procedures, often put themselves in jeopardy for their beliefs. For this, Marilyn deserves our respect and gratitude. As a longtime resident of the Town of Woodbridge, she was an active member of the Woodbridge Town Committee, Woodbridge Town Library, Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, and the National Coalition of Republicans for Choice. From these roots, she continued her campaign with Connecticut NARAL, serving on their Board of Directors and as chair of the state political action committee. Her tremendous imvolvement with the local chapter led her to serve NARAL on the national level. As a member of the Board of Directors, Foundation, Board, and the National Political Action Committee, Marilyn helped to shape the values and ideas the group continues to promote today. Recently, the pro-choice movement sadly lost Marilyn Savin. On May 1 Connecticut NARAL will hold its 1999 Choice Celebration and Auction in her honor. This is a fitting tribute to a woman who dedicated her life and spirit to advocating the right of choice. Though her enthusiasm, energy, and commitment will be missed, the unparalleled impact of her efforts will not be forgotten. It gives me great pleasure to stand today in honor of Marilyn Savin and join with friends, colleagues and family members as they remember this talented woman. Her dedication to this movement has truly made a difference which will be felt by women in Connecticut and across the country for years to come.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand today to pay tribute to my good friend Marty Ford who will be honored this evening by the Guilford Democratic Town Committee for his contributions to the Guilford community. Like an illustration of a quaint New England town, Guilford is probably best known for its historic Town Green. Residents take great pride in the enchanting atmosphere of this growing community and work hard to maintain its unique character and charm. As a longtime resident of Guilford, Marty has devoted countless hours ensuring that the culture and history of the town is preserved. He has served ten years on the Planning and Zoning Commission, eight years on the Historic District Commission and sat on two Charter Revision Commissions. We commend his distinguished record of service. The political arena has served as a forum for Marty's diligent work to promote the values and ideas that have guided him. For decades he has served as a strong political supporter for candidates running for local, state and federal government. He cares about his community, and uses his talent to help elect leaders who will do the same. He has served twelve years on the Board of Education, helping to develop policies that will best serve Guilford's youth, the leaders of tomorrow. Marty is also known for his work with Guilford residents and community leaders. As President of the Guilford Interfaith Ministries, Marty's energy is directed at assisting some of the community's most vulnerable citizens. Under his direction, programs such as ``Meals on Wheels'', Friendly Visitors, and the Guilford Food Bank assist hundreds of people in need. As an active citizen of Guilford, Marty is the kind of man who quietly makes his town a better place. He appreciates Guilford's past and has a vision for its preservation for the future. If Marty sees a need in the community, he takes it upon himself to work toward a solution. At a time when many Americans are becoming bitter about problems that seem too great to solve, Marty is the kind of man that serves as an example of hope. If we continue striving for a better community as Marty does, we really can make a difference. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise before you today to join with family, friends and the town of Guilford to honor Marty Ford for his outstanding service to the community. His efforts are clearly deserving of this public recognition and gratitude. I wish him continued success and thank him for the high standard he has set for us all.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. It is identical to the resolution passed by the other body in March. It expresses Congress' support for our forces caring out a brave mission. It sends an important message to Slobodan Milosevic that his savage campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Kosovar Albanians will not be tolerated. Mr. Milosevic continues to wage war on ethnic Albanians. His acts of violence, mass murder of civilians, driving 950,000 people, whole communities, from their homes to refugee camps in foreign countries, have forced our hand. If left unchecked, he will continue his crimes in Kosovo. I heard a Member opposed to our mission in Kosovo earlier today compare this action to the Gulf War and say that the difference was that we had a national interest in the Gulf; oil. Well, I do not know the going rate for a barrel of oil today, but I do know that you can put no price on the lives of men, women and children who have been slaughtered in Kosovo. It is in our national interest to stop genocide. We have witnessed a grave humanitarian crisis in Kosovo and a destabilization of the region and neighboring countries like Macedonia and Albania. By endorsing air strikes now, Congress is not tying its hands in the future. Congress can still and I believe should vote on sending ground troops if we reach that point in the future. Vote to authorize air strikes in Yugoslavia. Let our young men and women in the Armed Forces know that our prayers and our support are with them as they fight to counter aggression and to foster peace.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that will name the soon- to-be completed Federal Bureau of Investigation building in downtown New Haven in memory of Special Agent Merrill S. Parks, Jr. It is an honor to do so. Before his untimely death earlier this month, Merrill Parks served as special agent in charge for the State of Connecticut, a post he held since 1994. During his time in New Haven, Special Agent Parks gained the respect and admiration of local law enforcement, and it was at their suggestion, and the urging of those he served most closely within the New Haven FBI office, that the new FBI building bear his name. During his 30-year career, Special Agent Parks battled organized crime in the FBI's New York Division and worked with the Drug Enforcement Agency in the fight against drugs. Before coming to New Haven in 1994, Parks served with distinction as the Assistant Special Agent in charge of the Houston, TX, division. It is altogether fitting that agents based in New Haven will work in a building named for a man who exemplified the best in law enforcement. I would also like to include in the Record a letter of support from FBI Director Louis J. Freeh and to thank him for his support. Most of all, I want to pass along my deepest condolences to the family of Special Agent Parks. I hope to see them in New Haven very soon when we officially unveil the Merrill S. Parks, Jr., Federal Building. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, DC. Hon. Rosa DeLauro, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Congresswoman DeLauro: I want to thank you for agreeing to sponsor legislation naming the new federal building that will house the FBI's New Haven Field Office after Merrill S. Parks, Jr. Merrill was, until his recent death, the Special Agent in Charge of the office, and a widely respected member of the local law enforcement community. He had a long and distinguished career with the

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Ms. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to honor one of New Haven's most respected community leaders. Today, the Connecticut Anti-Defamation League will honor Joseph Zaccagnino with the 1999 Greater New Haven Torch of Liberty Award. Through his leadership as President and Chief Executive Officer of Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Yale New Haven Health System, Joe Zaccagnino has significantly improved and enhanced the health care services available to our community. Yale-New Haven Hospital is an internationally renowned medical center, no doubt due in part to his talented leadership. The face of health care in New Haven has changed for the better under Joe's direction. We have witnessed the opening of the Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital, the creation of six school-based health clinics, a substantial investment in AIDS care services, and the provision of over $27 million in free health care annually. The number of people who have benefitted from Joe's commitment to health care is incalculable. It is rewarding for all of us to know that because of his work, thousands of children and people in need are receiving the care they deserve. Among his most significant accomplishments, Joe led the development of the Yale New Haven Health System, Connecticut's largest and most comprehensive integrated health care provider and financing system. The entire region is now able to benefit from a broad range of quality, comprehensive health care services, ranging from primary care to long- term and home health services. Joe is widely recognized as an expert in our community in developing and implementing successful health care policy. He has a vision that is balanced with the skill and expertise to carry it through. Joe has also demonstrated his deep commitment to the Greater New Haven community through his service to a variety of local organizations. He is a former board member of the United Way, the YMCA of Greater New Haven, and the International Special Olympics Summer Games and currently serves on the Boards of the University of Hospital Consortium, National Committee for Quality Health Care, New Haven Regional Leadership Council, and New Haven Savings Bank. Joe spearheaded an innovative initiative pairing the City of New Haven and Yale University with the Anti-Defamation League to extend cultural diversity training programs into the community. It is with great pride that I rise today to honor my good friend Joseph Zaccagnino for his outstanding service as he receives the 1999 Greater New Haven Torch of Liberty Award. His dedication to quality health care and service to the community is an example to us all. I join family, friends and the city of New Haven to congratulate Joe for this honor. I wish him continued success and prosperity, and thank him for the difference he has made in our community.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to congratulate the Campania Club of New Haven on its 85th Anniversary. An Italian-American organization, the Campania Club has been a tremendous asset to the New Haven community since its inception in 1914. Founded by a small group of Italian immigrants, members have worked to promote strong family values. These values--love for family and friends, the importance of giving to others, a commitment to hard work are the foundation upon which our community stands. These are the values passed on from generation to generation. Though it began as a small neighborhood gathering, the Campania Club has grown and developed into an integral part of the foundation on which the New Haven Italian- American community stands. The Italian neighborhood where I grew up was a place where people knew each other, and looked out for each other. It's great to see that things haven't changed. The strength and integrity of the club lies in the character and commitment of its members, and the historical list of club members' names, past and present, are a true reflection of the quality of the Campania Club. Over the years, membership lists have included many local officials and personalities including former Mayor William C. Celantano, as well as his brother 1967 Man of the Year, Dr. Luca Celentano. Local personalities included Packy DeFonzo and Joseph DeGale for whom the DeGale Trophy was named. Considering a major award in the athletic field, for years the DeGale Trophy was presented to an outstanding city athlete. As the organization has grown, Club members continue to serve the community by supporting a variety of service organizations, including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, as well as local businesses and sports teams. It is this type of dedication that has kept alive the close-knit New Haven Italian community, passing on the legacy and traditions to the next generation. The Campania Club has strived to promote family values while continuing to foster a proud Italian heritage. It is with great pride that I stand before you today to honor the Campania Club and its members for 85 years of outstanding service to the New Haven community.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor the fine work and outstanding public service of Lisette Bernier-McGowan. Lisette is well deserving of our commendation after thirty years of service to the New Haven public school system and community. Lisette was raised and educated in Puerto Rico, and upon her arrival in Connecticut recognized the need for greater bilingual education in our schools. She earned two Masters Degrees at Southern Connecticut State University, in Modern Foreign Languages and Elementary Bilingual Education, and set out to build a system of increased diversity within the public school curriculum and community. For more than two decades she has given her time and expertise for the good of New Haven young people. Her knowledge in bilingual and english as a second language programs is highly regarded by other leaders in this field. She has served on the Commissioner's Task Force on Bilingual Education, the Superintendent's Task Force for Excellence in Education, the Yale Study Groups on Bilingual Education and Cultural Bias. Most recently she has served as Director of two innovative education programs. The Bilingual Science Project is a comprehensive three-year teacher training program on effective strategies for the integration of science and language acquisition. The BRIDGE Project is a reform effort in three New Haven elementary schools in New Haven designed to provide rigorous literacy development. While leading these efforts, she concurrently served as Chair of the New Haven Public Schools Task Force on Bilingual Education. Her commitment to this issue has lead to real progress in developing and implementing sound bilingual education policy and curriculum. Several local organizations have honored her consistent leadership in the community. Among her achievements, Lisette has been awarded the Bilingual Director of the Year, the Connecticut Latinas in Leadership Award, LULAC Award for Leadership in Education, and the YMCA Women in Leadership award. We are not the first to recognize Lisett's contribution, but I am proud to take this opportunity to join others in our community to honor this talented woman. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to rise today and join with family, friends, and the City of New Haven to pay tribute to Lisette Bernier-McGowan for outstanding service to our community. She has truly left a positive mark on New Haven that will benefit our schools and our young people for years to come. Educator, leader, and friend, Lisette's exceptional commitment and dedication have made her a model to which we can all aspire.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the Maloney amendment enhances the role of local government in perfecting the census address list, while leaving the details to Census Bureau professionals. The Census Bureau Director Ken Prewitt has said that without the Maloney amendment, this bill, the Local Census Quality Control Act, will make the census 2000 neither timely, effective or cost efficient. It disrupts the Bureau's effort to complete a fair and accurate census on time. It prevents the use of modern statistical methods to count Americans that are missed by the traditional head count. Statistical methods cut the costs, provide for a more accurate count of all Americans, and we have to keep in mind in this process that in 1990 that census missed 8.4 million people. This cannot happen again. Why is the census important? Why is statistical sampling important? Because we are talking about the distribution of billions of Federal dollars; road improvements, medicaid, child care, community development block grants, foster care grants. This is not a political issue. The census count should reflect the population of this great country of ours. Let us have an accurate count. Let us have local government involved. Let us support the Maloney amendment.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, this budget represents a serious failure for American families. It fails to extend the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund by even one day. It fails to strengthen Social Security so it will be there for the next generation. There is in fact less money for education in this budget. Over the next 3 years, that education budget falls below the 1999 level. So let us be truthful about education. It fails to do anything to expand child care for our Nation's poorest families. Right now, of the 10 million children and working families with incomes below 200 percent of the poverty line, only 10 percent of eligible families have access to child care programs. The average family spends about 7 percent of its income on child care. But child care consumes about one-quarter of the income of low-income working families who pay for their care. These are the families who can afford it the least. The waiting lists are growing. In my own State of Connecticut, we have tremendous waiting lists. People are unable to get the assistance that they need in order to afford child care. The Senate budget resolution attempted to close that trap. They provided $10 billion for Child Care Development Block Grant. But the Republican leadership stripped that provision from the resolution. Mr. Speaker, America's working families cannot wait for some other time to deal with child care. They need the help now. Parents who are trying to get to work, to build a better life for their families, particularly those who are attempting to move off of the welfare rolls, they find the lack of affordable child care is often an insurmountable barrier. No parent can concentrate on their job if they are worried about who is taking care of their child. We owe it to working people, people who want to work, to make sure that they have a safe and affordable place so that their children can have care. Putting this off to deal with it at another time is unacceptable. American families and American children deserve better. Let us defeat this conference report.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. DeLAURO. Just a final comment, because we have so many folks on the floor to speak tonight. The fact is that with accountability, it is, again, common sense. If there is a particular entity that is going to engage in a medical decision and participate in that decision, and by some manner, by something it goes wrong, where there is an error, and to be a participant in that decision and then to say that you have no responsibility just does not make any sense. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot be initiating medical decisions, making them on procedures, on prescription drugs, on the whole variety of areas, and then, if something goes wrong, then, my gosh, you can walk away and say, I have no culpability at all, no responsibility. That is not right, and that is, I think, one of the prime reasons why there is so much of a resistance to bringing this effort up. But people who in good faith are the recipients of those medical decisions, by whomever they are made, need to have an opportunity to redress anything that may go wrong with those decisions.

Ms. DeLAURO. There were kind of two bites at the apple. One was the old fashioned highway where we get on the bus, which was great. It was a really terrific experience. The press conference here was great. Then using the Internet, and the extent to which our colleagues all over the country participated, it was just the beginning, which is really what is very exciting about it because I think that people understand that they can engage, that they really can be a part of what is happening and their voices can be heard in this body. I think that that is one way of providing the best of the opportunities for the public to participate in the process of formulating good public policy, which is what essentially we are trying to do here. I just would make one more point because the other thing, and both of my colleagues, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) mentioned this, when one thinks about it, just only a few years ago we were really consumed with the notion of how we were going to insure at that time the 38 million or 39 million people in this country who were uninsured, and today, quite frankly, we are just trying to deal with a holding action for people who do have insurance and making sure that they have the access that they need and are provided with the health care that they are paying for. We have kind of been sidetracked from looking at folks who do not have any insurance yet, and what we need to be doing is to try to deal with both parts of this equation, because it is so serious. The whole point of all of this is just to say to patients and to people who have health insurance today that the decisions that are going to be made regarding your health care are decisions that are going to be made by physicians, by doctors, by health providers, in conjunction with you, the patient, and you are going to have a voice in this effort as well. It is not going to be an area in which the bureaucrats are going to have the final say. My colleagues have gone through all of the parts of this effort and what is involved. This is very simple. It is very basic. It is a common-sense approach to health care, and that is if one needs emergency room care, they can get emergency room care. If one happens to have a specialist and is being treated for an illness and it happens that their employer changes the insurance coverage, that in fact they are guaranteed a continuity of the care that they have received and they can continue to see the physicians that were taking care of them under one particular plan and they can continue that under another plan. We have all been the recipient of countless numbers of people who have told us the horror stories that they are going through, which is why this piece of legislation enjoys such a breadth of support. It enjoys a breadth of support on both sides of the aisle, except that we have found that this body, for some strange reason, and I do not fathom it, and the President commented on it on Friday in Philadelphia, which is the fact that we have to resort to going the route of a petition nationally to get people to make their voices heard, to bring to life that which they believe out there on both sides of the aisle, because illness and health care is not a partisan issue, it affects everyone. In fact, we have not had the opportunity in this body to be able to debate, to talk about, to in fact have the kind of attention brought to this issue that needs to be brought to it because in some way the leadership of this House has been blocking the passage of the Patients' Bill of Rights, when in fact there is tremendous and strong support for this effort nationwide. So what we have done is that we kicked off this nationwide online petition drive, and I would just say that now, with the click of a mouse, and in the article that came out about my participation in this effort, the report is wonderful in a sense of the kind of, I should be more technologically competent, but this is a way to get engaged in it. I was fumbling around with the mouse to get it right. My kids, our kids, all of our kids and young people can do this in a heartbeat, but that is what we have to do. We have to take advantage of the opportunities to be able to use this. We also had people that joined with us on Friday and over the weekend, health care providers. More than 40 medical and patient advocacy organizations took up the call for strong HMO reform, but they put the petition drive on their websites. I want to urge my colleagues here tonight, those of us who engaged in these efforts, and there were about 80 or more Members who engaged in this effort, that individually we need to sign up and to make our voices heard. We can do that in a very, very easy way. We are thankful to Families USA for allowing us to engage in the website. That is, House Members need to just do www.FamiliesUSA.org, so that we individually can make our voices heard on this issue and sign up. I want to mention the reason we went to Philadelphia, because I think it is important. There was real symbolism in going to Philadelphia. It is basically where our Bill of Rights was founded, our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution. This is where our Founding Fathers had a vision for this Nation and the laws that this Nation would rest on. It is unfortunate that our health care system comes up short when it is measured against the standards that were established at the birth of this great Nation. The Republican leadership in this House want to have a Declaration of Independence, but they do not want to have the Constitution as part of it. The Constitution, we can declare our support for a Patients' Bill of Rights, but we have to establish the laws to make it a reality. That is what our job is here today. That is what we are about, is to try to establish the laws that make this a reality. Without that, we are not going to be successful. Without those laws, that is not what our Founding Fathers wanted, and it is not good enough for our families today. What we have to do is to take into consideration the health and well- being of the people we represent. That is what this effort is all about. We are going to continue to make the case. We will continue to have our colleagues and their own communities try to use whatever outreach mechanisms they can to engage the people in this country; to say to the people, and as the President said to the folks in Philadelphia, but more to the country, we need to have your voices in this process. That is the way in which our government works. That is what our democracy is about. That is why we have tried to engage in this effort. I think it was a good effort. We had a lot of fun doing it on Friday, but it was only the beginning and the outset of the process. I want to thank my colleagues for joining in tonight, and my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) for holding this special order so we could carry on the debate and the discussion. I thank him very much.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) for yielding. I am proud to join with the gentleman. Before my colleague, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) leaves the floor, it was really very exciting. We had Members everywhere doing things, and the use of the technology not only to be on the Internet superhighway, but to use telecommunication or teleconferencing to gather in people just speaks volumes about what it is that we can do to reach out to people in this country.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate a group of young women who have honored my district by participating in both the New Haven and Milford annual Saint Patrick's Day Parades. Locally supported by their parents and neighbors, the Harp & Shamrock Marching Band traveled from Ireland to join the New Haven community's celebration. The Harp & Shamrock Marching Band originated with a music class at the Scoil Bhride girl's primary school and today is organized and run by a dedicated committee of parents and volunteers. With the strong support of their community, and uniforms made by a dedicated group of parents and supporters, I am so proud to join them in their celebration of Ireland's patron saint. Playing instruments ranging from whistles and accordions to bell lyres and percussions, these forty-three young women keep Irish culture and history alive. These young women, all between the age of 8 and 18, show a rare dedication and commitment to a demanding level of competition. Representing their town, county, province, and country in national events, they continue to proudly promote the Irish culture and tradition. They have been honored for fourteen consecutive years as Offaly Co. Champions in addition to their 1996 All-Ireland Championship. They have also been to London in 1996 and Manchester in 1997 and 1998 to take part in their St. Patrick's Day parades. I am proud to take this opportunity to thank the Harp & Shamrock Marching Band for joining the New Haven and Milford communities in their Saint Patrick's Day Parades. It was a pleasure to join them at both events and I congratulate them on their hard work and success at bringing the Irish culture to each community they visit.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Democrat budget plan. It invests in health programs to serve all Americans. Our Republican colleagues talk about their commitment to health, but I challenge them to put their money where their mouths are. The Democratic budget demonstrates our commitment to improving quality health care and access to health care for all Americans. The Republican plan shows once again their top priority, providing tax breaks for the wealthiest in this country. We all support groundbreaking research at the National Institutes of Health. I support that effort, and the Republican budget does provide additional funding for the NIH. But what our colleagues on the other side of the aisle do not seem to understand is that all of the research in the world goes to waste if people do not have access to health care. Their budget would slash funding for other health programs, like the Centers for Disease Control, Ryan White AIDS grants, maternal and child health, all in order to pay for their tax breaks for the wealthiest in this country. More than 43 million Americans today are without health insurance. They seem to have fallen from our radar screen. The Democratic budget includes measures to expand access to health care. The Republican plan ignores the problem. Many Americans struggle with no health insurance at all. Millions who do have insurance are fighting their managed care companies to have access to the care they need. The Democratic plan includes the Patients' Bill of Rights, real managed care that would put medical decisions back in the hands of those where it belongs, doctors and their patients. Mr. Chairman, the Democratic budget alternative recognizes a key reality. If we are to save Medicare and social security for future generations, live within our spending caps, and continue to provide funding for vital health care programs in this country, we cannot afford to give tax breaks to the wealthiest members in this Nation. I urge my colleagues to support the Democratic plan.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the Republican budget is deja vu all over again. Just like 4 years ago, the Republican leadership has concocted a budget that flies in the face of mainstream America. Their budget fails to extend the life of Medicare by even one day. Instead of strengthening this pillar of retirement security, the Republican budget lets Medicare spend itself into oblivion and collapse in the year 2008. It does not use one penny of the surplus to strengthen Medicare. But while Medicare burns, the Republican budget uses the surplus to give nearly $1 trillion in tax breaks for the wealthy. This is irresponsible, and it is wrong. The Democratic budget reflects the priorities of the American people. First and foremost, it takes the high road and strengthens Medicare until 2018. It provides tax relief to working middle class families that need it most. Unlike the Republican plan, which fails to give 48 million families any tax relief at all, the Democratic budget plan delivers tax relief and strengthens Medicare. The American people deserve a budget that is responsible, that is fair. They do not need a double dose of deja vu. Let us strengthen Medicare, and let us give middle class families a tax cut.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, Yugoslav President Milosevic's continuous failure to embrace peace and his brutal actions against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo have precipitated today's military strikes. As our armed forces seek to bring a measure of justice to a troubled region, I want to join my colleagues in expressing strong support for the brave men and women of the U.S. military. I am saddened that Mr. Milosevic rejected appeals for peace. We rightly consider the use of force only with the greatest reluctance. But our hand has been forced by his atrocities, mass murder of civilians and forcing whole communities from their homes. If left unchecked, he will continue his crimes in Kosovo. Sadly, history has shown us what genocide looks like. Slaughtering ethnic Albanians, many of them defenseless citizens and civilians, forcing hundreds of thousands of Albanians to flee their homes as refugees, point to the grave humanitarian nature of the situation in Kosovo. Worse, Milosevic's aggression in Kosovo could jeopardize stability in the region by spreading to neighboring countries such as Macedonia or Albania. If the U.S. does not act now, the crisis in Kosovo will only grow worse. The situation in Kosovo is serious and the challenges our troops face are great. I know that our armed forces are well-trained and that they will once again make us proud. Our prayers are with them and with their families as they work to counter aggression and to foster peace.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule essentially because the rule prohibits amendments which, if adopted, will strengthen the bill and our Nation's long term security. Yesterday in the other body, in the Senate, it unanimously passed its national defense bill with two important amendments. It conditioned a national missile defense deployment on annual authorizations and appropriations, it affirmed the United States policy to seek further cuts in Russia's nuclear arsenal. This was the right thing to do. It was a responsible thing to do. The gentleman from Maine has authored a thoughtful amendment which should be debated in this body. That is what our responsibility is as a legislative body. I support the Pentagon's plans to consider a national missile defense system at the turn of this century. We need to plan to guard against future long-range strategic missiles and a possible laser attack, but any system must be both affordable and capable of protecting all of our national security interests. Pentagon leaders have emphasized over and over again that a rushed job would be, and I quote, a rush to failure that would cost taxpayers millions of dollars, jeopardize U.S. national security. General Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said just last month, and I quote, that the simple fact is that we do not yet have the technology to field a national missile defense. He went on to say, and I quote, the Chiefs question putting additional billions of taxpayers dollars into fielding a system now that does not work or has not proven itself, end quote. Our first priority must always be the long-term safety and security of American families. Without a guarantee of success, our national missile defense system may not be able to protect Americans from the threat of ballistic missiles that rogue nations like Iran and North Korea are expected to have developed by 2002. I urge my colleagues to oppose the rule or to allow for this body to take up thoughtful amendments on this very critical and important issue. Oppose rash legislation that threatens to jeopardize our future national security.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to congratulate Lauren DeBowes for her outstanding achievements as an Irish dancer. A resident of New Haven, she will be representing Connecticut and the United States at the All World Irish Dance Championship in Ennis County Clare, Ireland. Lauren is one of five young women in her age group from the New England area who will be making the trip to compete at the World Championship. With only 8 years of competitive dance experience under her belt, this is a truly impressive accomplishment. Teamed with her coach, John O'Keefe, Lauren performs both the soft dance and hard shoe dance, both of which have led her to success in several local competitions. I was a tap dancer when I was young and can recall the thrill of recitals and concerts. I can only imagine the excitement that Lauren is feeling as she prepares for her trip to Ireland. Her hard work, dedication and enthusiasm has put her at a level to compete with the best in the world. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to Lauren as she celebrates her 16th birthday. This is certainly a special year. It is a pleasure for me to rise today and join with her family, friends, and the New Haven community to honor Lauren DeBowes for her tremendous accomplishments as an Irish dancer. Connecticut and the nation are indeed fortunate to be represented by such a talented young woman.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) for her remarks and especially her last commentary, which was really eloquent. This is a responsibility that we have, and those of us who are engaged in the debate which is happening now, and part of the reason for the special order, is public education. I am not sure the extent to which the public knows that we are engaged in a very serious and will be in a serious debate about the future of Social Security, and I am not sure that there is a great body of knowledge out there that understands what the risks are for women and that whatever problems we may have with the Social Security system, if women are left unprotected because the current progressive benefit formula is no longer there, and that is people earn less who now have more and that women are dependent or likely to be dependent and that will go away if there is privatization and there is, in fact, a cost of living every single year on Social Security and if it is privatized and money goes into an account, there is no longer a cost of living, it is at the whim of the stock market that they will be engaged and, in fact, that over the lifetime of retirement that every month they get that annuity that goes away as well. For all the difficulties that people may have, again, as the gentlewoman's commentary stated, it is just our sworn obligation and it is the valves that we hold that make this so important an issue for women in this country. I thank the gentlewoman very, very much for participating tonight.

Ms. DeLAURO. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of the special order today.