Eliot Engel

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, serious problems deserve respectful consideration. The intense polarization of the energy debate has been compounded by the leadership's insistence on repeatedly forcing Congress to consider essentially the same bill. Congress had a great opportunity to produce a balanced energy policy that is diversified, reduces our dependence on oil and invests in alternative energy, but our leadership chose to essentially recycle an old bill that favors special interests over consumers. This is not the way to make policy. American energy policy is at the crossroads and our national security is being compromised daily by our dependence on foreign energy supplies. Today, oil is at over $50 per barrel and we still haven't passed reliability standards to address the electricity blackout that assaulted the Northeast and Midwest in 2003. Blackouts cost consumers $80 billion, and yet this bill caps the necessary spending to do an acceptable job of providing reliability. Partisan politics have paralyzed this Congress into deadlock and our Nation's energy has suffered the consequences. Although I appreciate Chairman Barton's willingness to extend hearings on energy this year prior to the 109th Congress's consideration of the Energy Policy Act, I was very disappointed that a letter that 14 of my colleagues and I sent to Chairman Barton at the beginning of February requesting that our committee invite the National Commission on Energy Policy to testify went unanswered. In February, Secretary Bodman testified of his familiarity with the NCEP's report and of his willingness to work with Congress to produce a bill in a bipartisan fashion. If the NCEP was able to bridge the differences between Republicans and Democrats, industry and labor, perhaps we could have too. And yet, here we are again, with a bill strikingly similar to the one we considered over two years ago. There is a laundry list of problems in this bill. There is nothing in this bill that reduces our consumption of oil or reduces the price of oil. The Energy Information Agency has stated in a 2004 report that under policies proposed by the Energy Policy Act, by 2025, U.S. consumption is projected to increase to 28.3 million barrels per day and our country would increase its imports of foreign oil by 85 percent. It even found that gasoline prices under the bill would increase more than if the bill was not enacted. The bill's provision protecting manufacturers of MTBE from liability for contaminating water supplies means that taxpayers will bear billions of dollars in cleanup costs, while at the same time paying MTBE manufacturers $2 billion in subsidies. In a much anticipated ruling yesterday in the Southern District of New York, a Federal judge who had consolidated over 80 MTBE lawsuits brought by local governments and State Attorney Generals, ruled that all of the cases can proceed against the oil industry. Including the MTBE liability waiver in the bill would essentially undermine this ruling, while at the same time cutting off the most effective tool that States and local governments have utilized to clean up their drinking water. New York, which banned MTBE on January 1, 2004, will long be dealing with the repercussions of MTBE contamination. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation says there are about 10,000 MTBE spills throughout the state. The average cost per clean up is about $1 million which translates to a cost of about $10 billion statewide. In and around Jamaica, Queens, where more than a million NYC residents and businesses rely on groundwater instead of surface water from the upstate reservoirs, MTBE has contaminated much of the groundwater supply in the aquifer. Gasoline refiners choose less expensive MTBE from among a number of oxygenate options and knew at the time of the contamination risk that MTBE posed to groundwater. The refiners should therefore pay for MTBE remediation efforts. Perhaps most insulting to the taxpayers is the billions to be spent to prop up the ailing nuclear power industry. I have long supported shutting down Indian Point nuclear power plant because of safety concerns for New Yorkers. Yet, the Republicans in Congress have ignored these safety issues and instead provided tax dollars to subsidize building new power plants. While I am not opposed to nuclear power, these tax dollars would be better used to insulate homes and assist renewable energy production methods in being brought to market. The fact of the matter is that this bill has some bad provisions that are simply anticonsumer and anti-environment. H.R. 6 weakens laws such as the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank program that protect the environment and the public health. This bill will allow oil drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, even though the oil won't be available for a decade and even then at levels that would not significantly affect oil prices or imports. I am proud that two of my amendments were accepted into the Energy Policy Act. The first, which I introduced during the House Energy and Commerce Committee consideration of H.R. 6, expresses the sense of Congress that energy cooperation between the United States of America and Israel is mutually beneficial, acknowledges the cooperative agreement between the U.S. and Israel and states the Department of Energy should report on past and future cooperative energy projects between the U.S. and Israel. My second amendment expanded opportunities for producers of renewable fuels, such as P-Series fuels, to get grant funding. Currently, there is no available technology that can convert much of the urban biomass waste into ethanol. Yet there is at least one such technology that can convert urban biomass waste into components for another DOE recognized alternative fuel, called P-series fuels. Since P-Series fuels are not derived from petroleum, the DOE concluded that P-Series fuels would effectively help replace petroleum imports. DOE also found P-Series to have environmental benefits because of the reductions in hydrocarbon and CO emissions, toxics, and greenhouse gases. By virtue of my amendment, producers of alternative fuels like P- Series fuels will be able to responsibly address three problems: the need for non-petroleum energy sources, solid waste management, and affordability. This is good energy policy. Our energy policy is intricately tied to our national security and our economic well-being. As the co-chair of the Congressional Oil and National Security Caucus, I know we need to ensure that our energy policy is diversified, reduce our dependence on oil, and create skilled jobs while reducing energy costs. We must ensure that we create policies that will protect the environment and our consumers. Unfortunately, this simply cannot be achieved under this Energy Policy Act, and so I must vote against it.

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

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise to offer a perfecting amendment to a good grant proposal offered in section 1512. Under H.R. 6, the Secretary of Energy may provide grants to merchant producers of cellulosic biomass ethanol and waste-derived ethanol. My amendment would simply allow producers of other renewable fuels approved by the Department of Energy to also apply for these grants. This amendment simply expands the types of renewable fuels eligible for funding under the grant program in H.R. 6. There is no change in cost to the grant program or H.R. 6 under my amendment. Currently, there is no available technology that can convert much of the urban waste into ethanol; yet there is at least one such technology that can convert urban waste into components for another DOE-recognized alternative fuel called P-Series fuels. P-Series is a family of renewable nonpetroleum liquid fuels that can substitute for gasoline. P-Series fuels were officially designated as an alternative fuel by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1999. Forty- five percent of P-Series fuels are made from ethanol; the rest is made up of MTHF, natural gas liquids and butane. Both the ethanol and MTHR are derived from renewable domestic feedstocks, such as corn, wastepaper, cellulosic biomass, agricultural waste, and wood waste from construction. Since P-Series fuels are not derived from petroleum, the DOE concluded that P-Series fuels would efficiently and effectively help replace petroleum imports. DOE also found P-Series to have environmental benefits because of the reduction in hydrocarbon and CO emissions, toxics, and greenhouse gases. P-Series fuel addresses three problems: the need for nonpetroleum energy sources, solid waste management, and affordability. A pilot plan for this technology is operating in South Glens Falls, New York. It was constructed with funds invested by the U.S. Department of Energy. Associated Technology was developed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. This conversion process is well regarded and is deserving of the same level of assistance that are intended for ethanol conversion technologies. It won the President's Green Chemistry Challenge, a competition sponsored by the U.S. EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. The U.S. Government spent considerable time and effort to develop this technology. Expanding the renewable fuels eligible under the grant program will be a win for all. Mr. Chairman, I know of no opposition to this amendment. I urge my colleagues to approve this simple amendment to H.R. 6. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me say I am disappointed that the majority does not agree that we ought to really look at renewable fuels. This, to me, is part of the reason why the bill is so problematic. I do not believe there is a commitment on the majority side to look at renewable fuels. This does not strike anything. This does not add any more money. This just allows companies to apply for these grants from the Secretary of Energy. If the Secretary of Energy feels it is not worthy or it is one company, they can reject it. This does not add anything. This just would show that we are serious in looking at other renewable fuels. Why would we want to restrict the amount of the different kinds of renewable fuels that we can look at? This is technology into the future. We should be expanding these things. Here we are just saying, Open it up and let other groups apply. They can be rejected if it is not meritorious. We believe P-series fuels are very important and can help us in the future to look at alternative sources of energy other than gasoline. I am deeply disappointed, and I think this again shows the problems with the underlying bill. The majority is not really serious in my opinion, with all due respect, in trying to find alternative ways that Americans can get their energy from other than gasoline. That is why this bill is a big sock to the oil-producing companies and to the special interest industries, because whenever we want to expand it to help the American people, we are told, no, no, it is no good. Again, this does not add any money. This just says let other people apply. If a Secretary of Energy deems these applications are not good, they can reject them. I can see no reason why there is opposition. I am very disappointed, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding me this time and I rise in strong support of the Bishop-Markey substitute. This amendment contains a number of provisions designed to reduce dependence on nonrenewable energy sources. It is ridiculous that H.R. 6 really offers no relief to the soaring prices of gasoline. I think that is what our constituents really want to see. The administration's own Energy Information Administration analyzed last year's H.R. 6 and said, changes to production, consumption, imports and prices in it are negligible. It even found that gasoline prices under the bill would actually increase more than if a bill was not enacted. The Bishop-Markey amendment offers clear measures to lower the price of gas. We should not be filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve while oil prices are so high. We should urge OPEC to increase oil production. We should instruct the FTC to protect the American people from price gouging at the gas pump. These are reasonable steps. This is what this substitute does. And it will provide reasonable relief from high gas prices. I cannot support H.R. 6 as it is written today despite my great affection for our chairman, who was more than fair when we had the markup in the Committee on Energy and Commerce; but this Bishop-Markey amendment would provide critical improvements to it. Support this amendment today.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member and my good friend for yielding me time; and I rise, of course, in support of this resolution, as have all my colleagues. Pope John Paul was an exceptional person. While one would expect all kinds of accolades to come at this time, the accolades that come for him are truly heartfelt and truly deserved. I had the occasion to meet him my very first year in Congress in 1989 in the Vatican. There is a picture that was taken of us talking. It looks like we are in very serious talk, and I am opening my mouth and speaking with him. People have always said to me when they see that picture, My goodness, what were you saying to the Pope? The truth is that those of us that were in the first row, the Pope is moving along shaking our hands. He shook my hand. I said to him, I am Congressman Elliot Engel from New York. He looked at me and smiled and said, God bless America, and moved on to the next person. That is the remembrance I have of him. He certainly was a compassionate man, someone who really cared about the people. Of course, he was the first non-Italian Pope in nearly 500 years. I had the occasion just a couple of weeks ago to visit Krakow, Poland, where he came from and where he did his ministry in his early years; and the people there, of course, have special, warm feelings for him. I want to mention, as so many of my colleagues have, the Pope's tremendous gestures of reconciliation with the Jewish community, both in terms of anti-Semitism and going to Israel and having the Vatican and Israel establish diplomatic relations. He was a person that not only spoke his mind, but he put into play practical steps; and certainly the Church was on record as opposing, actively opposing, anti-Semitism under his watch. So on behalf of my constituents and on behalf of the people of New York and on behalf of the American people, I just want to extend, first of all, my heartfelt condolences to everyone who is mourning, and all of us are mourning the Pope, and say that his life has truly touched all of us, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. He is a man that we will always remember and one who we will certainly always miss. I also take my hat off to this great tribute that this House is now giving by passing this resolution to honor Pope John Paul II.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to today to honor the boy's basketball team, at John F. Kennedy High School in Kingsbridge, NY. These fine young men, whom critics called the underdogs, won the PSAL tournament in New York, defeating Lincoln High School at Madison Square Garden 62- 57. It has not been an easy season for the Knights, which makes their victory all the sweeter. Midway through the season, Coach Johnny Mathis nearly had to quit the team. In the past year, Coach Mathis, who has led the team for 18 years, lost three toes to diabetes and underwent three circulatory bypass surgeries on his legs. Yet, this dedicated coach only missed two games all season. He always believed in his team. Mathis called the team's win ``very special'' and said he always believed we were good enough and that the team worked pretty hard and in the team's minds they came in to win the game. It takes an extraordinary team to beat a three-time champion like Lincoln, but the Kennedy Knights are such a team and did just that. The final game was close--and with the score tied and 5 minutes left, MVP Emilijano Kinaj sank a three-pointer and the Knights were on their way. They worked hard as a team and the results are obvious. I congratulate the players and Coach John Mathis for their 28-4 season record and for winning the championship.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, today, on the front page of the New York Times, there is a story that says ``U.S. Called Ready to See Hezbollah in Lebanon Role. A Sharp Policy Reversal.'' The article states, ``After years of campaigning against Hezbollah, the radical Shiite Muslim party in Lebanon, as a terrorist pariah, the Bush administration is grudgingly going along with efforts by France and the UN to steer the party into the Lebanese political mainstream, administration officials say.'' Administration officials say, what a mistake. What a mistake to deal with terrorists. President Bush has repeatedly said that we should not deal with terrorists. There are no good terrorists. There are no good terrorists. All terrorists are bad. Hezbollah has American blood on its hands. It killed more than 200 U.S. Marines in Beirut in 1983 and is responsible for hundreds and hundreds of killings of Israeli citizens. Resolution 1559 of the UN Security Council which passed a few months ago, sponsored by the U.S. and France, says that Syria should get out of Lebanon, that all militias, including Hezbollah, should be disarmed. Why are we changing policy now? We should not deal with terrorists. We should not compromise with terrorists. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. We are moving in this body to pass a resolution calling on the Europeans to label Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, to dry up their funds. Terrorists should not be dealt with. The administration is making a mistake.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, for too long Syria has heard yes from the world. It has sponsored terrorism, and the world answered: Yes. It has built up an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, and the world answered: Yes. And it has stolen from Lebanon its sovereignty and political independence, and, once again, the world answered: Yes. This week, we are here to tell Syria: No. For over a generation, the world stood silently as the occupation set deep roots in Lebanon, while hundreds of people were murdered by Syrian-supported terrorists like Hezbollah all over the world, and a dangerous stockpile of chemical weapons was developed. Anger grew as guerillas entered Iraq from Syria to kill innocent Iraqis and American soldiers, but it was left to the United States Congress to grab the bull by the horns and devise a policy to free Lebanon and confront Syria. The Syria Accountability Act and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, which I wrote, was signed into law in December 2003 and told Syria that things had changed. Until Syria got out of Lebanon, halted its support for terror, ended weapons of mass destruction programs and stanched the flow of extremists into Iraq, it would face sanctions. Last fall, the United Nations followed our lead. They demanded in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 that Syria completely leave Lebanon, and Hezbollah be dismantled. But still, Syria remains in Lebanon, and the terror machine operates from the Damascus sanctuary. It is remarkable, but it has taken the murder of a former prime minister of Lebanon and mass protests by Lebanese aspiring for democracy for the world to take on the Syria challenge. The Cedar Revolution which has been launched by Lebanese people calling for Syria to leave Lebanon is something that really make us proud. So this week, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and I introduced a new bill. This is the natural follow-up to the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act. The legislation is called LA SYRIA LA, which means in Arabic, No Syria No. It says that until Damascus gets completely out of Lebanon, stops supporting terrorist groups and ends it weapons of mass destruction programs, the Lebanese and Syria Liberation Act, LA SYRIA LA, codifies existing sanctions against Syria and imposes American sanctions on countries and companies which provide destabilizing weapons to Syria. In other words, third countries will have sanctions against them if they provide destabilizing weapons to Syria. It calls for a State Department report to Congress on Syrian activities, provides for American assistance to pro-democracy and human rights groups in Syria and Lebanon and instructs our government to oppose Syrian bids for U.N. leadership positions and international loans to Syria. So, today, we stand with the Lebanese people who wish to take back their people by saying no to the Syrian occupiers. We stand with the world and the President of the United States, who is saying no to the Syrian occupation, and we align ourselves with the forces of Lebanese democracy which will deliver the ultimate no to Syria through power of the ballot box, not the barrel of the gun. Now I must say, today, the newspapers reported that in a sharp policy reversal, the Bush administration is now ready to see Hezbollah in a role in Lebanon at the urging of France. I am sorry to hear, that, if it is true, is ill-advised, and I urged the administration to never acquiesce to terrorist organizations like Hezbollah. Hezbollah is in the same category as al Qaeda, and the President has said time and time again that there are no good terrorists, only bad terrorists, and we cannot compromise with terrorism. I hope this is not the fact. We should not deal with Hezbollah. Hezbollah killed 243 Marines, U.S. Marines, 20 some odd years ago in Beirut and has killed countless number of Israeli citizens by being allowed to conduct a proxy off of Syria against Israel in South Lebanon. Resolution 1559 of the U.N. Security Council which we sponsored says that Hezbollah and all terrorist organizations in Lebanon must be dismantled and that the Syrians must get out of Lebanon. I urge the administration to stick to its guns on that and never recognize Hezbollah as anything more than a terrorist group.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my Special Order at this time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Brigadier General William Terpeluk who completes his term as Deputy Commander for the 77th Regional Readiness Command this month and thank him for his service to our nation. General Terpeluk served in this position from 31 March 2001-30 March 2005. He was Deputy Commander during 9-11 and through the War on Terror. He moves on in his military career later this month. The 77th Regional Readiness Command is located in Fort Totten, New York. It is headquartered in Bayside, Queens, New York at historic Fort Totten, where the Reserve Command has been since 1968. Brigadier General Terpeluk is an Infantry Officer who received his commission as a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps Program in 1974 from the Virginia Military Institute. After completing the Infantry Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, he served on Active Duty as the Executive Officer, Company E, 3d Battalion, 3d Basic Combat Training Brigade, Fort Dix, NJ. His next assignment was as the Assistant Brigade S-1, 3d Basic Combat Training Brigade, Fort Dix, NJ. Brigadier General Terpeluk was then assigned to Korea where he functioned as the Executive Officer, HHC, 1st Battalion (M), 31st Infantry and Rifle Platoon Leader, Company B, 1st Battalion (M), 31st Infantry, Camp Casey, as well as Support Platoon Leader, 1st Battalion (M), 31st Infantry, Camp Howze, Korea. In October of 1978, Brigadier General Terpeluk transitioned to the United States Army Reserve as the Executive Officer, and later as the Commander, of Company B, 1st Battalion (M), 3l5th Infantry, l57th Separate Infantry Brigade (M), Bristol, PA. Between February 1982 to May 86 he served as the Aide-de-Camp and Headquarters Commandant, Hqs, 79th United States Army Reserve Command, Willow Grove, PA. From May 86 to January 1993, Brigadier General Terpeluk served as the Executive Officer and Commander, 4074th Reception Battalion, 76th Division (Training), Willow Grove, PA. From January 1993 to July 94, he served as the Chief of Staff, l57th Separate Infantry Brigade (M), Horsham, PA. After a year on Active Duty to complete the United States Army War College, Brigadier General Terpeluk returned to the Army Reserve as the Commander of the 1079th Garrison Support Unit from 1995 to 1997. Between 1997 to 2001, he performed as the Commander, 2d Brigade, 78th Division and the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, for the 78th Division. On March 31, 2001, Brigadier General Terpeluk was assigned as the Deputy Commander of the 77th Regional Support Command. Brigadier General Terpeluk's military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass, the Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbons. In his civilian capacity, Brigadier General Terpeluk is a Laboratory Manager for Merck Research Laboratories. Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank General Terpeluk for his dedication and service to the United States Army and this great Nation. For over thirty-years, General Terpeluk has worn the uniform and sworn to protect the United States from all threats. His service can never fully be repaid, so I offer him my thanks, and the thanks of all my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives and wish him well and Godspeed in his future.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I thank my colleague for putting in this amendment. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Kuhl) used the word ``civility'' and I think that word describes Amo Houghton. If there were 435 Amo Houghtons in Congress, Congress would be enriched by that fact. He knew the spirit of bipartisanship. He knew the spirit of collegiality. I do not think I have met a nicer individual in my entire life than Amo. Amo was one of the richest men in Congress, if not the richest; and you would never know it. If you did not know it, you would never know it. He was such a humble person. He was such a good person and a kind person and always had a good word, always had a smile, always did what was right. A couple of times I was paired to supposedly debate him on national TV, and both times it really turned into a lovefest because we agreed on so many of the issues and so many of the things, that it almost seemed as if we had staged the event. But indeed because Amo was such a good person, it was so easy to agree with him and so easy to do things for him. It is very, very nice to have things named after you when you are still around to see them. And I am so happy that we are doing this so Amo understands just a small little bit of how well thought of he is and how much we care about him. I want to thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Kuhl). Anything that is named after Amo, you can count me in to say a few good words because Amo is truly a special person and he deserves this great honor.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, on February 27, 2005, we celebrated the 161st anniversary of Dominican independence and the love of liberty that unites the Dominican Republic and the United States and stands as a symbol of freedom worldwide. The United States is a stronger and better country for the more than one million Dominicans who live here. New York City is even more culturally rich thanks to the more than 650,000 Dominicans who have settled there. I am proud that so many live in my Congressional District. We, the United States and the Dominican Republic, give each other strength by our mutual support. Americans have always supported Dominican independence and admire the free and fair elections that have helped to make the country a model for emerging democracies. Our friendship inspires us to work towards even greater democratic and economic development. We in the United States celebrate Dominican independence and the Dominican spirit, a spirit of liberty and courage--a spirit that values family and faith, education and service--the same spirit that has helped to shape America. Our nations will work together because our futures are bound to one another. Geography makes us neighbors, but our shared values make us friends--a friendship built on common customs and ideals. The fight for Dominican independence in 1844 continues to inspire us today. It shows that brave and determined people, committed to a noble cause, can do great good. That was true in the Dominican Republic just as it was true for the United States. We have come a long way together and we shall continue our journey together with respect and understanding, with mutual support, and with customary respect. Long Live the United States and Viva La Republica Dominicana.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my very distinguished friend from California for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution. I think that it is very important that we state that we will not tolerate this kind of violence and that the United States Congress is going to come out squarely in opposition to this kind of violence. Mr. Speaker, I am the author of the Syria Accountability Act; and I think that it is clear to me, and all the evidence is being gathered, but I suspect that this assassination has some ties to Damascus, to the regime in Damascus. There have been all kinds of allegations, and one thing I know for sure is that the Syrians have allowed Lebanon to destabilize, and this is part and parcel of the result. Prime Minister Hariri in recent months had grown more and more critical of the Syrian occupation, and I say occupation because it is, of Lebanon. And in the past months, he objected to Syrian interference in the running of Lebanon's affairs. The bottom line here is that Lebanon needs to be free and independent and make its own decisions and not be held under the yoke of Syria. Syria needs to get out of Lebanon. I have many, many Lebanese American friends with whom I am very close, work with me, the Syria Accountability Act, and all feel strongly that they want their country, their former country and the country to which they have ties, to be free. Syria now has 15,000 troops in Lebanon. I was pleased to see the United States and France collaborate on Security Council Resolution 1559, which pointedly calls for all foreign troops to leave Lebanon and which clearly says that the Lebanese ought to run their own show. Syria has allowed various terrorist militias to run free. Hezbollah, the southern border of Lebanon, northern border of Israel wreaks havoc with Damascus's blessing. So at this time, when we pay tribute to Prime Minister Hariri, I also want to call on words of a former prime minister, General Michel Aoun, who came right here to Washington just a year ago, and said, ``You know, in Lebanon Syria likes to play the game they are the arsonist and the fireman. They start the fire and then they want accolades and credit for putting it out.'' Because General Aoun came here to Washington and testified before Congress, he was indicted in Lebanon and it is virtually impossible for him to go back to his country. This is what we are dealing with. So in certifying and supporting this resolution today, we recall the life of Prime Minister Hariri, and nothing could be a more fitting tribute to Prime Minister Hariri than having the Syrians leave Lebanon. I will double my efforts to do all I can under the Syria Accountability Act, talking to the President and seeing what we in Congress can continue to do to put pressure on Syria to leave Lebanon.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the life of the great Ossie Davis. It a fitting time to pay tribute to this exemplary African American as February is African-American History month. Ossie Davis was a constituent and someone whose counsel I came to value over the past many years. Sadly, he has just passed away. Just last December I saw Ossie Davis when he was being honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington for his life and career. I made a point of going that night so that I too could honor him. It was a fitting tribute to a man I first saw perform on Broadway when I was a child. Years later, I was thrilled to meet him and be his Representative in Congress. Ossie Davis made significant contributions to our culture through his talented work in film and his noble involvement in civil rights issues and efforts to promote the cause of African Americans in the entertainment industry. A resident of Mt. Vernon and New Rochelle in New York, he wrote, acted, directed, and produced for the theatre and Hollywood, and was a central figure among black performers of the last five decades. In 1963, Davis participated in the landmark civil rights demonstration, the March on Washington. Two years later, he delivered a memorable eulogy for his slain friend, civil rights leader Malcolm X. Davis also left behind a vast body of work in film. He starred in such movies as The Joe Louis Story, Slaves, Let's Do It Again, Grumpy Old Men and Dr. Dolittle, as well as Spike Lee's School Daze, Do the Right Thing, and Jungle Fever. As a director, he is probably best remembered for 1970's gritty Cotton Comes to Harlem, a precursor to the blaxploitation films of the decade, and 1973's Gordon's War. I am also pleased to be a cosponsor of a resolution that honors the great life and work of the great Ossie Davis. Through his talents and dedication, Ossie Davis, like many other African Americans, has left his mark as a positive leader in his community and significant contributor to our culture. As we reflect on the contributions of innumerable African-Americans during this month, I want to commend his work and his life to my colleagues. I have lost a valued constituent and America has lost a great leader and entertainer.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, we must ensure that everyone has the right to vote and every vote is counted. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the fact that too many Americans are being denied the right to vote in a fair, free and open election process. Every American citizen who wants to vote should be allowed to vote, and every vote must count. Sadly, many voters in this nation believe their right to cast ballots for President, Member of Congress, Governor or countless other leadership positions has been undercut because of this nation's broken electoral system. Today, the House of Representatives will certify the Electoral College's ballot electing the next President. While my first choice for this important job was Senator John Kerry, I know that President Bush won this election. This does not change the fact that around the country and particularly in the state of Ohio, many voters felt as if their vote was not properly counted. This feeling was particularly acute in more poor, urban and minority areas. Money, privilege, or geographic location should not make someone's vote count more than anyone else's. In October 2002, Congress enacted the Help America Vote Act, which addressed many of those weaknesses. It created a new federal agency, the Election Assistance Commission, with election administration responsibilities. It set requirements for voting and voter-registration systems and certain other aspects of election administration, and it provided federal funding; but it did not supplant state and local control over election administration. Yet, more needs to be done. We cannot have another election where tens of thousands of Americans feel as though their votes did not count or were counted improperly. We must continue to work toward a more perfect system. The Republicans control Congress, and their unwillingness to invest what it takes to correct our national electoral system is a disgrace. Fixing the voting problems around the country will not be easy and will not be cheap. But a fair and open election is the bedrock of our democracy and what ensures a peaceful transfer of power. How can we ask Americans to respect the laws made in Washington if we cannot ensure them the lawmakers were elected fairly? Today, American soldiers are being wounded and dying so the United States can spread democracy around the world. It is absolutely shameful that when these soldiers return home, they cannot even be sure their own electoral process is fair and accurate. I realize that in the case of Ohio, the irregularities would not overturn the results of the election. Even Senator Kerry has conceded that and does not support this congressional motion. I, therefore, will vote against the motion, but feel that it is important today to highlight the very real problems we have with our electoral process-- which must be addressed by this Congress.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay honor to Representative Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress and a candidate for the presidency in 1972, and who passed away on Saturday in Florida at the age of 80. Representative Chisholm was elected to Congress in 1968 and served until 1982. During her seven terms, she was an outspoken advocate for women and minorities and a riveting speaker who often called on Congress to be more responsive to the public. During her first term in Congress, Representative Chisholm hired an all-female staff and spoke out for civil rights, women's rights, the poor, and against the Vietnam War. Throughout her tenure, she was a sought-after public speaker. Representative Chisholm was a cofounder of the National Organization for Women, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the National Women's Political Caucus. She was also the first black person to conduct a large-scale campaign for the presidency within the two-party system. As a candidate for the Democratic nomination in 1972, Representative Chisholm won 152 delegates before withdrawing from the race. When her ideological opposite, George Wallace, was shot, she surprised many by visiting him in the hospital. Representative Chisholm was born Shirley Hill in New York on November 20, 1924, the oldest of four daughters of a Guyanese father and a Barbadian mother, who scrimped to educate their children. Representative Chisholm lived on her maternal grandmother's farm in Barbados from age 3 to age 11, where she attended a British grammar school and picked up the clipped Caribbean accent that marked her speech. She went on to graduate cum laude from Brooklyn College and earn a master's degree from Columbia University. She began her career as the director of a day care center, then moved on to be an educational consultant for the New York City Bureau of Child Welfare. A long-time political activist, she became involved in Democratic politics and was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1964. During her tenure in the legislature, she proposed a bill to provide State aid to day-care centers and voted to increase funding for schools on a per- pupil basis. After leaving Congress, Representative Chisholm was named to the Purington Chair at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts and also served as a visiting scholar at Spelman College. She received many honorary degrees, and her awards include Alumna of the Year, Brooklyn College; Key Woman of the Year; Outstanding Work in the Field of Child Welfare; and Woman of Achievement. She is the author of two autobiographical works, Unbought and Unbossed (1970) and The Good Fight (1973). Representative Chisholm was a pioneer in her time and her life should serve as an example of what can be accomplished if we have the courage and the strength to stand and fight for what we believe in. Her wit, wisdom, and leadership will be sorely missed.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, an undeniable tenant of any democracy is the rule of law. Sadly, this is not the case in Russia today. That country's legal system is taking on the appearance of Czarist Russia and the Soviet Union, when the legal system and courts were merely instruments of the State. This past year, we have witnessed a series of arbitrary and discriminatory actions, directed by the Kremlin, against select individuals and companies, that are politically motivated and lacking in legal merit, according reputable human rights groups and widely reported in the Western press. The most notable case is the YUKOS Oil Company, one of Russia's early privatized companies, known for its Western management style and global outlook, that today is under siege by a government clearly intent on destroying or taking control of Russia's largest oil producer. The chairman of YUKOS, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was arrested and indefinitely detained on charges that are murky and, again, appear to be of a political nature rather than criminal intent. Our colleagues on the Senate side last year unanimously approved S. Res. 258, which stated, in part, ``the law enforcement and judicial authorities of the Russian Federation should ensure that Mr. Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky is accorded the full measure of his rights under the Russian Constitution to defend himself against any and all charges that may be brought against him, in a fair and transparent process, so that individual justice may be done. . . .'' Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Senate spoke out one year ago, and since then the Russian government has levied an $18 billion tax bill on YUKOS, far beyond its earnings, which is apparently intended to pave the way for a government take over of one of the world's largest oil companies. Mr. Khodorkovsky is confined to a cage on his daily trips to the courtroom, where he is denied the customary rights of a defendant and indeed is facing a verdict that may well be pre-ordained by the Kremlin. Mr. Speaker, I also call to the attention of my colleagues another example of Russia's crude application of a legal system that denies, rather than protects the rights of the accused and clearly violates the norms and standards of decency and respect for human rights. Mr. Alexei Pichugin, a former white collar security officer for the YUKOS Company, is currently on trial in Moscow on charges, so it is alleged, of murder. This is another case that is being closely monitored by human rights groups and others because of the bizarre series of actions by prosecutors who appear to be using the formal charges to pressure Mr. Pichugin to testify against his former bosses at YUKOS. I do not presume to know the guilt or innocence of Mr. Pichugin; that is for a properly conducted court trial and unbiased jury to determine. But I am troubled, as are many of my colleagues, about the politicizing of Russia's legal system and the denial of a just and fair trial because the court itself is not truly independent. Indeed, the Council of Europe's rapporteur, Sabine Leutheusser- Schnarrenberger, has called the allegations reguarding Mr. Pichugin's mistreatment ``very serious.'' She notes: ``I cannot myself help worrying about the possibly illicit investigative methods and pressures that Mr. Pichugin could be subjected to at a prison that remains withdrawn from the normal supervisory procedures by the Ministry of Justice.'' Just yesterday, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe PACE released a report pointing out that Russian authorities continue to violate the principle of equality before the law, based on legal analysis of the facts surrounding the arrests and prosecutions of former YUKOS executives Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Alexei Pichugin and Platon Lebedev. While the trial of Alexi Pichugin is being conducted in secrecy, the evidence of abuse by the prosecutors and court handling the matter has been widely reported in the press. I, therefore, urge the Administration to refocus its attention on the deterioration of the rule of law in Russia. It would be very unfortunate if while we were striving to establish a democracy in Iraq, one broke down completely in the Russian Federation.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1964. I thank the chairs and ranking members of the Committee on Resources who ushered this bill through the process, and I want to thank the author of this bill, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen) for his stalwart support. The Highlands is a vast area of land which stretches from Connecticut to Pennsylvania, and my district is smack in the middle of it in New York. The Highlands run through Rockland County, which is home to some of New York's great history, scenic areas and wildlife, too. In fact, 1.4 million people live within the Highlands area. The Highlands adjoin a metropolitan area with a population of more than 20 million people, and more than 11 million people rely on the Highlands drinking water resources, which serves at least half of New York City's water supply. More than 14 million people visit the Highlands each year for recreational opportunities as well. Over 240 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles depend on Highlands habitat. More than 160 historical and cultural sites have been identified in the region. Thus, I thank my colleagues for their support in preserving this important resource for our constituents and visitors as well.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man that has dedicated his life to protecting our country. Colonel Thomas D. Butler, Jr. After 35 years fulfilling vital support functions in the United States Army, Colonel Butler is retiring. Thomas Butler joined the Army Reserve as a private in 1969 and served at the Engineering and Plans Section of the 411th Engineer Brigade at Fort Tilden, New York until his commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1974, upon which he commanded a platoon at the 306th Engineer Company in Amityville, New York. In July 1977, Butler was assigned to the New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an Assistant Military Area Engineer. In 1987, he returned to the 411th Engineer Brigade and was called to active duty when the Brigade was deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Upon returning to reserve status in 1991, Butler assumed command of the 305th Engineer Detachment. During his command, this unit was awarded the U.S. Army Superior Unit Citation and Butler conducted numerous missions in the Republic of Korea and Germany. In 1995 he joined the 77th Regional Support Command as the chief, Plans Division, in the DCS ENGINEER section. In 2001, Butler became Acting Commander of the 8th Brigade (SROTC), 98th Division, and then Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff-Operations, ADCSOPS- OPS of the 77th RSC. In 2002, Butler was reassigned as Deputy Chief of Staff-engineers, DCS-ENGINEER, and then as the first Deputy Chief of Staff--Army Reserve Installation Management. Colonel Butler is a highly-decorated soldier. His citations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with Service Star, the Kuwait Liberation Medal from both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and the New York State Conspicuous Service medal. In his civilian capacity, Butler is a Senior Project Manager for the Tishman Interiors Construction Corporation and the former Commissioner of Buildings for the City of Mount Vernon, New York. Butler resides in Tarrytown. I would like to join his wife Cheryl and their children Brent, Kimberly, Blake, Ashley, and all his relatives and friends in congratulating him and wishing him well in his retirement.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, on 9/11, 2001, my city was attacked. And then a remarkable thing happened. The 9/11 Commission was formed with five Democrats and five Republicans, and they unanimously made a series of recommendations. That showed true bipartisanship. The other body also showed true bipartisanship when it came up with a bill that was passed again almost unanimously. But here, unfortunately, we have not seen bipartisanship. Democrats have essentially been shut out of the process once again, something that we have seen too frequently; and this bill before us does not implement most of the 9/11 Commission recommendations. The Menendez substitute before us does implement most of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. Intelligence should not be a Democratic issue or a Republican issue, but an American issue. In the underlying bill, there are some good things in the bill. There are some troubling things in the bill. But on the whole, the Menendez substitute is by far the better bill. It is bipartisan, implementing the 9/11 Commission. Vote for the Menendez substitute.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. And, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong support of this proconsumer legislation, the Satellite Home Viewers Extension and Reauthorization Act. I also want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce for the manner in which this legislation moved through our committee. The Committee on Energy and Commerce moved through the process, it was completely open and bipartisan; and I thank the Chair for that. The Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act expires at the end of this year. Thus, we must act quickly to ensure our constituents continue to receive the services they enjoy. This bill also does a great service to our communities by preserving and strengthening local broadcasting. My interest in this legislation was piqued when I discovered that one of the two satellite companies was engaging in a discriminatory practice that forced 95 percent of their customers to pay for services they do not receive. EchoStar's system requires two satellite dishes on a rooftop to be able to receive all of the local channels and other channels they offer. Nothing is wrong with that. It is how their technology works. However, EchoStar is discriminatory in choosing which local broadcasters would end up on the second dish which is inconvenient. Most often it is Spanish language, public and religious broadcasters. On top of that, EchoStar does a poor job informing its customers of the need for a second dish, and the company requires a second technician to come out and install the second dish. The company states that only about 5 percent of their customers take the second dish, which means that 95 percent of customers are paying for services they do not receive. This legislation requires all satellite companies to put all local channels on one of the two dishes. I think that is important, and I think it is a major breakthrough. This provision is also key to the health of the satellite industry by setting the ground rules for providing local broadcast stations. Local- to-local has been a driving force in the satellite television industry's growth. In 1999, just prior to the establishment of the local-to-local compulsory license, the industry had 10.1 million subscribers. Only 4 years later, after the advent of local-to-local, the industry had more than doubled its subscriber base to 20.4 million. Another key provision gives consumers of satellite TV service the same choices as cable subscribers. Specifically, the bill gives satellite the ability to import significantly viewed stations from adjoining markets. At the same time, the bill includes safeguards to ensure this new privilege is not abused to the detriment of local television and television viewers. This means, for example, a satellite prescriber in Baltimore could soon be getting Washington, D.C., local stations if they are significantly viewed. For people who live in or near Baltimore and commute to D.C. to work, the traffic reports are obviously vital. In closing, Mr. Speaker, this legislation enjoys widespread bipartisan support in Congress as well as the endorsement of nearly all key industry stakeholders, including local television stations, the television networks, cable operators, and DirecTV.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, asthma has had a tremendous impact on our Nation's health. I represent the Bronx, Westchester and Rockland County in New York, and we have been hit very hard by asthma, especially our children. According to the NYC Department of Health, in the Bronx about 25 percent of children have asthma, as opposed to 15 percent Nationwide; hospitalization rates for children are around ten times higher than the national average; and the Bronx, in particular, leads New York City in asthma-related hospitalizations and deaths. Audrey Dregante, a nurse practitioner at Bronx Lebanon Hospital, Pediatric Asthma Center has stated that ``Pediatric Asthma is an epidemic in the Bronx.'' There are many factors contributing to asthma that can easily be addressed and would save lives and greatly enhance the quality of life for so many suffering with asthma. Many of these factors have to do with the economic status of those with asthma and the fact that they are not educated on the treatments available. Some of the factors contributing to the disease are inadequate housing conditions-- impoverished conditions such as mold in homes, dust mites and insects, and the lack of proper ventilation; the poor are less likely to have health care and use emergency room care as their primary care provider and are not getting the proper treatment; low-birth weight babies are surviving in greater numbers, and problems with lung development may be leading to the rise in asthma cases--early diagnosis and treatment is critical in these instances, as well as pre-natal care for the poor; and the increasing amounts of pollution and congestion in urban areas caused by traffic and diesel-powered trucks and buses. Children in particular have a difficult time with asthma and, as we know, proper treatment and control of the disease is crucial. The legislation before us today seeks to rectify one situation that is preventing children from even carrying their asthma medication. Amazingly, many States do not allow kids to self-administer their asthma medications in school, which can lead to severe conditions if proper treatment is not available in time. New York does allow kids to carry and administer their asthma medication. I believe it is irrational and irresponsible to prohibit children from having their medication readily available. H.R. 2023 would encourage schools to allow children to carry their asthma medication by giving those schools preference when awarding public health and asthma-related grants. I think this is positive legislation that will encourage school districts to allow their children to carry and self-administer their asthma medicine, which will improve their condition and could save their lives. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2023, the Asthmatic Schoolchildren's Treatment and Health Management Act of 2004. As a cosponsor of this important legislation, I look forward to its quick enactment. Asthma has had a tremendous impact on our Nation's health. I represent the Bronx, Westchester and Rockland County in New York, and our community has been hit very hard by asthma, especially our children. My family has experienced first-hand the effects of asthma. My wife has asthma and two of my kids do as well. So I know how important it is that people, especially children, have access to care and have the medicine they need when they need it. According to the NYC Department of Health in the Bronx, about 25 percent of children in the Bronx have asthma, as opposed to 15 percent nationwide. Hospitalization rates for children are around ten times higher than the national average. The Bronx, in particular, leads New York City in asthma-related hospitalizations and deaths. Audrey Dregante, a Nurse Practitioner at Bronx Lebanon Hospital Pediatric Asthma Center has stated that ``Pediatric Asthma is an epidemic in the Bronx.'' There are many factors contributing to asthma that can easily be addressed and would save lives and greatly enhance the quality of life for so many suffering with asthma. Some of the factors contributing to the disease are inadequate housing conditions, such as mold in homes, dust mites and insects, and the lack of proper ventilation. The poor are less likely to have health care and use emergency room care as their primary care provider, and are not getting the proper treatment. Low-birth weight babies are surviving in greater numbers and problems with lung development may be leading to the rise in asthma cases. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical in these instances, as well as pre- natal care for the poor. The increasing amounts of pollution and congestion in urban areas caused by traffic and diesel-powered trucks and buses increase the risk for asthma. Children in particular have a difficult time with asthma and, as we know, proper treatment and control of the disease in crucial. the legislation before us today seeks to rectify one situation that is preventing children from even carrying their asthma medication. Amazingly, many states do not allow kids to self-administer their asthma medications in school, which can lead to severe conditions if proper treatment is not available in time. New York does allow kids to carry and administer their asthma medication. I believe it is irrational and irresponsible to prohibit children from having their medication readily available. H.R. 2023 would encourage schools to allow children to carry their asthma medication by giving those schools preference when awarding public health and asthma-related grants. I think this is positive legislation that will encourage school districts to allow their children to carry and self-administer their asthma medicine, which will improve their condition and could save their lives. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.