Eliot Engel

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. I want to assure the gentlewoman that this bill does not confer or authorize any new powers for any intelligence or law enforcement agency, nor does it prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective or intelligence activity of a law enforcement agency of the United States, a State or a political subdivision of a State, or of an intelligence agency of the United States.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend from American Samoa, my classmate, we came to Congress together in 1989, for yielding me this time. I would like to thank Chairman Lantos for marking up this resolution, and for the support of many members of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I would also like to thank my colleagues. This is the first speech I am making on the House floor since the passing of my dear mother, and I want to thank my colleagues for their support and for their strength and caring for me and my family. Mr. Speaker, this resolution welcomes a delegation of presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers from 14 Caribbean nations to Washington, D.C., for the Conference on the Caribbean, which will be held next week. I am the chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and I can tell you that the relationship that the United States has with the Caribbean nations is of paramount importance. In fact, in many of the trips that we have gone on, people have said to us they want the United States to be involved. They have a sense, many times, that we have looked elsewhere, and they don't understand why. So I think it is important for our subcommittee to be involved, our committee to be involved and for the U.S. Congress to be involved in helping to foster good ties with the Caribbean nations; and of course this resolution lays the groundwork, and the interaction with the delegations from the Caribbean that will be here this week is very, very important. As Mr. Faleomavaega said, the Caribbean nations are as culturally varied and physically beautiful as anywhere in the world. It is important to expand our strong relationship with the Caribbean Community, also known as CARICOM. This is an historic conference. For the first time in its history, through the coordination of the Caribbean Community, the State Department, the Congress, the Conference on the Caribbean is convening in Washington. I cannot state how important that is and how significant that is and what kind of important role the United States Congress can play. I am honored to be the chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, and I will do everything in my power to help facilitate relations between the United States, United States Congress and the nations of the Caribbean. The Foreign Affairs Committee is pleased to be meeting with the members of this delegation on June 20 at 2:30 p.m., and I encourage all our colleagues, both on our committee and on our subcommittee, and even people that are not on our committee, to attend this meeting. The delegation will also be meeting with President Bush, as well as members of the Ways and Means Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus, and as well as, of course, our Foreign Affairs Committee. Mr. Speaker, I visited four Caribbean countries in the last 6 months and have learned much from our friends in the south. In Haiti, leaders are very appreciative for the support of the United States and for the recent passage of the HOPE legislation, but want to make sure we coordinate closely with the government on our assistance plan. Further to the south, leaders of the many small island nations feel neglected by the United States and are looking for closer cooperation on energy, security, crime, education, health and other issues. Countries like China are stepping in and filling the vacuum left by the United States in these small, but strategically important countries. This is our hemisphere, the Western Hemisphere, and we simply must be more engaged. We cannot stand back and think that other countries are not going to move into the vacuum. You know, we used to go to school when we were kids and learn about the policy of ``hands off the Americas,'' but that's not true anymore. Other countries, like China and like Iran and other places, will step in if we neglect these countries. Our friends in the Caribbean have offered their support for U.S. efforts to combat global terrorism. With the recent revelation that the suspects from Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana were involved in the plot to blow up JFK Airport in New York City, we need more than ever to work closely with our allies in the Caribbean to defeat terrorism. I was just in Trinidad with a delegation. We met with the leader of Trinidad, and he told us in emphatic terms how closely he wanted to work with the United States to combat terrorism. They're willing, they're able, they want to work with us. We just need to show that we want to work with them. Terrorism is not just a single region issue, it impacts all areas of the world. When we have friends reaching out to us in our hemisphere as allies on the war on terror, we must closely engage with them. I am looking forward to this historic meeting that ushers in a new era of cooperation between the United States and the Caribbean, an area of the world to which, again, I don't believe we have been paying adequate attention. The United States and the countries of the Caribbean can enhance collaboration in several important areas, including mutually beneficial trade and economic relationships, battling crime, drugs and terrorism, and combating the spread of diseases, including HIV/AIDS. There is also a golden opportunity for the Caribbean nations and the U.S. to cooperate on new and clean energy production technologies. And, again, when we were in Trinidad, we visited some of those technologies, Trinidad being a major supplier of natural gas to the United States of America. Our relations with the Caribbean also are very important as there are large numbers of Americans of Caribbean heritage, as the gentleman from American Samoa pointed out, making significant contributions to our culture in America. I represent the New York City area district. In New York City and in the suburbs, and in my district alone in New York, there are very, very large numbers of Caribbean residents, including Jamaicans, Haitians, Dominicans, and many, many others. The Dominican Republic is a country that wants to work closely with us, a very important country. Haiti needs our attention. Grenada, where the United States invaded when Ronald Reagan was President, now we seem to be neglecting them. We visited there as well. So these are countries that we need to watch, to work with. The gentleman on the other side of the aisle mentioned St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It's just coincidental that the foreign minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who will be here, went to college with me some 40 years ago in New York City. And we have maintained our friendship through all those years, never knowing that I would eventually go to Congress and he would become the foreign minister of St. Vincent in the Grenadines. And so I hope to work with him on these issues. His name is Louis Straker. These are important relationships, and we need to continue to foster them. And finally, we must continue to work on ways of strengthening the relationships that have brought prosperity to many Caribbean nations and that promise to lift up those in need. It is my hope that our friends in the Caribbean can see some real concrete results coming out of this important Caribbean Conference in Washington. Let me just conclude by saying the time for rhetoric is over. It is now time for action and a real enhancement of our relations with the Caribbean. Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for their support of this legislation. I thank the chairman. I thank the gentleman from the American Samoa, the gentleman from Arkansas. We all need to work together. This should be bipartisan. This is good for America. We need to strengthen our ties with the Caribbean.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of the Greenhouse Gas Accountability Act of 2007. This legislation can serve as an essential first step in a comprehensive policy to combat climate change. When constructing a comprehensive, economy-wide global warming policy, what is the first thing we have to know? It is what we are currently emitting, who is emitting it, and data on where in the economy it makes sense to regulate. The biggest mistake the EU made in creating its cap and trade system was distributing credits without having a good idea of its emissions first. This resulted in power companies being given more credits they needed. In turn these power companies were able to sell their excess credits and gain a windfall rather than being forced to reduce emissions. This comprehensive registry will give us all the data we need to craft future legislation and intelligently decide how to allocate credits. I am not suggesting that this legislation act as a substitute to a cap and trade program, however. Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Dingell and Chairman Boucher have all pledged to bring a comprehensive cap and trade bill to the House floor by the end of this year. I applaud these efforts and that is why I am a cosponsor of two of the most prominent cap and trade bills in the House today. At the very least I hope the Greenhouse Gas Accountability Act can become an amendment to one of these worthy cap and trade proposals. Not only will this bill lay the groundwork for future legislation on climate change, but the bill will serve other important functions as well. For instance, by requiring greenhouse gas reports by entity and by facility investors will be able accurately assess the risks and opportunities of various companies. Currently all investors know that carbon regulation is coming. But despite heroic efforts by the Carbon Disclosure Project, many companies still do not disclose their carbon emissions to their investors. This bill will require all large publicly traded companies to finally let their investors know what they are doing about the climate. Further, the public will be able to hold companies accountable for their actions to address global warming. Just as we saw with the successful Toxics Release Inventory program, many companies will see the light once they truly become aware of their own impacts. This increased awareness will almost assuredly lead to reduced emissions. Perhaps the most important aspect of the legislation is that it would require international companies who trade on American stock exchanges to report their emissions abroad as well. No longer will we be in the dark about how foreign operations in developing countries are adding to the world's accumulation of greenhouse gases. This means that we could finally have a window into what the true emissions of greenhouse gases are in countries that are rapidly developing such as India and China. The disclosures would also provide a strong disincentive for multinationals to relocate facilities abroad just to avoid disclosure or future regulation. Madam Speaker, in closing I would like to say that we need to accomplish something this Congress to get us on the path toward mandatory emissions cuts. I truly hope that we enact a strong cap and trade bill, but unfortunately the President has made quite clear that he will veto any efforts to enact such legislation. If the President insists on such an unwise decision I hope that at the very least he would consider backing the Greenhouse Gas Accountability Act. Global warming is simply too important for us to play politics with this issue.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues' strong support of a bill that I am introducing, which would educate the American people about the Nation's transition to digital television broadcasting and help prepare them for the analog cutoff date in February 2009. As you know, Congress enacted a ``hard date,'' February 17, 2009, by which our TV broadcasters must cease analog broadcasting and only transmit in digital. On that date, anyone who relies on over-the-air broadcasts will need a set-top box to receive and convert digital TV signals in order for their analog TV to continue to work. The benefits of transitioning to digital TV signals are enormous, most importantly opening up desperately needed spectrum for first responders. I believe the American people will support this transition, but to make this transition a success our constituents need to know and understand why this is happening. The Federal Communications Commission has been tasked with the responsibility of the success of this transition. If the Commission does not approach the analog cutoff date with care and consideration of the consumer, millions of TV viewing Americans will be left with a black screen. I am particularly concerned that the FCC is relying heavily on a website to inform consumers about the transition and how to prepare for the analog cutoff day. I believe that this is not enough. According to the GAO, 21 million U.S. households rely on over-the-air television. Many of these households have a combined income of $30,000 or less and do not have immediate access to the internet. I am not convinced that a website will help these families obtain the necessary information to prepare for the transition. To facilitate this transition and make up for the lack of sufficient education from the FCC, I am introducing the National Digital Television Consumer Education Act. This legislation requires TV retailers to place signs next to analog televisions that will include an advisory that additional equipment is necessary after February 17, 2009 to continue using that TV. The bill also requires broadcasters to air PSAs for more than a year to help educate the public about what is happening and the set-top box subsidy program. The DTV transition will impact every American. We must do everything to ensure the success of this transition and help our constituents from losing their television transmission in February 2009. I urge my colleagues to co-sponsor this bill which will help prepare the American people for the upcoming transition.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues Kay Granger, Tammy Baldwin, Chip Pickering and Randy Kuhl in introducing the ``Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2007''. This bill would correct long-standing gaps in Medicare coverage for home infusion therapy, and will enable thousands of beneficiaries to obtain these often life-saving therapies in the most convenient and cost-effective setting--their homes. Currently, most beneficiaries who have severe infections, cancer, congestive heart disease or numerous other diagnoses for which infusion therapy is the clear state-of-the-art treatment must be admitted into hospitals or nursing homes to receive this care. This is most unfortunate, Mr. Speaker. The private sector recognizes the clinical value and cost-effectiveness of home infusion therapy, and as a result full and proper coverage of home infusion therapy is commonplace among private payers. Medicare stands virtually alone in its antiquated coverage policies that discourage the use of a therapy that in actuality should be promoted for its cost savings and convenience. Home infusion therapy requires the coordination of professional services, supplies and equipment to safely and effectively administer infusion drugs. Part D, the outpatient prescription drug benefit, covers most infusion drugs, but does not cover these services, supplies and equipment necessary to provide infusion therapy in the home. As a result, Part D coverage of home infusion falls far short of its potential to keep patients out of hospitals and nursing homes. Many beneficiaries must pay for the infusion services, supplies and equipment with out-of-pocket funds and most cannot afford this expense. Their only other realistic option is to obtain their care in a hospital or nursing home at a much higher cost burden to our Nation's healthcare system. The clear result is that access to home infusion therapy, despite its potential for cost savings and good clinical outcomes, is needlessly limited. Our bill is very simple in its approach. It would institute coverage for the home infusion-related services, supplies and equipment under Part B, while maintaining coverage of the drugs themselves under Part D. Medicare Part B clearly is the most appropriate part of the Medicare program for coverage of the non-drug components of the therapy. In addition, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services would apply quality standards that are consistent with the private sector's community standard of care. Both beneficiaries and the Medicare program itself would reap the benefits of broader access to these important medical treatments in the home. I would like to note that this legislation is strongly supported by a broad coalition of infusion therapy stakeholders, including patient organizations, infusion pharmacies, infectious disease physicians, and manufacturers of infusion drugs. Along with my colleagues, I urge early consideration of this long-overdue bill.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, Howard Jonas is a very active supporter of several charities nationally and in his community and serves as a trustee on numerous university, hospital, religious, and social service organization boards. These include New York Presbyterian Hospital, Shaarei Tzedeck Hospital in Jerusalem, Jewish Guild for the Blind, Yeshiva College, AlPAC, Shema Kolainu for Autistic Children, American Friends of Yeshivat B'nei Akiva, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Newark Public Library, International Rescue Committee, Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, American Friends of Shalva, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark Public Library, Riverdale Y, Digital Freedom Network, Tuoro College, Yeshivat Hoveivei Torah, SAR, Eidah, Yeshivat Shmuel Yaakov, Fairness Committee, Voices and Bar Ilan University. In addition Mr. Jonas has been the honorary chairman of The Beth Jacob/Beth Miriam Yeshiva for the past thirteen years. This is an incredible record of accomplishment for one person and I personally am in awe. Howard is a local boy who graduated from Bronx High School of Science and went on to get a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University. He also went on to revolutionize international telecommunications. At age 33, he found a way to supply the world with a U.S. dial tone and cheap international long distance rates, creating international ``callback'' telephone service, now an over a billion dollar a year industry. Howard founded IDT in August 1990 and has served as Chairman of the Board and Treasurer since its inception. He was Chief Executive Officer from December 1991 to August 2001. IDT is known as a model of upstart entrepreneurship, continually innovating and looking for the next great cutting edge business opportunity. He is also the founder and has been President of Jonas Publishing Corporation, a publisher of trade directories, since its inception in 1979. Howard Jonas is a man who is generous in his help over a wide area and is someone who has made a significant difference in the life of his community.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, for more than two decades Dr. Spencer Foreman's leadership has made Montefiore Medical Center (MMC) one of the most forward thinking and academic medical centers in the country. He is a national health leader, and a respected expert in hospital administration and medicine. Dr. Foreman is a member of the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine, a former chairman of the Association of American Medical Colleges and a past trustee of the American Hospital Association. Annually, MMC treats more than 60,000 new patients, has more than 400,000 home visits, and 1.8 million outpatient visits. That, plus an annual budget of more than $1.9 billion, makes it one the largest academic medical centers in the country. For more than a century, MMC has had a long and distinguished history of meeting the healthcare needs of New Yorkers and patients from around the world. MMC is one of the most innovative medical centers in the country with a staff of brilliant doctors, nurses and associates on all levels dedicated to giving every patient the highest quality care and service. This did not happen by accident. The leadership of Dr. Foreman for over two decades led MMC to the top of its class. I have always been proud to tell people that Montefiore Medical Center is in my Congressional district. It is a mainstay of health care in the Bronx which is famous throughout the world. But more than that, I have always been delighted to say that Dr. Foreman has been my friend. Dr. Foreman took charge at Montefiore about the same time I came to Congress. For over 18 years we have worked together to better the healthcare system. I count him among my trusted advisors on the state of healthcare in our Nation. What he has accomplished will continue for generations. He has created a model of health care efficiency to which it can truly be said that thousands owe their lives and well-being. I am proud of the work of Montefiore Medical Center. I am proud of the accomplishments of Dr. Foreman but even more so I am proud of my friend Spike.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of six excellent pieces of legislation that would benefit our Nation's veterans. Unfortunately, due to a family medical emergency, I am unable to be present and vote for these bills today. However, had I been here to vote, each of the six bills would have had my full support. As we approach Memorial Day, it is important to honor our Nation's servicemen and servicewomen. We would not be a free Nation without the sacrifices that each and every one has made. These six important pieces of legislation are an excellent way to repay some of the debt that we owe all of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and merchant marines. I support each of these bills, and I urge all of my colleagues to honor our veterans by supporting these bills as well.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of S. Con. Res. 21, a budget resolution designed and drafted by Democrats to end over a decade of Republican fiscal irresponsibility. One of the best results of the Democrats gaining the majority in the Congress is the fact that we can realign the priorities of the Federal government. Instead of Republican tax cuts for the richest 1 percent, we can put those same resources into health care for our children and veterans. Instead of driving our Nation deeper and deeper into debt, we can put us back on track towards a balanced budget. Twelve years of Republican budgets have left our fiscal house in shambles. We are nearly $9 trillion in debt, and if Republicans had their way, we would never end the deficit. However, the Democratic budget resolution is a good first step towards ending the sea of red ink on our budget. Within the next 5 years, we will have balanced the budget, while at the same time providing necessary services to those who need them most. This budget resolution incorporates the pay-as-you-go rule that the Democrats passed as one of our first acts in the majority. The rule is simple. Any additional funds we spend, or any taxes that we cut, have to be paid for with cuts in other areas. The budget resolution finally fulfills some of the promises we made to our military veterans. This legislation includes a $6.6 billion increase in veterans spending, which is the largest increase in history. The Congress has failed to meet our obligations for over a decade in providing necessary services to our veterans, and this budget aims to correct some of this neglect. In addition, this budget also provides $50 billion over 5 years towards children's health care. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has been extremely successful in improving access to healthcare for children whose parents earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to purchase private health insurance. Two- thirds of all uninsured children in this nation are actually eligible but not enrolled in SCHIP. With this budget, we can significantly improve health care coverage to millions more children across the country. This budget resolution will also help protect our Nation from its enemies. The 9/11 recommendations, most of which have been ignored by the Republican Congress, can be implemented under this budget framework. We have also included additional funding for homeland security in order to better ensure the safety of our citizens. It is no great secret that the Administration has severely underfunded schools across the nation with the No Child Left Behind Act. This is another program we intend to fix with our budget resolution. In this budget, we have included $9.5 billion over what the President requested for fiscal year 2008. This necessary funding will help stop the decline in our Nation's education system. Mr. Speaker, I do not have nearly enough time to speak about all the benefits of this budget resolution. Programs such as Head Start, LIHEAP, Social Security and Medicare all benefit. Residents of New Orleans and Mississippi benefit from the money to rebuild after Katrina. Higher education students will benefit from increased Pell Grants and we avoid cutting other student aid programs such as Perkins loans and special opportunity block grants, which was proposed in the President's failed budget plan. I am strongly supportive of this Democratic budget resolution. This bill will go a long way towards putting our fiscal house in order, without relying on the massive middle class tax increase that the President's budget relies upon. I would urge all of my colleagues to support this budget resolution.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2007. This legislation is many years in the making, and its consideration today is timely, given the problems we face in the mortgage industry. In recent years, we have seen serious problems in the subprime mortgage market. Without an effective regulator in the mortgage market, these problems will continue to grow, and we will continue to see more families losing their home to foreclosure. In addition, H.R. 1427 creates an affordable housing fund for low income individuals and families. This fund will receive a percentage of the investments that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac hold, totaling approximately $500 million a year. This money will help those with low incomes purchase a new home. The recent problems in the mortgage market have hit those with low incomes harder than any other income bracket. This is exactly the group of people who will be helped most by this bill. And for the first year, the entire reserve fund will be dedicated to those affected by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi. These hurricane stricken areas are in desperate need of assistance, and this bill will provide at least a portion of what they need. Having a strong regulatory body overseeing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks will give consumers and markets confidence that the housing market is safe. When housing lenders started going under due to the increased number of foreclosures, consumers became increasingly reluctant to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into a new home. If people are confident that a strong regulator will be overseeing the GSEs, it will help to increase consumer confidence in the housing market. This bill is specifically good for my District in the Bronx, Rockland County and Westchester County in New York. The price of purchasing a home there is staggering, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are limited in the amount of money they can loan for a new home. This limitation makes it more difficult for people in my District to buy their first home. This legislation will help to fix this problem by increasing the limit on loans. Even though H.R. 1427 will put additional money into low low-income housing assistance, I am proud to say that this bill will not add a single dollar to the national deficit. The majority in this Congress has consistently stuck to the pay-as-you-go rules that we created as one of our first acts of the year. Madam Chairman, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act is eight years in the making, and it is long overdue. I am happy to support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1700, the COPS Improvement Act. The COPS hiring program has been an unqualified success. Since the program first began in 1994, we have seen crime rates plummet throughout the country. There are many factors one can point to for this drop in crime, but the most obvious one is that the COPS hiring program has given our local governments over $9 billion to hire over 117,000 police officers. Law enforcement agencies in my district, New York's 17th, have received $625,984,137 in COPS grants since 1994. This funding has translated into 6,997 additional law enforcement officers in my district. Unfortunately, Republicans ended the COPS hiring program last year. A likely result of this, is that crime rates are inching upward. It is essential that we stay vigilant in our fight against crime by passing the COPS Improvement Act. When this bill passes, law enforcement agencies across the country will be able to add over 50,000 police officers to our streets. In my district, we will gain $190,978,211 in funding and 2,991 more police officers. But the COPS program is not just about the number of police officers; it is also about giving police officers the tools they need. Since 1994, $26,678,080 in COPS grants have been awarded to law enforcement agencies in the 17th District of New York to purchase technology that enables agencies to put more officers on the beat. This translates into more bulletproof vests and mobile computers. If the COPS Improvement Act of 2007 passes into law, an additional $8,139,075 in technology grants will likely flow to the 17th District of New York. Mr. Speaker, I join the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriffs Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities in urging my colleagues to pass the COPS Improvement Act of 2007.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to re-introduce the ALS Registry Act of 2007 with my good friend, Lee Terry of Nebraska. We are proud to have the support of over 80 other bi-partisan members of Congress today as original co-sponsors of this important legislation. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. While the great baseball player, Lou Gehrig, put a national face on ALS over 65 years ago, my own family was personally affected when my grandmother, Dora Engel, was diagnosed with the fatal disease and passed away when she was only in her 50s. Unfortunately, families across the Nation face the challenges and experience the suffering associated with ALS every single day. 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year, and it is estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given time. The average life expectancy for a person with ALS is two to five years from the time of diagnosis. The causes of ALS are not well understood and there is no known cure. We must provide hope to change this tragedy today. Surprisingly, a single national patient registry which collects and stores information on the prevalence and incidence of ALS does not currently exist in the United States today. The legislation I am re- introducing with Congressman Terry, would build on a fiscal year 2006 Congressional appropriation which directed the Centers for Disease Control to evaluate the science to guide the creation of a national ALS Registry. The Engel/Terry legislation will create an ALS registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will aid in the search for a cure to this devastating disease. The registry will collect data concerning: the incidence and prevalence of ALS in the United States; the environmental and occupational factors that may contribute to the disease; the age, race or ethnicity, gender and family history of individuals diagnosed; and other information essential to the study of ALS. The information gained from the ALS registry will also strengthen a disease clearinghouse's ability to put patients in contact with scientists conducting clinical trials and scientists studying the environmental and genetic causes of ALS. We need to provide our Nation's researchers and clinicians with the tools and information they need to make progress in the fight against ALS. The data made available by a national registry will potentially allow scientists to identify causes of the disease, and maybe even lead to the discovery of new treatment, a cure for ALS, or even a way to prevent the disease in the first place. This is good public policy. The establishment of a registry will bring new hope to thousands of patients and their families that ALS will no longer be a death sentence. I strongly urge the swift consideration and passage of the ALS Registry Act of 2007.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Act of 2007 with my good friend, Vito Fossella. There is no question that diabetes is a mounting challenge for our nation's health care system. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of Americans with diagnosed diabetes has doubled over the past 15 years. Over 20 million Americans are currently living with this disease, but 6 million of them have not yet been diagnosed. Another 54 million are classified as ``pre- diabetic,'' with a high-risk of developing this condition. The statistics are simply staggering. Beyond being a public health threat, Diabetes accounts for over $92 billion in direct medical costs every year, and these numbers are only likely to increase. The Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Act would increase our ability to prevent new cases of diabetes and improve disease management. Our bill would codify the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Diabetes Translation and set up demonstration grants to allow for further research on how to translate effective diet and exercise interventions for us in the general populations. It would also increase the ability of state and local health departments to engage in surveillance and education activities, and set up demonstration projects to examine the best ways to treat diabetes when it occurs in conjunction with other chronic health conditions. I am proud that we have taken a multi-pronged approach in this legislation to attack our mounting diabetes epidemic on two fronts; it will promote research at the Centers for Disease Control so that we may better understand this disease while also funding innovative treatment and education efforts at the state and local level. This legislation, combined with the Engel/Fossella Gestational Diabetes (GEDI) Act (H.R. 1544), which combats growing rates of Diabetes in pregnant women across the nation will go a long way towards managing and preventing the onset of Diabetes. I urge my colleagues to co-sponsor this legislation today.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1429, a bill to reauthorize and improve Head Start. Head Start has been a vital program to our children since the day it was created in 1965 as part of the Great Society. President Lyndon Johnson created the program with the goal of combining education, health, and nutrition programs for low-income children. In its history, over 22 million children have been served by Head Start, including over 900,000 in this year alone. Head Start provides an excellent foundation for the children who enroll in the program. About 95 percent of the students in Head Start are under five years old, and they are all at or below the poverty line. Without Head Start, a great number of these children would be in substandard preschools, if they were even lucky enough to be enrolled in anything. Head Start gives these kids the years of education they need in order to succeed in future years of schooling. H.R. 1429 would reauthorize the Head Start program, while at the same time offering improvements that have been necessary but neglected for a number of years. First, it will improve teacher and classroom quality. H.R. 1429 does this by first increasing teacher salaries in order to attract more and better teachers. Other provisions would require Head Start to use research-based methods to improve literacy and vocabulary. The bill would also provide improved training and technical assistance so teachers will be more educated in science and technology. The only problem I have today is the Republican discriminatory Motion to Recommit. The Republican leadership wants to institute federally funded discrimination into our Head Start program. They have tried this again and again, and although I support Head Start as much as anybody in this Chamber, I would vehemently oppose this reauthorization if the Motion to Recommit passes. I urge all of my colleagues to oppose the discriminatory Motion to Recommit when it comes to the floor. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support reauthorizing the Head Start program with the Democratic improvements.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, lately it seems as if science itself has been under attack. This Administration seems determined to choose policies that fly in the face of scientific consensus. They have ignored science on the issue of stem cell research, abstinence-only education, and mercury pollution. On climate change, the White House went one step further. The Bush Administration hired a Big Oil lobbyist to edit documents produced by climate scientists in an effort make climate change science seem less certain. These acts have caused some in the scientific community to lose faith in our government. I believe H.R. 1867, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2007, will help restore that trust. The bill will provide $21 billion for the National Science Foundation over the next three years to fund critical scientific research. Mr. Chairman, I have seen how crucial this funding can be right in my own district. The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, a key unit of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, has worked in partnership with the National Science Foundation to facilitate new discoveries and fundamental breakthroughs in Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences that are critical for advancing the understanding of the Earth's dynamic systems. This work has allowed for a better understanding of volcanoes, earthquakes, and geologic faults. Lamont Doherty has also furthered our understanding of the effects of global warming by mapping massive sub- glacial lakes in Antarctica and studying their role in the loss of ice sheets. The Observatory has also developed new geochemical techniques to allow the mapping of past ice sheets which will help us better understand how the ice sheets on Greenland and Western Antarctica will react to increased global temperatures. Now, more than ever, it is essential we increase our understanding of how our planetary systems interact and function as a whole. By providing the funds the NSF needs, we are investing in research vital to our national interests. Hopefully, we are also sending a signal to the scientific community that their work is essential to us as policy makers and to us as Americans. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Our country values diversity, values individuality, values different cultures and respects people for who they are. Hate crimes are simply un-American. In 2005, there were over 7,000 Federal hate crimes committed in this country, but the current law does not cover most true hate crimes. Late last year in New York, three men lured Michael J. Sandy to a parking lot, beat him and chased him into traffic where he was struck by a car. He died 5 days later, one day after his 29th birthday. Why did these attackers target Michael J. Sandy? Because he was gay. Today, Mr. Sandy's attackers can not be prosecuted under Federal law for two reasons. First, in order to be a Federal hate crime, a victim must be engaged in a federally protected activity such as voting. Second, the current hate crime law does not consider sexual orientation a protected class. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act will sensibly expand the definition of a Federal hate crime to cover all violent crimes motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability when the defendant causes bodily injury or attempts to cause bodily injury through the use of a firearm or an explosive device. Thankfully, New York law has allowed this case to be prosecuted as a hate crime, but it is time to update our Federal laws to protect our citizens. The bill will also give local law enforcement the help they need in solving and prosecuting these despicable crimes. Some of these cases can strain local resources, but under this legislation, law enforcement can reach out and secure Federal resources to pursue these complex cases. Because the bill makes common sense reforms, the bill has enjoyed wide bipartisan support. In fact, the bill is supported by 31 State Attorneys General and over 280 national law enforcement, professional, education, civil rights, religious, and civic organizations. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical legislation.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, the horrific events at Virginia Tech just a few days ago cause all of us to reflect. My heart goes out to the victims, to the victims' families, to the people who were injured. This is something that is just a terrible tragedy, an unthinkable, terrible tragedy. And as the father of three, including two in college, it really makes one stop and pause. I say very, very respectfully, at a time of violence we need to reflect on this violence. And it certainly seems to me that upon reflection, to say that this country needs to have sensible gun control legislation, not legislation that would take guns out of the hands of people legitimately who have the right by the second amendment to own guns; but how could a deranged young man like the killer be able to just walk into a store and purchase any kind of guns at will and then use them to mow down 32 or 33 people? It is all a matter of commonsense. We get emotional about these issues, but I am really speaking from the heart. Commonsense says that we need to have sensible gun control legislation so that criminals, people with mental illness, cannot just purchase guns at will and as many as they want. In my home city, New York City, our mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has been leading a crusade for sensible gun control legislation, and I agree with him. And, again, it takes a tragedy of this magnitude to kind of just sit and reflect and say, what are we doing or what are we not doing and why is it an infringement on anybody's second amendment rights to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, deranged people, and people who shouldn't own them? I think that this country really, really needs to reflect on its policies regarding guns. And, again, I support the second amendment, and I think there are many, many legitimate reasons for people to own guns. But after the tragedy at Virginia Tech, I say it again: I believe more than ever that this country needs to adopt sensible gun control legislation. We need to use our commonsense, and we need to try to prevent tragedies like the tragedy at Virginia Tech from happening again. I know people say guns don't kill people, people kill people; that is true. But guns in the hands of the wrong people kill people. And I really think in all good conscience that we really need to reflect. And, again, my heart goes out to the families, the victims, and all the students at Virginia Tech. But as a country, we need to come to grips with this problem.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, every day my constituents and people all around America go to a gasoline station to put gasoline in their cars and see that the prices are rising and rising and rising to a point of ridiculousness. I want to know what is the administration doing to combat this problem. When the price of a barrel of oil goes up, gasoline prices go up, but when the cost of a barrel of oil goes down, gasoline prices still go up. Americans remember the gasoline prices started dropping conveniently just before the last election in 2006. Is it a coincidence? I don't know, but certainly I do know that nothing is happening, and every single day Americans are feeling the pinch at the pump. I call on the administration to take action. Enough is enough. I don't know if it's collusion. I don't know what it is. I just know it's wrong, and prices should be dropping when the cost of a barrel of oil goes down, not getting higher.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, today I rise to reintroduce the PLEA Act to protect our citizens and to protect our law enforcement officers. The PLEA Act would ban the Five Seven handgun, a weapon that has been designed by FN Herstal of Belgium to have the power necessary to pierce a bulletproof vest while still being small enough to conceal. In other words, it is the perfect weapon for criminals to use against police officers. It is not useful as a hunting weapon and there are certainly other reasonable options for self-defense. So why do we need such a dangerous gun on our streets? The answer is that we do not. Some in the gun lobby have said the claims about the gun's power have been exaggerated. But I have seen a demonstration of the handgun myself. It is so powerful it can penetrate a bulletproof vest from as far as two football fields away. It is every bit as deadly as an assault rifle, but the Five-Seven can easily be concealed, putting law enforcement officials even more at risk. Bulletproof vests are unfortunately sometimes the only protection that our law enforcement officials possess. If vests are no longer able to protect them, we are putting all of our police officers in great peril. In fact, earlier this month there was a report in the press that a Mexican police officer was shot and killed by a Five Seven handgun despite the fact he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Do not let this tragedy repeat itself here in the United States. This is the type of gun that one would expect only to be available to the military, not citizens on the street. But I have heard from law enforcement officials in my district, in New York, that these guns have been confiscated all across the country. And not long ago, the Brady Campaign was able to purchase one just a few miles from here in Woodbridge, Virginia. Now is the time for Congress and the Bush administration to ban this weapon. That is why today I am reintroducing the PLEA Act to ban the sale, importation and possession of this gun. I ask my colleagues to join me and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in supporting this important legislation. If you support law enforcement officers, then you should support banning this weapon.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 99, a budget resolution providing a number of common sense solutions to the budget crisis created by 12 years of Republican fiscal mismanagement. I was here in 1993 when President Clinton and Congressional Democrats passed our budget resolution. And this year reminds me of 1993. We are hearing exactly the same complaints about this budget as we did that year. And we all know what happened when we passed our budget back then. The Democrats helped create the longest economic expansion in our Nation's history. We balanced the budget after years of Republican Presidents had pushed us deeper and deeper into debt. We helped create more wealth than had ever been created in America. We created the largest surpluses in history. And we did this without a single Republican supporting our budget. In fact, the minute the Republicans got back into power, they wiped out the surpluses we gave them, and began drowning us in debt. They took the economic expansion we gave them, and drove us into recession. Mr. Chairman, once again we are faced with red ink as far as the eye can see. We have a debt of almost $9 trillion, and the Republicans have abdicated any attempt to solve this. The budget resolution we have introduced incorporates the pay-as-you- go rule that was one of the first acts of the new Democratic Congress. We are also increasing funding for veterans in order to fulfill the promises we made to them long ago. Our budget provides $3.5 billion more than the President's budget for veterans' health care, and $6.6 billion more than was provided in the 2007 budget. This is the largest funding increase for veterans in our Nation's history. We are also providing $50 over the next five years to cover millions of uninsured children. I strongly support the Democratic budget resolution. It will help put our fiscal house back in order, without relying on the massive middle class tax increase that the President's budget includes. I would encourage my colleagues to support this budget as well.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007. This bill will provide long overdue assistance to our wounded veterans. I know every Member of this body has read some of the horrific stories that have come out of veterans' facilities such as Walter Reed, which is just a few miles from where we stand. Stories such as mold in the rooms, holes in the ceiling, and insect and rodent infestation became commonplace at what should be our preeminent Army healthcare facility. We owe our war veterans the very best care that our country can provide, but these problems at Walter Reed are not isolated incidents. They are indicative of an Administration that has failed soldiers and veterans at every level. The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act will help remedy the problems that have become known over the past few years. This bill will take a number of steps to improve the quality of life for injured veterans. For starters, it will reduce the workload of case managers handling the medical care of vets. Currently, these case managers are overwhelmed with thousands of soldiers who have come back wounded from Iraq. In addition to reducing their caseload, this bill will also require that case managers are properly trained to handle the supervision of the soldiers in their care. These injured soldiers need an advocate to help them navigate the paperwork and potential obstacles they face. H.R. 1538 will also direct the Department of Defense to create a toll free hotline for soldiers to report problems with their medical care, or with the facilities in general. Had there been a hotline already, we might have learned about the Walter Reed problems long ago. As has been proven with all the problems that we have seen in military medical facilities recently, there has been a general lack of oversight involving the military hospitals. This bill will fix that problem by creating an oversight board. This board would be composed of members of the House, Senate, as well as appointees of the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. This oversight is critical to prevent these terrible conditions from reoccurring. Mr. Chairman, throughout our Nation's history, our freedom has been preserved by members of the Armed Forces. Countless soldiers throughout our history have given their lives or their health to preserve our way of life. Ensuring that they get the very best healthcare is the very least we can provide them with. How can we possibly ask a soldier to sacrifice a limb to preserve our safety, and then put them in a dirty, moldy room when they return? This is unconscionable behavior, and passing R.R. 1538 is a good way to address some of these problems. I strongly support the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act, and I urge my colleagues to offer their support as well.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1401, the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007. This bill calls for necessary funding and emergency planning to protect the American rail system and other critical points of our Nation's infrastructure. I support H.R. 1401 because I have seen the chaos that can ensue when a disaster occurs. I was in New York City on 9/11, and I saw firsthand what can happen when we are improperly prepared for a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The entire world saw in New Orleans that without planning and foresight, the aftermath a disaster can be even worse than the disaster itself. This bill will require a national plan to prepare for rail and public transportation emergencies. This bill will also provide grant funding dedicated to rail and public transportation security. Included in these grants will be $100 million over the next 4 years to improve security in six New York City tunnels. Anybody who has traveled through these tunnels, as much as I have, will know this funding is critical. In addition to providing direct funding for emergency prevention, this bill will require training programs to teach employees of public transportation systems how to prevent and prepare for a terrorist attack, and how to respond to such an attack. And it will go further, by establishing programs which will test how well the transportation systems have prepared for such an attack. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1401 is a wide ranging bill that touches on a number of critical infrastructure points in the United States. For example, currently our Nation has only 100 surface transportation inspectors. This bill will increase that number to 600 over the next 3 years. In addition to providing grants for localities to secure their infrastructure, this bill will help prevent attacks that we haven't even thought of yet. $200 million in this bill will go towards research and development that is intended to plan for and prevent terrorist attacks. Mr. Chairman, millions of Americans from coast to coast rely upon public transportation every day. Our people deserve as much safety as we can provide for them. We cannot predict when a terrorist attack or natural disaster will occur, and we cannot always prevent these from happening. However, we have also seen that the better prepared we are, and the more we have planned, the better we can address these problems. H.R. 1401 will go a long way towards helping us minimize the impact of a terrible disaster. I strongly support it and urge my colleagues to offer their support as well.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California and I rise to support this bill as I support all legislation dealing with the problem of spoofing. I too have an anti-spoofing bill which passed the House last Congress. It was the first bill passed this year in the Telecommunications Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee as well. It is very important that we deal with this problem. My colleagues have highlighted so many incidents where people have looked down at caller ID, and fraud has been committed on them. People should have confidence that when they look at the caller ID, that that caller ID is accurate. And crooks and other people that want to steal people's identity should not have carte blanche. The problem with this is we are always catching up with the crooks. As technology develops, crooks can think of ways to subvert it. When we realize there is a problem, Congress catches up and works to close the loophole. This is a loophole that must be closed. Again, my colleagues have highlighted many of different instances where elderly people have been defrauded, where people think that they have the confidence of their bank or Social Security, they look at the number of the Social Security office, and they have confidence and they give out their Social Security numbers or other kinds of personal information which can be used to steal their identity. I want to commend my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee and assure them that we on the Energy and Commerce Committee will work with them. This whole Congress needs to be working together on this. This is obviously a bipartisan working together. This is not an issue where it is a partisan issue. All Americans need to have this loophole closed. The sooner we do it, the better.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of the Stop Tuberculosis Now Act of 2007. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I know all too well how necessary comprehensive international tuberculosis control is. It is remarkable in this day and age, with treatment available, that TB is the biggest infectious killer of young women in the world. In fact, TB kills more women than all causes of maternal mortality. As you know, TB is also the leading killer of people with AIDS. TB accounts for more than one quarter of all preventable adult deaths in developing countries. I strongly believe that the global community, with the United States in the lead, must do more to adequately address this disease by investing in quality TB control programs, using the groundbreaking Global Plan to Stop TB as a guide. It is for that reason that I am introducing the Stop TB Now Act which will make the appropriate investments towards achieving the goals of the Global Plan. My bill calls for a U.S. investment of $400 million for international TB control in FY08 and $550 million in FY09. I believe that if we don't make bold--and wise--investments in international TB control, not only will we fail to save millions of lives and miss out on the many accompanying benefits of controlling this killer, but also that this disease will become far more difficult and costly to treat. Extremely Drug Resistant TB highlights this danger. It has been found on six continents, is a growing epidemic in southern Africa, and is already reported to be here in the United States. Regular (non drug- resistant) TB is curable with drugs that cost just $16 in most developing countries. Cases of drug-resistant TB, however, can cost thousands of dollars to cure, with treatment that is far more difficult for patients and practitioners. Drug-resistant TB is a manmade problem and is caused by poor TB treatment. We have the power to prevent drug- resistant TB and the power to treat and control regular TB, and yet we have not chosen to do so. Madam Speaker, the adoption of the Stop TB Now Act of 2007 would have a profound effect on our efforts to improve global tuberculosis control. I ask my colleagues to cosponsor this bill today.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Arizona in whose district my son Jonathan is enjoying himself as a sophomore at the University of Arizona. I would like to thank all concerned for the opportunity to speak about my bill, H.R. 759, a bill which will name the third floor library at Ellis Island in New York Harbor the Bob Hope Memorial Library. I would also like to thank Representative Gallegly for his assistance with this bill, and I would like to thank the chairman and the ranking member of the committee for their help in bringing this bill expeditiously to the floor. Most Americans remember Bob Hope for his work in the entertainment business as a comedian, actor, dancer and singer, as well as his work with the American troops abroad. Perhaps his work with American troops abroad is the thing that he is most remembered for. But what few know is that Bob Hope was actually an immigrant from England, came here when he was very, very young. He is sometimes even referred to as America's most famous immigrant, whose life epitomizes the American Dream. Bob Hope embodies the American Dream, and the Ellis Island Restoration Commission even called naming the library a fitting tribute. After a long period of restoration, Ellis Island, where my grandparents, all four of them, came through about 100 years ago, Ellis Island was turned into a museum in 1990 with the purpose of allowing people to come and remember the 16 million immigrants who passed through Ellis Island from 1892 through 1954 to pursue the American Dream. Like many of the other 16 million immigrants who passed through Ellis Island, Bob Hope arrived in America in 1907, which is actually the same year that my grandmother, my mother's mother, came to this country, and Bob Hope arrived in 1907 with little in the way of worldly possessions. Bob Hope described himself upon arrival as, and I quote him, ``a 4 year-old boy in knickers who had no idea of the opportunities that lay ahead.'' He went on to become a household name in the United States and around the world. After arriving in the United States, the Hope family moved to Ohio, and he later studied and started his career in radio. He moved on to appear in numerous movies and even Broadway plays, and is perhaps best known, as I mentioned before, for his unwavering commitment to entertaining our Nation's troops abroad. For nearly six decades, often during holidays in World War II, through Vietnam and until the Gulf War, Bob Hope traveled the globe, bringing a little bit of America to U.S. troops during times of peace and war. Troops abroad even took calling him ``GI Bob.'' In 1997, Congress named him an honorary veteran. Bob Hope has been recognized in many ways for his work. He has been honored with over 1,500 awards, but this award or reward is perhaps the most fitting. Some notable awards include several Academy Awards, a Congressional Gold Medal in 1962, an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Despite all the awards that Bob Hope received, he had a special place in his heart for Ellis Island. In 1990, when the Ellis Island Restoration Commission suggested naming the third floor library of the museum in his honor, he stated it would be, and I quote him, ``one of the single most important high points of my career.'' Sadly, Bob Hope passed away in 2003 at the age of 100 and did not see this project finished. But today I hope we would move, as the first step, in seeing this come to fruition. The Bob Hope Memorial Library will serve as a daily reminder to Ellis Island's visitors of Bob Hope's great contributions to the American people, the American culture and the American Dream. After all, it is Bob Hope. It's Bob Hope. Madam Speaker, I ask to insert into the Record two statements, a letter from Bob Hope back in 1990 expressing his support of the museum, as well as a letter from the Ellis Island Restoration Commission expressing their support for this project. Bob Hope, October 24, 1990. Mr. Philip Lax, President, Mr. Norman Liss, Chairman of Development, Ellis Island Restoration Commission, New York, NY. Dear Phil And Norman, I was both thrilled and gratified to receive your letter announcing the establishment of ``the Bob Hope Family Heritage Center'' at Ellis Island. What a great honor for someone who just 83 years ago saw the first glimmer of this great nation of ours as a 4-year old boy in knickers and had no idea of the opportunities that lay ahead. Frankly, my only concern back then was running away as fast as my little legs would carry me from the doctor who came to innoculate me before landing at Ellis! A great many wonderful things have happened to me since that day. However, I assure you that the honor bestowed on me by you and your commission is one of the single most important highpoints in my life and career. That it will be cherished by the Hope Family for generations to come is a true understatement. With deep appreciation and warm personal regards to each and every member of your commission who made this honor possible. I just want to add that I admire and respect all you've been doing to restore this great symbol of the American dream. Regards, Bob Hope.