Vito Fossella

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, I submit the following: Bill Number: H.R. 2638. Account: Military Construction, Army Reserve National Guard. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: New York National Guard. Address of Requesting Entity: 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, NY 12110. Description of Request: $2.955 million will be used for the establishment of an additional Civil Support Team. This team, located within the New York City metropolitan area, ensures that the top terrorist target in the country, New York City, has an immediate and prepared asset, ready at a moments notice, if a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, high explosive, CBRNE, incident were to occur.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, it's been suggested that September 11 was a tragic day. Indeed it was. But the reality is there were thousands of individual tragedies that occurred. Time has given us the perspective to look back and understand what really happened. It has given us the ability to look back and see how individual families have dealt with their loss. Staten Island and Brooklyn alone lost more than 300 people. If you go drive around the streets of Staten Island today, you will see street names with the names of those lost on September 11 as a constant reminder of the extent of the carnage and the damage. I have been to memorial runs. I've seen scholarships offered in the names of the deceased. I've seen families try to tell their young children, who are probably too young at the time to understand, what it meant when Daddy wasn't coming home anymore, when Mom wasn't coming home. These children are at an age now that they can begin to appreciate that they'll never have a dad again. There were hundreds of them on Staten Island alone and thousands across the country of young children who lost their fathers and lost their mothers. The role we have here is very simple, I think. That is to protect the American people and to ensure an attack like that never happens again. The most powerful way we can memorialize September 11, and as our own private thoughts and prayers and to offer to extend a helping hand to those in need, but as Members of Congress I think we have a solemn responsibility and duty to stand up against the evil, against our true enemies who want not to just destroy this country but our way of life, and forever may we remember those who paid so dearly with their lives on September 11, 2001.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a constituent who has faithfully served the people of Staten Island for many years, Dr. Ralph Messo. Born on Staten Island in 1961, Dr. Messo was inspired by the compassion and caring nature of the physicians he encountered as a young boy. After graduating from Wagner College, Dr. Messo pursued and was awarded a degree in Osteopathic Medicine from the University of New England in 1989. Dr. Messo was drawn to osteopathic medicine and its holistic approach to treatment--care that extended beyond the patient to his or her entire family. After medical school, Dr. Messo returned to New York to care for the residents of Staten Island. Over the years, he has earned the respect and gratitude of my constituents across the Island through his generous spirit, his caring nature and unyielding commitment to health care in the borough. Dr. Messo's gentle demeanor and reassuring tone provide comfort to all his patients--the new mothers and fathers struggling to navigate the sometimes choppy waters of parenthood . . . and seniors who may need extra reassurance and a sympathetic ear. He is currently the president of the Richmond County Medical Society, serves as councilor to the American College of Physicians, is an attending faculty member at both of Staten Island's medical centers, and sits on the Medical Advisory Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He served as the assistant director of the Internal Medicine/Pediatric residency program at Staten Island University Hospital from 1993-2007 and was recently appointed Adjunct Clinical professor at Tourocom, a new medical school in Harlem, New York. In addition, Dr. Messo has been given The Consumer's Research Council of America's ``Top Physician'' award, the Peter Barbero Humanitarian Award, and was named ``America's Top Pediatrician'' in 2007 and 2008. Dr. Messo continues to give back to his profession, lending his years of experience to young medical students and residents--the physicians of tomorrow who work alongside him, share in his knowledge and learn that caring for a patient is as much about listening as it is about treating. For his decades of service to the Staten Island community, I ask that my colleagues join with me in honoring Dr. Ralph Messo and thanking him for his dedication to health care.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 460, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker. Today marked the 58th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. Five years after the Second World War ended in the Pacific, a new conflict erupted, the first major engagement of the forces of communism and the forces of freedom in the Cold War period. By the time the armistice was signed almost 3 years later, millions of Koreans had been killed, wounded or displaced from their homes, whole towns and villages had been destroyed, and the entire peninsula was plunged into poverty. More than 36,000 American soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen who served in the Korean War lost their lives. It has been my privilege to represent hundreds of Korean War veterans who live in my district in Brooklyn and Staten Island. I have come to know personally many of these brave and heroic constituents. Although many of these Korean War veterans are reaching old age, they live vibrant lives, contributing to our community in countless ways. The sacrifices they made across an ocean helped form their characters, which guided them through college and careers, as they raised their families and built their businesses, indeed, as many of them became political and community leaders themselves. In the years since the Korean War came to a close, South Korean soldiers have fought alongside Americans not only in Korea but in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. In fact, South Korea sent the third- largest contingent of armed forces to Iraq among all the countries that have participated in that conflict. Korea has often been described as an ``economic miracle.'' Fifty years ago, South Korea was an impoverished, Third World country perceived as having few prospects for survival, much less potential for affluence. Today it has the world's 11th-largest economy, known for its high-technology industries. It is the 7th-largest trading partner of the United States. It is no wonder, therefore, that almost exactly a year ago, on June 30, 2007, negotiators for the United States and the Republic of Korea concluded a Free Trade Agreement that now awaits approval by Congress and the South Korean National Assembly before it is fully implemented. In a recent report, the U.S. International Trade Commission has forecast that the elimination of tariffs on U.S. goods under the U.S.- Korea Free Trade Agreement would increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United States by over $10 billion annually. The agreement will also eliminate regulatory and other non-tariff barriers that have historically restricted access by American farmers, manufacturers, and service providers to the South Korean market. In the past week, the United States and South Korea signed a protocol regarding the importation of U.S.-originating beef to Korean markets. As anyone who reads the newspaper knows, this issue has been politically volatile in South Korea. U.S. and South Korean trade negotiators deserve a great deal of credit for their delicate handling of this situation. It is my understanding that American beef exports to Korea will recommence within the next few days. While the beef import issue seemed to be an obstacle to approval of the Free Trade Agreement, the overall advantages to both our countries that will ensue from the agreement have prevailed. And this is a good thing, a healthy thing for American workers and American consumers, and for Koreans, too. With growing uncertainty about the health of our economy, it is critically important that we make every effort to spur U.S. economic growth and create new American jobs through securing access to markets in which U.S. farmers and businesses can compete and succeed. The proposed U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement stands to further increase U.S. exports to Korea and will generate new jobs for Americans. Madam Speaker, it has been nearly six decades since the outbreak of the Korean War and we must ``never forget'' the sacrifices of our Korean War veterans. As we commemorate this somber occasion, let us look forward to the opportunities the future will bring as the U.S.- Korean friendship and economic partnership is broadened, deepened, and strengthened. The U.S.-Korea relationship deserves to be celebrated, and I ask my colleagues to join in offering their own expressions of support.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a great man who has faithfully served the people of Staten Island for many years, Monsignor Joseph Murphy. Ordained a priest in 1954, Monsignor Murphy then completed three years of graduate work at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. After his completion of studies, he served as a Parochial Vicar at Saint Joseph's Parish in Croton Falls, New York from 1957-1959. Following that, he was assigned to the Chancery Office of the Archdiocese of New York from 1959 to 1985, and was the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York from 1968 to 1985. Finally, in 1985 he was assigned to be the pastor of the Church of Saint Clare on Staten Island, a position he has held to the present day. Monsignor Murphy has always been inspired to help and to serve. From a young age, he was struck by the compassion and caring of the clergy that he met, and he felt drawn to serve his community in the same way. Even after his upcoming retirement, he still plans on working, continuing to help and to serve his community. He has always felt it important to meet people where they are at, going into the community and serving, not waiting for others to come to him. Monsignor Murphy is of the opinion that true service to others demands an active role, not passively waiting around. It is in respect to his life-long desire to aid his fellow person that he be honored today.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Chairman, today I rise in support of my amendment to the FY2009 Defense Authorization bill (amendment number 27), authorizing free mailing privileges for the family members of our service men and women deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. This amendment provides a tremendous opportunity for us to increase the morale of our troops overseas, which, as we are all aware, is necessary for having a confident and motivated military. First, I would like to thank Chairman Skelton, Ranking Member Hunter, Personnel SubCommittee Chairwoman Davis and of course my fellow New York colleague, Ranking Member McHugh for their help in cultivating this amendment. I drafted this amendment in response to concerns expressed to me by many military families that it was becoming too costly to send regular care packages to loved ones overseas. I heard story after story of families, already finding it hard to make ends meet, having to spend as much as $1,500 a year to mail care packages. Each package our men and women in uniform receive arrives with a touch of home. Personal items in these packages, like pictures, cards and school, projects from their children make deployments much more bearable. Mail from home also serves a second and important purpose providing our military men and women with basic necessities like shampoo, foot powder, phone cards and even the ever essential fly paper. In my district of Staten Island and Brooklyn, local residents joined together and raised money to help military families send these packages over seas. I was inspired by the outpouring of support for our service men and women in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, where postal service employees raised money to cover the postage for every package sent to our troops. In Staten Island, residents formed Staten Island Project Homefront, Incorporated: a non-profit organization dedicated to serving our deployed troops and their families by sending thousands of care packages to the troops in theater. This month alone, over 200 packages were mailed overseas by this group with a postage cost of over $2,000. It was these acts of great generosity and patriotism which prompted me to advocate for this essential program in Congress. This amendment has received the support of organizations such as the VFW, American Legion, and the National Association of Uniformed Services. To quote the VFW, ``letters and packages from home do wonders in boosting the morale of our men and women serving in harms way, and high morale transfers to combat ready and effectiveness.'' Comments such as this, I whole heartedly agree with. I recently heard from Debbie Parsons from Staten Island; Debbie had two sons in the Marine Corps serving in Iraq; both of whom will return for their second tours in the fall. Six days a week Debbie volunteers her time at Staten Island Project Homefront, packing boxes to send over to our troops. She would hear from her sons regularly and they often request she send supplies such as snacks, Power bars, soft drinks, books and foot powder, among other things. Prior to the donations from Staten Island Project Homefront, the packages she sent to her sons cost hundreds of dollars every month. It goes without saying our servicemen and women are making enormous sacrifices fighting the War on Terrorism and defending freedom and liberty. They face great challenges under trying circumstances, and often without the benefit of basic necessities like socks and foot powder. It falls upon their families to get them these supplies and to cover the cost of shipping them overseas. This amendment will help make life a little better for our soldiers and ease the financial burden on those supporting them. It is a simple way to bring a touch of home to America's heroes overseas. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and provide our military families an easier path to sending a piece of home to their loved ones.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1132, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day and to honor more than 900,000 Federal, State and local law enforcement officials who serve this Nation. This year, 358 new names were added to the National Law Enforcement Offices Memorial, representing names of officers who lost their lives over the course of many years. In 2007 alone, 187 officers from across the United States were killed in the line of duty. These heroes were sons and daughters, husbands and wives, sisters, brothers, and true role models for each of us. Congress passed legislation (PL 87-726) that requested the President to issue proclamations designating May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which it falls as National Police Officers Week. National Police Week provides us with an opportunity to honor and thank those who keep us safe, protect our streets each day, and allow us to take advantage of the many freedoms we enjoy today. It also provides us with an opportunity to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Our local police officers, like those throughout Staten Island and Brooklyn, commit their lives to serving and protecting our communities, keeping our neighborhoods safe for our families and loved ones. America's finest police officers across the country remain dedicated to their mission despite the tremendous risks involved with their service. Unfortunately, many of these brave members of our community pay the ultimate sacrifice and leave many families mourning the loss of loved ones. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this resolution.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor COL Tracey Nicholson, an American patriot and proud soldier in the United States Army, as she leaves her command at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, New York, and assumes her new position as the Secretary of the Combined Joint Staff for the Multinational Force Iraq under General Petraeus. Colonel Nicholson has distinguished herself as both the first African American female to command an installation within the continental United States, and as the first female commander of Fort Hamilton, the 183-year-old historic installation located in southern Brooklyn. Her leadership and driving personality were crucial in the continued improvement of both military and community programs throughout the city. During the most recent BRAC I had the opportunity to work closely with Colonel Nicholson in preserving Fort Hamilton when it was under consideration for closure and was impressed with her intelligence and commitment to the only active duty military installation in New York City. These traits will serve her well in her next duty assignment. Madam Speaker, during her tenure Colonel Nicholson has implemented numerous programs that have led to upgrades in both base infrastructure and facilities; improved housing programs and services for those serving at Fort Hamilton; as well as expanding support for veterans and retirees throughout the entire New York City area. The energy she brought to her work each and every day will certainly be missed. As much as it pains me to bid Colonel Nicholson farewell as she answers the continued call to service, I will sleep easy knowing that we have soldiers of her caliber protecting our Nation. While her presence in our community will be greatly missed, her efforts on the staff of General Petraeus will surely add immeasurably to our Nation's mission in Iraq. Madam Speaker, I hope our colleagues will join me in offering our best wishes to Colonel Nicholson as she assumes her new position as Secretary of the Combined Joint Staff for the Multinational Force Iraq, and wish her continued success in an already distinguished career.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the State of Israel on the upcoming 60th anniversary of its founding and condemn former President Carter's meetings with the terrorist leaders of Hamas. It is odd that former President Carter would defend his meeting with this terrorist organization as an opportunity to measure their willingness to accept peace overtures. The founding charter of Hamas calls for the destruction of Israel; this should be answer enough for the former President. By acknowledging these leaders the former President provides legitimacy to the terrorist actions committed against the State of Israel. For decades Israel and the United States have shared a strategic partnership in developing technologies that save lives both on the battlefield and in our hospitals. Madam Speaker, for the past 60 years, Israel has been a bastion of democracy in a region dominated by authoritarian regimes. As the only country in the Middle East with free elections, free press, freedom of religion, and the protection of minority rights, Israel continues to uphold the values that make it a true Western-style democracy. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate the State of Israel on its upcoming 60th anniversary and I look forward to the continued partnership between our two great nations. I hope our colleagues will join me in offering our best wishes to our ally in the Middle East for 60 more years of prosperity.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Chairman, I know the underlying legislation is very noble in the sense of its essence of cleaning and maintaining the wonder of our beaches and our coastal areas. And as someone who grew up and still has family in South Beach and Staten Island, New York, I'm very sensitive to the notion that our beaches are our Nation's jewels. But I'm also very sensitive to the fact that there are terrorists among us who will use any way possible to destroy innocent life. I know all too full well that on September 11, 2001, when almost 300 of my constituents perished at the World Trade Center because of fanatics who flew two planes by now we know into the World Trade Center. So to me still the most important thing that this country can do is to protect innocent people. While we all enjoy the beaches, we know that the greatest threat we face in this country are those who want to kill us and do us harm. We know that we've debated this FISA bill many times in this House, and the other body has passed, I think, a very effective bipartisan way that will keep this Nation safe. Here we are, another week going by where we bury our heads in the beach sand and not pass the appropriate legislation that will help to keep this Nation safe. In the underlying legislation, it talks reasonably about monitoring and finding the source of the pathogens. Well, one of the biggest threats that we have, that any intelligence official will tell you, is bioterrorism that has its roots in the pathogens, whether it's waterborne or not. So I believe that the amendment is very germane to the underlying legislation. Specifically, section 5, subsection A calls for the usage of rapid testing methods in the monitoring programs included in this legislation, which will create a means of assessing pathogen content in coastal waters and alerting the public to the possible health effects. Additionally, section 2 provides for source tracking and identification programs to assess where these harmful pathogens originated from. The legislation is concerned with pollution and monitoring of beach water quality, as well it should be, and to that end I am extremely alarmed that waste water treatment and pollution processing plants are becoming attractive targets for possible terrorist attacks. The environmental damage to both the beaches and water quality of New York City would be catastrophic if such a threat were realized. Preventing such an attack, of course, is the greatest concern to me, and I would hope, all Members of Congress. The amendment is clearly in order because it provides our Nation's intelligence community the tools to monitor foreign threats to our treatment facilities and prevent planned attacks on our environment. The irony should not be lost here that today we are considering a bill that concerns beach monitoring and requires prompt Federal, State and local agency notification regarding water quality sampling, when we've yet to pass the long overdue legislation that updates our Nation's ability to indeed conduct foreign intelligence monitoring and requires prompt judicial notification requirements regarding foreign threats. To that end, I call on the Chair today to recognize my amendment, which contains the bipartisan Senate-passed FISA language. It's time, as I mentioned before, that we stop burying our heads in the beach sand under the guise of doing what we think is noble. At the end of the day, what we have to come together for in this body, whether it's this end of Pennsylvania Avenue or the other, is to keep this country safe. And as we know, intelligence officials tell us time and time again we're losing precious information that's intelligence that could ultimately lead to a prevention of a terrorist attack. One of those possible terrorist attacks is waterborne pathogens that would be covered under this legislation. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I ask that you consider this amendment to the bill.

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Chairman, I appeal the ruling of the Chair.

Mr. FOSSELLA

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

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, this week the President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Myung-Bak, arrives in Washington on his first official visit to the United States since his inauguration on February 25. Indeed, this is President Lee's first major overseas trip, underscoring the importance of the long-standing U.S.-Korea alliance. The partnership between the United States and the Republic of Korea is multilayered; it has political, diplomatic, strategic, cultural, and economic components. It is historic: the friendship between the U.S. and South Korea is more than 125 years old. It is also familial: over the past century, hundreds of thousands of people emigrated from South Korea to settle in the United States, with the result that today comprises a vibrant and dynamic Korean American community with nearly 2 million constituents. It has been my privilege to serve as cofounder and cochair of the Congressional Korea Caucus, and in that capacity I have had many opportunities to learn about the Republic of Korea and U.S.-Korea relations. I recently stood side by side with South Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik at an event in my district commemorating the Korean war. I have met with numerous Korean war veterans--including many who live in Staten Island and Brooklyn--who served our Nation nobly and who lost comrades on the battlefield or who came home wounded with irreversible scars of that conflict. We will never forget their sacrifice and how their service paved the way for South Korea's enduring freedom today. Madam Speaker, South Korean soldiers have fought alongside Americans not only in their own homeland but in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. In fact, South Korea sent the third largest contingent of armed forces to Iraq among all the countries that have participated in that conflict and has pledged over $460 billion in reconstruction efforts. The Republic of Korea has often been described as an ``economic miracle.'' A little more than 50 years ago, South Korea was an impoverished nation perceived as having few prospects for survival, much less potential for affluence or influence. Today, it has the world's 11th largest economy and is the 7th largest trading partner of the United States. It is no wonder, therefore, that last year negotiators for the United States and the Republic of Korea concluded a free trade agreement that now awaits approval by this Congress and the South Korean National Assembly before it is implemented. The U.S. International Trade Commission has forecast that the elimination of tariffs on U.S. goods under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement would increase the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, of the United States by over $10 billion annually. The agreement will also eliminate regulatory and other non-tariff barriers that have historically restricted access by American farmers, manufacturers, and service providers to the South Korean market. With growing uncertainty about the health of our economy, it is critically important that we make every effort to spur U.S. economic growth and create new American jobs through securing access to markets in which U.S. farmers and businesses can compete and succeed. The proposed U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement stands to further increase U.S. exports to Korea and will generate new jobs for Americans. This agreement will be a win-win-win situation--a win for workers, a win for businesses, and a win for consumers. The visit of President Lee Myung-Bak to Washington offers an unprecedented opportunity to discuss the important issues that our two countries face, jointly and separately. It gives us a chance to celebrate a long and productive friendship. It provides us with a reason to welcome an ally to our country and our Nation's Capitol. Madam Speaker, I hope our colleagues will join me in offering our best wishes to President Lee on the occasion of his first official visit to the United States.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a pillar of community service in my district, Mr. Joseph Delaney. The University of Notre Dame Alumni Association officially recognizes 230 Alumni clubs throughout the world. This includes the University of Notre Dame Alumni Club of Staten Island, located in my Congressional District. For 10 years the Staten Island Club was led by a gentleman I rise to honor today, Mr. Joseph Delaney. During Joe's leadership, the Alumni Club became one of the most altruistic, charity-oriented organizations on Staten Island. The University of Notre Dame Alumni Association recognized the Staten Island Club with its prestigious Charlie F. Lennon Award, recognizing it as the most outstanding club in the entire network, in both 1999 and 2005. The club was also recognized by the University Alumni Association as the most outstanding club for their size of membership three times, in 1997, 2002, and 2005. Joe's community service is not restricted solely to his leadership of the Alumni Club. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks Joe arranged for the University of Notre Dame Glee Club to visit Staten Island and headline a fundraiser which raised $11,000 to help the families of police and fire officers who died at the World Trade Center. On two separate occasions Joe has coordinated fundraisers for the benefit of St. Peter's Elementary School raising a total of $17,000 for the school. While no longer serving as the Club's President, Joe continues to direct their annual Christmas Toy Drive which aides the Salvation Army, The New York Foundling Hospital, and the Seaman's Society. He also coordinates their Annual Thanksgiving Clothes Drive which provides coats to the needy at Project Hospitality. One of Joe's greatest charity successes has been building the annual ``Bread of Life Food Drive.'' Through this drive the Alumni Club has donated over 800,000 food products to local needy families and individuals. The New York City Council recognized Joe's efforts for the Food Drive and honored him with an award in 1997. Certainly, Joe Delaney is a giant of the Staten Island community service community and I rise today to join the Notre Dame Alumni Club in honoring Joe for his years of service to our community. The Alumni Club will be honoring Joe at their annual ``Universal Notre Dame Celebration'' on April 18th. I rise to offer gratitude to Mr. Delaney on behalf of my constituents on Staten Island, and to thank him for his years of community service.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Mario Canzoneri, who died on Saturday, January 19, 2008, following heart surgery. Mario and his wife Karen have been true and constant supporters of the community of 9/11 victims and their families. They have shared their therapy dogs--the Smile Retrievers-- Jake, Jessie, Mattie, and Macie, with the entire community. Immediately after the tragic attacks, Mario brought his therapy dogs to New York to help the families of the victims. Selflessly, and always at their own expense, Mario and Karen ministered to 9/11 families. They also traveled to Oklahoma City, to the TAPS program in Washington, to the campus of Virginia Tech, and to many other places where people were in pain from brutal losses. Mario was extremely active in the community, attending every forum sponsored by Voices of September 11th and has accompanied the Pentagon families during their remembrance walks. I have heard many stories of young children cuddling up to the dogs and finding a way to deal with their grief on the anniversary of the attacks. Mario proved that each of us holds the power to change the lives of many for the better. Although Mario's own life was cut short, his was a life lived to the fullest--a life that impacted others in a way few of us ever achieve. With purpose and resolve, Mario Canzoneri used his time on God's earth wisely and for the betterment of those around him. In closing, Madam Speaker, I would like to extend my personal condolences to the Canzoneri family. Mario was a great man with a kind heart, and we are all in his debt.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule. You know, kicking the can may be a fun game when there's nothing to do and there are no consequences at stake. But when it comes to national security and protecting the American people, providing the right tools to those on the front lines in the war against terrorism, kicking the can could be a fatal bargain. Congress continues to kick the can down the road on a key tool that has kept this country safe since September 11. The other body closed a loophole in FISA that will ensure intelligence services have all the tools necessary to track terrorists overseas, terrorists who want to do us harm. Our Nation has not been attacked since September 11, in large part because of our ability to detect and disrupt terrorist plots before they've had a chance to carry out their evil acts. FISA is essential to those efforts. Why do some ignore history? Why do some ignore the mindset of the likes of al Qaeda and others? Why do some want to weaken our ability to disrupt a terrorist attack before it occurs? Why do some put our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in harm's way or at risk? Last year we modernized the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act only after the National Intelligence Director told Congress that we were ``missing a significant amount of foreign intelligence that we should be protecting to protect our country.'' What about those consequences? Preventing the destruction of the Brooklyn Bridge is but one example. More tragically is the case of Specialist Alex Jiminez of Queens, New York. Last May, Specialist Jiminez was taken hostage by al Qaeda in Iraq. Information had been secured on one of the possible kidnappers, but intelligence experts were hamstrung by the outdated version of FISA. It prevented them from conducting surveillance on terrorists in a foreign nation without first obtaining a warrant. As the kidnappers acted, lawyers sat around a conference table here in Washington for 10 hours debating and drafting legal briefs to establish probable cause to conduct the surveillance. While the lawyers debated, losing precious time, Specialist Jiminez most likely was killed. They've yet to find the body and that of his colleague. Let's stop kicking the can down the road. This is not a game we can afford to lose.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I would like to call attention to two provisions in this legislation, one in the manager's amendment and one in the underlying legislation passed in the Education and Labor Committee. The first provision allows colleges and universities to apply for a non- Federal matching grant for fire prevention technologies through an already established program via the Department of Education. These funds will be used to professionally install fire prevention devices in student housing, dormitories, and other buildings on campus. More people are alive today, we know, Mr. Chairman, because of fire detection, and this provision will help prevent fires in college housing and save many lives in the process. We don't need to be reminded of, for example, Seton Hall University several years ago that had a devastating fire in one of the college buildings that resulted in student deaths. The last thing, I think, a parent wants to discover or hear is that their child was injured or, worse, killed in a fire while away at college. The other provision was included in the manager's amendment with the help of Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon. The provision will provide colleges and universities with additional funds to acquire security cameras, intrusion detection sensors, and other technologies to protect students, faculty, and campus visitors. Allowing colleges and universities the opportunity to use these funds will provide the higher education community with a safer environment, again, one where parents can go to bed at night not worrying whether or not their children are safe so far away from home. As we all have colleges and universities, chances are, throughout the country in our districts, whether St. John's University in Staten Island or Wagner College, we all know that this funding and these provisions will go a long way to help their campuses become more secure and more safe.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Catholic Schools not only in my home Congressional District of Staten Island and Brooklyn, but also the entire Nation as we honor Catholic Schools Week from January 27-February 2, 2008, which is sponsored by the National Catholic Education Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. America's Catholic schools educate nearly 2.5 million students a year, providing the Nation's young men and women with a broad academic background emphasizing the lifelong development of moral, intellectual physical and social values. Catholic school initiatives that reach out to disadvantaged young people have touched a diverse group of students who sometimes find themselves trapped in underachieving schools. It is not surprising to me that more than 25 percent of Catholic school students are from minority groups and nearly 14 percent are non-Catholics. Parents recognize the importance of a quality education and are willing to sacrifice to ensure their children have every opportunity to succeed in the world. Catholic Schools Week pays tribute to the dedication, character, compassion, and values that embody Catholic education in this country. I believe it is important to recognize the outstanding contributions Catholic Schools make in our country today. Their commitment to the educational standards and values ensure our children will have the right moral framework to help lead our great Nation in the future. As a product of Catholic education, I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution. I would like to recognize all Catholic Schools in the 13th Congressional District of New York: Academy of St. Dorothy, Blessed Sacrament, Holy Rosary, Immaculate Conception, Notre Dame Academy, Monsignor Farrell High School, Moore Catholic School, Mother Francciska, Notre Dame Academy Elementary, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Our Lady Help of Christians, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Benedicta, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Sacred Heart, St. Adalbert, St. Ann, St. Charles, St. Christopher, St. Clare, St. John Villa Academy, St. Joseph, St. Joseph by the Sea High School, St. Joseph Hill Academy, St. Joseph-St. Thomas, St. Margaret Mary, St. Mary, St. Patrick, St. Paul, St. Peter's Boys, St. Peter's Girls, St. Peter's Elementary, St. Rita, St. Roch, St. Sylvester, Seton Foundation For Learning, St. Teresa, Most Precious Blood, Fontbonne Hall Academy, Our Lady of Angels, Our Lady of Grace, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Anselm, St. Bernadette, St. Ephrem, St. Finbar, St. Frances Cabrini, St. Patrick School, Sts. Simon & Jude, Visitation Academy, Xavarian High School, Xavarian Genesis Program.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, as a founding member of the Congressional Men's Health Caucus I am very pleased to report a groundswell of activity occurring as I speak today across the country related to men's health education, outreach, awareness, and screening. This focus and attention is long overdue. New data provide alarming statistics about a gradual decline in men's health. In fact, men are living on average about 5 years less than their female counterparts, men are leading in 9 out of 10 top causes of death, 1 in 2 men in their lifetime will be diagnosed with cancer compared to 1 in 3 women, and as women enter retirement (65-69 years of age) approximately 15 percent are widows due to the premature death/disability of men. I am proud to work with the Men's Health Network, MHN, to raise awareness of men's health; they, for over 15 years, have taken the lead nationally in setting best practices, creating grassroots networks and activism, and providing health services to men and their families where they live, work, play, and pray. Under their leadership we are seeing symposia, screening events, and campaigns launched all across the country aimed at reversing the negative trends in men's health. In November and December of 2007 alone, they have led community/neighborhood development efforts resulting in a Massachusetts Symposium on Men's Health, Louisiana Symposium on Men's Health, Florida Smoking Policy Symposium, ``Healthy Sunday'' church screening at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Baton Rouge, LA, and will launch a Women Against Prostate Cancer organization in conjunction with the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center. Each of these programs and initiatives makes it a priority to empower men, women, and their families to live healthier lifestyles. These efforts are engineered to reach underserved populations who don't have access to health services or health education materials. Women Against Prostate Cancer is a new organization, founded by Men's Health Network in conjunction with the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center, that is developing a grassroots network of women volunteers who have been adversely affected by prostate cancer. The National Cancer Institute estimates 219,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, resulting in more than 27,000 deaths this year. Meanwhile, the state symposia create opportunities for networking for men's health and community outreach organizations throughout the State(s), as well as encourage preventative health measures and physician and patient dialogue. Actions like these can save lives and, more importantly, American families. I along with my colleagues belonging to the Congressional Men's Health Caucus am proud to support these continued efforts while continually stressing the need to establish an Office of Men's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. It is great, because in other countries, sometimes opposition candidates get put under house arrest. Here in this great institution we have the debate in plain view. And as has been mentioned repeatedly, there is just a clear distinction on how to solve this problem. Personally, I think I speak for many, the AMT is a problem, and it is a problem for 52,000 people living in Staten Island and Brooklyn, many of whom, by the way, are small business owners, are those firemen and police officers and teachers who are working sometimes two, three and four jobs to put food on the table. We should abolish it. Abolish it once and for all, as has been suggested. Put simply, this is a wolf in sheep's clothing. We know what it will do. This is the first installment on what will be the largest tax increase in American history. My concern is more than just being an American citizen here. My equal concern is what will it do to New York's economy. People talk about how we are going to pay for firefighters and police officers. We know that this bill will punish investment, punish capital, kill jobs that in large part go to fund the salaries of those firefighters and police officers and teachers who do a great job every day. It is a clear distinction, a clear disagreement on where we are going. Kill this bill.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me at the outset thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Meeks) without whom this legislation would not be possible. As he has mentioned, while we are on opposite sides of the aisle, we share the common goal of ensuring that the U.S. remain the envy of the world when it comes not just to capital markets but also the place where people can come, investors can come, entrepreneurs can exist and find capital and make this country even better and stronger. Of course, we share the common purpose of representing the greatest city in the world, New York, which has always been and shall continue to be the financial capital of the world. I would also like to thank the chairman of the committee, Mr. Frank, and especially the ranking member, Mr. Bachus, for bringing this bill to the floor, again, without whom this would not be possible. Over the past year or more there has been a new and rightly placed focus on the competitiveness of the United States capital markets. As emerging international markets continue to grow, the natural and historical attraction to the U.S. capital markets has given way to the considerations of a broader scale. In short, the U.S. is no longer the only game in town. Over the past several years, as my good friend Mr. Meeks has indicated, several reports have been published that argue the regulatory and legal environment in the U.S. serve as negative considerations when market participants choose where to raise capital or headquarter a global business. With new markets popping up across the globe, investors and businesses now have more options, and increasingly we are seeing them choose alternatives to the U.S., such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and London. We have seen an increasing number of U.S. companies, in particular small companies, raise capital on foreign exchanges, in particular, London's Alternative Investment Market, or, as known commonly, AIM. Clearly, the United States remains the global financial leader. Overall, I believe we can be optimistic about the future growth and success of the American capital markets. However, in a constantly evolving and ever-innovative global marketplace, we cannot take our leadership for granted, nor ignore indicators that the U.S. competitive edge is diminishing. As lawmakers, we have a critical responsibility to ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of the financial markets. Strong capital markets are not a success realized by Wall Street and investment bankers exclusively. Strong markets mean jobs, economic growth and retirement security for people across the United States. We cannot control the evolution of overseas markets or their ability to compete in a global marketplace, nor should we want to. What we can control, however, is our ability to respond and to adapt to changing circumstances with innovation and flexibility that will allow our markets and market-makers to maintain their competitive edge. This bill, the Small Cap Competitive Listing Act, is an important and reasonable step toward achieving that goal. In order to compete in an increasingly global and highly competitive marketplace, exchanges both domestic and international have developed additional listing tiers, with lower listing standards to expand opportunities for smaller companies. Particularly for small cap companies, an opportunity to list on a developmental tier is an important component to their ability to raise the capital necessary to grow their business and to continue to innovate. Mr. Speaker, in 1996, Congress passed the National Securities Market Improvement Act in an effort to streamline the regulatory process and eliminate duplication. Common sense. This act included an important provision that granted preemption from State security regulation to the national exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and the American Stock Exchange. Because these listings were national in scope on the major U.S. exchanges, Congress deferred regulation to the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, as the markets have evolved, that legislation has created a legislative barrier to the establishment of developmental tiers on national exchanges. Because developmental tiers have less stringent listing standards, securities offered on those exchanges should in fact be subject to State regulatory oversight in addition to the SEC oversight. The legislation provides the national exchanges a legislative pathway that currently exists for regional domestic exchanges and foreign exchanges to offer a marketplace for small cap companies. By allowing the national exchange to establish this new tier, it will grant small cap companies a new alternative to London's AIM market and to other marketplaces that may be less regulated and less transparent. This legislation represents sound policy. It puts all of our domestic exchanges on equal footing and removes a roadblock to progress. In addition, the bill represents an important approach to addressing American competitiveness. It grants the flexibility to develop new offerings without creating a regulatory race to the bottom. These new tiers would be subject to State security regulations, and any proposed new listing will be subject to oversight and approval from the SEC. Additionally, investor protections are upheld. As public companies, small cap companies seeking to list on a developmental tier will be required to fully comply with U.S. securities laws. Let me just say in closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Meeks. We here in Congress, regardless of our party affiliation or where we are from, know that this country is the engine of the world, and we want to keep it such. We understand that financial markets, in particular the securities industry, is a vital component of our national economy. And it is not just about Wall Street. As mentioned, many of us, whether you are from Queens, Brooklyn or Staten Island, many of our constituents benefit from a vibrant financial service industry. Much of that tax revenue disproportionately in New York City goes to fund schools and parks and roads. This is just a small way in which we can maintain that competitive edge, give entrepreneurs and small companies the opportunity to access our capital markets, put us on equal footing to compete with London's AIM and other emerging market exchanges across the world, and understand that the American people, the American businessman and woman, can compete with anyone if given the tools and the barriers are diminished. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers. Mr. Meeks, thank you very much. As well, I would like to add my thanks to his staff and that of Mr. Frank, Mr. Bachus, and on my staff, Ryan McKee, and urge my colleagues to adopt the underlying legislation. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 986, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the New Utrecht Reformed Church in Brooklyn, New York on its 330th Anniversary. Dutch settlers formed the town of New Utrecht, one of the original five towns of Brooklyn, in the mid 1600's and eventually, under the authority of the Reformed Church in the Netherlands, established the New Utrecht Cemetery in 1654. These same settlers gathered as a congregation in 1677 under the name of the Reformed Dutch Church of New Utrecht Long Island, which is the fourth oldest congregation in Brooklyn. It was later renamed the New Utrecht Reformed Church, the name it carries to this day. The history of the church is detailed and storied, including being seized and occupied by the British during the Revolutionary War and used as a hospital. There is even a weathervane that bears the bullet holes sustained during the Battle of Long Island. The Church also provided care and assistance to the Continental Army and General Woodhull, who eventually died inside the hospital. The Daughters of the American Revolution have since raised a statue of General Woodhull on the grounds of the Church cemetery. In 1783, when the British evacuated Brooklyn, the New Utrecht Reform Church was privileged to be the first location to have the Betsy Ross flag flown over its grounds. To this day, the same liberty pole flies an American flag nearly 224 years after the British evacuation. Not only did the New Utrecht Reform Church play a vital role in the Revolutionary War but also played an important role in the Civil War by sponsoring Company H of the 14th New York Regiment of the Union Army. To this day, the lives of these brave Union soldiers are memorialized in the church's sponsorship of the New York State Military Company H Brooklyn 14th Regiment re-enactment troop. In 1910, the New Utrecht Reformed Church founded the oldest continuous Boy Scout Troop in the nation; Troop 20 and its counterpart, Cub Scout Pack 20. The congregation continues its commitment to provide safe harbor for our community's youth through support of the scouting program and many other community events centered on the enrichment of children's lives. Throughout its long history, New Utrecht has opened its doors to new immigrants arriving on our shore: the Italian congregation in 1947; the Chinese congregation in the 1980's; the Korean congregation in the early 1980's and the Russian congregation in the 1990s. Madam Speaker, New Utrecht Reformed Church has been a mainstay in the Brooklyn community for 330 years and has impacted the lives of countless individuals. On this 330th anniversary, I would like to honor the church for its contributions to the people of Brooklyn and to the United States with the hope of another 330 years to come.