Vito Fossella

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 483, 484 and 485. I was in the hospital with my son. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on all three.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time to me, and for his leadership on this matter. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for once again coming forward to assist New York in its time of need. Mr. Speaker, we understand after September 11 that not only was New York and America attacked, but we have to come together as a country to help New York rebuild. Anybody who has been to downtown Manhattan, Ground Zero, as it has come to be known, has really witnessed devastation. We have seen the utter destruction, day in and day out. We have brave men and women who are still recovering the remains of those who were there and perished; but we also have just a scene out of a bad movie. Simultaneously, what has happened is that a lot of businesses are hurting. A lot of businesses who employ thousands of people in downtown Manhattan are either going out of business or are on the brink of bankruptcy, with employees who perhaps have no health insurance. A lot of different problems have resonated since September 11 above and beyond, if you will, the utter destruction that has taken place. What the gentleman from California (Chairman Thomas) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) who have stood up before will do in this proposal is provide incentives for businesses to come back to New York, back to downtown Manhattan specifically in this newly-created zone, and to build, whether it is through accelerated small business expensing benefits or a 5-year recovery period for leasehold improvements; again, an incentive to come and to rebuild. There is nothing we can do to ever turn back the clock to September 10, but what the Congress can do, in addition to the ongoing appropriations, which I believe is going to be a multiyear process, and I credit the President for fulfilling his commitment, this is another vehicle to help New York rebuild and to provide incentives. Over and above this proposal, I think it is important to understand that the surest way to help New York and perhaps the best way to help New York is to implement significant tax relief for folks who are working in Manhattan and the other boroughs. That is the surest and, as I see it, is the long-term positive effect on rebuilding. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) for being so diligent, and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for bringing this forward. This is going to help New York and help New York City, and it is going to help the people that I represent in Staten Island and Brooklyn, many of whom worked in downtown Manhattan. Again, it is just another boost, I think, from the Congress and from Washington that we are going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people from New York.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I happen to believe that sometimes when we are confronted with an issue, it is best for Congress to do nothing at times. This is not one of those times. I think we are playing with fire if Congress does not act on passing this legislation this year as soon as possible. The underlying bill as presented by the chairman is the right vehicle to proceed with. Every day that passes creates more uncertainty, thus more risk and more instability in our economy. It is not just the insurance companies or the reinsurers; it is the very foundation of our Nation. For example, right now in midtown Manhattan, there is an office project, a major one, being contemplated. It means jobs, it means livelihoods, it means a better quality of life for so many people. These developers right now are having discussions with their insurance agents. Insurance agents say, we cannot give you this insurance because of the risk associated with a potential terrorist attack. If that does not occur, there may not be and very likely will not be this development project in midtown Manhattan. Hundreds of millions of dollars will stop. That is going to take place across New York and across the country, unless something is done. I would urge everybody in this Chamber and the other body to come to closure on this as soon as possible, without raising the cost of insurance unnecessarily to small and big business owners across the country, to work cooperatively to do what is right for the American people; not to put the taxpayer on the hook, but to play the vital role that government should play in this capacity, and that is to protect against any potential terrorist attack which, by definition, is random and terrorist in nature. Put it aside, support the underlying bill, and let us move forward.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, on Rollcall No. 428, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea''.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding the time. If there is anybody in this House that wants to ensure that there is an adequate security standard across our airports it is me. On September 11, that we all reference, more than 300 people from my district died, my friends, family and neighbors. I do not want to see that happen again; and in fact, I do not think anybody in this House wants to see that happen again. Security we can all agree upon, but there is a greater issue right now as I see it; and that is are we going to work together for the good of the American people? Right now, I have heard many times tonight how this is an issue of national security. The President supports the House bill. He does not support the substitute. If this is an issue of national security, do we not want our Commander in Chief participating in this process? I say move this bill forward, defeat the substitute. If we trust the President of the United States, our Commander in Chief, in a time of war to deploy our men and women in harm's way overseas, then certainly we can trust him to do the right thing for the people of this country on our homeland.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grucci).

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, 44 days ago thousands of innocent, brave souls began to rest with the Almighty. Each individual is a chapter in the wonderful and cherished story known as America. They were born in different towns. Some spoke different languages. They worshipped different faiths: Christian, Jew, Hindu and Muslim. At home, they were known by different names: sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, son, daughter, mom, and dad. At home, they did different things. They coached little league; they instructed in the Bible; they taught our kids how to play soccer. During the day they had different jobs, dishwasher, broker, secretary, electrician, accountant, police officer, EMS worker, court officer, soldier, sailor, marine, airman, firefighter, and so much more. That was up until September 11. They were the essence of America. But these differences that they had were minor compared to the things they had in common. They all cherished freedom and they all loved America. After September 11, they each had one more thing in common. They united this Nation, the crucible of liberty, to keep us strong, just and free. It is thus our task to ensure that future generations know, acknowledge, and remain thankful to the honorable lives that perished tragically, but not in vain, on September 11, 2001. For the past 44 days, our Nation has grieved over the loss of thousands of brave men and women. It has been a great time of sadness for our Nation and for me personally. Like countless families on Staten Island and Brooklyn, in New York and across America, our family suffered a loss in the terrible attack at the Trade Center, and more friends and neighbors than I care to count. My prayers go out to each of them and to every family that has suffered. This is just a front page of a recent newspaper, our daily in our local hometown, the Staten Island Advance. Each one of these photos represents a tragic end to a wonderful life. Each has left families; sons and daughters without parents, mothers and fathers without sons and daughters. We will always remember them and always honor them. In this time of grief and tragedy of the past 44 days, we have also seen the very best of America. I stood proudly on that Tuesday, September 11, on concrete, where hours before stood the grandest of New York's skyscrapers, as construction workers, along with firemen and police officers planted an American flag in the debris and rubble. I watched proudly on Tuesday as New York's bravest and finest, iron workers, steelworkers, carpenters, hoisted concrete slabs with their bare hands to find survivors, to find their brothers in the wreckage. Today, my colleagues, the Congress convenes to proclaim its support for permanently establishing September 11 as a national day of remembrance. It is our intention, beginning September 11, 2002, and each year thereafter, that America and its citizens officially remember, honor, and pay tribute to the thousands of innocent lives lost by the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001; those who died at the Trade Center, those who died at the Pentagon, and those who died in Pennsylvania. The American story is far from finished. Indeed, the best chapters are yet to come. We must believe that. Each chapter represents individuals who perished and lost their lives, with names like Egan, Hamis, Bergin, Pinto, Palazzo, Moran, and thousands more. We also must believe, however, that there is a just God directing our people in a just cause of liberty. That cause, like others before, which crushed fascism and communism, is now to forbid the tyranny of terrorism. Sixty years ago, freedom-loving people looked to the United States as the arsenal of democracy. Today, the world turns again towards America, and that arsenal is stronger than ever. We will not retreat nor submit to the heinous acts of evildoers. We will and must, instead, stand firm, stand tall, and stand united with this arsenal known as the American spirit, guided by freedom and justice with direction from the almighty and in support of our Commander-in-Chief. We will be vigilant, valiant and brave, and we will prevail. It is simple to say that September 11, 2001 will be a day we will never forget, but today this body establishes forever that the freedom and the sacrifice of so many who perished on September 11, 2001 will be honored and always remembered. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds). (Mr. REYNOLDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), who I know lost a cousin, John Moran, who I also was fortunate to know. He will be missed. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. King).

Mr. FOSSELLA. I thank the gentleman from Maryland for his very inspirational and kind words. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes), a leader in this effort.

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood).

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, again, I want to just rise to thank all my colleagues, to thank the leadership of the House on both sides, and particularly the Speaker of the House, for bringing this legislation to the floor. I wish to thank Americans across our continent, and all freedom- loving people, and in particular the President of the United States for being a true leader at this time of need. Earlier I showed a photo of too many Staten Islanders and those of the other side of the Verrazano Bridge in Brooklyn where my community suffered, perhaps more than any community should suffer; and they represented the finest and the wonder of America. Here is an example of what I am talking about: Robert Curotolo, who was married in August of this year, a photo of him rushing into the Trade Center to participate in the greatest evacuation in the United States of America's history, where 25,000-or-so people were saved because of the heroic efforts of people like Robert Curotolo. Robert never made it out of that Trade Center blast; and he, like so many others, will forever go down as true heroes and true patriots. And whether it is police officers, or court officers, or EMS workers, or the guy who was working in the kitchen in the restaurant on top of the Trade Center, or the soldier who worked in the Pentagon, or the brave men on that airline that brought it down in western Pennsylvania, we, I hope and pray, will come together as a country to respect the inherent goodness of our people and stand united like never before, to worship and cherish freedom, to stand under almighty God, to stand together, regardless of where we are from, regardless of how we worship, regardless of what we look like, regardless of who we think we are, that I hope and pray in their memory that each September 11 from here in perpetuity, that we honor the great United States of America and those who lost their lives.

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding me this time, and I rise in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. I think there are basically two competing views, and that is okay, that is the beauty of our country, that we can have different views and come to the floor of this House and debate them. One suggests that we raise taxes and thus raise spending to stimulate the economy. Personally, I do not support that. I think the vast majority of the American people understand that the best way to stimulate our economy is to provide incentives to individuals and businesses to create more jobs, really harnessing the energy of the American people, the spirit of the American people. So on two levels this bill is the right thing to do because it reduces the top tax rate on individuals, thus providing incentives for people to go out there, work a little harder and keep a little more money from their paycheck, or a small business to keep a little more money in their small business, to create more jobs, to provide health insurance for their employees, to invest in the long-term prosperity of their operations. On another level it is important for New Yorkers. This is a good bill for New York. We have seen what happened on September 11, and I want to commend my colleagues and the administration on the other side of the House for all they have done for New York; but we also saw in New York an unbelievable spirit that came forward. That is nothing new. There are those of us who believe that the American people have unbridled spirit and, when given the tools, they can achieve everything and anything. And that is what this bill allows to happen. It allows the American spirit to take hold. In New York, we have to rebuild downtown Manhattan. Fifteen to twenty million square feet of office space needs to be rebuilt. This bill will allow that to happen by decreasing the leasehold improvement for tenants to 15 years. Normally a lease on commercial office space is 7 to 10 years; retail space 3 to 5 years. Current law is out of whack with that. This bill rights that and will provide incentives for the private sector to go into downtown New York and rebuild it as it will. This is the tool that will allow that to happen. We also recognize that in New York we want to provide incentives to businesses to depreciate and expense their equipment, capital equipment, capital investments that are going to create more jobs. Now, it is one thing to have a view that more taxes is better and more spending is better, but if at any time this country needed a shot in the arm and a resurrection of the knowledge that the American people are the fruit and the root of prosperity, it is right now. This bill, championed by the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) and the Speaker, and supported by the administration, is right for New York, right for America, and right for this Congress.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, Italian-Americans have contributed greatly to the United States; Columbus discovered America, two Italians signed the Declaration of Independence, Enrico Fermi split the atom and Captain Don Gentile, the fighting ace, was described by General Dwight Eisenhower as a ``one man air force,'' to name just a few. I wanted to spend a few minutes today to honor an Italian-American who is often overlooked--Antonio Meucci. The 19th century was a time of great technological innovation, as its birth heralded the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. However, unlike the century just ended and the new one we are beginning to explore, the rough and tumble of our young nation had yet to develop information exchange to the extent we enjoy today. The Founding Fathers made America guarantor of unprecedented--and to this day unmatched--liberty. This liberty included an again unprecedented appreciation for intellectual property rights. Today, with our study of historical records and ability to examine many disparate sources of information, we now know it is likely that the invention of what we know today as the telephone took place in the middle of the 19th century rather than at its end. Its creator was Antonio Meucci. He worked for years to develop this new system of electronic communication. However, poor and sick, he was unable to keep the patents in force and died before the courts could decide with finality whether he or Alexander Graham Bell was the true inventor of the telephone. It is known that Meucci demonstrated his device in 1860, that a description appeared in New York's Italian language newspaper and that Western Union received working models from Meucci but reportedly lost them. It is also known that Meucci, due to his limited means, settled for a caveat, a one-year renewable notice of an impending patent, first filed in 1871 but which he was unable to pursue after 1874, while Alexander Graham Bell was not granted a patent until 1876. Finally, it is known that the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to remand the issue for trial, but Meucci died a short time later, rendering the case moot. With these facts before the House today, I ask for passage of this Resolution to honor the life and achievements of Antonio Meucci.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 348, I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman very much for yielding time to me, and I rise in support of this needed bill. My wife called me this morning and said a neighbor came over and gave her a list of eight people who are missing from Staten Island. There are ten people at least within five blocks of my house who are missing from this explosion. That attack on Tuesday was an attack against the free people of this world. It was not just the folks in Staten Island, New York City, America, but all the free people in this great world. However, I have been in that wreckage for the last couple of days. There is not a greater spirit, there is not more resolve, there is not a greater determination than to turn this horrific tragedy into the United States' finest hour. Indeed, that is happening. So, if anything, for those martyrs who died on Tuesday, for those victims of this heinous act, let the United States stand strong once again and show that we would not be deterred by these terrorists. I commend this Congress and its leadership, as well as the President of the United States, for taking a strong stand.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I think it is easy to be against a lot of things, but the question is, what are we for as a Congress. We are for encouraging conservation. We are for encouraging energy efficiency. We are for the use of alternative sources of energy and renewables. That is what we are for. The great thing about this country, our country, is when the American people are given the truth, they can make the determinations that best suit their needs, their families, and their businesses. So what we are for are lower energy prices, lower electricity prices, lower gas prices, and at the same time, it strikes the balance by protecting our environment and providing safeguards so that the industries do not run wild. That is what the underlying bill does. I commend the gentlewoman for complementing that and doing what is right and responsible for now and for America's future.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding time to me. I just want to talk about three people. Their names are Rocco Laurie, Werner Foerster, and Joanne Chesimard. Rocco Laurie was born in Staten Island. He joined the police department in the late 1960s and then enlisted in the Marine Corps and went to Vietnam. He came back to rejoin the police department. He was married in May of 1970; and, in 1972, he and his partner were on a foot patrol in the lower East Side of Manhattan. His partner was shot eight times in the back and was killed instantly. Rocco Laurie was shot seven times. He died 5 hours later. Werner Foerster was a State trooper who was shot twice in the chest and then, execution style, twice in the head by Joanne Chesimard. Joanne Chesimard was convicted and then fled the United States and lives, I guess, as a hero in Cuba. Recently, a couple of months ago, her companion so many years ago was arrested. He has now brought forward charges and reports that Joanne Chesimard was involved in planning the assassination and killing of police officers Rocco Laurie and Foerster, who were gunned down more than 30 years ago. Is it too much to ask that we declare and demand of Fidel Castro that he send someone like Joanne Chesimard back to the United States before we pay him these courtesies? Do we not owe it to the honor of their families, their legacies, their wives, their police department, the communities from which they came? Is that too much to ask? I think that is the purpose here. Send those cop killers back, people who robbed innocent people of their lives, so that then we can go about our travel. That is fair and reasonable.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I commend my friend from Long Island, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grucci) for bringing this resolution to the floor. Mr. Speaker, for those of us who honored our fathers on Father's Day, it was pouring rain that day. The whole morning looked like the day was going to be ruined. About 2:00 the sun came out in Staten Island and worked its way eastward. There was a call in Queens about that time, and it seemed to be a routine fire. It did not look like it was a big deal until we discovered the news which has been echoed here, that three brave firemen lost their lives. The purpose here today is to take a moment to honor those men who bravely gave their lives; and to say to the other firemen that their brothers did not die in vain. Their families who survived, the children, our hearts and prayers go out to them; and I hope through their faith they are able to come through this tragedy with the knowledge that others share their grief. Mr. Speaker, the New York Fire Department in particular is a wonderful resource. In Staten Island, we have lost too many firefighters: Captain John Drennan, Scott Lapedera, George Lenner, Chris Sidenberg. These are young heroes who died way before their time. Mr. Speaker, so to the families especially, know that Members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, really honor what those brave men did; and we will miss them.

Mr. FOSSELLA

Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Alabama for yielding me this time. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to discuss an issue that is important to people I represent. I also would like to thank him for his commitment to this bill to harbor projects in the New York/New Jersey area. The dredging of the Port of New York and New Jersey is vital to the continued economic competitiveness of the Port as we begin the 21st century. Dredging is necessary, as we all know, to allow for shipping to continue and allow for new generations of ships to have access to the port. However, I also understand and share the environmental concerns regarding dredging. In short, dredging and the disposal of dredge materials can only be conducted in such a manner that does not adversely impact Staten Island or its surrounding waterways. Over the past years, I have expressed to the Army Corps of Engineers my serious concerns regarding proposals calling for the establishment of containment islands and borrow pits. I have also met with citizens and groups who have expressed similar concerns. Containment islands, Mr. Chairman, are not appropriate. In the draft, Dredged Material Management Plan, the Army Corps of Engineers found containment islands to be too costly and claimed they were not going to be considered as a viable option. In fact, according to the Corps, pits located directly off Coney Island, the East Bank Pits, and Staten Island, for example, the CAC Pit, that were identified by citizen groups as being designated for near-term disposal activity have been studied extensively and are no longer being considered for any action. However, I want to ensure that the Corps has held to these statements and these options are officially removed from consideration. We have a responsibility to protect our waterways and marine life from potentially harmful pollutants. The use of emerging technologies and innovative ideas, such as using dredged material for abandoned coal mine reclamation, as well as upland disposal options must be fully explored. The economic benefits of dredging and protecting the environment, I believe, are not mutually exclusive. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I would like to work with you as this moves to conference with the Senate to address this important issue.

Mr. FOSSELLA. I am happy to yield to the gentleman from Alabama.