Maurice Hinchey

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the County of Sullivan in New York State on the occasion of its Bicentennial. I am delighted to add my voice to those recognizing this milestone, and I am proud to join the residents of Sullivan County in commemorating this significant anniversary. Created from neighboring Ulster County on March 27, 1809, Sullivan County was named in honor of American Revolutionary War leader, Major General John Sullivan. Since that time, Sullivan County's natural beauty and abundance have greatly influenced its development. Early settlers focused their efforts on tapping the generous natural resources of the region and building vibrant timber, bluestone, and tanning industries. These early commercial activities were replaced by growing agriculture and tourism sectors starting in the mid-Nineteenth Century. Sullivan County also served as an important transportation corridor and link between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. Transportation projects such as the Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike, the Delaware & Hudson Canal, and the New York & Erie Railroad helped to develop the region and fuel the expansion of metropolitan New York seventy miles to the County's south. The first of Sullivan County's grand hotels was constructed in 1846 and over the next century, hundreds of additional hotels, camps, bungalow colonies, and resorts were constructed. During the peak decades of Sullivan County's resort industry, the communities in the Catskills surged each summer with an influx of families looking to enjoy Sullivan County's tremendous beauty and many offerings. The County became increasingly popular as a vacation destination for Jewish families, who helped to build up the entertainment and hospitality industry that came to define the Catskill region. Sullivan County became widely known as part of the Borscht Belt, and its resorts and hotels helped to launch the careers of many of this country's most beloved comedians and entertainers in the decades following the Second World War. Sullivan County is renowned for its profound beauty and tremendous natural assets, including the picturesque Catskill and Shawangunk Mountains and Delaware River Valley. The Delaware River Valley in Sullivan County is designated by the National Park Service as part of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River and recognized for its incredible recreational, historic and cultural resources. This River corridor, located in close proximity to the New York metropolitan area, continues to attract many thousands of visitors who are drawn by the area's fishing, hunting, boating, golfing, and other activities. Tourism remains a vital part of the economy for Sullivan County today. As the birthplace of fly-fishing, the County continues to attract sportsmen from around the world to the area's famous trout streams. The Town of Bethel in Sullivan County, once the site of the legendary Woodstock Music Festival in August 1969, now hosts the stately Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which attracts nationally renowned performers. Sullivan County has worked diligently to build upon its historic legacy and its impressive surroundings and revitalize its economy with new industries, including green technology and a new generation of hospitality businesses. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to offer my congratulations and best wishes to the residents and businesses of Sullivan County as they celebrate this Bicentennial and as they continue to build upon the region's rich history to ensure that Sullivan County remains an extraordinary place to live and to visit.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I just want to say a few words in favor of what is attempting to be done here in the context of this bill. The TARP situation, which, as we remember, was set up last fall and, in effect, was rammed through here by the then-Secretary of the Treasury, authorized the expenditure of $700 billion, and under the last administration, about $380 billion had already been spent. So what we are trying to do here now is to make sure that the rest of this money is spent in appropriate ways. We have already set up the Special Inspector General, establishing that piece of responsibility here, and now what we are doing in the context of this bill is putting into effect all of the measures that are going to ensure the effectiveness of that Special Inspector General to make sure that he has the ability to carry out his responsibilities--to oversee the way in which this money is being allocated, how it is being used, what the impact of its use is. None of that was included in that TARP bill which the previous Secretary of the Treasury came here and, in effect, forced through the Congress. So this is an essential element here. This legislation is critically important. We need to make certain that these economic circumstances are dealt with but that they are dealt with responsibly and effectively, and that is what this legislation is going to do. I cannot see any reason why anyone would object to it, why anyone would put any opposition to it, why anyone would try to slow it down in getting effect. All of this is absolutely essential on behalf of the people of this country. We heard some statements being made just a couple of minutes ago about money being spent and allegations about how that money is too much. Well, $380 billion, yes, spent by the previous Secretary of the Treasury is much too much. We need to make sure that this is done in the proper way, and that is why this legislation needs to be adopted.

Mr. HINCHEY

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

Mr. HINCHEY. And it is unclear to me whether the gentleman is opposed to putting this information forward or not. I think that everybody here should be in favor of addressing this issue in a responsible way, saying we need to know where the money has been spent, who it has been allocated to, and what has been the result of the expenditure. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HINCHEY. I yield to the chairman.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, since the bailout bill was passed last year, about $350 billion of the $700 billion that was allocated in that legislation has been authorized and effectively spent through the Treasury Department. However, there's very little information with regard to who are the recipients of that $350 billion and for what purpose they receive that money and how they spend it. So this amendment just asks and makes it clear that upon the passage of this legislation, that the Secretary must provide information with regard to where that money has gone and how that funding was spent. And then, 30 days later, within 30 days after the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall promptly submit to the appropriate committees here in the Congress that information: Where the money was allocated and for what purposes it was spent. I think this is a very essentially important piece of information. I expect that it will be passed by the House. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HINCHEY. I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I think the amendment that we have here is very clear and puts forward some necessary information which must be received by the Congress, especially prior to the enactment of the remaining $350 billion, just making it clear that we need to know how much money has been spent and where it has been spent and for what purpose, and it stipulates that the Secretary of the Treasury must submit that information within 30 days after the enactment of this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Mohonk Mountain House, a National Historic Landmark located in Ulster County, New York, which is part of the 22nd Congressional District that I proudly serve. This year marks the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Mohonk Mountain House, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to recognize the resort's rich historical heritage, continued vitality, and its many important contributions to our local community. Founded as a modest retreat in 1869 by Albert Smiley with his purchase of 280 acres of land and a 10-room tavern, the Mohonk Mountain House has grown into a world renowned resort with over 2,200 acres and 265 guest rooms. Adding to the splendor of this mountaintop resort are an array of award-winning amenities including a state-of-the-art, eco- friendly spa, an outdoor ice-skating pavilion, and a warm and welcoming professional staff. The Mohonk Mountain House is also acclaimed for its many charming attributes such as the numerous and stately wood-burning fireplaces, balconies with glorious views and the 19th Century tradition of afternoon tea. Also, during a stay at the Mountain House, guests can get a glimpse of the resort's historic past in the enhanced museum located in the National Historic Landmark Barn. Not surprisingly, some of the most remarkable attributes of this Victorian castle retreat are not inside the resort but surrounding it. The Mountain House is situated at the heart of a 26,000-acre natural area which is comprised of private preserves, a state park preserve and the resort property, all within the majestic Shawangunk Mountain range. Equally beautiful during all four seasons, this extraordinary landscape affords resort guests the opportunity to swim in a glacial lake, horseback ride on miles of natural trails, enjoy the bountiful gardens and hike the many and varied trails, both on the resort property and throughout the surrounding preserves. In addition, guests and local residents alike can enjoy opportunities to participate in rock climbing, caving, golfing, cross-county skiing and snowshoeing. Since its inception, Mohonk Mountain House and its owners, the Smiley family, have been active stewards of the land. In 1963 the Smileys, working with Mohonk Mountain House guests, established the non-profit Mohonk Trust. The goal of this trust was to protect and manage the land for public use. Renamed in 1978 as the Mohonk Preserve, the mission of the Smiley family has continued, and, in fact, sets the standard for mountain stewardship by using science to guide land management. These efforts have helped to ensure that this remarkable landscape is preserved for generations to come. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the Mohonk Mountain House as it enters its 140th year as a family owned and operated resort. I am confident that the Smiley family will not only continue to be outstanding stewards of the land, but also leaders in the hospitably industry and in the management of this National Historic Landmark.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Well, I thank you very much, and I very much appreciate your taking the time and providing us with the opportunity to say a few things about our close friend and ally Mike McNulty, someone with whom we have worked for a long time, and I say that myself because Mike and I have been working together first in the State legislature in Albany since 1982, and I think about 6 years later, 1988 he was elected to the Congress of the United States. And I'm happy to say that I was very envious about the fact that he left Albany and came to Washington, and I tried to follow him. It took me a few years to do it, but in 1993, I came down here and I've been serving with him ever since, both of us here in this Congress. He's an extraordinary man, someone with a very remarkable history. He started out in public office because of his strong desire to serve other people as the town supervisor in Green Island. At the age of 22, he was elected to be the town supervisor, and when he was elected at that age, he was the youngest town supervisor elected in any town in the State of New York. So from the very beginning, when he first became involved in public life and working on behalf of the general public, he started off in a very remarkable way. After being town supervisor, he was elected mayor, and then as I said, he was elected to the State Assembly in Albany and served there in a very, very envious sort of way, a remarkable kind of way, one that made us all pay attention to him. He was a very, very strong leader in Albany, New York, in the State Assembly. But then when he came down here to Washington, he started off in something else that was even more dramatic. Shortly after he was elected and came here, he became a member of the Ways and Means Committee, one of the most important and significant committees here in this Congress. And as a member of that committee, he has done an extraordinary job. He is now chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security, and he has done a very wonderful piece of work, strengthening Social Security, protecting Social Security, protecting it from people like the President of the United States who in 2005 wanted to privatize Social Security. And if you think about the economic consequences that we're experiencing today as a result of the huge declines in financial institutions, you can imagine what the Social Security system would look like if it hadn't been for people like Mike McNulty standing up and defending Social Security and making sure that it wasn't privatized and that it remains strong and went on to the people of our country. One of the ways in which Mike has served here is to be the acting Speaker of this Congress, this House of Representatives, and he did so I think probably more than anyone else that I know of, all the time that he spent there and doing that leadership position in such an exemplary way. So he is someone who has set an example for all of us, from the first time he was elected to be town supervisor, then as mayor, then as a member of the State legislature, and then coming here to serve in this House of Representatives and to do it in a very remarkable way. He's also a person who has demonstrated what it's like to be a strong family man. He is married to Nancy Ann Lazzaro, and he and she have been married now for 37 years. Mike and Nancy have four daughters: Michele, Angela who's often called Jody, Nancy and Maria. They have five grandchildren: Lola Madelon and Daniel Patrick Sovie, and Teigin Michele, Elijah Michael, and Morgyn Jean Legault. A wonderful family, and I can only say how happy I am to have served with him, both in Albany and here in this Congress of the United States. He has been here for 20 years. And I must say that I'm sorry he is leaving, but I understand that he feels the responsibility to spend a little more time at home. And that is something, again, that I admire in him, again, for the leadership that he is providing. So I must say, Mr. Speaker, that this gentleman from the State of New York has set a wonderful example for anyone who wishes to serve the people of their communities, their State, and their country by the example that he has set in all of those areas. Michael, I thank you. I thank you for everything that you've done. I thank you for your friendship, for your leadership, and for the example that you have set for all of us to hopefully follow and be as good in our service as you have been in yours. Thank you, Michael, for everything that you've done. I yield back the time.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to stand here this evening with my friends and colleagues and particularly with my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, to voice my support for H.R. 998, a bill which she has produced and which will enrich the lives of future generations. This bill will collect oral history records from those whose struggles made them among America's most notable heroes, the leaders of the civil rights generation. The civil rights movement has strengthened our social fabric by extending basic rights to all of America's people through the right to employment, the right to buy or rent a home, the right to education, rights that are the most basic and fundamental in our country. It is imperative that we collect oral history in order to preserve the rich cultural heritage of our Nation. Preserving oral history gives those in the future a firsthand account of the struggle that Americans went through to change the laws and the lives of our people and our government. These great Americans stood up to violence, they stood up to death threats, they stood up to local, State and government oppression and opposition, and they risked their own economic well- being so that our great Nation could fulfill its promise to all of its people. We must preserve that history that explains the hardship and sacrifice that many African Americans and others went through to get equal treatment under the law. This history can be most richly delivered by the people who led the movement themselves, those who fought so valiantly, and who can give their account firsthand. This bill will preserve an important part of our heritage through the process of collecting this oral history and making it available. Firsthand accounts, which include the honesty, emotion and accuracy are needed as an important part of our historical record. Collecting these first person accounts from the civil rights movement will also give generations, those in the future, inspiration and motivation to uphold and strengthen America's promise for equal opportunity and to be sure that that promise is fulfilled. It is my hope that our future generations will always be able to access oral histories and will blaze new trails that promote equality and richness in diversity. Again, I'd like to thank all of my friends who were involved with this bill, especially my colleague and friend, Carolyn McCarthy, for including me to celebrate the culture that makes America the great Nation that it is by taking further steps to allow future generations to learn from our notable American heroes.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my appreciation to Chairman Rahall for his leadership and for the good job that he has done with this bill and to Speaker Pelosi for her leadership in putting this together. It has taken some time, but nevertheless, we have now a good, forward-looking piece of energy legislation, and it's high time. We know that we have, roughly, 3 percent, actually less, of the known oil reserves around the world, and we are now importing about 70 percent of the oil that we're consuming. Obviously, just those numbers tell us clearly that we have to be moving in a different direction. So this bill makes it a lot easier for us to drill for our own oil, and it makes that oil more accessible. Already we've seen what has happened. The price of a barrel of oil has dropped down by more than 30 percent even though a price of a gallon of gasoline has dropped only by 12 percent, which is interesting since the oil companies are continuing to exploit the situation. The fact of the matter is and, I think, one of the main parts of this bill which really needs our attention is the way in which it is moving us toward energy independence, energy independence on alternative renewable energy, which this bill opens up in a way that has never been opened up before. That is extremely positive and very good for us. What we really need here is a new industrial revolution, an industrial revolution which will enable us to develop all of the energy that we need from solar, from geothermal, from wind. I think solar is the primary way, and that has been obvious to a lot of people, including somebody like Thomas Edison in 1933, who said it very clearly back then, solar energy is the one reliable form of energy. It ought to be increasingly clear to all of us now. And this bill opens that up. It is going to make solar energy real, significant, less expensive, and move us toward energy independence. And at the same time it does that, it will have a very positive effect on our economy. The likelihood is over a relatively few years, if we do this properly, solar energy will produce more than 1 million jobs in America. So I thank you for the job that you have done. You are finally moving us in the right direction.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I am please to congratulate my constituents, Lew and Amy Kirschner, on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Kirschner are venerated members of our community, and I am proud to recognize their commitment to each other. Amy and Lew Kirschner are a remarkable couple, who have dedicated themselves to each other and to the greater good of their community. In each endeavor they undertake, their remarkable sense of purpose and loyalty shines through. Over the years they have invested much of their time in serving their community in various manners. Lew's work on the boards of many area organizations and Amy's dedication to a variety of community based organizations has kept them at the heart of all of the most pressing issues facing our city. Their advice and firm support have been invaluable. Lew and Amy have truly achieved a tremendous accomplishment in being able to look back and celebrate fifty-years of shared love, personal growth and hard work, knowing that they have remained steadfast in their commitment to one another, their family and their community. Madam Speaker, I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Lew and Amy for more than thirty years. They have been good friends and outstanding citizens. I am pleased to be able to recognize and congratulate them on this momentous occasion.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, It is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize Frank Berrish, the president and CEO of Visions Federal Credit Union, headquartered in my district in Endicott, NY, on his recent election to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions, NAFCU. Frank's election to the NAFCU board is just one more accomplishment to be added to a long list. His illustrious career includes service as president and board member of LICU Corporate FCU, as director and chairman at the NY Branch Sharing Corp, and as a member of the Federal Reserve Board Thrift Institutions Advisory Council. As the president/CEO of Visions Federal Credit Union, Frank has focused on ensuring his members receive helpful, personal service that caters to the needs of individual members and their financial goals. He has made many contributions to the credit union community through the years and his over 30 years of service at Visions Federal Credit Union have been exemplary. Frank's commitment to improve the lives of others has been recognized with a number of recent awards including the 2008 Tioga County Corporate Citizen of the Year, the 2007 NAFCU Credit Union Professional of the Year, and the 2007 Greater Binghamton Chamber Corporate Citizen of the Year. It is because of the good work and leadership of Frank and others like him that the credit union community enjoys the success it has today. Such service is the hallmark of credit unions and I wish Frank the best of luck in his new role as a member of the NAFCU Board of Directors.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, Cyprus and the U.S. share a deep and long-lasting commitment to upholding the ideals of freedom, democracy, justice, human rights, and the international rule of law. The international community has an obligation to stand with Cypriots to reunify their island and take the necessary steps towards reconciliation and peace. The 34th commemoration of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus reminds us to recognize those who lost their lives in the invasion and to condemn the ongoing Turkish occupation. The solution of the Cyprus problem must be based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federal State of Cyprus with a single sovereign entity and a single citizenship. This arrangement must comprise of two politically equal communities, as described by the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and protect the independence and territorial integrity of the nation. It must reunite the island, its people, its institutions and its economy. The Republic of Cyprus has a long history of working cooperatively with the United States on issues of international concern and it is my belief that the United States Government, including Congress, should work to continue and expand that relationship and work towards a united, peaceful, and prosperous Cyprus.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. I think your understanding is correct. But I would just say this: that there is unquestionably a large amount of information that is available which would be very important to the Government of Argentina with regard to the location of these children. I'll just give you an example: In 1999 the Justice Department asked for the release of this information. The State Department then released 470,000 documents on this subject; however, there was no release from other entities that contain similar documents, and it's about time that those documents become released.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In 1976, amidst social unrest and a deep political crisis in Argentina, a military coup there installed the cruelest dictatorship that South America has ever seen. Illegal detention, torture, and summary execution of dissidents became routine. Cross-country operations to capture and assassinate dissidents were organized in cooperation with Southern Cone military regimes in what is known as Operation Condor. Over the years, as the victims of the repression increasingly went missing, a new tactic of the Argentine security forces, so-called, was revealed. It is estimated that nearly 30,000 people disappeared in Argentina between 1976 and 1985. Many of these victims, known as ``the disappeared,'' were abducted, tortured, and then dropped out into the ocean. During Operation Condor, approximately 500 Argentine women were abducted and systematically raped and impregnated by Argentine security forces. Their children were born into captivity and distributed to members of these Argentine security forces, while the mothers are believed to have been killed. The identity of only 80 of these children have been discovered, but the whereabouts of the majority remain unknown. My amendment seeks to shed light on the unknown fate of these children, who would be roughly in their late 20s or early 30s at this moment. The amendment would require the Central Intelligence Agency to report to the House and Senate Intelligence panels on information, any information, it has about the human rights violations of the military government in Argentina from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, the rise to power of that government, and the location of any Argentine children born in captivity as a result of Operation Condor. The amendment also instructs the CIA to include a compilation of declassified documents, as well as any classified material that may exist with regard to this issue. Given the close relationship with their Argentine counterparts in the intelligent, security, and military community, the documentation of the American intelligence community is likely to contain invaluable information to support ongoing justice investigations and the search for the children of the disappeared. This amendment is supported by the Argentine Embassy, of course; the National Security Archive of George Washington University, and a wide array of human rights organizations. I urge you to join me in supporting this contribution to truth and justice and something that is critically important to the future of Argentina, particularly these children. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I want to express my appreciation to the gentleman from Michigan for his statements and for his cooperation with this amendment. I am deeply grateful to him for that. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Recognizing that we possess probably less than 2 percent of the known oil reserves in the world, we are doing everything we can to use that small amount of oil reserves intelligently and reasonably and in ways that are going to last our people for a long, long period of time. And we are saying to the oil companies either use it or lose it. If you are not going to use those 68 million acres of public land on which you already have leases, then give them up and let us give them to someone else. Let us lease them elsewhere. Let's have some responsible people go down and drill those wells and produce the oil we need which will drive down the price. So don't say that anybody over here is against drilling offshore. We are very much in favor of it, and we know that they have the leases to do it, and we are doing everything that we can to press them and pressure them to live up to their obligations and responsibilities in the leasing of the public lands that they now control.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I just want to emphasize how the Members on this side of the aisle are completely dedicated to energy independence and doing everything that is possible to achieve that objective. We did much to try to achieve it during the 12 years that our friends on the other side of the aisle held the majority. But they were not interested at all in achieving that objective, or moving forward in any significant way, not even in any real way. One of first things that we did when we achieved the majority here last year was to pass a very substantial energy independence bill which moves us strongly in that direction. Not as strongly as we would have liked, but we had to be a little less ambitious about it because we were threatened with vetoes as well as opposition from the other side of the aisle. But what did we manage to achieve? We managed to achieve energy efficiency for automobiles, the first time that had been done in more than three decades. The first time that had been done in more than 30 years. We achieved a great increase in energy efficiency. We wanted to make it more substantial. We wanted to go as high as 40 miles to a gallon, but the President said he would veto anything like that. What else did we do? We moved towards creating tax incentives for the creation and purchase of other means of energy independence such as direct and indirect solar energy, and we are working very strong on trying to achieve that, in spite of the fact that the White House has said they are not in favor of it, they are opposed to that and would veto that kind of legislation. They say that we are not in favor of drilling for our own oil off our own coast. Well, the fact of the matter is that we are not opposed to that at all. We recognize that we now have more than 150,000 wells drilled on the land owned by the people of the United States of America on public land, some of it here on dry land in the lower 48 States and up in Alaska, and the rest of it offshore, mostly in the Gulf of Mexico. That's what we understand. In addition to that, we have 68 million acres of land that has been also leased to these major oil companies but because they do not apparently want to produce any more energy because they realize that if they produce more, then the price is going to go down, they are not drilling on those 68 million acres. So the fact of the matter is we are moving as aggressively as anyone could, as intelligently as anyone could in the direction of trying to achieve greater energy independence for our country.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy).

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I want to illustrate the importance of this issue which we are dealing with here today and an issue in which I rise in strong support. It is a bipartisan effort to implement the National Park Service's study that Congress mandated back in the 106th Congress. It's an issue that has been pending for some time. The National Park Service study recommended that we designate as a National Historic Trail this 600-mile route used by the allied armies under General George Washington and French Count Rochambeau in their epic march that led to the victory at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781, and the independence of the United States of America. The trail travels mostly along existing roads, throughways, and publicly navigable waters from Rhode Island down to Yorktown, Virginia. Designating the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route as a National Historic Trail will help spur a greater understanding of our shared history and will help illuminate the important battle of a young country and its French allies against the rule of King George. I'd like to thank especially Chairmen Rahall and Grijalva for moving this legislation through the hearing and markup process in the Natural Resources Committee. I greatly appreciate their support and assistance and that of their very capable staff. This designation is important because we have identified the scope of resources that we need to more effectively commemorate this historic event. In particular, I am thrilled that the expanded involvement of the National Park Service to preserve and interpret the route will highlight to Americans, young and old, our earliest struggles as a country for our independent rule on behalf of all of the people of our country. The designation also calls for the involvement of State and local historic organizations interested in commemorating the heritage of the American Revolution, with a particular focus on the States of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. It was on the 16th of December, 1999, that the Revolutionary War enthusiasts supporting a National Historic Trail designation of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route organized themselves at the Washington headquarters in Newburgh, New York. They advocated for the route essentially defined by the march taken by the Continental Army of General George Washington and by the French Army of Count Rochambeau on their way to their ultimate victory over British forces under the command of Major General Charles Cornwallis in Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. The route also included the march of the French Army in 1782 as it returned back north up to Boston. In a 1999 interview with the historical magazine ``American Heritage,'' renowned author David McCullough claimed that ``as you are working on the Revolutionary War, as I am doing now, you realize what the French did for us. We wouldn't have a country if it weren't for them,'' David McCullough said. For that America will be forever grateful for the army led by Rochambeau, and this trail will significantly symbolize our appreciation and dedication to our shared history. I would like to thank all of the Revolutionary War enthusiasts, the National Park Service, and the many Members of Congress whose districts particularly host the route who have cosponsored this legislation. All of these participants helped make this designation possible. It is a designation that will raise to a much greater level the quality of heritage preservation all along the route by providing signage and other commemorative work directed toward linking the Allied encampments along the Revolutionary march with a self-guided auto route, auxiliary hiking trails and appropriate historical signs. This commemorates one of the most significant events in the history of the United States of America. It is our major victory in the Revolutionary War, which led to the independence of our country, the foundation of our Constitution, the creation of the Bill of Rights, and the leadership that we have provided for the following centuries around the world. I am very much in support of this bill. I hope that every Member of this House of Representatives will vote for it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HINCHEY. I yield 1 additional minute, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention the circumstances of Sergeant Carmelo Rodriguez and the series of extraordinary mistakes the military made which led directly to his death. In 1997, when Carmelo Rodriguez enrolled in the Marines, a physical performed by U.S. military staff concluded that Carmelo Rodriguez had melanoma present on his right buttock. No action, however, was taken. In March of 2000, Carmelo marked ``no'' on a medical report indicating he was not aware of his melanoma. On February 5, 2003, during a prescreening for foot surgery, another military doctor made note of a so-called ``birthmark'' present on his right buttock. Again, no action was taken. During March of 2005, while Carmelo was deployed in Iraq, he saw another military doctor for a growth or sore on his buttock. He was told to keep it clean and visit the doctor again when he got back to the United States, which would be 5 months later. On November 11, 2005, Carmelo saw the same doctor and was directed to dermatology to have the so-called birthmark removed for cosmetic purposes. The next year, several months later, April 2006, while several referrals were ``lost in the system,'' Carmelo's so-called birthmark was bleeding and pussing constantly. He finally succeeded in seeing an appropriate doctor and was told he had stage III malignant melanoma. Carmelo had three surgeries, received radiation and chemotherapy, but it was too late. The cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, to his liver, kidney and stomach, throughout his body. The doctors told him that if it had been caught earlier, it would have made a big difference. Carmelo Rodriguez was a young, strong man and a dedicated member of the Armed Forces. At the age of 29, he died of a skin cancer that should have been caught much earlier by the military he was counting on. He left behind a family who loved him deeply, including his 7-year old son. His family, like so many service men and women and their families, have been left with many unanswered questions. How could the military health system fail in such a significant and painful way? Why, after such a critical failure in health care, has the military not conducted and completed a full investigation into the circumstances that led to Carmelo's death? And how could it be possible that of all Americans, members of the military and their families are left no recourse in the face of such medical negligence? In California, the wife and two small children of Staff Sergeant Dean Witt want to know why the military can't be held accountable when he died after routine appendicitis surgery. Christine Lemp, whose husband, James, died after receiving questionable medical care for a stomach virus in Missouri, deserves to know why there is no recourse to holding the military accountable for his death. Eight National Guardsmen and their families from New York City deserve answers in the face of the medical negligence that occurred after their exposure to depleted uranium. The Feres Doctrine was a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court nearly 60 years ago that denies service men and women the ability to hold the military accountable for acts of negligence, including medical malpractice. Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, Federal prisoners and even illegal aliens in the United States have the ability to seek damage from the Federal Government for medical malpractice, but members of our Nation's military still do not. What I have done is crafted a piece of legislation to allow members of the military to seek just recourse in cases of military medical malpractice. This bill is about holding our military accountable for its actions and for its responsibility to our military members. Carmelo's situation and this legislation speak directly to the fact that our military, including the military's health system, is spread thin by the occupation of Iraq. Our military is facing shortfalls of doctors, nurses and other health care staff across-the-board. This highlights just one of the many consequences of the decision to invade Iraq on false pretenses. Service men and women must be on equal footing as all American civilians. I think Americans will agree that anything to the contrary contradicts the fundamental principles of our Nation. As a military veteran and Member of Congress, I believe we must match the dedication and sacrifice of our soldiers with the adequate health care they deserve and a fair avenue of recourse in the case that they do not receive that adequate health care. I am hopeful that my colleagues will also agree and join me in support of the Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2008.