Maurice Hinchey

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I just want to mention that we have an administration now in the White House that is replete with oil contacts; and the transition team that set up the energy policy of this administration was made up entirely, except for one person, of people from the oil companies. That is what needs to be dealt with. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey).

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva).

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks). (Mr. DICKS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable and talented man, a man who I am proud to call my friend, Mr. Levon Helm. Levon once said of the music of Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys, ``it really tattooed my brain.'' That's how I feel about Levon's music, which I have had the pleasure of enjoying since the late 1960s, when he recorded ``Music from Big Pink'' in West Saugerties, New York. Levon Helm was born on May 26, 1940 in Elaine, Arkansas. From an early age, Levon had a musical gift. He performed all over Arkansas with his sister Linda, entertaining crowds with a homemade string bass, harmonica and guitar. As a teenager he formed his own band, The Jungle Bush Beaters, and honed his musical gift by watching entertainers such as Johnny Cash, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and a young Elvis Presley. After The Jungle Bush Beaters, Levon joined The Hawks, which recorded such hits as ``Forty Days'' and ``Mary Lou.'' The Hawks sold 750,000 copies of their record and appeared on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. After splitting with The Hawks' founder, Ronnie Hawkins, Levon and his band mates signed on as Bob Dylan's backup band, and followed Dylan to West Saugerties, New York, where they took up residence in a pink house, wrote and rehearsed. The group became known simply as The Band, and the outcome of that period was one of the most important albums of the 20th century, ``Music from Big Pink.'' It was the album that introduced Levon Helm to America, and it introduced me to their amazing sound. Luckily for Levon, he didn't put his roots down in the Hudson Valley just yet. While working in Los Angeles in 1974, he met the lovely Sandra Dodd who would become his wife seven years later. I am happy to know her and call her a friend. The Band continued to prosper in the early 1970s and in 1975, the barn and studio that Levon built in Woodstock was complete. Unfortunately it was just a year later that we said goodbye to The Band, but it would not be goodbye for Levon Helm. Over the next seven years, Levon continued pursuing his own musical career with cutting-edge albums like ``The RCO All-Stars,'' the self- titled ``Levon Helm'' and ``American Son.'' Then in 1984, much to their fans' delight, The Band reunited, performing together and recording three more albums. In 1996, Levon was diagnosed with throat cancer, and we all feared we would never hear his voice again, but he miraculously recovered, and I, and so many others, still enjoy Levon's music at the Midnight Rambles he holds in his studio in Woodstock. For the past 30 years, Levon has been much more than our famous neighbor in Woodstock. He has, quietly and unobtrusively, been a very generous and committed member of our community. He has worked hard for and supported cancer centers, local little leagues, volunteer firefighters, members of the armed forces and school music programs. It is because of this great man, and the great music he produces that the Village of Woodstock, New York, has declared May 20 as Levon Helm Day. It continues to be an honor and a great pleasure for so many of us in New York and across America to bear witness to the incredible career and life of this very strong, extremely talented and generous man. I look forward to many more Midnight Rambles.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend warm birthday wishes and to pay tribute to a dear friend and great woman, Mrs. Mildred Resnick. Mrs. Resnick was born to Russian immigrant parents who migrated to Ulster County, New York around the time of World War I. She was raised in Kerhonkson, in the congressional district I represent, and continues to reside nearby in Ellenville. Together with her late husband Louis, Mildred has generously contributed to and nurtured the surrounding community. The Resnicks have embodied the true meaning of philanthropy. Through their generous donations and personal involvement, they improved the material, social, and spiritual welfare of their community through thoughtful and charitable activities. Lou and Mildred dedicated themselves to giving young people the opportunity to pursue higher education. Through generous scholarship assistance from the Resnicks, many students have been able to attend SUNY New Paltz to pursue their education. In addition, students' educations at New Paltz, SUNY Delhi and Cornell University have been enriched by the engineering school, gymnasium and library, respectively, that the Resnick family endowed. The Resnick's impact on our region extends far beyond their support for higher education, however. Through their contributions to the Ulster County Mental Health Clinic in Ellenville, the Ellenville Community Hospital, and countless other institutions, the health and well being of the surrounding community has been greatly improved. Together, Lou and Mildred also made their mark on the region's economy. The Channel Master Corporation, founded by Lou and his brothers, was a steady, faithful employer in Ulster County for decades. The Resnicks also invested in several other enterprises to boost the local economy, including the construction of the Joseph Y. Resnick airport, and support for the revival of the Catskill region's tourism industry. Although Lou and Mildred worked together on so many important projects in Ulster County and the surrounding region, we must also commend Mildred's many accomplishments in her own right. She has chaired the March of Dimes fundraising campaign and has been an instrumental supporter of the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute for Cancer. It is impossible for me to list here all of the wonderful and generous contributions Mildred has made to the lives of people in her community and all over the country, but this fact is clear: I, like so many others, am truly grateful to have known and worked with her. Mildred has been a dedicated and loving wife, a beloved mother and grandmother, and a faithful friend. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to publicly say ``thank you'' and to wish her a very happy birthday.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank very much my colleague from the State of New York, our ranking Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, for her leadership here and for yielding me this time. This debate in which we are engaged in this afternoon is a critically important one for the future of the American economy. As my colleague Mrs. Maloney pointed out just a few moments ago, we are currently facing the largest budget deficits in the history of our country. According to the budget resolution itself, this burgeoning budget deficit will grow by $372 billion just over the course of the next fiscal year. Many people regard that number as conservative. Many people who are analyzing the economic circumstances that we are confronting as a result of the incompetent budget policies of the Republican Party here in the Congress estimate that this budget deficit can be substantially more than $400 billion. In any case, even if it is only $372 billion, that sets another record. Now, maybe they are proud of the record that they are setting, and that seems to be the case based upon what we have just heard. In addition to the record budget deficit this year, we are also facing record debt. The national debt has now grown to more than $8 trillion, and the majority party here in the Congress very, very quietly, under cover, raised the debt ceiling to almost $9 trillion. This majority party is the biggest borrow-and-spend operation that we have ever seen in the United States of America, totally and completely irresponsible in their approach to dealing with the American people's money. As a result of that, the economic circumstances that we are confronting are becoming increasingly difficult. A major portion of their failures has been their approach to the tax system. We just heard my friend and colleague on the other side of the aisle say that the Democrats are in favor of a tax increase. That is completely fraudulent. It is another part of the propagandistic approach that the majority party has taken to dealing with these most significant issues in which we are presently engaged. We are not in favor of tax increases; we are in favor of reducing the irresponsible tax reductions that the Republicans have engaged in over the course of the last 5 years. Those tax reductions have benefited primarily the wealthiest 1 percent of the population of America. Let me give an example of that. If you are a person making $10 million a year, if that is what you made last year, $10 million, the effect of the tax cuts on your budget is very, very significant. When you factor in the deductions and investment approach, you find that your taxes have fallen by $1 million. Your taxes have fallen by $1 million if you are making $10 million a year. That is what they have done. They have cut taxes for the very wealthiest people, and they are increasing the budget deficit that is going to have to be paid back by the vast majority of working people in this country, this generation and future generations. This is the borrow-and-spend approach to governance that the Republican Party in this House has put forward and which they continue to advance in the context of this budget resolution. What has been the effect of all this on the average American? What we have seen is that wages and salaries of the working people of our country have risen at their lowest rate since 1981. And I am talking about over the last 5 years. They have risen at their lowest rate since 1981. When you look at what has been happening in the last 2 years, you find that wages and salaries have actually been in decline. People are seeing their wages and salaries, when you take into effect inflation, actually going down. So if you are a wealthy person, the Republicans are taking very good care of you. If you are an average American working for wages and salaries, you are finding your situation in desperate shape. So this budget resolution is another failure on the part of the majority party in America. They are creating deeper deficits for us. They are putting us into deeper and deeper debt. Their approach to taxation has been for the rich and against the working class; and in an economy which is based upon demand, it is forcing that economy down, and we are seeing it broadly all across the American economy, losing manufacturing jobs at record rates. All of that is as a result of the economic policies that have been put forth by the majority party here in the House of Representatives. So the point we are making right here now is once again we have a budget resolution on the floor of this House which is incompetent and irresponsible, which is going to mean higher taxation in the future for the average working families in our country while it cuts taxes for the wealthiest and most privileged and while it increases the national debt. They talk about the economy growing. We have had an economy that has experienced the most stimulation, both monetary policy stimulation and fiscal policy stimulation, in the history of the country. The lowest interest rates and huge amounts of spending have increased the national debt. That is the situation we are confronting here today, and that is why this budget resolution needs to be defeated.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend and colleague from New York for her leadership on this Joint Economic Committee. As we have heard over the course of the period of this debate, we have had in the last 5 years huge amounts of economic stimulation in this economy. The amount of economic growth dropped off sharply when the Republican Party took control of both the executive and the legislative branches of government in 2001. With the cooperation of the Federal Reserve, huge amounts of monetary stimulation were injected into the economy, and they dropped the interest rates to zero. And this Congress engaged in a spending program which was enormous, huge amounts of spending coming out of these congressional resolutions, these budget resolutions and appropriations bills. That kind of economic stimulation should have been very positive, but it was not. One of the reasons it was not is because it was done in a very irresponsible way. It was done by borrowing huge amounts of money, and that borrowing has created record amounts of debt for the American people, which they will have to pay back over the course of generations. As we have heard, the national debt now exceeds $8 trillion, and the majority party has risen that level to almost $9 trillion. With that kind of economic stimulation, huge amounts of spending and very low interest rates, we would have had every reason to anticipate that unemployment would drop, that more and more people would be employed, that they would be employed progressively, that their wages would be increasing, and the economic circumstances for the American workers and for American families would have gone up, except that, as I pointed out, it was done so irresponsibly so that most of the benefits have gone to the wealthiest people in this country and little or no benefits have gone to the middle class. So the effect has not been that we have cut unemployment and increased employment. We now have 1.2 million more people in America who are unemployed than there were 5 years ago. Long-term unemployment is even worse: 1.4 million Americans are suffering long-term unemployment. They have talked about job growth. Well, of course there has been some job growth. What has that job growth been? It has averaged about 38,000 jobs a month. Normally, even without that huge amount of stimulation, that huge amount of spending, normally what we have in America is job growth at the rate of 125,000 to 150,000 jobs a month. Job growth under their economic program has been down to 38,000. That is why we have more and more people unemployed, short term and long term. Manufacturing jobs, the essence of our economy, the most important aspect of our economy, manufacturing jobs, have gone down by 2.9 million jobs since they have taken over both the executive and legislative branches of government. Real wages for working people in this country have not gone up as you would expect with that kind of huge amount of spending, but real wages have fallen in the past 2 years. In fact, in the last 2 years, they have gone down by nearly 1 percent after inflation for American families. So the budget resolution that we are seeing today is consistent with the economic policies that the Republican Party has put forth over the last 5 years, which have been so devastating to the American economy, to American workers, and to American families. And that is the reason why this budget resolution must be defeated.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great man, a great American, and a great friend of mine, Dr. Herman Ash, who passed away in Saugerties, New York at the age of 96 earlier this month. I have had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Ash for most of my life, since he treated me for a football injury in high school. After fleeing Germany in 1937, Dr. Ash and his wife, also a doctor, settled in Saugerties and opened a medical practice. What many will remember most about Dr. Herman Ash, in addition to his medical practice, was his love of music. Dr. Ash was an accomplished pianist and violinist and enriched the small town of Saugerties with music that he played, composed, and taught. In addition to his own musical talents, he brought the Saugerties Pro Musica to town in 1995. This organization continues to host regular performances each year. Not only was Dr. Ash's service to his community commendable, he was a true American. Endeared to the country that gave him refuge in 1937, Dr. Ash joined the U.S. Army and served as a captain in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. He was also a member of the Lamouree-Hackett Post #72 American Legion for over 60 years, most of which he served as the Post's medical officer. Dr. Herman Ash's commitment to service to his community is something to be celebrated. Over his lifetime he tutored young musicians in Saugerties, was a literacy volunteer, taught English as a Second Language classes, volunteered for the Heart Association, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Juvenile Diabetes Association, a cause near and dear to my own heart. Words cannot express the gratitude and appreciation felt by those whose lives, including my own, Dr. Ash touched. The world would be a. much better place if everyone gave back to others just a fraction of what Dr. Ash gave throughout his life. My thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of this great man.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.

Mr. HINCHEY. Yes, Madam Speaker, I am.

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I want to express my appreciation to the gentlewoman from California for this amendment, which prevents funding for permanent bases in Iraq, and also because it draws our attention to other consequences. One is the tragic occupation, which has been going on in Iraq now for almost 3 years, and the consequences of that tragic occupation, which has been endorsed and supported by this Congress over and over again. It also draws our attention to the rationale for the invasion of Iraq and the subsequent occupation, a rationale which was presented to this Congress and to the American people in the most fraudulent and deceitful way. It draws attention to the fact that it is a criminal violation of Federal law to present false and misleading information to the Congress in order to get them to take action. Most importantly, it draws our attention to the fact that the Congress has done nothing about it. We are now facing the third anniversary of the invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq, and we must face the fact that this Congress has failed in its obligations and responsibilities to oversee the executive branch.

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, the motion to recommit is very simple and direct. It says that the appropriations that were directed toward the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program for the year 2006 must be spent in that year, not moved over to the year 2007. We are doing this for obvious reasons. The high cost of energy is making it extremely difficult for low-income people, particularly elderly, low-income people, to meet their home energy assistance payments, and also to meet their other needs. It is also affecting large numbers of other people in our communities across the Northeast, the upper Midwest, and elsewhere across the country. That, and the drop in temperatures recently, is causing some serious problems for many people. We want to make sure that the money that was appropriated for the LIHEAP program is used this year, appropriately so that people do not suffer as a result of its not being used. I think the case has been made.

Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, this bill is just another example of why the people of this country need to fear this Congress and the people who lead it. What this bill does is preempt State laws on food safety. We have people who come down here to the floor of the House and argue for States rights. Now they present to us a bill which denies States rights; denies the States the ability to protect their citizens by watching the food that they eat. All of those State laws are going to be washed away by this legislation. It is probably even unconstitutional. The Constitution provides the States with the authority to protect its citizens. But we are now hearing from the majority party that they want to pass a law which denies States that right. No longer will they be able to protect their citizens. Eighty percent of our Nation's food safety inspection is regulated by State and local entities. As we have heard, there are 200 laws. It has taken us more than 200 years to get those 200 laws in almost 50 States. Those laws protect our people. Now they are going to turn that over to the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA is not adequately protecting the people of our country today with regard to drug safety. The FDA is too close to the pharmaceutical companies. Yet now they are going to pass a bill which stops the States from protecting citizens, whether they are eating in a cafeteria, a lunchroom, a hospital, or some other situation, from passing a law that is going to make certain that the food that they are eating there is not going to cause them to be ill, maybe poison them in some way. That is what they want to do, have the Federal Government step in here on top of the States, deny the States the right that they have under the Constitution to protect the health and safety and welfare of their citizens by passing legislation which preempts all of those State laws. This is a very bad idea and it must be defeated. The National Uniformity for Food Act is poorly-drafted legislation that would preempt state law on food safety. From Consumer's Union: ``This bill would eliminate critical state laws that protect consumer health while leaving in place an inadequate federal system based on the lowest common denominator of protection. Eighty percent of our nation's food safety inspection is regulated on the state and local levels. If enacted, the measure would essentially abrogate at least 200 state laws that build on federal law, as well as state laws that exist in the absence of any federal regulation (such as state laws on items including shellfish and smoked fish safety, milk, nursing home food, and cafeteria food). If states wished to continue enforcement of their laws, they would need to petition FDA for permission. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the FDA could spend upwards of $100 million over the next five years on those petitions. The measure would also stop states from creating food labels if they are not identical to federal labels. The measure is opposed by the National Association of State District Attorneys, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Humane Society, and Physicians for Social Responsibility, which calls this a ``major health threat.''

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor James D. Scanlon for a distinguished professional career that has spanned more than 39 years. As Jim prepares for his retirement as president of BAE Systems Platform Solutions, I would like to recognize and thank him for his tremendous leadership of one of our region's biggest and most stable employers, as well as his leadership in the Greater Binghamton business community. After serving in the U.S. Army as a nuclear weapons officer, Jim began his career in the private sector with General Electric's Engineering Career Development Program, developing design and management systems for military aircraft. In 1992, he was named General Manager of GE's Control Systems business, retaining that position when the business was acquired by Martin Marietta and then merged with Lockheed. In 1995, as president of Lockheed Martin Control Systems, Jim led the acquisition of GE Aircraft Engines' engine control manufacturing operation. When Lockheed Martin Control Systems was combined with BAE Systems in 2000, Jim was named president of BAE Systems Controls. During the course of his career, he has overseen the development and production of mission-critical control systems used on all U.S. military aircraft and most of the global military aircraft, as well as every regional and large commercial aircraft worldwide. In addition to his broad engineering and management experience, Jim has been an invaluable resource for our community, ensuring that BAE Systems and the previous owners of the Johnson City, New York, plant were involved and committed partners in the redevelopment of the Greater Binghamton region's economy. He has matched his professional commitment to our communities with a personal one, serving on the directorial boards of several local organizations, including the United Way and the SUNY Binghamton School of Management. He has justly received the many honors bestowed upon him by community organizations. In addition to these numerous professional credentials, it must be noted that I, like so many others in Broome County, regard Jim as a friend. He inspires great loyalty in his employees and affection from the countless others with who he has worked over the years, in the defense industry, in the government, and in his home community of Vestal. He will be sorely missed by those of us who have had the pleasure of working with him. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to congratulate Jim Scanlon and his family on his retirement. I offer my very best wishes to him and his wife Dolores as they begin this new chapter in their lives, along with my deep appreciation for his innovation, dedication and hard work for the past 39 years.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to House Resolution 612, and in honor and support of our military personnel, I earnestly request an open debate on the war and occupation in Iraq. I rise in strong opposition to H. Res. 612, the measure offered by Representatives Hyde and Ros-Lehtinen. In pushing this measure rather than the one offered by Congressman Steny Hoyer, Republicans are once again denying the House of Representatives the opportunity for free, fair, and open debate on our continued involvement in Iraq. This maneuver is pure subterfuge designed to hide the Bush administration's continuing coverup of the rationale behind their behavior in Iraq, as well as the incompetent and corrupt manner in which American occupation of Iraq has been carried out. The Republican leadership has the responsibility to bring a genuine and serious debate over Iraq to the floor, so that all of the implications of our continued involvement can be thoroughly debated before the eyes of the American people. H. Res. 612 does nothing to address this responsibility.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, there are more than six million grandparent-headed and other relative-headed households in the United States. In my home state of New York, 9 percent of the children live with non-parent relatives. These relatives have opened their hearts and homes to children who can no longer, for a variety of reasons, live with their parents. During this holiday season, I would like to recognize these relatives for providing safety, shelter, food, and love. Their kindness and generosity is acknowledge. I extend my most sincere appreciation for the selflessness these families demonstrate and note that their selflessness provides a benefit not only to the children under their care but also to the community at large.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear member of my staff, Marsha McElligott, who will soon retire after nearly 31 years of service to the House of Representatives. I have been fortunate enough to work with Marsha since I was sworn into office in January of 1993, but that was not the beginning of her congressional career. In fact, nearly her entire working life has been devoted to public service. After graduating from the Katharine Gibbs School, she went to work for my predecessor in representing this district, Congressman Matthew McHugh. She served as his assistant in the Ithaca city prosecutor's office, in the Tompkins County District Attorney's office and then in his private law practice. When Matt was elected to Congress in 1974, she joined him as a caseworker on his staff and stayed through his retirement in 1992. I am very grateful to have inherited her service when I was elected in 1993. Most of the people in Ithaca, where she's worked for all 31 years, would be surprised to learn that she's never lived in the congressional district. Rather, she's lived all of her life in Watkins Glen, in a neighboring county. It's remarkable for the fact that her knowledge of the communities of this congressional district is so deep and her work has always been so seamless that I think most of my constituents would assume that she had, in fact, been an Ithaca native. Her service is also unusual in that she has devoted so many years to two members of Congress, Matt McHugh and myself. While we undoubtedly have different styles and have run our congressional offices in different manners, Marsha never missed a beat when she came to work for me, and I doubt that constituents who had received her help ever noticed any transition. They only noticed how very well served they were in her hands. A congressional career that spans more than 30 years has become very rare, and I fear that there are few Marsha McElligotts left in congressional employment, staff members who are so deeply, personally dedicated to serving the public, serving the Members for whom they work, and upholding the very best goals and ideals of this institution. I've always said that being a caseworker is the hardest job in a congressional office--it's demanding, it's stressful, and it requires infinite patience and persistence. It takes a very special person to do that job well and for such a long time. I can think of no finer embodiment of these qualities than Marsha McElligott. She has true respect for the role of Congress and for the difference that an individual Member can make in the lives of his or her constituents by providing access to the halls of government. Like many of our longest-serving and most dedicated staff, Marsha has been relatively anonymous. Constituents may remember for decades the name of the Member of Congress who helped them earn their citizenship, or get their veterans' benefits, or solve a problem with the IRS, but they probably won't remember the name of the staff member who helped them. That anonymity is a testament to how deeply dedicated to the greater good that Marsha, and staffers like her, truly are. I offer it as a compliment. Some people who work in a public service position for a long time come to be known for their own personalities and their own political careers. For Marsha, her devotion has been to Congressman McHugh and me and to the people of the congressional district. She has been utterly selfless, subsuming her own opinions to be instead the voice of the members of Congress she has served and working always for the good of our constituents, not her own personal gain. Because she is always the picture of discretion, she has the unfailing trust of our constituents, my staff and me. There are thousands of people in the congressional district I represent--immigrants and new citizens, college students, veterans, people with disabilities, young, old, rich and poor--whose lives have been bettered by the efforts of Marsha McElligott. Marsha's a very modest person, but I believe there's no exaggeration in saying that she's made a difference in the future of our nation, because of her particular devotion to two areas of her work: bringing new citizens into our country and helping to select the finest leaders of our armed forces. For hundreds of refugees, visa applicants, or those needing help with the naturalization process, Marsha's patience and compassion has meant the difference between hope and despair, success and failure, united or divided families. The long and exhausting process these special cases require have proven no match for Marsha's limitless diligence and desire to serve those in need of help. Many of these cases were presented by people who didn't speak English or didn't know our customs, people who were scared and intimidated. She made a good introduction to these people of what America was all about, and what American government means in the lives of individuals. People who were frightened by the immigration process when they came to our offices were reassured by her direct personal contact, her no-nonsense attitude and the confidence she inspired that she'd sort out whatever sort of bureaucratic mess they were in. A generation of immigrants to the Finger Lakes region from all over the world became citizens because of her. Hundreds of young men and women seeking appointments to the nation's military academies also have Marsha to thank for their entry into these elite institutions. Marsha's ability to coach these future leaders of our armed forces successfully through the nomination process is worthy of great admiration and praise. I could go on and on about her professional accomplishments, but I want to close by saying what she has meant to me personally. She has been a pleasure to know and to work with, and I've relied on her wisdom and experience in these 13 years more times than I can count. Day in and day out, she has regularly, faithfully and loyally provided the very best service any Member of Congress could hope for, for more than three decades. I congratulate her as she prepares for this new chapter of her life and know that her husband David, their children and families look forward to spending more time with her.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John H. Adams, a longtime resident of the Hudson River Valley in New York State, whose tremendous vision and distinguished career in environmental protection have left a significant and lasting legacy for our entire nation. I am very pleased to recognize and pay tribute to Mr. Adams as he celebrates his retirement from the position of president of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) after more than thirty-five years of dedicated leadership of the organization. John Adams co-founded NRDC in 1970 as an organization of public interest lawyers focused on the development and enforcement of emerging environmental laws. As its Executive Director from 1970-1998, Mr. Adams built an effective and influential non-profit organization of lawyers and scientists, which is today supported by a national membership of more than one million people. As president of NRDC since October 1998, Mr. Adams has advised policy makers and members of industry on the growing importance of protecting and conserving our nation's natural resources for future generations. Mr. Adams grew up on a farm in the Catskills of New York State. He earned a B.A. in History from Michigan State University in 1959, followed by a law degree from Duke University in 1962. Mr. Adams returned to New York after graduating from law school and, several years later, worked as the Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, during which time he met and worked with a number of people who inspired him to enter public interest law. With the unflinching and invaluable support of his wife Patricia, Mr. Adams established NRDC and became the organization's first employee. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Adams and NRDC's lawyers took on their first environmental case: preventing the construction of the Storm King Mountain pumped storage facility. This historic environmental battle, which eventually succeeded in protecting one of the most recognizable natural features in the Hudson Valley, has been viewed by many as the birth of the modern environmental movement, establishing important legal precedents and inspiring similar citizen efforts throughout the country. Mr. Adams joined the adjunct faculty of New York University's School of Law in 1972 where he taught Clinical Environmental Law for 26 years. A year later, Mr. Adams reconstituted the defunct Open Space Institute (OSI), a conservancy devoted to the protection of open space, and has served as Chairman of the Board since this time, during which OSI has purchased or protected thousands of acres of land in the Hudson Valley, the Adirondacks, and the Catskills. One of the organization's most notable successes was its pivotal role in purchasing Sterling Forest, an area now consisting of more than 20,000 protected acres between New York and New Jersey, made possible through an historic partnership between the federal government, two states and numerous private organizations. Mr. Adams serves on the boards of the League of Conservation Voters, Woods Hole Research Center, Center for American Progress and Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences. In 1999, he completed his membership on the President's Council on Sustainable Development and his participation in Environmental Protection Agency's Common Sense Initiative. Mr. Adams has received many notable honors and environmental awards including: One World One Child Lifetime Achievement Award (2005); NRDC's Forces For Nature Award (2005); the Wilderness Society's Robert Marshall Award (2005); the Natural Resources Council of America's Award of Honor (2001); the Green Cross Millennium Award for Individual Environmental Leadership (2000); the Judge Lumbard Cup for public service from the United States Attorney's Southern District of New York; the National Conservation Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation (1999); and the Francis K. Hutchinson Conservation Award from the Garden Club of America (1990). In 1998, Mr. Adams was named one of the National Audubon's 100 Champions of Conservation. In 1997, he received the Environmental Careers Organization's 25th Anniversary Award. In 1991, he received Duke University's Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 1992, Duke University Law School's Charles J. Murphy Award. Mr. Adams was also the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws from Duke University and Knox College and an honorary doctorate from Cedar Crest College. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to congratulate and honor John Adams on the occasion of his retirement as president of NRDC after his many years of hard work and committed service on behalf of the Hudson River Valley and our entire nation. I offer my deep appreciation and thanks for the outstanding leadership that John has provided over his impressive career in protecting this country's natural resources, fighting for the health of our communities and forging a more rationale and sustainable future. Though he is retiring as NRDC's president, I am grateful that he will remain involved in as the organization's founding director so that the environmental movement can continue to benefit from his wisdom and experience. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my very best wishes for the future to John, Patricia and their family as they celebrate this important milestone.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend and constituent Albert Spada for his distinguished professional career and impressive record of community service. Al retired earlier this year as Ulster County Clerk, a position he has held since 1967. I would like to recognize and thank him for his outstanding leadership in Ulster County both as an elected official and an active and dedicated member of the community. Al was elected to the office of Ulster County Clerk at the age of 34, the youngest county clerk in New York at the time. Prior to his election, Al served as Deputy Clerk for Ulster County and legislative aide to New York State Assemblyman Kenneth Wilson and New York State Senator E. Ogden Bush. Prior to that, Al served in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict as a Staff Sergeant. After serving as chief of the Air Force supply depot in Japan, he received an honorable discharge from military service. For more than 35 years, Al served the people of Ulster County with distinction and honor. His responsiveness and accessibility to county residents defined his tenure in office. Al established himself as the preeminent advocate for Ulster County residents on matters pertaining to the functions of his office and other county government business. Over the nearly 4 decades that he was in office, Al's personal efforts have positively affected the lives of countless Ulster County residents. All of these attributes contributed to Al being the longest serving County Clerk in Ulster County since George Clinton held the position in the late 18th century. Al has received numerous honors over the years including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York State Association of County Clerks and the Man of the Year Award from the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Al has been a member of the New York Association of County Clerks since 1966 and has served on the boards of Benedictine and Kingston Hospitals, the New York State Advisory Board of Public Works and the Kingston Housing Authority, where he currently sits as chairman. He has served on the Heritage Advisory Committee, the New York State Sports Authority and the Ulster County United Way. Most notably perhaps, Al has been a lifetime member of the Glasco Volunteer Fire Department. In addition to the many accomplishments and accolades that Al has received over the years, he is widely regarded as a friend to many people throughout the community. His loyalty and generosity, as well as his extraordinary sense of humor, have endeared him to countless Ulster County residents and while his presence in the county building will be greatly missed, we will all take comfort in knowing that he will remain an active member of our community. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to congratulate my friend Albert Spada and his family on the occasion of his retirement after so many years of dedicated service to the residents of Ulster County. I offer him my warmest personal wishes for a healthy and happy retirement along with my deep appreciation for his friendship and his longstanding commitment to public service.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Joyce Minard for her distinguished career in public service and the outstanding contributions she has made to the community of New Paltz, NY, and the surrounding Hudson Valley region. Joyce has translated her commitment to community service into an accomplished career that has been defined by achievement and success. Her broad expertise in education, agriculture and business has supported many new initiatives and resulted in significant improvements in the regional business community. A high school internship at SUNY New Paltz introduced Joyce to the not-for-profit world and influenced her decision to attend Albany Business College. After stints at SUNY New Paltz, the Ulster County Farm Bureau and Ulster County BOCES, where she broadened her vision and honed her skills as an educator, advocate and leader, Joyce found her true home at the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce. Beginning on a part-time basis, while raising her two children, Joyce quickly rose to the position of executive director in 1978. Under her leadership, the Chamber has grown from 47 members in 1979 to more than 800, outgrowing one office space after another. Drawing on her considerable personal attributes, Joyce built a chamber that is veritably bursting with accomplishments. The New Paltz Regional Chamber of today employs a team of five, holds numerous events, offers extensive education programs, including customized workshops for small business owners, runs a busy visitors room, and publishes a newsletter and full-color regional guide. Together with other regional chambers, Joyce developed a Business Mentoring Program for Dutchess and Ulster Counties, matching emerging businesses with experienced businesspersons. As an accomplished mediator and consensus-builder, Joyce has led the Chamber in bringing together the many interests of the New Paltz community. She was among the initiators of the first Town/Gown meetings in the 1980s, providing a forum for community and University leaders to pursue common objectives and address differences. She raised the public's awareness of the agricultural community by promoting visitation of farms and education. And she provided the leadership needed to make the Chamber's most famous event, the Taste of New Paltz, a successful reality. The Taste is now in its 15th year and draws more than 8,000 participants. Mr. Speaker, Joyce Minard is being honored by the community she serves and loves. Her dedication and leadership--peppered with her irreverent sense of humor--have drawn many admirers and helped to establish New Paltz as one of the premier destinations in New York. Every endeavor that Joyce has pursued has been approached with professionalism and passion and she has built a reputation as an effective and dedicated advocate. I'm pleased to join my constituents in honoring Joyce for her tireless efforts on behalf of New Paltz and its surrounding communities.