Maurice Hinchey

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Mr. HINCHEY. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, last year the 103d Congress passed perhaps the most forward-looking and comprehensive crime bill in the history of the country. Among its most important provisions were those that focused on the need to prevent crime, and among those were provisions to ensure that we placed community police officers on the streets of communities across this country, large and small. Now there were Members, who are now the majority party, inexplicably who were opposed to those crime prevention measures, and they are trying now in this bill to defeat those crime prevention measures, and that is why it is so important for us to pass this amendment which adheres more closely to the original bill. In my district alone in the last several months we have 35 new police officers in rural communities and cities stretching across a district that runs 250 miles across New York State. This program is supported by mayors, by town supervisors, and by police chiefs, and they support it because they know it is effective, it works. Now we are asked to harken back to a program that was thrown out in the early 1980's, during the Reagan administration, because at that time it was recognized that that program was replete with fraud, and abuse and waste of taxpayers' money. That is what we are asked to do in the bill before us. That is why it is so important to pass this amendment. Mr. Chairman, we want to turn our backs on wasting the taxpayers' money, we want to turn our backs on fraud and abuse, and we want to turn toward a program that we know is going to be successful because it is going to place community policemen, and already has, in communities all across this country. why it needs to be passed. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Harman].

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. DeFazio].

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the Clinton administration for taking action on behalf of working Americans today and raising the minimum wage. The administration's action is long overdue and I hope this wage increase will help the working families of my district--and the Nation--to share in the economic recovery that we read so much about. According to the Labor Department, the Employment Cost Index, which measures the wages, salaries and benefits paid to American workers, rose by only three-tenths of 1 percent during the past 12 months--the smallest annual increase on record. This means that wages and benefits have failed to rise in response to economic growth and lower unemployment. This is not a normal economic recovery in which wages rise as the economy picks up steam. The Federal Government has few opportunities to improve the wages and benefits of America's labor force and subsequently improve the quality of life of working Americans. Adjusting the minimum wage is one method available. Today, I applaud President Clinton for attempting to deal directly with the declining standard of living for working Americans. An increase in the minimum wage is long overdue and I support President Clinton's effort to strengthen the economic outlook for working families.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, on February 25, my friends in Ulster County, NY, will gather to pay tribute to a woman who has dedicated years of service to our community. It is an honor and a privilege to ask that this body join me in tribute to Dr. Laura Fliegner, a woman of considerable talent and vision, who has served as district superintendent of the Ulster County board of cooperative extension since 1987. It has been a personal pleasure to count Dr. Fliegner among my friends and advisors over the years. She is a woman dedicated not just to the education and training of our community's young people, but she is also committed to making the community more receptive and eager to particpate in the many good works that she has initiated. Laura has a rare gift for conveying to a wide constituency the importance of our young people and the vital contribution that they can and should make to our community. In her capacity as liaison and board member to a wide range of service and business organization throughout the Hudson progress that have effected positive change for all of us. Those of us who have been privileged to work with Laura over the years will sorely miss her continued participation in the betterment of our region. I thank my esteemed colleagues for taking this opportunity to recognize the public service that Dr. Fliegner has extended to the community at large.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the accomplishments of the Mid-Hudson, NY, unit of Irish Northern Aid, commemorating 25 years of support for Irish- American causes. On February 11, the Mid-Hudson unit will come together not only to celebrate the success of the current peace process, but also to pay tribute to several outstanding local citizens who are dedicated to furthering the Irish-American political agenda, principally among them, my friend Tom Hoffay. Tom Hoffay has been an outspoken advocate for issues of significance to Northern Ireland and has been responsible for the success of many celebrations and events here in the Hudson Valley. He is committed to seeing that our country plays the vital and pivotal role that it is capable of in order to effect lasting peace in Northern Ireland. His dedication to peace through justice is to be commended and should be echoed by all. I am honored to ask my colleagues to unite with me in expressing support for the Irish-American community on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Irish Northern Aid.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, for the seventh time in the last 12 months, the Federal Reserve--meeting in a closed-door session-- raised the interest rates and gambled on the economic future of the middle-class American. Over the past year, the Federal Reserve has acted out of fear of a phantom inflation that does not exist. The constituents of my district, and the working families of this Nation, are struggling to be a part of the economic recovery. Inflation is at a 30-year low, but working Americans will now suffer under an interest rate double that of the same time last year. Over the past year, there has been no significant increase in salaries or buying power, but now the Fed is depriving middle-class taxpayers of the buying power necessary to participate in the economic recovery. The Fed's rate increase is going to hit working Americans when they pay their mortgage, it is going to hit working Americans when they pay their credit card bills, and it is going to hit working Americans when they need to buy cars. Today, I call on the Federal Reserve Board to end this ongoing crusade against a phantom inflation--tilting at windmills that do not exist. The fact remains that the economy is not overheating and millions upon millions of Americans are still out of work. The Federal Reserve was wrong to raise rates and has put economic recovery at risk for working American families.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, I believe Congress needs to work toward balancing the budget and reducing the Federal deficit. I believe we must legislate in a more fiscally responsible way that will ensure our Nation will remain financially strong for our children and grandchildren. Over the next several weeks, we will debate many measures to achieve a balanced budget. will not even consider is any effort by this leadership to cut Social Security. Social Security is a covenant the U.S. Government has made with its citizens, a promise to support working Americans when they are retired and living on fixed incomes. The working families of the Nation, and of New York, want straight talk, and they deserve to know whether or not Social Security is on the table. In the only opportunity we had to exempt Social Security in the 104th Congress, every Republican but one voted against an amendment to exempt Social Security during markup of the balanced budget amendment in the Judiciary Committee. Simply put, we cannot afford to balance the budget on the backs of working Americans who are living on fixed incomes. These are difficult economic times for the people of New York's southern tier and the Nation. Senior citizens should know for certain that their benefits are not in danger.

Mr. HINCHEY

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to former major league umpire Ronald M. Luciano who passed away Wednesday at his home in Endicott, NY, at the age of 57. One of the American League's top umpires throughout his 11-year career, Luciano was a respected and well-liked member of the baseball community. Luciano worked the 1974 World Series and the 1971, 1975, and 1978 American League Championships, an honor reserved for the league's best umpires. Luciano retired from umpiring in 1980 to become a television commentator, as well as an author. His 1982 book, ``The Umpire Strikes Back'' was a best seller. It is as one of the game's great ambassadors, however, that Luciano will be most remembered. Luciano brought a showmanship to the sport seldom seen from an umpire. Through his unique style, often comedic, Luciano helped sell our Nation's pastime to fans of all ages. Even after he achieved national stature, Luciano remained an active member of the Broome County community. A devoted son and brother, Luciano returned to Endicott where he undertook a local business venture. Luciano was frequently spotted lending his support and expertise at Little League baseball games. The citizens of Broome County will miss him as much for his community involvement as for what he did for baseball. I hope my colleagues will join me today in paying tribute to Ron Luciano. His passing is a loss for both baseball and for a community to which he was such an integral member. I extend my sincerest condolences to his family.