Steve Israel

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. I thank my friend from Texas for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in joining my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in mourning the loss of President Reagan. I did not agree with the President on every issue, but there were three values that he exuded which I do share deeply: first, a respect for the democratic process and the building of consensus to move us forward and to make us safer; secondly, a fundamental belief in a strong military and a strong defense; and, third, as we have heard before, a boundless optimism about America's capacity and our potential and our role in making the world safe for democracy. I never had the privilege of personally meeting President Reagan, but I did work here in Congress during his administration for a former Member of Congress, and I have a sense that even tonight, President Reagan and former Speaker Tip O'Neill are looking down upon this House with rather wry and proud smiles wishing us the best as we join together, as they join together to move our country not to the left, not to the right but forward, and they guide us not from the left, not from the right, they guide us from above. Several months ago, I had the privilege of participating in an issues forum in New York with Ronald Reagan, Jr. Tonight my thoughts and prayers are with him and the entire Reagan family as they mourn the loss of a father and a husband and as America mourns the loss of a President.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the dedication of the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall on Saturday, May 29, 2004. Dedicated almost 60 years after the end of World War II, this stunning memorial honors all military veterans of the war, citizens on the home front, the nation at large and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation's call to arms. We must never forget the 16 million troops who served in the armed forces during World War II and the more than 400,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I know the importance of the troops' sacrifice to protect our freedom. I am especially pleased to welcome over 200 Long Island veterans to Washington, DC for the dedication. Serving those who have served our country has been one of my greatest honors as a Member of Congress. I am proud to have secured over $1.16 million in retroactive benefits for veterans in my district. On this historic occasion, we must remember to honor our troops and veterans not only with memorials and red poppy lapel pins, but also in our policies and budgets. Restoring cuts to veteran's services and making VA spending mandatory, not discretionary should be a top priority. We in Congress have a duty to make America a fit country for these heroes to live in. This memorial is a long-overdue tribute to the ``Greatest Generation.'' They risked and gave their lives to protect our freedom, and we must ensure our debt to them is repaid.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Stephen W. Strumph of Glen Cove, New York, a decorated veteran and a proud American. Mr. Strumph began his military career in 1937, at the Reserve Officers Army Academy of Poland. At the onset of WWII he was commissioned Second Lieutenant Platoon Leader of the 6th Regiment, 22nd Mountain division in the Polish army. On November 1, 1939 Mr. Strumph was transported to Lukenwalde and was held as a prisoner of war. He heroically escaped German custody three times, before finally being released in the spring of 1945 and heading for the United States zone. Mr. Strumph was soon commissioned as a U.S. Army multi-lingual interpreter to interview German soldiers and Gestapo. He was then reunited with Polish troops under Colonel Brzeszczynski, and was placed in command of 125 soldiers and a U.S. Army ammunitions depot. After he was demobilized in 1947, Mr. Strumph worked for eight years at the U.S. embassy in Paris, before emigrating to the United States. Since his arrival in New York on July 28, 1955, Mr. Strumph has been an outstanding public citizen, volunteering with veterans and fraternal organizations and was honored as ``Outstanding Senior Volunteer of the Year.'' He and his loving wife are the proud parents of three children and eight grandchildren. I commend Stephen Strumph for his bravery and valor during World War II and thank him for his invaluable service to the Long Island community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise in strong support of this authorization. And, of course, we have to give credit where credit is due, and that is to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), chairman, and to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), ranking member. This bill includes funding for transformational weapons systems that will help our military meet the challenges of the 21st century, billions of dollars for new naval destroyers, Army combat systems, and fighter aircraft programs. These programs may be worthwhile, but I remember back in January when I was on a C-130 traveling from Kuwait to Baghdad, a member of the 1st Armored Division looked at me and said, Congressman, you have got to do something about these improvised explosive devices, these roadside bombs. They are the biggest threat that we face. There has been a lot of talk in Washington about countering these threats with hardware, with systems that are lighter and leaner and faster, more precise, more agile, more lethal; and I understand the need for that hardware transformation, but we also need a software transformation. Our committee had Major General Robert Scales before us, he is the former Commandant of the U.S. Army War College; and he talked about the fact that our troops have exquisite situational awareness, but we need to invest them with more cultural awareness. They know where every tank is, their speed, their direction, their firepower, how they are arrayed. What we need to make sure of is that they know who is in the tank, what language they are speaking, not just their firepower but their willpower. And that is why I want to thank our chairman and ranking member for including in this authorization two amendments that I offered which will establish a Defense Language Office within the Department of Defense and require the Secretary of Defense to assess the military's foreign language and cultural awareness capabilities. Those skills are just essential to success in the future. Mr. Chairman, it is indisputable to us that our current forces are doing an extraordinary job of adapting to challenges on the ground. They deserve defense budgets that anticipate 21st century changes, not Cold War challenges. They deserve defense budgets that value their minds as well as their arms. And I want to again thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Hunter) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), ranking member, for including the amendments that I proposed in this authorization; and I urge the other body to accept those amendments.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and we should wear poppies to honor the sacrifices of our troops, but we should express our support not only on our lapels, but in our budgets. It is somewhat ironic to me that we would consider this bill, as important as it is, only a few moments after we had a rule on this floor on our defense budget, a rule that excluded an amendment that the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt) and I advanced that would pay for our troops' life insurance. I have lost four constituents from my district in Afghanistan and Iraq: Raheen Tyson Heighter, Michael Esposito, Jacob Fletcher, and Nate Bruckenthal. Raheen Tyson Heighter was 19 years old when he joined the Army. And when he was told that he needed life insurance, this young man, being a fearless young man, chose the least expensive life insurance policy because the premium was all that he could afford, and the policy was all that he believed he needed because he believed he would be coming back home. He did not come back home alive; he was killed on July 24, 2003. His casualty officer called his mother and said, Your son's life insurance policy was $10,000. Mr. Speaker, $10,000 is not adequate. And what is even worse is while Mr. Heighter was taking bullets in Iraq, Uncle Sam was taking 80 cents a month from his gross monthly pay of $1,987, including hazard duty pay, for his life insurance. Mr. Speaker, I know that we all agree, when we send troops into combat to protect our national security, they should not have to worry about their family's financial security in the event they do not return. I know that all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree that we have an obligation to honor those who have made the eternal sacrifice every single day, that we must display our commitment and our reverence to them, display it; but also pay for what we owe them as well, not simply display, but pay to help their families. That would be the true mark of how we honor our heroes, the men and women who have made such heroic sacrifices, with poppies, but also with dollars. I, of course, will support and proudly vote for this bill, but I hope that my colleagues in this Congress and that the President of the United States will understand that it is more than just poppies and it is more than just words, it is budgets that count ultimately.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the students from Half Hollow Hills East High School in Dix Hills, New York for their hard work in the ``We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution'' national finals. The students, Carolyn Abott, Emily Chin, Samuel Dixon, George Duroseau, Jason Feinstein, Steven Frank, Antonia Fthenakis, Carrie Gerber, Qais Ghafary, Hannah Goldsmith, Bruce Halperin, Emily Kratter, Sami Rashid, Dan Rogove, Jessica Rosenbaum, Gayle Rudofsky, Lauren Shikowitz, Ricki Silvernman, Rohini Singh, Caryn Teitelbaum, Shara Venezia-Wallerstein, Jason Vinokur, Nicole Weinstock, Joshua Wolinsky, and Joseph Wolken, led by their teacher Scott Edwards, demonstrated a remarkable understanding of the fundamental ideals and values of American constitutional government. It is truly an honor to call these outstanding young Americans my constituents. Their success in this competition is also a testament to the exceptional teachers at Half Hollow Hills East High School and elsewhere on Long Island. I offer my congratulations on their hard-won honorable mention and commend these students on their dedication to the study of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, on April 24, Nathan Bruckenthal became the first member of the Coast Guard to die in battle since Vietnam. His bravery and sacrifice shines a light on the often overlooked sacrifices made by the Coast Guard in our Nation's defense. Nathan is survived by a proud father in Northport, New York, village police chief Rick Bruckenthal and his wife, Patricia, a loving mother, Laurie Bullock of Ashburn, Virginia. Nate is also the brother of Matthew, Michael and Noa Beth, and the husband of Patricia in Florida. When I called Rick Bruckenthal, he simply said, ``My son served his country.'' He did serve and he did sacrifice. And now we have an eternal debt to his memory and his family, to support our troops when we send them into dangerous places, to support their families back home, to support our veterans, to do these things in our hearts, in our budgets, and in our prayers which are with the family of Nathan Bruckenthal, the police department of Northport Village, the United States Coast Guard and Bates Neck Station, today and all days. God bless the Bruckenthal family and God bless America.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this substitute. Last week when we debated the marriage penalty relief, I said this: That the bill that we were debating was not an act of Congress. It was an act of Harry Houdini. Here today, gone tomorrow. Give with one hand, snatch away with the other. And one week later here we are again, another act of Houdini. The majority's AMT bill says to middle class taxpayers, we are going to do a little bit today and nothing tomorrow. Their bills says to middle class taxpayers who are bleeding from the largest tax increase in the history of the middle class, take two aspirins, call us next year. Millions of middle class taxpayers are hurtling to a cliff, our cops, our teachers, our nurses, our firefighters, they will fall off that AMT cliff, and what you want to do is simply build them a bigger ramp. That is the Republican plan. Here is our substitute. If your adjusted earnings are $250,000 or less, no AMT. No filings, no calculations, no confusion, no AMT tax. You do not have to worry about it. We say, tax relief for the middle class now. You say, keep taxing them. We say we are going to get to it now and fix it. You say we are just going to talk about it. We say, protect the middle class. You say, protect the big offshore corporate tax shelters and havens. We say reform. You say status quo. We say, solve the problem now and in the future. You say, let us keep pointing the partisan fingers of blame at the past and not solve this problem for the middle class. They deserve better, the middle class. They deserve a real choice. They deserve real tax relief and meaningful reform which is why this substitute makes sense, and why the act that we are being given today is nothing more than more Harry Houdini trickery on the middle class taxpayers.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I can tell the gentleman who I think is in charge of spending and taxing in this administration and in this Congress; it is Harry Houdini. Because if Harry Houdini was a Member of Congress, he could not have come up with a better ``now you see it, now you don't'' tax gimmick. That is what we are doing today. My Republican colleagues want to pass what they claim is a $96 billion tax cut for married couples today, but then the AMT denies $99 billion in promised marriage penalty relief tomorrow. ``Here today, gone tomorrow.'' We have just heard the gentleman from Illinois state that 36 million families deserve this tax relief today, but the AMT is raising taxes on 41 million taxpayers by the year 2010. In 2001, we promised taxpayers real relief. At that time 1.8 million were paying the AMT. This year, 3 million of them pay the AMT. By the year 2010, 41 million of them will pay the AMT. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle rush to give the deepest tax cuts to people making over $1 million, then sit idly by while taxes are skyrocketing for 70 percent of people making between $75,000 and $100,000: our cops, our firefighters, our nurses, and our teachers. The American people do not have to listen to this debate and take a side. They get it. All they have to do is listen to their accountants. I got a call from a constituent in Northport, New York, today. He told me this story. He is newly married. He now has two children. He and his wife both work as educators. They are exactly the kind of family we want to help, but here is the effect of the Houdini tax policy on him. He went to his accountant in April. They figured out his taxes. And just when he thought it was safe to mail in his tax form, presto, the AMT. His deductions for property taxes, disallowed; his deduction for business exemptions and child exemptions, disallowed. Congratulations. Only in Washington do we turn a tax cut into a $6,000 tax increase for that middle class teacher. Mr. Speaker, we owe it to our constituents to be honest and accountable. We have to get away from these Houdini policies of making tax cuts appear and disappear. We have to get away from this stealth and secret tax on the middle class. We have to give meaningful tax relief to the American people. That is what the Rangel substitute does, and that is why I will support it today.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor four cadets from Suffolk County, New York, for their achievements with the Civil Air Patrol, Squadron 7. On April 13, 2004, Cadet 2d Lieutenants Daniel Umpa and Nicholas Calarco were presented with the General Billy Mitchell Award, and Cadet Captains Ryan Elliott and Matthew Cooney were presented with the Amelia Earhart Award. The Civil Air Patrol has a long history of service to our nation as the official civilian volunteer auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Formed in 1941, just prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Civil Air Patrol sank two enemy submarines and rescued hundreds of crash survivors during World War II. Currently, the Civil Air Patrol focuses on cadet programs, aerospace education and emergency services. The four cadets that I honor today are sure to continue that legacy. The General Billy Mitchell Award is earned by cadets who have completed the first eight achievements of the cadet program, fulfilled physical fitness requirements and passed an exam on leadership theory and aerospace. I commend Cadet 2d Lieutenant Daniel Umpa and Cadet 2d Lieutenant Nicholas Calarco on this great accomplishment. The Amelia Earhart Award is awarded to recipients of the General Billy Mitchell Award who have completed the first eleven achievements of the cadet program and passed an exam on leadership theory and aerospace. I commend Cadet Captain Ryan Elliott and Cadet Captain Matthew Cooney, who join nearly 10,000 other cadets who have received this prestigious award over the last 30 years. The Civil Air Patrol is actively involved in protecting America from the threat of terrorism, and I am confident that these four cadets will continue to make important contributions in securing the safety of our nation.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, if we wanted to understand the line that divides good versus evil, it was drawn in Fallujah yesterday. Four people were providing security to deliver food to the people of Fallujah, and some of the people that they were seeking to feed killed them, mutilated them, massacred them. Mr. Speaker, today's Wall Street Journal said this of the situation in Iraq: ``It is not a good sign that Iraqis feel free to mutilate the bodies of dead Americans in front of the world's TV cameras.'' Then it goes on to say, ``A year without justice has also been a year without enough deterrence, and Fallujans now have more reasons to fear the consequences of working with the Americans than the consequences of killing them.'' Today we mourn the deaths of four people who believed in a better world. In the White House, the Pentagon, and the State Department, we must redouble efforts to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are punished. Justice will lead to security, security will lead to stability, stability will lead to democracy, and democracy will bring again justice and liberty for all.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first begin by thanking the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis), the Gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) and all members of the Committee of Government Reform for reporting H.R. 3917 so promptly. I also thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for managing debate on this bill that honors former Suffolk County Presiding Officer Maxine S. Postal, who died so tragically this past January after a courageous battle with the rare brain disorder Creutzfeld-Jakob. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Members to support H.R. 3917, a bill I introduced that designates the Copiague, New York post office as the Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office. The speed this legislation moved through the House is a tribute to the great respect and admiration held for Maxine Postal. She was a good friend and wonderful public servant. Maxine was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 24, 1942. She graduated from Brooklyn College, achieving a master's degree in fine arts. For the past three decades, Maxine served her Long Island community with distinction and tireless dedication. I had the honor of first knowing Maxine and working with her in 1987, when she became the first woman to represent the 15th Legislative District in Suffolk County. Maxine achieved many legislative accomplishments, including efforts to protect the environment through recycling and preserving open space, ease the tax burden, ensure access to better health care and treatment, and work to revitalize and beautify community centers. She never stopped fighting for the best interests of the people she represented, the working families of Suffolk County. Maxine died on New Year's Day, a few weeks after being diagnosed with Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease. CJD is an extremely rare brain disorder, affecting only one person in a million. Maxine was diagnosed with the sporadic form, which is not associated with contaminated beef like the variant form. In most cases, CJD causes the rapid development of neurological and neuro-muscular symptoms and often proves fatal in less than a year after the disorder becomes apparent. To those of us who knew Maxine, we will remember her bravery and courageous battle against this fatal disease. We will continue to miss her, but will always be inspired by her leadership. She had an unparalleled ability to stand firmly on principle while bringing diverse views together in bipartisan coalitions that moved Suffolk County forward. Franky, not just Suffolk Country but New York and our country could use more elected officials like Maxine Postal. She is a model of what a public servant can and should be. The Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office will serve as a lasting tribute to her many years of public service and her invaluable impact on Suffolk County. So that years from now, a new generation of Long Islanders will cherish her service and honor her memory. She was an extraordinary New Yorker, a proud American and a vital member of our community. I ask for my colleagues' unanimous support of H.R. 3917 in honor of Maxine S. Postal's bravery and outstanding accomplishments.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of SPC Jacob S. Fletcher, a fallen soldier from my district. SPC Fletcher gave his life on November 13, 2003 in Samarra, Iraq. Jacob was the most recent in a long line of heroes to make the ultimate sacrifice for his country. In the two and a quarter centuries of our nation's history, our country has faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But in generation after generation, Americans have risen to the occasion and met every challenge. In the 18th century, our forefathers were able to beat back the greatest military superpower in the world to secure our independence. In the 19th century, Americans defeated the greatest injustice in the world--slavery. And in the 20th century, millions of patriots, in what has come to be known as America's greatest generation, defeated the greatest evil the world has ever known--the Nazis. Jacob was part of a generation that faces a newer, but no less dangerous tyranny. He was born and raised on Long Island. In many ways, he was very much like the hundreds of thousands of other children in our country--with one remarkable exception. Jacob was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to secure the blessings of liberty--for his countrymen, for our children, and for America's future. By sacrificing himself for our way of life, Jacob died an American hero. By fighting for a better world, Jacob, as the poet John Gillespie Magee, Jr. wrote, ``slipped the surly bonds of earth'' to ``touch the face of God.'' May his name be remembered throughout history, and may he serve as a source of strength and pride to future American generations.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues an address that I delivered at the memorial service of Raheen Tyson Heighter, a fallen soldier from my district on November 11, 2003. Raheen Tyson Heighter went to the Middle East willingly, sacrificed selflessly, and served proudly. In the two and a quarter centuries of our nation's history, our country has faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But in generation after generation, Americans have risen to the occasion and met every challenge. In the 18th century, our forefathers were able to beat back the greatest military superpower in the world to secure our independence. In the 19th century, Americans defeated the greatest injustice in the world--slavery. And in the 20th century, millions of patriots, in what has come to be known as America's greatest generation, defeated the greatest evil the world has ever known--the Nazis. Raheen is part of a generation that faces a newer, but no less dangerous tyranny. He is a child of Long Island. He went to this high school. In many ways, he is very much like the hundreds of thousands of other children in our community--with one remarkable exception. Raheen was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to secure the blessings of liberty for his countrymen, for our children, and for America's future. By sacrificing himself for our way of life, Raheen, in the words of his mother, ``died an American hero.'' By fighting for a better world, Raheen, as the poet John Gillespie Magee, Jr. wrote, ``slipped the surly bonds of earth'' to ``touch the face of God.'' May his name be remembered throughout history, and may he serve as a source of strength and pride to American generations yet unborn.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 264 to commemorate next year's 200th anniversary of the birth of Constantino Brumidi. I was pleased to join with my colleague, the gentleman from Florida, as an original cosponsor of this resolution. Constantino Brumidi is known today as the Michelangelo of the United States Capitol building. He is most known for The Apotheosis of George Washington, the painting that depicts our first president's ascension into heaven, that adorns the interior ceiling of the central rotunda. Brumidi was unknown in America when he began a mural to honor George Washington in 1855 shortly after immigrating to the United States. Over the next 25 years, he also painted the corridors on the first floor of the Senate wing and the first tribute to an African-American in the Capitol by depicting Crispus Attucks's patriotic death that touched off the Boston Massacre in 1770. Initially, some believed that Brumidi's artistic styles and abilities were more suited to the Vatican and other buildings in Europe, places he contributed works before coming to America. But many historians have noted that Brumidi was the only person capable of painting the Capitol building in the glorious manner befitting the literal crowning achievement of liberty and democracy that it represents. Few in the United States had Brumidi's special talents as a fresco artist that utilized painting with watercolors on wet plaster. Constantino Brumidi's experience is not unlike the ancestors of more than 26 million Americans of Italian descent that blended their centuries-old traditions with the relatively young history of the United States. Our country is indebted to their time, talents and skills that have beautified our country and inspired great achievements. Each year, hundreds of Long Island school children gaze upward at Brumidi's work in the Capitol building's rotunda and sprawling corridors. They see important scenes in American history, from the development of the steam engine to the ending of the Civil War. Brumidi's work not only beautifies the Capitol, but it brings history to life and makes one dream of what the future holds for our great nation. It is important that Brumidi's contributions and sacrifices are remembered. He is every bit as important to American history as the epic scenes and figures he brought to life. It is my hope that all of my colleagues will join me today in honoring Brumidi's legacy by voting in favor of this resolution.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I was regrettably unable to cast votes on Tuesday, January 28 and Wednesday, January 29, 2004 as I was part of a Congressional Delegation visiting our troops in Iraq. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes: ``Yes'' on rollcall No. 6, passage of H.R. 1385, authorizing the U.S. Postal Service to issue stamps supporting breast cancer research. ``Yes'' on rollcall No. 7, passage of H.R. 3493, the Medical Devices Technical Corrections Act. ``Yes'' on rollcall No. 8, the Baldwin substitute to S. 1920, regarding the Extension of chapter 12 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code. ``Yes'' on rollcall No. 9, the motion to recommit S. 1920 with instructions. ``Yes'' on rollcall No. 10, final passage of S. 1920, regarding the Extension of chapter 12 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code. ``No'' on rollcall No. 11, motion to instruct conferees on S. 1920, regarding the Extension of chapter 12 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the courageous efforts of the New York Air National Guard's 106th Air Rescue Wing during the recent CH-47 Chinook helicopter rescue operation in Iraq. These American heroes saved the lives of two soldiers whose helicopter was downed in a terrorist attack that took the lives of 16 of their brave comrades. Located at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton, Long Island, the 106th Air Rescue Wing's mission is to provide air rescue support. In December of 1994, they established the record for the longest over-water helicopter rescue mission, while saving a Ukrainian sailor in the North Atlantic. Their efforts in an attempted rescue in 1991 were memorialized in Sebastian Junger's book ``The Perfect Storm,'' which was later made into a major motion picture. I would like to offer my sincerest thanks and appreciation to Colonel Mike Canders and his entire Unit for their dedicated service to our country.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, last June I was one of nine Democrats who voted to move Medicare modernization into a House-Senate conference. That bill was flawed, but I wanted to give it a chance for bipartisan compromise and improvement. It saddens me that this bill was not improved, Medicare was not modernized; it has been privatized in this bill. I said when I voted for H.R. 1 that if it looked like privatization, if it sounded like privatization, if it felt like privatization, if it smelled like privatization, that I would oppose final passage. This bill sounds, it feels, it smells, it looks, it is privatization; and I have to oppose final passage. Now, some say, well, it is not really privatization; this is just an experiment in six different areas. Do not worry. Mr. Speaker, when you are the guinea pig, you tend to worry. We could have done a much better job with this bill, Mr. Speaker. We could have come up with a bill that Republicans and moderate Democrats could embrace, a bill that protects seniors and does not subvert them. I gave this bill every chance that I could. Tonight this bill robs our seniors of any hope that they have had for true Medicare reform. Medicare should be the Federal Government's obligation to seniors who need the right bill, not a profit center for the special interests who wrote this bill.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the work of school psychologists in Suffolk County, New York during the week of November 10, 2003. The children of Suffolk County have a natural desire and propensity to learn and the inalienable right to an education. It is imperative that our society supports the needs of children and youth and invest in education as our top priority. Children's mental health is closely linked to their successful learning and development. Schools must apply sound psychological principles to instruction, learning and oversight, cultivate children's intellectual, social and emotional development, meet the educational and developmental needs of culturally diverse student populations and promote prevention and early intervention to ensure students' achievement. Suffolk County schools must ensure a safe, healthy learning environment for all children and be able to recognize and respond to their emotional and psychological difficulties. Suffolk County school psychologists and other trained school-based professionals have the opportunity and ability to help parents identify and access needed community resources to help their children. Suffolk County school psychologists are leaders in delivering mental health services to children. It is appropriate that Americans recognize the important and vital role that school psychologists play in the personal and academic development of our Nation's children.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, As Veterans' day approaches, I want to take the time to recognize the patriotism and sacrifice of a special group of women. I rise today to honor and recognize servicewomen who served as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during the Second World War. The generation that defeated the Nazis has correctly been referred to as the ``Greatest Generation.'' But for many years, the contributions of this select group of young women pilots were overlooked. As the first women in history trained to fly American military aircraft, the WASP shattered traditional conceptions about women's roles and became pioneers, heroes, and role models for generations of women to come. They compiled an admirable record, performing essential services that freed males for combat-related service overseas, but their accomplishments did not come without a cost. Thirty-eight members of the WASP made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in the course of their service. Although these women had answered the call to duty at America's time of greatest need, when the WASP were disbanded on December 20, 1944, they received no GI benefits or military honors. America tried to forget them, leaving them with only their personal satisfaction that they had done their duty. Congress finally corrected this wrong in 1977 when it formally recognized the service of members of the WASP as active military service, making them eligible for veterans benefits. As we watch women serving bravely in the War Against Terror, it is safe to say that the future of women in the military seems assured. But it is important to remember that this was not always the case. It is not an exaggeration that we owe a big part of the freedom we enjoy today to these women pilots. Their love of country and love of flying is something for which we will always be grateful. At this time I would like to thank the thirty-eight who gave their lives. Let us remember Jane Champlin, Susan Clark, Margie L. Davis, Katherine Dussaq, Marjorie D. Edwards, Elizabeth Erickson. Cornelia Fort, Frances Grimes, Mary Hartson, Mary H. Howson, Edith Keene, Kathryn B. Lawrence, Hazel Ying Lee, Paula Loop, Alice Lovejoy, Lea Ola McDonald, Peggy Martin, Marie N. Michell, Virginia Moffatt, Beverly Moses, Dorothy Nichols, Jeanne L. Norbeck, Margaret Oldenburg, Mabel Rawlinson, Gleanna Roberts, Betty Scott, Margaret J. Seip, Helen J. Severson, Marie Sharon, Evelyn Sharp, Betty P. Stine, Marion Toevs, Gertrude Tompkins, Mary Trebing, Bonnie Jean Welz, Betty T. Wood, and Mary L. Webster. In these dangerous times, their courage is an inspiration for all Americans. I encourage everyone to learn more about the history of the service of these courageous women.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Suffolk County Volunteer Firemen's Association 2003 ``Firefighters of the Year.'' This year, the Association is honoring 1st Asst. Chief James M. Cummings, Ex-Captain Robert Souhrada and Firefighter Daniel Boucher of the Bay Shore, NY Fire Department. The testimonial of Chief Michael K. Cummings demonstrates the commitment of these three brave men. On March 19, 2002, at 18:31 hours the Bay Shore Fire Department was alerted and toned out for a structure fire (signal 13) at 103 Second Avenue. Immediately after going on the air, the Bay Shore base was informed by Suffolk County FireCom there was a child hanging out a window. At 18:33 hours, Engine 3-1-2 and 1st Asst. Chief James Cummings, 3-1- 31, went (signal 2) enroute to the scene. While the crew of 3-1-2 began preparing to enter the building with an attack line, 1st Asst. Chief (3-1-31) James Cummings arrived at the scene and realizing due to heavy smoke and intense flame that time was running out for the trapped victims elected to effect a rescue through the second story front window. As he entered the room, directly in front of the window was 3-year-old John Thomas. Chief Cummings immediately pulled him to his arms and proceeded to the window. As Chief Cummings was affecting the first rescue, Firefighter Dan Boucher had completed his ascent of the stairs. Firefighter Boucher, unaware that anyone else was in the room, entered the front room. Both Cummings and Boucher arrived at the second victim simultaneously. Firefighter Boucher picked up the second child, 4-year-old Derek Wright and attempted to go back to the stairs. He was immediately directed by Chief Cummings to take the victim to the window, where he passed the boy to Ex-Capt. Bob Souhrada with no protective gear waiting atop an aluminum ladder that was found on the side of the house. As resuscitation, attempts were being made on the two youths on the front lawn, Chief Cummings continued to search on his hands and knees in the dense smoke for the third child. As Chief Cummings arrived at the base of a piece of furniture, he realized the piece of furniture was a crib, he felt around and located 8-month-old Starkeya Steeple. He grabbed the infant and immediately passed her to Firefighter Souhrada on the ladder, where she was rushed to a waiting ambulance that was immediately put in route to Southside Hospital. At 19:23 hours, the return to base (signal 5) was transmitted by the incident commander, Chief Michael K. Cummings. Thirteen pieces of apparatus and eighty-six firefighters responded to the scene. Unfortunately, both John Thomas and Derek Wright had succumbed to their injuries on the day of the incident. Starkeya Steeple remained in critical condition after being airlifted to Nassau County Medical Center Burn Unit, where she remained until March 23, 2002, at which time she was pronounced dead, but not before her family was able to have her organs donated. Without any regard for the grave risk to their personal safety, Asst. Chief James Cummings, Ex-Captain Robert Souhrada, and Firefighter Daniel Boucher displayed extraordinary bravery in rescuing these children without any protective streams or ventilation from the intense heat and consuming smoke of this alarm. Therefore I respectfully request that these individuals be rewarded the appropriate grade of commendation of valor, for their actions above and beyond the call of duty.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues the touching story of Fred Amore, Commander of the Suffolk County Veterans of Foreign Wars and Dorothy Holland. Mrs. Holland and Commander Amore were pen-pals while he was serving in the Vietnam War. They remain close friends today. Wartime Letters A Lifetime Bond detention officer, vietnam soldier have forged lasting relationship (By Rob Morrison) When Fred Amore, Commander of Suffolk County Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), looked into the crowd during the Cow Harbor Day Parade last weekend, he was searching for the face of a friend who has stood by him through years of war and peace. As she does every year, Dorothy Holland, 75, of East Northport stood along the parade route waiting to catch a glimpse of Commander Amore, 55, also of East Northport, marching along. Seeing him brought back many memories of her years working for the Northport-East Northport School District and the year-long period she and Commander Amore were pen pals while he was serving in the Vietnam War. The two met in 1965. Mrs. Holland had just begun her tenure at the old Northport High School building on Middleville Road as the detention officer. It was during the spring of that year when Commander Amore, then only a teenager, was given detention for cutting class with his high school sweetheart. ``From that day on Fred and I were friends,'' Mrs. Holland told The Observer during an interview in her home Tuesday. While the two remained friends, Commander Amore graduated the next year, in 1966, and attended Suffolk Community College. But in the spring of 1967 Commander Amore received his draft notice. On June 13, 1967, he went into the United States Army as an Infantryman. Before he left, she went to all the boys ``who were leaving,'' Mrs. Holland said. ``I had tears in my eyes and I said ``I will write to you but you have to write to me.'' Commander Amore returned home from boot camp for Thanksgiving in 1967, then he left for Vietnam December 10 of that year. That Christmas, knowing he would not have a tree of his own, Mrs. Holland sent Commander Amore a photograph of herself in front of her Christmas tree. It was not until January 1968 that Commander Amore said he wrote his first letter to Mrs. Holland. ``I remember saying to Walter, my husband, `Oh, he'll never write,' '' Mrs. Holland said. But Commander Amore said he became very homesick during his time in Vietnam, especially during the holidays. Commander Amore wrote as often as he could from his military post in Soc Trang on the Me Kong Delta. ``He only said `I'm so lonely' and `It is a horrible war,' '' Mrs. Holland said. ``That's when I started getting worried.'' But her fears of the worst became stronger when she stopped getting letters from him. It was February 1968 and Commander Amore was in the thick of battle, attempting to hold off the North Vietnamese during the Tet Offensive. Commander Amore said the three-month ordeal mostly took place at night and forced him and his fellow servicemen and women to live in their foxholes. ``We knew it was coming,'' Commander Amore said. ``It was all over the constantly being bombarded by mortar attacks. The South Vietnamese military was supposed to be protecting the base and the members of the 1st Aviation Battalion, of which he was a part. When the North Vietnamese attacked, however, the South Vietnamese dropped their weapons and fled, leaving Commander Amore and his colleagues stranded. He had been on base for 90 days and still did not have a weapon. ``I had to wait for someone to leave or die to get a weapon,'' Commander Amore said. While many soldiers on base were killed during the offensive, Commander Amore said all of the 25 men in his unit survived. Commander Amore spent several months hoping he would live to see his home again. In the meantime, Mrs. Holland waited to hear news from Commander Amore and the rest of the Northport High School graduates she knew were in Vietnam. ``My heart went out to all the boys,'' she said. ``The stories were just horrible [in their letters]. They knew they weren't accepted back home. That was the worst for them.'' After coming out of Vietnam unscathed, Commander Amore was disturbed to hear the negative public opinion of the Vietnam War. ``I knew the feeling of the people before I left and I knew the feeling when I came back,'' he said. ``I didn't want to talk about it.'' It was not until 1991 when Commander Amore decided to get involved in veterans activities and build up pride for his service during the war. He joined VFW Post 9263 in Elwood and Commack. In June, he was appointed commander of the Suffolk County VFW after serving as commander of his own post for five years. ``I had no intention of joining the VFW when I got out,'' he said. ``I didn't want any part of it for a lot of reasons.'' He always remembered, however, the letters of support that Mrs. Holland wrote him. Despite the nationwide disdain for the war, Mrs. Holland was a proud supporter of the boys who left high school to fight in Vietnam. ``The letters would pick you up,'' Commander Amore said. ``That would get you to the next mail call. I really figured when I went into the service I wouldn't hear from her again. She knew how to keep your morale up and keep you going.'' ``While working at the high school I met the greatest students,'' Mrs. Holland said. ``I haven't forgotten them and they haven't forgotten me. That school was the happiest part of my life.''

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues the testimony of Michele De Jesu from a hearing in regards to Long Island's statistical status, as designated by the Office of Management and Budget. This testimony was given at the Alfonse M. D'Amato United States Courthouse on June 20, 2003. I am Michele De Jesu, and I am thankful to learn from this hearing. I know that the Census Bureau has had a tremendous job in counting populations. Now I am learning that the Bureau can make conclusive definitions as to what to call those populous areas. We can all agree on one thing: Every individual is entitled to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness under the Constitution. If Nassau County is not counted as an entity; if Suffolk County is not counted as an entity: If that be the case, where does it lead each and every impoverished homeless person, too numerous to count? I wonder if they are seen in the census books. Please help the housing agencies that serve the homeless, poor and mentally challenged, agencies like HALI (Hands Across Long Island) and count us so that our government can represent us too. Please redefine your definitions rather than depersonalize whole counties and thus each individual. Please reevaluate and reconsider, and may the OMB not deny us of our unalienable rights.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise to urge support for this amendment. Mr. Chairman, today we are going to vote to provide $87 billion to Iraq to fight terrorism and protect against weapons of mass destruction; but if we ask the Government of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Chairman, what weapons of mass destruction are, they will tell us that this is a weapon of mass destruction, that this breeds terrorism, a Barbie doll. The Saudi Government recently said that the Barbie doll is a Jewish-influenced toy. Mr. Chairman, dolls do not kill innocent civilians. Plastic toys are not terrorists. We should pass this amendment and stop subsidizing terror and violence, intolerance and anti-Semitism.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I will cast my vote on the $87 billion supplemental appropriation for Iraq based on two conflicting influences. First, this central premise: we simply cannot invade a country, destroy its infrastructure, leave it without lights, water, or jobs, and then walk away from it. We made a commitment to rebuild Iraq, and voting against this bill is effectively canceling the check. Conversely, Mr. Chairman, is my belief that this bill, and particularly the political process that brought it to the Floor, is deeply flawed. There is no doubt in my mind that the Administration is essentially holding the safety of our troops hostage to the passage of this bill without any of the commonsense compromises sought by the Democratic Caucus. The issue for me, Mr. Chairman, is whether flaws should override final passage of the appropriation. I have come to the conclusion that the Administration's irresponsible handling of Iraq and this supplemental bill cannot allow us to irresponsibly defeat it. But, I cast my vote with the demand that the Administration use these resources to make immediate and dramatic improvements in several areas of engagement in Iraq. We used force in Iraq based on the view that we could create a transformative model in the Middle East of democracy, prosperity, human rights, education and empowerment. Defeating this appropriation would be the equivalent of saying we are canceling the check for those vital goals. It is the equivalent of saying, ``We broke the merchandise, and now we are returning it.'' And to what are we returning it? Waging war on Iraq and refusing to pay for the peace would not create a transformative model of peace and prosperity, but of violence and poverty. It would bolster the calls for jihad against the West. It would fuel permanent resentments against our country and the West. It would be handing terrorists a long-term victory after we supposedly won a short-term war. It would create a rubble-strewn stage on which Baathists could stand, holding Iraq as an example to the world: ``What have the Americans brought: no jobs, no lights, no roads.'' They would exploit the instability and proselytize an ideology that places suicide bombings ahead of ballots as the agent of change in society. They would make Afghanistan under the Taliban look like a summer camp. Additionally, Mr. Chairman, there is the issue of our troops. Last week, I met in my Long Island office with two soldiers who are serving in Iraq. They were home on rest and recreation. I believe the Administration's horrible planning of post-war activities has already left our troops exposed and fatigued. The Pentagon's own Stars and Stripes newspaper has surveyed our troops and found widespread dissatisfaction, low morale, weak sense of mission, and potentially serious reenlistment problems. Our soldiers need flak jackets, they need armored vehicles, they need communications equipment, they need a much more serious program of military police and civil affairs training. When things go wrong, as they have in Iraq up to this point, there are two ways to respond. We can say, ``What went wrong and who do we blame? or we can say, ``What went wrong and how do we fix it?'' Refusing to fund our troops and the construction of Iraq is not the way to fix the Administration's current failures there. The way to fix those failures is to fund improvements and require accountability and responsibility. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I use this vote today to put the Administration on notice that it must use these resources to improve the following specific areas: create broader alliances; crack down on cronyism and war profiteering; hasten the supply of flak jackets and armored vehicles needed by our troops, end the strain and fatigue on our Guard and Reserve and provide them with a realistic return date, and account for every penny that is being spent. If the Administration fails basic tests of responsibility and accountability, then they cannot and should not ask for my vote again. Finally, Mr. Chairman, I also wish to express my outrage at the leadership of this House for putting politics over the military, for putting partisanship over the very lives of our troops. The Republican leadership has steadfastly refused to even consider Democratic amendments that would have made this bill more palatable by releasing funds in increments on an as-needed basis. The Republican leadership refused to move forward like statesman President Harry Truman working with a responsible Republican Senate to create and implement a transparent Marshall Plan. Instead, they have forsworn consensus for cronyism and have basically said, ``It is our way or the highway.'' They have essentially held our troops as political hostages to a cynical legislative strategy: either vote for the bill as we demand it, or leave our troops behind. I will not play that cynical game, Mr. Chairman. To protect our troops and bring them back to Long Island safe, I will vote for this bill. But let everyone understand that this Administration and the leadership of this Congress has compounded bad planning with bad politics, and is shamefully exploiting the vulnerability of our troops to advance a legislative strategy. It is for the future of a safer world, a stable Middle East, and the lives and well-being of our troops that I support this bill. It is not for the present policies and politics of those who drafted it and sullied it with partisanship. I rise to vote ``aye'' because I am proud to stand with our troops during these dark days. But I am not proud to stand with those who exacerbated the problems and manipulated the process. The future will judge them. The present requires me to support this bill with the improvements I have stipulated.