Steve Israel

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the students from Half Hollow Hills East High School in Dix Hills, NY for their top- ten finish in the ``We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution'' national finals. The students, Andrew Blaesser, Hye Yeon Choi, Paige Gottheim, Farhang Heydari, Ravi Kambhampaty, Ross Kaplan, Cecilia Lero, Lauren Lichtman, Amitai Perline, Amreen Quadir, Jeremy Rovinsky, Joseph Schlingbaum, Sunjeet Sidhu, Brett Streisand, Tiffany Teng and Joshua Wiener, 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, I rise to express my deep concern over the President's nomination of Jeffrey Sutton to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. According to a recent editorial in the New York Times, Mr. Sutton has pursued an extremist agenda against the employment rights of women with breast cancer as well as victims of domestic violence. Here is what the New York Times reported on April 28th. ``Mr. Sutton argued a landmark disability rights case in the Supreme Court. Patricia Garrett, a nurse at an Alabama state hospital, asserted that her employer fired her because she had breast cancer, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mr. Sutton argued that the Act did not protect state employees like Ms. Garrett. His states'-rights argument narrowly won over the court, and deprived millions of state workers of legal protection. He also invoked federalism to urge the court to strike down the Violence Against Women Act. It did so, 5 to 4, dismantling federal protection for sexual assault victims.'' Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a moderate and independent Member of this House. I don't believe that extremism on either end of the spectrum can solve the challenges facing our nation. But I am concerned about a pattern of judicial nominations by the Administration which would fill our benches with the most ideologically driven nominees at the most extreme right of the conservative movement. Nominating an individual who has sought to dismantle federal protections against victims of domestic violence and who has advocated denying a woman with breast cancer legal protection is deeply disturbing. I insert ``Another Ideologue for the Courts'' in today's Record, and urge my colleagues to consider it: [From the New York Times, Apr. 28, 2003] Another Ideologue for the Courts It seems likely that Jeffrey Sutton, a nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, will be confirmed by the Senate this week. But it is important to recognize why he was selected, and how he fits the Bush administration's plan for an ideological takeover of the courts. Whichever way the Senate votes on him, it must insist that the administration start selecting judges who do not come with a far-right agenda. There is no shortage of worthy judicial nominees. Federal courts are filled with district court judges, Republicans and Democrats, who have shown evenhandedness and professionalism, and many would make fine appeals court judges. State courts are overflowing with judges and lawyers known for their excellence, not their politics. The Bush administration, however, has sought nominees whose main qualification is a commitment to far-right ideology. Mr. Sutton is the latest example. He is an activist for ``federalism,'' a euphemism for a rigid states'-rights legal philosophy. Although federalism commands a narrow majority on the Supreme Court, advocates like Mr. Sutton are taking the law in a disturbing direction, depriving minorities, women and the disabled of important rights. Mr. Sutton argued a landmark disability rights case in the Supreme Court. Patricia Garrett, a nurse at an Alabama state hospital, asserted that her employer fired her because she had breast cancer, violating the Americans With Disabilities Act. Mr. Sutton argued that the act did not protect state employees like Ms. Garrett. His states'-rights argument narrowly won over the court, and deprived millions of state workers of legal protection. He also invoked federalism to urge the court to strike down the Violence Against Women Act. It did so, 5 to 4, dismantling federal protection for sexual assault victims. Mr. Sutton has said that he was only doing his job, and that his concern was building a law practice, not choosing sides. But throughout his career, he has taken on major cases that advance the conservative agenda. He has left little doubt in his public statements that he supports these rulings. At his confirmation hearing, Mr. Sutton faced protesters with guide dogs and wheelchairs, who were upset about his role in rolling back disability law. Naturally, they urged the Senate to reject him. But the senators' duty to advise and consent goes beyond their vote on any particular nominee. They must make it clear that in a nation brimming with legal talent, it is unacceptable to focus the search for federal judges on a narrow group of ideologues.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Thomas Ronayne, a decorated veteran and Commander of the Huntington Station Veterans of Foreign Wars. After entering the United States Navy in January of 1980, Tom served aboard the USS Vogelgesang and the USS Vreeland. In September of 1983, he was Honorably Discharged from the Navy. For his service, Tom was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, two Navy Battle ``E'' ribbons, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Navy Pistol Expert Ribbon, one Atlantic Fleet Command ``Golden Grammy Awards'' for Gram Analysis Excellence and two ``Silver Grammy'' Awards for Gram Analysis Excellence. Tom became a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States in 1996, joined Post #1469 in Huntington Station in 1998 and held various offices before being elected Commander in 2000. He still serves as Commander of the Huntington Station VFW, Nathan Hale Post 1469, the oldest VFW Post on Long Island and largest in downstate New York. Tom also participated significantly in the operations and efforts at Ground Zero. He was injured as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center and remained on scene for over seven months, participating in the recovery, clean-up and rebuilding efforts. Tom still visits regularly with the workers at Ground Zero. Tom has three sons and lives in Greenlawn, NY with his wife Linda. I commend Tom Ronayne for his dedicated service to our country during his time in the Navy and in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center, and for his hard work on behalf of veterans on Long Island.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of William A. Kaiser, an outstanding volunteer firefighter from Halesite, New York. After serving in the United States Coast Guard, Mr. Kaiser joined the Halesite Fire Department 50 years ago. He rose to the rank of Chief of Department, following in the footsteps of his father. He is still an active member of the Department today. Chief Kaiser is the epitome of what a volunteer fireman exemplifies: dedicated, caring, selfless, honest and trustworthy. I commend Chief Kaiser for his dedicated service to firefighting on Long lsland, and congratulate him on 50 years with the Halesite Fire Department.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the poems of the students of the JFK Intermediate School in Deer Park, New York. Like all of us, the war in Iraq is on the minds of America's children. Students at the JFK Intermediate School have taken time to acknowledge the troops and thank them for their dedication and service to our country. Kyle Thorn, age 10, writes: ``I just want to thank you for protecting not only your country, you are also protecting your people. I also want to thank you for risking your life for every American when you don't even know them. You are what a true American citizen is. When you are out there in Iraq you are not only saluting your country, you are saluting the people in your country.'' I join with these students in their continued support and appreciation for our troops at home and abroad and pray for their safe return home. Dear Service Men & Women: Hi my name is Kyle Thorn, I am 10 years old and I live in Derr Park, Ny. I have an older brother who is 14 and a younger sister that is 6. I dont know if you know him but I have an Uncle whose in the Air National 106th Reserve. His name is George Kalamoros. In this letter I just want to thank-you For protecting not only your country you are also protecting your people. I also want to thank-you for risking your life for every american when you dont-even know them. You are what a true american citizen is. When you are out there in Iraq you are not only saluting your country you are saluting the people in your country. From, Kyle Thorn.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleagues for recognizing the threat and their leadership in addressing this issue. Mr. Chairman, time is of the essence. Thirty terrorist organizations, including Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, are already believed to own such missiles, and some say it is only a matter of time before they are filtered into the United States. They have the weapons and we have the technology to protect against those weapons. The threat is real, but so is the defense. It is operational on U.S. and British military transports. Technology that the U.S. military uses to protect transports from missile attacks could be quickly and easily adapted for our own commercial air fleet. All Americans deserve that defense. I had intended to offer an amendment on this issue, but in view of the work of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) on this, I will withdraw it. Mr. Chairman, let me once again thank these gentlemen for their leadership on this issue, and I look forward to working with them in the future.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 100th anniversary of the Huntington Historical Society. The Huntington Historical Society was founded by the local community as an outgrowth of the collection of artifacts gathered together in 1903 for exhibition at the celebration of the Town of Huntington's 250th anniversary. The exhibition was so well received by the community that the exhibition committee decided to keep its collection together and found a Society whose mission would be to preserve the heritage of the Town of Huntington, by maintaining museums, collections and a research center, by educating the public about Long Island's regional history, and by promoting the preservation of historic buildings and sites. The society serves the dual role of being a repository for the treasures of Huntington's founding families while also reaching out to the community to provide a sense of place and identity in a rapidly changing area proud of its deep historic roots. In addition, the Huntington Historical Society is distinguished as one of the oldest repositories of local history in the New York metropolitan area. I commend the Huntington Historical Society for their dedication to the historical preservation of the great town of Huntington, and congratulate them on their 100th anniversary.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize John Digilio as Chef de Chemin de Fer of La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux. The ``Forty and Eight,'' as it is popularly known, is an independent fraternal organization of veterans comprised of approximately 50,000 veterans from World War II and the Korean, Vietnam and Desert Storm conflicts. The members of the ``Forty and Eight'' dedicate much of their time to their Child Welfare Program, Nurses Scholarship Trust Fund, as well as many activities dedicated to Americanism, respect for the flag, the Constitution and Law and Order. Chef Digilio grew up in Bay Shore, New York and entered active duty in the United States Army in 1969. From 1970-1971 he served in the 95th Evacuation Hospital, DaNang, Republic of Vietnam. After his return to the United States, he entered the New York Army National Guard and worked his way up the ranks to senior commander of all medical units by 1986. On December 1, 1996, John was brevetted and placed on the New York State Retired List as brigadier general by the Governor of New York upon his retirement from military service. I am most grateful for Chef Digilio's dedicated service to our county over the last 34 years. In this time of war, especially, it is critical that we take the time to show our support for America's men and women who have served in uniform. I wish the ``Forty and Eight'' a festive and enjoyable Homecoming this upcoming weekend.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce an important piece of legislation that will assist not only amateur radio operators, but society as a whole. Organized amateur radio operators, or ``hams,'' regularly provide emergency communication when regular communications channels are disrupted by disaster. Hams have formal agreements with federal agencies such as FEMA and private relief organizations like the Red Cross. Hams are federally licensed volunteers and provide a variety of important communications services that protect lives while using their own equipment without compensation. With the growth of developed communities, amateur radio operators have begun to fall under an array of inconsistent regulations, making it increasingly difficult for them to operate. Burdensome regulations are imposed on amateur radio operators making it difficult, and in some cases impossible, for them to erect antenna vital to their communications capabilities. We should remember that many of these antennas are stealth in nature. Hams can place antennas behind drainpipes or attach flexible antennas along the gutters of their own home. In some cases, when the homeowners associations have found these antennas, the Hams were forced to take it down. Amateur Radio operators, who work with local disaster communication groups, are finding it more difficult to erect antennas. Sometimes homeowner associations arbitrarily forbid installation of any kind of antenna. It is especially important to keep in mind that most homeowners associations are not elected, and most Hams have no recourse or appeal process to pursue. This is particularly troubling given the role that Hams have played in communications during emergency and catastrophic situations in the past. Not allowing Hams the equipment they need could restrict communication to the local community in similar situations in the future. To remedy this situation, we have introduced legislation, the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act, which seeks to ensure the continued viability of amateur radio through consistent application of federal regulations. The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act is based upon a 1985 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation that required state and local authorities to ``reasonably accommodate'' amateur radio antennas. This ruling failed, however, to address situations affecting private land developments. The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act will include homeowner associations and other land use regulators in the regulation. This bill would grant the FCC the authority to consistently apply the 1985 ruling to all homeowners, regardless of whether they are petitioning state or local authorities, or public land-use regulators or homeowners' associations. This simply means that these organization will be required to work with homeowners to achieve a ``reasonable accommodation'' when homeowners seek to install an antenna on their own property. The FCC recognizes the invaluable service amateur radio operators provide to our nation. Congress also recognizes the contribution that Hams make. These good faith negotiations will help ensure that amateur radio operators' technical needs and the public service they provide are met while preserving the general welfare of the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to urge my colleagues to participate in the E-mail Our Troops Project, a vitally important endeavor that is good for our military personnel and also good for our children. This program allows people to send e-mail messages to men and women serving in very dangerous places around the world. It boosts the morale of our service members, it alleviates their loneliness, but it is also very helpful to children in particular. For young children, news of war can be overpowering. It can leave them with a sense that they are not connected, they have no control; frightening news controls them. Giving them an e-mail connection to our Armed Forces is one way of creating a positive connection, letting them voice an opinion, ask a question. Mr. Speaker, I learned that just yesterday when I visited the J. Taylor Finley Middle School in Huntington. I went there to talk to the youngsters about their opinions on what is happening in Iraq and to teach them how to e-mail our troops. I would like to share with my colleagues and with the country some of the messages that these young men and women sent to other young men and women who are fighting for our freedom. Mario from the Taylor Finley Middle School wrote, ``Hi! My name is Mario; and I want to tell you that, in my opinion, you are going to be fine because people will and are praying for you.'' Becca wrote, ``Dear serviceperson. My name is Becca, and I am a 12 year old student at Finley Middle School. I am writing to you to say how much I am thinking about you. Our country is so grateful to have people like you fighting for America. You must be truly brave.'' Tori wrote, ``Hi! How are you? Is it hard to be so far away from your family? Do you miss them? I can't thank you enough for what you are doing. I hope you get back safely.'' Madeleine and Shannon wrote, ``Dear American, thank you for defending our country. We hope you are safe and well. You are very important to us. It must be hard to leave your family for so long. Your decision to help the effort is so commendable. We hope you come back soon.'' Mr. Speaker, Jenny wrote, ``Hello, I just wanted to say that myself and many other people are thinking of you. We are thinking very often of you during the day and how much you are doing for this country. We are so proud of you.'' And Megan wrote, ``Dear Friend, I just want to say that I am very proud of you and I support you. Thank you so much for putting your life on the line to protect the rights of others in this country and in Iraq. We all believe in you and hope that you will return very soon.'' Lauren-Taylor wrote, ``I don't want this to be another letter that says 'thank you' over and over. I want to tell you that I truly feel that you are giving this ultimate gift to people that you don't even know. The fact that you love your country and fellow Americans so much is incredible. You are showing this in great fashion. Please know that even if we don't support this war, we support you.'' And Tara e-mailed, ``Dear American, thank you so much for what you have done for our country. I really appreciate what you are doing. You are so brave to risk your own life for us. You are so brave and courageous. I hope you are proud, because I know I am.'' Mr. Speaker, just one more. Daniella wrote, ``Dear Navy soldiers, I wanted to tell you thanks for being our hero, representing our country. Thanks for everything you have done. It is amazing. Thanks for fighting for peace in the United States. Thank you so much for everything, and thanks for being our hero.'' Mr. Speaker, when I visited this school yesterday, I learned that our young children, who have the same opinions that many of their parents do and many Members of Congress do, have a vitally important opportunity, despite those opinions, to show what counts, and that is support for our troops. These young students at the Finley Middle School had the opportunity not only to show that support but also to give expression to their feelings, to ask some questions; and, ultimately, I hope that that gave them a sense that they can engage in the great issues of our time, that they can venture an opinion, that that opinion counts, and that they can give some solace and some comfort to people who are fighting for their future in far away and dangerous places. I want to thank the teachers, the administrators, and the students of that school; and I want to thank the people that they sent e-mails to just yesterday.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I also thank the distinguished gentlewomen from Illinois for her continued bipartisan leadership and compassion and concern on the issue of runaways. The gentlewoman and I introduced this bill in February, 2003. The National Network for Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard have designated November as National Runaway Prevention Month because many of the causes of runaways can be successfully addressed before the problem emerges. Unfortunately, many children do not realize that there are resources available to them, and they choose to run away because they think that there are no other options. During National Runaway Prevention Month, the National Network for Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard publicizes the realities that runaways face on our streets. During this month, parents are reminded to keep communication with their children open. During November, the two organizations will reinforce the message that setting aside regular time for planned family activities is just critical. These organizations also reach out to youth to educate them about how they can communicate more effectively with their parents. Young people can learn the techniques needed to adequately express their feelings. These organizations have the resources that can show youth that there are alternatives, which include counseling to address the unhappiness and a myriad of social services and youth groups. The two main goals of National Runaway Prevention Month are to increase awareness of issues facing runaways and to educate the public about their role in preventing youth from running away. Community programs in my district such as the Sanctuary Program in Huntington provide a safe haven for youth. They teach youth the value of trusted friends, family, adults, clergy, professionals. They teach teens how to listen, how to understand, and how to communicate. Some people run away because of physical or sexual abuse in their homes. In these cases, youth should know that there are options. They do not have to run and live on the streets. They can make the abuse stop. They can get counseling, they can continue their education, they can remain fully contributing members of society. There are alternatives. We need to educate our youth as to where those alternatives are. That is what this bill helps do. The National Network for Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard use the month of November to publicize their efforts and educate people about those alternatives. National Runaway Prevention Month provides a vital service in informing both at- risk youth and their parents that communication is essential. This resolution before us demonstrates that the House of Representatives recognizes the service that these organizations provide. I was very proud to introduce and cosponsor this resolution with the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert), and I urge the House to join us in passing it today so that we may save families and save lives.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 182nd anniversary of Greece's modern independence, and I can think of no more fitting time to celebrate the birth place of democracy than now, when our brave men and women are overseas fighting for the very principles that the Ancient Greeks first embraced. I am proud and honored to pay tribute tonight to the more than 3 million Greek-Americans in the United States, almost 10,000 of whom reside in my congressional district. From the books that are still taught in schools, such as Homers's Iliad and Odyssey, to the homecoming of the Olympics in Athens, Greek culture continues to influence American life today. Greek-Americans contribute to every aspect of American culture as teachers, scientists, engineers, writers, actors, and every other occupation in the United States. Greek-Americans continue to teach us about the ideals that their great grandparents first taught the world: loyalty, pride, rugged individualism and governing for the people by the people. Greece was the world's first democracy, and now more than ever it is important to celebrate democracy at a time when Coalition forces fight to preserve it. The citizens of Iraq will soon reap the benefits of living in a democratic land, and their children will be able to grow up in a society free from tyranny. This is what we celebrate tonight on the anniversary of Greek Independence Day: the idea of living free in a society where citizens freely elect their representatives to govern them, without coercion or intimidation. Athens was the first city to say that one person does not have the right to rule by whim without the consent of the people. Saddam Hussein is a dictator. His totalitarian regime undermines human dignity. It works against, not for, the people of Iraq. Greece was the first civilization to realize this truth, and it is for this reason that tonight we celebrate its Independence Day. We must also never forget the exceptional relations that Greece and America enjoy. As Greece continues to be a country of stability in an otherwise turbulent Balkans region, let us always remember that Greece, one of America's greatest allies, has fought with the United States in every major war from World War I to the Persian Gulf, and that it remains committed to promoting the democratic ideals that we celebrate tonight.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, in 2001 I was 1 of only 28 Democrats to support the President's tax cuts, 1 of 9 to support his economic stimulus package. I will continue to support tax cuts that truly stimulate our economy and spur investment, but I believe that the Republican budget before us today and the sweeping magnitude and breadth and depth of tax cuts to the most affluent at the cost of the most urgent national needs is irresponsible. The Republican plan allows U.S. troops to go into a war today and then slashes their veterans' benefits by billions when they return tomorrow because their budget needs those billions from veterans to fund a $90,000 tax cut per millionaire. Mr. Speaker, I represent some affluent areas. I represent people who are millionaires. They are good, hard-working people, but I cannot imagine a single one of them coming up to me and saying, give me my $90,000 tax cut today, and I do not care about those soldiers who are fighting for my freedoms and safety in Iraq. I do not care if they have to go without their veterans benefits tomorrow; I want mine now. Mr. Speaker, that is precisely what this budget does. This budget could eliminate enrollment for 158,000 veterans, necessitate 400,000 fewer hospital-bed days, reduce the number of nurses by 8,700. For veterans, it means longer waits and higher premiums. The alternative is the moderate Blue Dog budget. It repeals the marriage penalty. It makes estate tax relief immediate and permanent. It accelerates middle-class and small business tax cuts, but it provides for our local first responders. It offers seniors an initial prescription drug benefit. It stays within the President's own discretionary spending levels. It achieves $2 trillion less debt than the President's plan over 10 years. What it asks is that those who are at the highest tax bracket simply postpone their tax cuts until the war is paid for, until our veterans benefits are secured, until this budget is back on the path towards balance. Mr. Speaker, for our national security today, for our homeland security today, for our veterans' health and economic security tomorrow, let us pass the moderate Blue Dog budget. Let us not balance this budget on the backs of people fighting on desert fronts.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and let me thank the gentleman from the other side for accommodating us. Mr. Speaker, I supported tax cuts in 2001. That was before 9/11. That was before our war on terrorism. That was before a potential war in Iraq. That was before we had new homeland needs. But today the world is different. We have new challenges. We have to make sure that our budgets keep pace with those challenges and are responsible in adapting to those challenges. We cannot send young people into an unfunded battle in Iraq tonight and slash their veterans benefits when they come home tomorrow by $15 billion. We cannot offer the deepest tax cuts to the very richest and balance budgets on the backs of those who are fighting on our fronts. I represent some constituents who would benefit greatly by a tax cut at the top brackets. I cannot think of a single one who would come up to me at a Support Our Troops rally or a reservist center and say, ``Congressman, I will take my $90,000 tax cut now, and I don't care if veterans have to stand in longer lines, have shortages of beds or can't get into VA hospitals tomorrow.'' We all want to engage in shared sacrifice. We are at a critical time in our Nation's history. Our first obligation has to be to our seniors and those fighting for our freedom in Iraq and other dangerous places in the world. We cannot cut their beds, their budgets; we cannot balance tax cuts on their backs. So I am hopeful that the Members of this body on both sides of the aisle will review these budgets and get back to the real priorities of America, taking care of our senior citizens, taking care of our veterans, making sure that we are meeting our obligations to them, taking care of our children, and making sure that their future is not laced with deficits and that we are not balancing budgets on their backs as well.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, our veterans have made America the strongest nation on earth. Their stories serve as a reminder of the costs that our nation has endured to ensure peace and freedom. I believe that it is vitally important to acknowledge the commitment and achievement of every veteran who put his or her life on the line to protect this nation. I want to take this opportunity to share the story and bravery of Seaman 1st Class, Joseph McKenna Jr., of Melville, New York, a veteran of World War II. In the spring of 1943, Joseph McKenna was serving as a United States Navy armed guard on the tanker, MS Panam. The Panam was making a trip from Norfolk to Lake Charles, Louisiana when it developed engine trouble. After becoming separated from the rest of the convoy, a German U-Boat attacked. The first torpedo ripped through the engine room, killing two crew members. The engines were destroyed and water started to rush in. At the time of the attack Joseph McKenna was on the bridge. His commander, Arley Zinn, met him there and told him to return to the gun deck. At this point, McKenna realized that his buddy, Seaman 1st Class Earl Mayle, was missing and he went to find him. The door to their quarters was shut; it wouldn't budge. McKenna kicked in the bottom panel of the door and, on his hands and knees, made his way through the opening to Mayle, who was wedged under a bunk. Amazingly, McKenna, a man of only one hundred and thirty two pounds, was able to drag Mayle to what he thought was the safety of the gun deck. Upon reaching the deck, McKenna was injured when another torpedo stuck the Panam. Thankfully, McKenna made it to a lifeboat with Mayle. After floating in the open ocean for six hours, the Coast Guard cutter USS SC664 finally picked them up. McKenna lost touch with Mayle for fifty-six years. In 1999, he tracked down Mayle's wife Shirley. She told him that Mayle passed away in 1993. She said that all Earl would speak about was McKenna saving his life. ``Thank God for Joe McKenna,'' Earl would say. ``If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here.'' Mr. Speaker, I stand before you to recognize Seaman 1st Class, Joseph McKenna Jr. In honor of him and his act of bravery, I have flown a flag over the United States Capitol.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 115th anniversary of Camp Alvernia, located in Centerport, NY. In its first summer in 1888, Camp Alvernia's Franciscan Brothers brought deserving poor youth from Brooklyn to the country environment during the summer months. Since then, the camp has been dedicated to teaching their campers respect for themselves, each other and our environment. Camp Alvernia also provides scholarships for families who find themselves in financial difficulty. They are committed to helping families and children from impoverished situations to develop spiritually, morally and physically while enjoying Long Island's beautiful environment. Campers at Camp Alvernia enjoy sports, arts and crafts, nighttime campfires and many more activities. I commend Camp Alvernia and their staff for their dedication to our nation's children, and congratulate them on their 115th anniversary.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, over the weekend I joined with hundreds of Marines in my congressional district as they prepared to deploy to the Middle East. Many of their families asked me whether the American people will support them. They asked whether the polls that they read about reflect a lack of support for those who may be asked to fight for our freedoms in the Middle East. Madam Speaker, I support the use of force, but I understand that there is a diversity of opinion on this issue. In America we have the right to agree, the right to disagree, the right to remain silent; but let no one believe for a moment that there is any division with respect to supporting our troops. Republicans and Democrats will go and fight for our freedoms abroad and Republicans and Democrats will stand by them at home. We cannot forget our support of those brave men and women, and I know that this Congress will not forget that for a moment.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an exemplary member of the Long Island community. The Suffolk County Police Department consistently shows us the best and most heroic that Long Island has to offer. For thirty-one years, Detective James Roys has served as a commendable member of that department. Over the years, Detective Roys worked on numerous high- profile cases. In 1990 he was promoted to Detective and in 1995 he was transferred to the Homicide Squad. He was the lead detective on numerous murder investigations, including the noteworthy cases of Andrew Dukes, Krystal Barbasso, Anthony Meo and Eric Burkes. Detective Roys has made a lasting contribution to the safety of Long Island residents. On January 4, 2003, Detective James Roys retired from the Suffolk County Police Department. It is with great admiration that I come to this floor to offer my congratulations and best wishes. He will be truly missed by his colleagues and by Suffolk County residents who depended on his hard work for so many years. Mr. Speaker, Suffolk County owes a debt of gratitude to Detective James Roys.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I am a new member of the Committee on Armed Services and very proud to be serving on that committee under the able leadership of the gentleman from California (Chairman Hunter) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the ranking member. Mr. Speaker, last month I visited the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Amityville, New York, to bid farewell and Godspeed to the Alpha Company of the 6th Communication Battalion. They went willingly; they sacrifice selflessly; they serve proudly. I remember their faces; I remember their families' faces. Our Nation owes them the legislation before us today, but we owe them much more than that. We must stand with them. We need to protect their jobs, protect their incomes, protect their homes, provide health care for their families while they are away, and just as important, after they return. We cannot ask men and women who fight for our freedom abroad to fight for their veterans benefits when they return home. We cannot balance the domestic budgets on the backs of those who are willing to fight on our fronts. We have a covenant with these patriots. We have a moral contract with these soldiers. We have a national commitment to these hundreds of thousands of faceless heroes and their families. So as we stand here united in praise of our troops, let us never forget the sustained and long-term obligation we have to our regular Armed Forces, our activated Reserves and our veterans. They are there for us, and we must be there for them. They are the ones who truly and bravely answer the philosopher's charge: ``Freedom must be reinvented in every generation.'' God bless them. God bless America.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an exemplary member of the Long Island community. The Suffolk County Police Department consistently shows us the best and most heroic that Long Island has to offer. For the past thirty-five years Detective Michael Calvin served as an admirable member of that department, first as an exceptional undercover officer with the Rackets Bureau, and then as a detective with the Homicide Squad. Over the years, Detective Calvin worked as the lead detective on numerous murder investigations, including the murder of Claudia Broder of Moriches, by her son-in-law, Ralph Farino. He has made a lasting impact on the safety of Long Island residents. On January 6, 2003, Detective Michael Calvin retired from the Suffolk County Police Department. He will be sorely missed by his colleagues and by the community that has depended on his hard work to keep them safe for so many years. I come to this floor to out of respect and offer my congratulations and best wishes. Mr. Speaker, Suffolk County owes a debt of gratitude to Detective Michael Calvin.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce a resolution that recognizes the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month, which is sponsored by two organizations that work with runaway youth: the National Network for Youth and the National Runaway Switchboard. This resolution will bring national attention to the important issue of runaway kids and remind parents of the importance of effectively communicating with their children. All of the conditions that lead young people to leave their homes are preventable when families are strong and when young people can find the support they need. Runaway situations among our nation's young people are a widespread problem. One out of every seven children and youth in the United States runs away from home at some time before the age of 18. Although some return home after a short time, others remain on the streets and never go home. Studies have shown that 1.3 million runaway youth are on the streets each day. Because today's young people are tomorrow's adults, preventing youth from running away is a family, community and national priority. Our country needs an educated workforce, charismatic leaders and a stable society. Each November, nationwide activities take place to increase public awareness of the life circumstances of at risk youth. This resolution will show that Congress supports those educational activities aimed at ensuring safe, healthy and productive youth. I am hopeful that recognition of this issue will prevent other young people from running away and stress the importance of families and communities.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill that will correct a glaring vulnerability in our homeland defense. The ``Commercial Airline Missile Defense Act'' will fully fund the addition of electronic surface-to-air missile defense systems on all commercially scheduled flights on United States aircrafts. Protecting American lives is the most fundamental job of the Federal Government. We must therefore eliminate every weakness that we see in our country's homeland defense. The vulnerability of our commercial air fleet to terrorist missile attack is not a hysterical hypothetical. It is a real and present danger. Last November there was attempted missile attack on an Israeli airliner taking off from an airport in Kenya. Two surface-to-air missiles, also known SAMs, which can bring down large airplanes-- commercial as well as military--from up to 30 miles from an airport were launched against an Israeli chartered jet airliner. It was only profound good luck--likely a flawed missile batch--that saved the plane and its hundreds of innocent passengers. Thankfully, last November's attack on the Israeli jetliner failed. We need to keep in mind, however, that the missile used in the Israeli attack one of the least sophisticated of the several types of SAMs that exist in the world today. It was a Soviet-era SA7, which was been sold globally since the end of the cold war. The other types of SAMs are much more advanced and much more effective. SAMs were designed to be highly portable and are easily disassembled. As such, they are relatively easy to transport and smuggle. Terrorist could launch this five-foot long missile from near an airport and flee before anyone can detect them. Airplanes taking off with full and highly combustible fuel tanks are the most likely and deadly targets. The U.S. government must equip all its aircrafts with a defense system to protect and defend against this threat. The United States provided Stingers--a type of SAM--to the Mujahadeen in the 1980s in Afghanistan. They were used with devastating affect against the Soviets. The Mujahadeen, who subsequently splintered into the Taliban and Al Qaeda, possessed at least a thousand Stingers that were never accounted for after the war ended in 1989. Soviet shoulder armed missiles, like the ones used in Kenya against the Israeli jetliner, are even far more abundant. Tens of thousands of these missiles are out there. Although most are in state arsenals, thousands--including U.S. Stingers and Russian SA7s--are unaccounted for and feared to be in the hands of terrorists. Few doubt that Al Qaeda does not possess large quantities of Russian SA7s and even more effective U.S. Stingers. A successful attack against a Boeing 747-400 with full capacity could cost almost five hundred lives. Aside from large-scale casualties, such a successful attack would have a devastating impact on the U.S. Aircraft industry, on travel and tourism, and on the entire economy. It would be a multifaceted catastrophe. Now that we understand that pleas are vulnerable, the United States Government must take every step to protect and defend American citizens. The advanced technology needed to protect American commercial airplanes exists and is operation on U.S. military transports. The new system are advanced and are much more successful than the previous system of diversionary flares. The most modern systems, such as those installed on U.S. C17s and C5As, identify when a plane is threatened, detect the source of the threat, jam the guidance system of the incoming missiles and steer it off its flight path. Similar systems are currently used on low-altitude military aircrafts. The rapid deployment of this system is essential for the safety of U.S. commercial flyers and is the clear responsibility of the U.S. Government to implement. I propose fully funding the retrofitting of SAM defensive systems and beginning that process this year. No one in this body would question that preserving and protecting the people of the United States is our most important and sacred constitutional responsibility. At this critical time in our Nation's history we have two simultaneous crises and concerns: national security and economic security. The bill I introduce today addresses both of these issues. This legislation would take the preventive step of reducing risk to millions of travelers and create thousands of jobs through the retrofitting of the defensive technologies. Additionally, this bill will boost our airline industry. Recent surveys have shown that between one-fifth to one-third of Americans are restricting their flying because of fears of terrorism. Our government and the airline industry are working closely together to restore full consumer confidence in the safety of our commercial air system. Implementing a robust and effective defense system for our commercial jet fleet would further accelerate the process of making Americans feel safer when they fly, and help the economic recovery of U.S. air carriers. The estimated cost of $10.2 billion for a system of 6,800 commercial jets at a unit price of $1.5 million will be offset by these economic benefits. The unit cost could drop even lower in mass production. Mr. Speaker, I fully realize that a ten billion expenditure is significant. But it is not prohibitive. The only thing that would be prohibitive would be for this Congress to be negligent in our responsibility to protect the people of our great Nation. Let us not gather together in grief the morning after a catastrophe and wonder what we could have done to prevent it. We know what can be done. Let's do it.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the works of Morris S. Hodkin and Joseph Hodkin. These outstanding individuals from Long Island were honored last night at the B'Nai B'Rith Banking and Finance Distinguished Achievement Award Dinner. Mr. Morris Hodkin and Mr. Joseph Hodkin of Daley-Hodkin Corporation have dedicated years of service to the corporate credit industry in New York. They are also to be commended for their continued activities in charitable endeavors.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, in the last Congress, the House passed the landmark Israel-Johnson Medicare+Choice Improvement and Stabilization Act that I cowrote with Republican Representative Nancy Johnson. Unfortunately, despite a bipartisan consensus that something must be done and the best efforts of Senator Schumer, the Senate did not pass the needed legislation. Now, at the beginning of the 108th Congress, and working closely with the administration, leadership of both parties and the Senate, the first piece of legislation I have introduced in the 108th Congress is a bill that will help stabilize the Medicare+Choice program. Since 1999 more than 2.4 million beneficiaries, including more than 85,000 Long Island seniors, have had their service interrupted by a severe funding crisis. Millions of other beneficiaries have experienced a reduction in benefits or an increase in out-of-pocket costs. These problems are a direct result of the fact that funding for the Medicare+Choice program has not kept up with rising health costs. From the moment I came to Congress, seniors have been asking me when relief will arrive. They wonder what is taking so long and why Congress can't pass this and the President sign-it. The fact is that while Congress blames HMOs for leaving Long Island, HMOs blame the administration, and Republicans and Democrats blame each other, seniors are suffering. As we begin a new session of Congress, it is essential that we put partisan politics aside and give seniors the help they so desperately need. Playing the blame game won't help seniors pay their medicine bills. The time has come to act. Over the past three years, there has been a growing consensus in Congress that the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 has had the unintended effect of constricting the Medicare market as a whole, and Medicare+Choice health plans in particular. According to a November 2002 report by the Commonwealth Fund, the BBA is limiting M+C payment rates, while health care costs are increasing. As a result, beneficiaries looking to Medicare HMOs as an affordable supplemental insurance option are being asked to pay more for fewer benefits. And that is only part of the problem. The ultimate result of this flawed system created by the BBA is that HMOs in the program have been deserting seniors on Long Island. Just 4 years ago 12 HMOs offered seniors health plans in Suffolk County; now only two remain. More than 85,000 Long Island seniors have been dropped by their HMOs. This is unacceptable. It is for this reason that the Medicare+Choice Equity and Access Act is so essential. It will stabilize the program and provide critical funding. The situation is unconscionable. Our seniors are depending on us. I urge my colleagues to quickly pass this bill and correct the funding inadequacies in Medicare+Choice.