Sue Kelly

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) for his continued efforts on behalf of our veterans, and I look forward to continuing to work with the gentleman to assure proper medical care for our veterans.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the purpose of introducing legislation to reauthorize the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. This program is a valuable one that has done much to address the costs incurred by states and localities in incarcerating illegal criminal aliens since its creation in 1994 under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. The proposal I offer today is a simple one. This bill reaffirms our belief in the value of this program and strengthens our commitment to it by increasing significantly the authorized funding level over the next four years. The authorized level for this program has increased each year since 1995, when it was set at $130 million. This year, $340 million was authorized. I propose today to increase the funding level for this program to $850 million a year. This increase, I believe, acknowledges the importance of supporting programs which have proven to be successful. More importantly, I believe it aids us in meeting our responsibility at the federal level to assist states and localities in the effort to keep our communities safe. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this initiative.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to return to title III, page 102 of the bill to offer a quick, noncontroversial amendment we have an agreement on.

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I have a very simple amendment before us that clarifies a provision in the bill that pertains to the American Heritage Rivers Initiative and the Council on Environmental Quality. I have worked with all parties concerned on both sides of the aisle to ensure that this language clarifies the intent of this legislation. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula).

Mrs. KELLY. Reclaiming my time, I thank the gentlemen from Ohio and Washington for their support.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Today is a special day for our pages. It is graduation day. It is a time to reflect on their past year of service to this body, on the school, on building relationships, on dorm life, and the range of experiences and emotions they have felt in their time in Washington. For many of you, this was a challenging experience. But I hope it was a special time for you as well. You are part of a select club, a small group of people who have served in Congress as congressional pages. Some of the Members of that club stand before you today as Members of Congress themselves. You are a special group of people. You have been given the opportunity to witness history's greatest experiment in democracy firsthand. During your time here, you have not heard this as much as you should have, but thank you. Thank you very much. We thank you. I thank you from all of the Members and the staff of this House. You have been a very special part of this institution. You have witnessed firsthand the fact that Members of Congress tend to become wrapped up and focused on the day's floor activity and the tough debates which frequently characterize the House of Representatives. Do not think for a moment, however, that we have not noticed the essential work that you perform every single day. You are a special part of this place, you lend character to this place, and you are a daily reminder to all of us of why our work is so important, because you are our future leaders. Over the course of the last year, as I have gotten to know each of you, I have seen something special in you. Many of you have told me how much you have learned about while you are being here. Remember this, knowledge is power only when you turn on the engine, so do not be afraid to turn on the ignition as you go on through life. We are grateful for your service here. Your future and the future of this Nation is limited only by your ability to dream and the courage to pursue your dreams. I wish all of you the best of your future and the best of luck in all of your dreams.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Resolution. Tuberous Sclerosis is a common genetic disorder that remains poorly understood. Even though 1,000,000 people worldwide are affected with the disease, few are even aware of it. Tuberous Sclerosis is a genetic disorder that causes benign tumors to form in any of the vital organs--including the brain, eyes, heart, kidneys, and skin. It is often first recognized because of epileptic seizures and/or varying degrees of developmental delay. But, too often Tuberous Sclerosis goes undetected or is misdiagnosed because its symptoms are similar to those of more well-known diseases, such as epilepsy or autism. However, more recognition and early diagnosis is desperately needed. Infants and children too often spend their lives being misdiagnosed, possibly leading to irreparable brain damage, kidney failure, and even premature death. With a variety of treatments currently available to ease symptoms and improve the quality of life for people with Tuberous Sclerosis, diagnosis is critical. Mr. Speaker, as May is Tuberous Sclerosis Month, I urge my colleagues to join me in bringing awareness to a devastating disease that affects at least one child born each day. By helping America to learn about and understand Tuberous Sclerosis, we will help to improve the quality of life for many children.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4444, Extending Nondiscriminatory Treatment to the People's Republic of China. We stand here today at a cross roads in our relations with the Chinese. We can choose to engage China in a one sided agreement in which their tariffs on United States exports to China drop from the current average of 24.6 percent in 1997 to 9.4 percent in 2005. In return we will not have to lower our tariffs at all. Or we can choose to reject this agreement, allowing China to keep its tariffs high for United States goods and services while they reduce them for other countries. We must remember that in both of these choices, China joins the WTO. The choice is clear. The policy of engagement is the better course and the path we must choose. However, engagement does not equal endorsement. There are three areas we must continue to push China on to improve their record: the environment, human rights, and transparency in their international dealings. The legislation before us moves us forward on each one. As our efforts to address global climate change continue, China must be part of the solution. If we do not engage China in solutions to improve the global environment there is no way our solutions to clean up our planet can truly be effective. China is the world's largest energy consumer and emitter of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. China is also the world's largest developing country chemical exporter and the world's largest producer of ozone- depleting substances. If China is left out of the fight for a cleaner environment, our efforts could be neutralized. China's record on human rights has been abysmal. However, it is important to remember that the most repressive periods in recent Chinese history have occurred in times of isolation. Let us continue to encourage China to give their people greater freedoms. Under this policy of engagement, China has signed the U.N. Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the U.N. Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Both await ratification in the National People's Congress. It is our hope the Congress will move quickly to ratify. These are steps in the right direction which we should continue to encourage. The Dalai Lama has endorsed this agreement because he agrees that engagement is the fastest road to the realization of giving all Chinese democratic rights. We need to recognize that China's growing regional integration has increased their willingness to settle long-standing disputes with its neighbors. Our allies in Asia support granting China permanent normal trading status, precisely because it would support regional security and cooperative efforts. This is especially true for Taiwan. That is why Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bain has endorsed this agreement and China's accession into the WTO. However, we cannot solely rely on the benefits of trade to protect our interests. In February of this year we passed the Taiwan Security Act with the overwhelming support of the House. This legislation will ensure that Taiwan has the tools necessary to defend itself from a potentially aggressive China. Congress needs to pass legislation and ensure the President signs it into law this year. Most importantly, this agreement is good for U.S. jobs and especially for jobs in New York's Hudson Valley. The agreement gives American workers unprecedented access to China's markets. For every additional billion in exports to China there are estimated to be created 20,000 new jobs in the United States. Last year New York exported nearly $600 million in goods and services to China--this figure is expected to rapidly multiply under this agreement. No one believes trade alone will bring freedom to China or peace to the world. When change does come it will be slow and will need our encouragement. This is the choice before us today. We can take a step move China in the right direction, and gain the benefits; or we can push China in the wrong direction, and pay the price. I believe this choice is clear. I encourage members on both sides of the aisle to make the right choice and join me in voting to approve permanent normal trade relations with China.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the purpose of introducing a proposal to enhance the safety of operations at our nation's nuclear power plants. As a representative from a district which has three nuclear power plants. I have always held a strong interest in promoting policies which seek to the ensure the safety of communities surrounding these facilities. I became acutely aware, however, of the need to strengthen the independent analysis and review of plant safety evaluations just recently. On the night of February 15, a leak from one of the steam generators at the Indian Point 2 facility in Buchanan, New York, resulted in the declaration of an emergency alert. The distress caused by this incident was serious from the very beginning, and was made far worse by revelations in the weeks following the incident which indicated that previous inspections of the plant's steam generators were ``weak and incomplete,'' according to the NRC's Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. This is wholly unacceptable, and my purpose in offering this proposal today is to diminish the threat posed to our communities by insufficient safety evaluations. This legislation establishes within the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NCR) Office of the Inspector General a unit charged specifically with auditing the safety analysis and review activities of both the NRC and those entities licensed by the agency. Given the unfortunate circumstances which have arisen with respect to Indian Point 2, it is only reasonable to question whether or not they are symptomatic of a broader problem. I believe the proposal being offered today goes a long way in taking the necessary precautions against such a possibility, and I urge my colleagues to join me in advancing this initiative.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment offered by our colleagues which seeks to set conditions on our peacekeeping mission in Kosovo that will only threaten the future of peace and stability that we have worked so hard to achieve. The fact is, Mr. Chairman, we have much to be encouraged by in the changes that have taken place in Kosovo over the past year since the NATO air campaign commenced. But we also face much uncertainty in Kosovo and whether its future will be colored by peace, stability and economic growth or instability and continued hostility from the Milosevic regime to the north. I am convinced that Kosovo will be doomed to continued hostility from the Milosevic regime if the United States and the international community turns its back on Kosovo at this delicate stage. Unfortunately, this amendment sends a troubling signal. The implication is that instead of following through from our successful military action to helping build peace and stability, we are contemplating a pullout. I can assure my colleagues that the principal beneficiary of this policy will be Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, not the people of Kosovo and not the cause of peace. Texas Governor George Bush, Senator John McCain, Defense Secretary William Cohen and General Wesley Clark, the former NATO commander in Europe, have all expressed their opposition to efforts in Congress to force our withdrawal from the peacekeeping effort in Kosovo. While many legitimately question the administration's past handling of the Kosovo issue, all of these distinguished leaders view our deployment in Kosovo as an indication of America's commitment to peace in this troubled region, a commitment that should not be compromised and should not be weakened. I urge my colleagues to heed this clearheaded thinking and oppose this amendment.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3616, the Impact Aid Reauthorization Act of 2000. This bill, which has moved through the committee process with strong bipartisan support is a clear example of this Congress' dedication to our Nation's children and a fulfillment of the Federal commitment to local educational agencies impacted by the presence of the Federal Government. In fact, section 8002 of the Impact Aid Program which serves land impacted districts was funded in fiscal year 2000 at almost twice the amount it was funded at for fiscal year 1995. However, this section and the entire program is still not yet fully funded. Due to the program's limited resources, we face a situation where we must factor need into the funding formula to ensure that resources are getting to the schools who rely on the assistance the most. Like many of my colleagues, I represent one of the most highly impacted schools in the Nation. This school relies on the impact aid program. Adjacent to West Point, the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery school district is a textbook example of the importance of this program. As one of 243 land impacted school districts, it is nearly impossible for this district to raise the revenues necessary to provide their children with the quality of education which they deserve. Because this school is sandwiched between Federal land, a State park and the Hudson River, it leaves the school district with 93 percent nontaxable land. Only 7 percent of land is available from which to fund the school. Several years ago when faced with decreased funding, the school district was faced with a real possibility that it would have to close its doors. They were forced to eliminate several teachers, some of the support staff and some administrators. In fact, it even got so bad that the students walked out to protest the deteriorating conditions of their schools. Today, thanks to the renewed support of section 8002 and of the Impact Aid Program, this school district has been able to begin capital improvements, they have hired new teachers, they have tutors and they have reinstated the college advanced placement courses. None of this would have been possible without the assistance that they received through Impact Aid. Mr. Speaker, reauthorization of this and the other programs associated with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is critical to the future success of our children and our Nation. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation. In addition, I would like to thank the sponsor of this legislation the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) and the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) for his tireless efforts on behalf of the children of this Nation, both during his 26 years in the House and as a school superintendent. His efforts are appreciated and they will be very much missed in the future. We thank him for all he has done for all of the schoolchildren of this Nation.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I am in support of H.R. 4386, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act. This legislation will give the States the ability to provide a reliable method of treatment for uninsured and underinsured women battling breast or cervical cancer. The program currently provides screening for cancer, but it provides no treatment options for these women. If they are diagnosed with cancer, they have no options for their cure, which is a harsh problem. Giving States the option of providing Medicaid coverage for women will help save thousands of lives. The present CDC program is a tremendous first step in identifying this disease early enough to make a difference in the lives of these women, but we need to help cover the cost of treatment when necessary. Being diagnosed with cancer is terrifying. Women shouldn't have the pain of knowing they have cancer, compounded with the despair of not being able to do anything about it. The Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act will allow women to focus their efforts on getting well instead of worrying about how they or their family will pay for their treatment. This legislation is a very important step in the process of getting treatment to women who need it. With Mother's Day just around the corner, it is critical that we pass this legislation in time to give our mothers, our sisters, our daughters the most important gift of all, the gift of life.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, today all of New York grieves for the passing of his eminence John Cardinal O'Connor, the archbishop of New York. Cardinal O'Connor was a tireless advocate for the disadvantaged, the poor, the working class. His passing is a tremendous loss to the Nation. I was privileged to have had the opportunity to meet with the cardinal on more than one occasion, and to say that I was impressed is really a vast understatement. I have to say he was a wonderful man to work with when we had common cause with which we were trying to achieve a goal. He was there, he was present, and he was always working very hard for all of us. His presence commanded attention and respect. His awareness of individuals, their hopes, aspirations and desires brought him an empathy that very few can duplicate. His humor was gentle, sometimes trenchant, and always amusing. John Cardinal O'Connor built bridges of understanding among the most diverse communities of New York and won the respect of the leaders of many faiths in the city. Today, we mourn the loss of a true leader, a visionary and a peacemaker whose moral convictions continue to stand as a great example for all of us. Even when he was suffering from the ravages of brain cancer, his humor was irrepressible and his advocacy undiminished. As Cardinal O'Connor is in our prayers, we must now also pray for the Archdiocese of New York that his successor can fill his tremendous shadow with the same qualities that made him such a great man. We all pray for you, John Cardinal O'Connor, as we do for the Archdiocese of New York.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and join with my colleagues in remembering the 85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. I would like to thank the other members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, and particularly the co-chairmen, Mr. Porter and Mr. Pallone, for their tireless efforts in organizing this fitting tribute. Eighty-five years ago Monday, April 24, 1915, the nightmare in Armenia began. Hundreds of Armenian religious, political, and educational leaders were arrested, exiled, or murdered. These events marked the beginning of the systematic persecution of the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire, and also launched the first genocide of the 20th century. Over the next eight years, 1.5 million Armenians were put to death and 500,000 more were exiled from their homes. These atrocities are among the most cruel and inhumane acts that have ever been recorded. As we reflect today on the horrors that were initiated 85 years ago, I cannot help but be disturbed by those who wish to deny that these deeds occurred. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary-- eyewitness accounts, official archives, photographic evidence, diplomatic reports, and testimony of survivors--they reject the claim that genocide, or any other crime for that matter, was perpetrated against Armenians. Well, History tells a different story. Let me read a quote from Henry Morgenthau, Sr., U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at the time: ``When the Turkish authorities gave the orders for these deportations, they were merely giving the death warrant to a whole race; they understood this well, and, in their conversations with me, they made no particular attempt to conceal the fact. . . .'' The world knows the truth about this tragic episode in human affairs. We will not allow those who wish to rewrite History to absolve themselves from responsibility for their actions. This evening's event here in the House of Representatives is testament to that fact. We can only hope that the recognition and condemnation of this, and other instances of genocide, will prevent a similar instance from happening again in the 21st Century. In addition, I also encourage my colleagues to join me and the 37 other members who have cosponsored H. Res. 398, offered by Representative Randanovich. This resolution will help affirm the record of the United States on the Armenian Genocide and will play a role in educating others about the atrocities that were committed against the Armenian people. It is critical that we continue to acknowledge this terrible tragedy to ensure that it is neither forgotten nor ignored. I would like to once again thank the organizers of this event and I would like to once again reaffirm my sincere thanks for being given the opportunity to participate in this solemn remembrance.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor men who bravely served the United States in our most trying times as a Nation. Today marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. submarine force. Will Rogers once said, ``We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by. Today we applaud the heroes and we honor fellow submariners who remain on eternal patrol. May we never forget them and their brave deeds.'' Those are the words of Mr. Rogers. The thoughts of Will Rogers live with us today. During the most serious challenges our Nation has faced, the men of the submarine service did their jobs above and beyond the call of duty. They were essential to creating victory in war and remain essential to keeping America strong in peace. War fought under the sea developed its own physics and harsh realities completely different from the experiences of any soldier who came before them. These men placed complete and total trust in their skippers and their skippers had to have the same faith in their men. During World War II, the price they paid for their successes was heavy. The submarine service carried the highest mortality rate of any U.S. service, more than a 20 percent loss of life. However, one has only to look at the statistics to see how effective our submariners really were. With only 1.6 percent of all Navy personnel, the submarine service sank over 55 percent of all Japanese ships sunk in the war, including one-third of all Japanese Men-of-War. President Roosevelt when he was secretly told of the success of our submarines said, ``I can only echo the words of Winston Churchill: `Never have so many owed so much to so few.' '' Those lost on submarines in the line of duty for their country will never be forgotten. We must not forget those who still serve in the silent service. Happy birthday to the U.S. submarine force. Mr. Speaker, I also want to speak about something else that is important to all veterans in this Nation. I want to speak about what the Department of Veterans Affairs has described as an epidemic. I am talking about the staggeringly high infection rates of hepatitis C among our country's veterans population. Hepatitis C is a fatal disease that can incubate for over 30 years before any symptoms occur. Over 70 percent of those Americans infected with Hepatitis-C are unaware that they even carry the virus. Treatment and testing are both available through the Veterans Administration for any veteran who believes that he or she is at risk. I am told that my area of the country has a 28 percent infection rate among veterans, while the general population experiences a 1.8 percent infection rate. I represent the greater New York area. With a 28 percent infection rate, I call upon our veterans to be aware of this. In my hand I hold a very simple home test kit for Hepatitis-C, and I am calling on all of our veterans to try to get tested. The veterans can get one of these test kits if they go to a VA hospital or if they contact the American Liver Foundation at 1-800-GO-LIVER for information about these testing programs. Testing is very easy. It is a four-step process. It is very, very simple. First you pick up the phone and you get a personal ID number, then you take your sample, it is only one drop of blood, and you mail it in a pre-paid envelope. Ten days later you call for a completely confidential result. It is important that every veteran who has been exposed to any blood- to-blood contact pick up one of these Hepatitis-C check kits and call 1-800-GO-LIVER or go to their VA hospital, because it is important, especially in our greater New York area, that the veterans in that area get tested. Please get tested, especially if you are a veteran, before the symptoms of severe liver disease begin to show themselves. By the time that they do, it is almost too late.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of ``Back to Health Week,'' a national campaign created to increase awareness of back pain as well as possible causes and prevention. Sponsored by the North American Spine Society, this week is designed to educate Americans about their spine and how they can prevent common back pain. The facts of back pain speak for themselves. Did you know that at some point in their lives, more than 80% of American adults experience back pain? Or, that 1 out of 14 adults will visit a physician this year due to back or neck pain and that back pain is the second most common reason people visit a physician? These statistics demonstrate how important it is to raise awareness about this health problem that affects so many Americans. One Famous American who suffers from back pain is two-time Cy Young Award winner and Major League Baseball pitcher Randy Johnson. After Johnson won the Cy Young in 1995, he was sidelined because of back problems for most of the 1996 season. Johnson captured his second Cy Young last year after surgery to correct a herniated disk and months of physical therapy. Another highlight of ``Back to Health Week'' is an event to distribute information about back pain. ``Back to Health Day'' will be held Thursday April 13th in the Capitol. ``Back to Health Day'' will provide an array of educational materials, including guidelines to a healthy back, exercises to strengthen your back, and how to prevent back pain. In addition, representatives from the North American Spine Society will be on hand to discuss commonly asked questions about back pain, causes, and prevention. I encourage my colleagues to join us for ``Back to Health Day'' as we learn the most effective ways to prevent and alleviate back pain. I commend the North American Spine Society for organizing ``Back to Health Week'' and for their commitment to ensuring Americans learn to keep their backs healthy.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I am in support of H.R. 1070, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act. This legislation will give States the ability to provide a reliable method of treatment for uninsured and underinsured women battling breast or cervical cancer. The program currently provides screening for cancer, but it provides no treatment options for these women. So if they are diagnosed with cancer, they have no option to be cured, which is a harsh reality. Giving States the option of providing Medicaid coverage for women will help save thousands of lives. I urge the Speaker to bring this critically important legislation to the House floor for a vote by Mother's Day, May 14. The bill has 289 bipartisan cosponsors, well over the required number to pass a bill on the Suspension Calendar. In addition, the funding for this bill was also included in the House passed budget resolution. Mr. Speaker, let's bring H.R. 1070 to the House floor before Mother's Day, in time to give our mothers, our sisters, our daughters the most important gift of all, the gift of life.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the legislation before us. Today in the financial services sector the laws, rules and regulations of the 1930's have little to do with safety and soundness of today's banks. Before us we have legislation to bring some of the laws pertaining to commercial checking accounts into the 21st Century. While I do not consider this package perfect, it does constitute a reasonable middle ground to banks and industry which much be preserved as this legislation moves forward. This legislation contains a three year transition period that gives banks the ability to sit down with their business customers and decide how their accounts are best served. We must note that while banks have been prohibited from paying interest to their commercial accounts, they have been offering other services to attract their accounts. This three year transition period must be preserved. In this transition period we give banks the ability to expand their current sweep activities. Sweeps are a way that banks can currently pay interest on commercial accounts by moving a portion or all of the money out of the account into an interest investment, like treasury bills, which is then redeposited in the checking account at a specified time with interest. Currently, banks are only allowed to do this six times a month. This legislation increases this to 24 times a month so an account could be swept every night giving those with smaller balances the ability to participate in these activities. One of the issues that has troubled me about this legislation is the new cost it will impose upon banks, particularly small banks. This is not the first time a bill with these provisions has come before the House, but in the past the cost of this legislation was at least in part addressed. Last year Laurence Meyer from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System came before the Banking Committee and stated in this testimony that quote--The higher costs to banks would be partially offset by the interest on reserve balances--end quote. The problem arises because the initiative that allowed Federal Reserve Banks to pay interest on reserve balances is not included in this bill now before us. I have introduced legislation with the sponsor of this bill [Mr. Metcalf] and the Gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Maloney] to address this problem. The chairman of the Banking Committee has been supportive of this effort by scheduling a hearing on this issue in the near future. I hope that if this bill is conferenced with a Senate bill that contains the authority to allow Federal Reserve Banks to pay interest on reserves we could accept those provisions. If not, I fear that the cost of this legislation will simply be passed onto the commercial customers through higher loan rates. Without the Federal Reserve Bank interest authority the benefits of this legislation could be lost. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend and fellow New Yorker for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support for H.R. 1776, the American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000. Today, we will consider this very important legislation which addresses a problem too many Americans face: the lack of available, affordable housing. The legislation enhances existing homeownership opportunities, but it creates new homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income Americans. It strengthens consumer protections for the single largest and most important purchase the majority of most Americans will make. Homeownership is vital in any community and encourages homeowners to become more involved in their community. When a family owns a home in a community, they want that area to be clean and safe, and homeownership gives them a vested interest in making sure this happens. The pride and accomplishment of homeownership encourages owners to improve their property, to work together with neighbors, to improve the community as a whole. Homeownership and neighborhood improvements only enhance the lives of people living within the community. While it is easy to see how homeownership can be a cornerstone of a community, it is unfortunately not available to all segments of the population. We must take the necessary steps to ensure that all Americans have an opportunity to achieve this part of the American dream. Mr. Chairman, in H.R. 1776 we take steps to see that homes are available, strong, safe, and clean. Through flexibility granted by Federal agencies, these goals can be reached. We promote more available, affordable housing by establishing practical, uniform performance-based Federal construction standards for manufactured housing. We also reauthorize the Community Development Block Grant program and improve it by adding homeownership assistance for municipal employees and reauthorizing housing opportunities for people with the AIDS program. The reauthorization of the Home Investment Partnership programs makes affordable homes available to more people. These are only a few of the many positive steps we take in H.R. 1776. I want to in particular make it very clear that by making homeownership assistance available to municipal employees, it makes it possible for many employees to live in the cities and municipalities in which they work. I want to take a moment to thank my subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), and our ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), for their strong cooperative effort in crafting and refining this vital legislation. Let me also note my appreciation for their openness to my efforts to help in this work. Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in strong support for this necessary legislation.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Madam Chairman, I rise to enter into a brief colloquy with my friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio). As a strong supporter of the manufactured housing section of this legislation, especially the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee, I want to clarify the intent of who the members of this committee should be. To be in line with the guidelines of the American National Standards Institute, there must be a balance of interest represented on the manufactured housing committee. While the revised language of the bill strives to achieve such a balance so that all affected interests have the opportunity for a fair and an equitable participation without the dominance of any single interest, it is unfortunate that examples of such representation, namely industry groups such as home builders, architects, engineers and the like, were removed from the final legislative language. Madam Chairman, I know it was not the intent of the committee to exclude representation by such groups. I want to make clear my understanding that the committee fully supports and endorses their participation. It is vital that industry groups, such as home builders, who in many cases are actual users of manufactured housing in that they develop sites for the placement of manufactured homes, have a place on the committee. It is vital that industries involved in the purchase, construction or site development of manufactured housing, such as the home building industry, be members of the committee to ensure that the intent of ANSI's requirements for due process are met. Madam Chairman, I ask my friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), to confirm what the intent of the committee was on the possible membership of the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee.

Mrs. KELLY. Madam Chairman, I thank my friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), and I urge the passage then of this important legislation.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment offered by my friend from Ohio because the elimination of funding in Kosovo would not only make the time and resources that the U.S. has already expended a total waste, but it would also render meaningless the loss of life, the suffering and the hardship imposed on the ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. We are talking about people and their lives. For us to walk away from a commitment to peace in Kosovo would essentially give Slobodan Milosevic free reign in his campaign to force the remaining ethnic Albanians out of Yugoslavia and Kosovo. Peace in this region will not be coming overnight. Our forces who are currently stationed in Kosovo are working in partnership with our NATO allies. This is not our burden to carry alone. If our NATO allies are not paying up, why punish the Kosovar people? Order, peace, and hope for long-term security are beginning to spread in Kosovo. However, without our leadership and commitment, I think our allies will not continue their efforts; and everything we have already spent will be for nothing. Please join me, my colleagues, in opposing this amendment.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the conference report. Though the effort to get this rule and conference report to the floor has been a lengthy one, let there be no mistaking that our fundamental purpose here for undertaking this initiative is to ensure the safety of the traveling public. The legislation before this body today represents a level of commitment to this purpose that is unprecedented. While safety has always been a priority while formulating aviation policy, it is clear that efforts to provide adequate resources for this intention have fallen sometimes very short, having seen firsthand the antiquated equipment many of our air traffic controllers must use in keeping our skies safe, for instance, at Stewart Airport in my district. I cannot overstate the importance of making sure that the days of reliance on this ancient and antiquated equipment must be limited. By ensuring a strong and viable funding source for aviation investment, this bill marks a significant stride in making safety a priority in practice, not just in rhetoric. I commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for their leadership on this issue, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the rule and the bill.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise today in support of H.R. 3843, the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000. This important legislation will reauthorize lending programs of the SBA, allowing our Nation's small businesses continued access to capital. This legislation also reauthorizes other programs, such as the Small Business Development Centers and the Service Corps of Retired Executives, the SCORE program, two programs which provide vital support to a dynamic community of entrepreneurs. In addition, H.R. 3843 reauthorizes the National Women's Business Council, a bipartisan organization that advises both the President and the Congress on issues impacting women-owned businesses. We are all aware of the role that small business plays in maintaining the economic strength of the United States. They create the vast majority of new jobs, provide countless new technological innovations, and drive economic growth. Technology, particularly the expansion of e- commerce, has opened doors for men and women who may have only dreamed 50 years ago of one day owning their own business. While mom and pop stores continue to be a way of life in this country, ``dot coms'' are attractive enterprises that often allow business owners to work from home. As the mother of four, I understand the desire to telecommute or to establish a home-based business. Yet no matter how fast our small business sector grows, unfortunately there is often insufficient capital available for entrepreneurs to use to start up new businesses or for current small business owners to expand existing ones. This is the void that Small Business Administration's loan guarantee programs often fill. Moreover, technical assistance must be readily available to our mom and pop establishments as they seek new and innovative ways to attract customers and preserve Main Street. By the same token, even the most technically skilled young entrepreneurs need information concerning business plans and the advice of mentors before they launch their businesses. Millions of our Nation's small business owners find exactly this kind of assistance at Small Business Development Centers across the country, and they receive valuable advice from SCORE volunteers every year. Without passage of this important legislation, all of these valuable services would be threatened. Our Nation's small businesses and, indeed our economy, would suffer as a result. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) have worked very closely to put together a bipartisan bill that deserves the backing of every Member of this House. I urge my colleagues to support the small business community and support H.R. 3843.