Sue Kelly

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a very special person. This morning I have the pleasure of meeting the North Salem Middle School's 8th Grade Class on the steps of the U.S. House of Representatives. This is not the first time I have met with the fine young men and women of the middle school. What makes this visit so extraordinary is that this year marks the 25th time Mr. John P. Vassak--a dedicated social studies teacher--has personally escorted his classes to our nation's capitol. By investing his time year after year to bring his students to Washington, DC he excites their minds and instills in them a greater understanding for how our government works. He is able to show them the Capitol, the Supreme Court and the White House while he teaches the importance of the checks and balances in the three branches of our government. He is also able to point out the various monuments to our heroes who have served to protect the freedom we all enjoy. Through his generosity of time and talents, Mr. Vassak has exemplified the pride for our nation and instills in these children the respect for our democracy it so deserves. These children will understand the foundation of our government and their rights and responsibilities in our democracy. Because of Mr. Vassak's dedication, they will forever be better citizens. Congratulations to you, Mr. Vassak.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand and join with my colleagues in commemorating the 84th 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. 84 years ago Saturday, 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 84 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 as we move into the 21st Century. 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 come to the floor today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 54, which recognizes the historic significance of the first anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement. When this agreement was reached on April 10, 1998, those who's lives had been destroyed by the last 30 years of violence, rejoiced at the promise of peace. Now, a year later, this historic peace agreement is dangerously close to failing. The resolution before us today, salutes the parties who worked so diligently to bring about this historic accord, and it does so at a very appropriate time. Not only has the first anniversary of this agreement just passed, but its future is in jeopardy, the resolution reaffirms the need for the preservation of this accord and the ideals which it stands for. In today's Washington Post the head of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, is quoted as having said that ``the Good Friday Agreement is in free fall.'' At this juncture, all of the parties involved in the creation and implementation of this Agreement must try even harder to work together to create a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. The commitment and support of the agreement by the people, in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, was demonstrated by the overwhelmingly supportive outcome of the vote on the referendum on May 22, 1998. This affirmation further demonstrates the need to ensure that this accord make it past this troublesome point. The United States has committed to remain involved, politically and economically, to ensure the long-term success of the peace agreement. We realize the importance of continued economic growth and stability in the region, as it will prove to be an instrumental part of any lasting peace. This resolution reaffirms this commitment, and reaffirms that the United States, as a friend of both Ireland and the United Kingdom, will continue to facilitate this peace. None of this can be accomplished however, without the commitment of both sides to this peace. The violence needs to end and the seeds of trust need to be planted. As you know, Mr. Speaker, this issue is very important to me. I will continue to do what I can to assist in this peace process, the violence has gone on long enough. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to continue to support the peacemaking efforts in Ireland.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the issues that all working families have on their minds, taxes. Americans pay too much of their hard-earned money in taxes. Almost everything we do today is taxed: everything we wear or eat, medical expenses, our homes, our savings, our income. When we die, the government will again take another bite out of everything we have accomplished in our lifetime. I have been working to reduce this astounding tax burden on the American people, and believe we are working in the right direction with the year 2000 budget that we passed yesterday. It was just inconceivable that the President requested $172 billion tax increases in his budget proposal this year. It is no secret that working families are having a hard enough time these days without having to make do with less. Some of the Members of this Congress stand against the President's efforts to raise taxes. I am one of those. In a day when we are running a surplus and beginning to pay down the massive debt, it is the government in Washington that needs to tighten its belt, not the American taxpayer.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, Republicans have proposed to do something that should have been done a long time ago. The Republican budget plan puts 100 percent of the retirement surplus into a safe deposit box to be used exclusively for Social Security and Medicare. The retirement surplus, that is, the surplus from FICA taxes taken out of our paychecks, is the only reason that the budget is not in surplus. If we did not count the money in the Social Security Trust Fund, the Federal budget would still be in deficit to the tune of about $20 billion. Social Security and Medicare have really divided the parties this year. Talk about Medicare. Republicans propose a lockbox and a willingness to debate the Breaux Commission's finding on Medicare reform. Democrats ask for continued raids on the Social Security Trust Fund, more IOUs, and a veto of the Breaux Commission out of hand, no system reforms of Medicare. They would rather scare seniors once again instead of trying to solve the problems. Our seniors, Mr. Speaker, deserve better.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an issue that is near and dear to my heart, women in business, specifically women-owned small businesses. As the mother of four and a former small business owner myself, I know just how hard it is to balance the full-time job of being a mother and then adding to it the challenges of owning and running your own business. From women-owned construction firms to women-owned public relation firms to Donna, Jo-Jo, and Angela who own Donna's Hair Design in my own district town of Chappaqua, New York, all of these women deserve all of the support that we here in Congress can give them. Everyone needs to remember that small business is the most important sector of our economy. Currently, in the United States, there are approximately 8.5 million women-owned businesses. That is 8.5 million women-owned businesses, 36 percent of all businesses in the United States. These 8.5 million businesses employ 23.8 million employees. These businesses have seen their sales increase from $2.3 trillion to $3.1 trillion in just the last 6 months. My congratulations to all of the hardworking women who are doing more than their share to contribute to the economy of our Nation. The number of women-owned small businesses have increased by 89 percent in the last decade. During the same period, these businesses have increased their revenue by 209 percent. Women are a force to be reckoned with in today's economy. During my life, I have had many roles: The mother of four, a public school teacher, a college professor, a rape crisis counselor, a professional patient advocate, a small business owner, and now a United States Congresswoman. I have learned countless lessons in these roles and have brought them with me to the House of Representatives. Many of these lessons were learned as a small businesswoman. This has given me some insight as to what women need in order to fully compete with their male counterparts, and for this reason I have devoted my energy to working with the Committee on Small Business to enable small businesses to run more efficiently. I have introduced legislation again this year that expresses the sense of Congress regarding the need to increase the number of procurement contracts that the government awards to women-owned businesses. The Federal Government is America's largest purchaser of goods and services, spending more than $225 billion each year, and women should have more access to these projects. In 1994 Congress set a 5 percent procurement goal for women-owned businesses. Five years later, however, the rate of procurement for women-owned businesses is 1.9 percent. This percentage is a poor reflection on the access to these jobs when considering the rate of growth of women-owned businesses. I want to continue to do what I can to improve the procurement process for women in this Congress, and I am happy to say that a few weeks ago the House passed H.R. 774, The Women's Business Center Amendments Act of 1999. This bill authorized appropriations of $11 million for the expansion of this program in fiscal year 2000. I want to congratulate the chairman of the Committee on Small Business, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Jim Talent), for his work, as well as the ranking minority member, the gentlewoman from New York (Nydia Velazquez), and many other people who worked to make this accomplishment here on the floor of the House. Currently, there are 60 centers now operating in 40 States. These centers assist women in many ways, including helping them to focus their business plans through courses and workshops, providing information on capital, as well as helping the women choose their location. The centers have the freedom to tailor their programs based on the needs of the communities in which they work. Recently I have been able to meet with many women business owners and some of the women who run these centers and heard firsthand the challenges and the successes of these businesses. These are just a few of the issues that women business owners face. There are many others, like tax and regulatory issues, ensuring fair access to capital, that we all need to stay involved with. I know my colleagues here share my concerns. Let me close by congratulating all of the women businesses in our Nation. I know all too well how difficult their jobs are. They are an important part of our Nation's economy, and I will continue to do what I can to ensure that they are not forgotten. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger).

Mrs. KELLY. If the gentlewoman will just manage to fit it in, I think like in 2\1/2\ minutes, it is fine. I personally would like to hear the examples, Mr. Speaker, and I would be delighted to have her take that time if she would like to have it.

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton); however I would like to retain 1 minute for myself.

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I do not think I will take all of the remaining time, but I want to note that many women have spoken here this afternoon, and, as you can see, women's interests in Congress cover a vast array of legislation. One of the positive things about the House Women's Caucus is our ability to recognize that we, working together, can affect the course of legislation in the United States Congress and hopefully, therefore, make life better for all of the families, women and children in the United States.

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton).

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) the cochairwoman of the House Women's Caucus.

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend, the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague and friend from California (Ms. Woolsey).

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek).

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, first I would like to thank Chairman Gilman, and Ranking Member Gejdenson for giving me time to share my support for H. Con. Res. 35, as well as observations from my trip to Qatar last month. I recently visited Qatar with my colleague, Carolyn Maloney, to witness their historic election on March 8, and lend encouragement to the process that they are beginning. While we were in Qatar, we had the opportunity to meet with the women candidates and Qatari citizens, as well as the Minister of Municipal Affairs, the Foreign Minister and the Emir's wife, Shaykha Mouza who has been a leader in the effort to bring American institutions of higher education to Qatar in addition to organizing the municipal council elections, which took place on March 8. In many countries in that region, women lead very sheltered lives and are unable to do many activities that we take for granted. Women are often unable to drive, much less go on to study in college. In Qatar, we saw women doing these things. We saw them everywhere you would expect to see women here in the U.S. interacting in a perfectly normal way, the same way that we do in many instances. This is rather progressive stance for many countries in this region. On election day, as I traveled with other members of the delegation to the election sites, I was quite pleased to see the widespread support for the elections and the candidates. The election sites were full of life. Campaign materials and supporters were abundant. Qataris were lined up waiting to have their chance to cast their vote. What is more, I think that there are lessons we could learn from the candidates in Qatar as they sat together, sharing coffee with each other, each wishing the other success, even though they were running against one another. They were there together celebrating the beginnings of democracy and representation. I also thought that the elections were well organized, those who worked at the polling sites did so with the dignity and excitement one would expect for a nation's first endeavor towards democracy. I realize that there has been concern about the relatively low number of people eligible to vote in the elections. There are approximately 160,000-180,000 citizens in the nation. Just as in the United States there is eligibility criteria for voting. In order to be able to vote, you must be the daughter or son of a father who is a Qatari citizen and was born and raised there. As in the U.S., 18 is the minimum voting age, and the last criteria is, interestingly enough, that the person cannot be a member of the military or be employed by the Ministry of the Interior. The Qataris have concerns about mixing politics and their military forces. The final number of those eligible to vote has not been reported. However, we do know that of the approximate 22,000 people registered to vote, approximately 45% were women. The queen, Shaykha Mouza spoke to the issue of the careful balance that needs to be struck between the traditional, conservative aspects of their society and the drive to move towards a parliamentary democracy. This is only the first election for a municipal council which is advisory in nature, but it is a valid step. I believe that it is important for us and for Qatar, that we pass this resolution congratulating the Emir's efforts on behalf of his nation. As we all know, governing is a difficult task. It is a deliberative and often slow process, but the important thing is that the process moves forward. We need to salute and congratulate this nation for their step forward and encourage them to continue on their journey to the great experiment called democracy. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of my Special Order.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the purpose of introducing legislation to impose tougher mandatory jail sentences on criminals who use guns. It is well understood by my colleagues that gun control is an issue over which reasonable people will often disagree. The bill I am introducing today, however, is reflective of an idea about which we can all agree--criminals who use firearms deserve tough sentences. This legislation seeks to increase the mandatory minimum penalties for individuals who possess, brandish, or discharge a firearm during the commission of a federal crime which is violent or involves drug- trafficking. For possession of a firearm during such a crime, this bill would increase the minimum mandatory sentence from 5 years to 10. For brandishing a firearm, the minimum sentence would be raised from 7 years to 15. If the firearms is discharged during the crime, this bill would set the mandatory minimum sentence at 20 years, a substantial increase from the current 10 year minimum. Tough sentences work. Just ask the people of Richmond, Virginia. The city's Chief of Police, Jerry Oliver, testified before Congress just this week about Project Exile, a program by which individuals who use a firearm during the commission of a crime are prosecuted in federal court rather than state court, making them subject to stiffer penalties. These tougher sentences, accompanied by a public campaign to tout them, have been a central cause for the city's significantly diminished homicide rate. We need to draw from Richmond's example. I urge my colleagues to join me in the effort to enact a law which makes it perfectly clear that profound punitive consequences await those criminals who use deadly firearms.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 774) to amend the Small Business Act to change the conditions of participation and provide an authorization of appropriations for the women's business center program, as amended.

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today the House considers H.R. 774, the Women's Business Center Amendments Act of 1999. As a member of the Committee on Small Business, I know how important this bill is to Members on both sides of the aisle and to some small business women throughout the Nation. The committee held a hearing in early February and thoroughly examined this program before drafting the legislation. The committee marked up H.R. 774 and unanimously passed it on February 25. Before I take a moment to explain the bill, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the ranking member of the Committee on Small Business, my colleague from New York (Ms. Velazquez) as well as the rest of my friends from the Democratic side of the aisle for their commitment to this issue and their help in moving this legislation forward. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues know, March is Women's History Month. Throughout March we honor women who have dedicated their lives to improving the position of women society, and we celebrate the achievements of women throughout history. While this month we celebrate the accomplishments of the past, today we have the opportunity to promote the success of thousands of women in the future. The ability of women-owned businesses to flourish is crucial to our Nation's economic future. Consider some of the following statistics. Women entrepreneurs are starting two-thirds of all small businesses in this country. Women- owned businesses are growing at twice the rate of all other businesses. Women own nearly 40 percent of all businesses in the United States of America. I have been a small business owner, and I know both the joy and heartbreak that comes from owning a business. Additionally, as chair of the Congressional Women's Caucus, I have heard much from women who want to succeed in the business world. They will do so if given a chance. Consequently, this Congress has a responsibility to do all we can to support the growing economic force of women business owners. One way in which we can do this is to support the Women's Business Center Program at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Women's business centers play a major role in empowering women entrepreneurs with the tools necessary to succeed in business. Right now there are more than 60 women's business centers operating in almost 40 States. Whether it is targeting low income women, assisting women to focus their business plans through courses on workshops, or providing information on access to capital, these centers tailor their services to the communities they serve. The bottom line is that women's business centers contribute to the success of thousands of women entrepreneurs by enhancing their management capacity and capability and offering the critical community infrastructure necessary for them to succeed in today's business climate. The women's business center program is funded through the Small Business Administration. It began as a demonstration program in 1988. In 1993, the program received only $1.5 million per year. By 1997, Congress recognized the program's growth and success and made the program permanent. It also increased the program's authorization level to $8 million per year. In the 106th Congress, the committee has continued its interest and oversight in the program. As part of this process, it became clear that while the program was expanding to States that do not currently have centers, existing centers were experiencing obstacles to their own growth. We also found that the existing authorization level did not adequately meet the needs of the program. H.R. 774 addresses both of these concerns. First, H.R. 774 changes the funding ratio in the fifth year of funding to ease the fund-raising burden on centers entering their final year of Federal funding. In the past, federally funded centers had to raise two non-Federal dollars to obtain one Federal dollar in their fifth and final year of funding. Some sites, particularly those located in rural areas, have limited access to foundations, corporations and banks that provide the private funds used to match the Federal funds. H.R. 774 eases this fund-raising burden by changing the ratio of funding to one non-Federal dollar for every one Federal dollar. Second, H.R. 774 increases the authorization of appropriations to $11 million in order to support expansion of the program in fiscal year 2000. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 774 is not controversial legislation. The bill was passed by the Committee on Small Business unanimously. I would like to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent) for his efforts on this legislation. I would also like to again thank the ranking member, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the entire Committee on Small Business for their bipartisan work on this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 774. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Bono).

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, this week we know two things we did not know last week. First, Republicans are setting aside more money for Social Security than the President is in his budget. Second thing we know is that the President's budget numbers do not add up. In fact, the numbers are so wrong that no one is defending them. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, found that they have not seen such double counting since the White House wacky plan to use sampling and educated guesses for the census. Mr. Speaker, the President's spending numbers are pure fiction. His Social Security numbers are even worse. How does one take seriously a plan that double counts to the tune of $2.4 trillion? Even Newsweek and the Washington Post are having a good laugh about that. Unfortunately, the retirement security of seniors should not be subject to phony numbers and accounting gimmicks that even Orange County, California could not get away with. Let us put the trust back in the Social Security Trust Fund.