Sue Kelly

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend to my Republican colleagues the following resolution of support issued by the town of Carmel's Republican Committee. This resolution demonstrates the strong public support for Republican-elected officials, who are working to achieve the important goals of the Contract With America. Our fight to reduce the Federal budget deficit, to have a balanced budget and reduce and consolidate Government services has not gone without recognition from the American people. Therefore, I join with the spirit of this resolution in applauding the energy put forth by my colleagues in addressing the many reform- minded issues facing this Congress. Mr. Speaker at this time, I insert the full text of the Carmel resolution into the Record. Whereas, through liberal reporting by TV and newspaper media an obvious attempt has been made to undermine the positions held by our Republican State and Federal Officials on issues of budget deficit reduction, balanced budgets, consolidation of government services and welfare reform; and Whereas, due to media's liberal reporting of these issues the Town of Carmel, Putnam County, State of New York, Republican Committee desires to counteract effects of said liberal reports supporting special interest groups; now, Therefore, be it resolved, the Town of Carmel Republican Committee membership of ninety-two hereby pledges its support to NYS Governor George Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Assembly Minority Leader Clarence Rappleyea, Senator Vincent Leibell, III; 37th District, Assemblyman Willis Stephens, Jr.; 91st District, and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole, U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey and Speaker Newt Gingrich, NYS U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato and NYS U.S. 19th District Congresswoman Sue Kelly toward achieving their goals to alleviate the overwhelming tax burden through enactment of balanced budgets, consolidation and reduction of government services and welfare reform and ``Contract with America''; and, Be It Further Resolved, that the Chairman of the Town of Carmel, Putnam County, New [[Page E1159]] York, Republican Committee is hereby directed to forward this resolution to the above named State and Federal Officials.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to Norene Coller, a constituent of mine who was recently awarded an Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] Environmental Quality Award for region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico. Over the past 20 years, Ms. Coller has devoted herself to improving the quality of the environment in region 2, and to increasing public involvement in environmental action. As a biology teacher in Hyde Park, NY, Ms. Coller has involved her eighth grade students in innovative environmental brainstorming exercises. A renowned volunteer of the Dutchess County Environmental Management Council [EMC], Ms. Coller has served as the council's chairperson since 1982. And under her direction, EMC has fulfilled the needs of the community by formulating a comprehensive agenda to battle the growing problems associated with hazardous and solid waste management. Ms. Coller's energetic direction, as both an educator and public servant, has increased the quality of the environment of region 2. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in recognizing the fine achievements of Ms. Coller. She is to be commended for her dedicated service to the community, and should be noted as a true friend of the environment.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lee J. Kauper--a resident of the 19th Congressional District--who will soon be retiring from his post as the director of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Veterans Hospital in Montrose, NY. His contributions to those in and around his facility have been seemingly limitless. Appointed director of the veterans hospital on June 2, 1991, he has promoted an active and innovative agenda. The Westchester County facility provides tertiary psychiatric care and primary medical services in conjunction with long-term care and substance abuse treatment. The 800-bed facility is the fifth largest public employer in the country with more than 1,400 full-time staff. And in excess of 70,000 outpatient visits are logged each year. He has dedicated the better portion of his life to the service of his country, first as a member of our Nation's military and then later on as an administrator caring for our Nation's veterans. Aside from these personal accomplishments, Mr. Kauper is an active member of his community--a member of the Peekskill Rotary Club, vice chair of the Federal Executive Board, a board member of the Combined Federal Campaign, a board member of the Peekskill Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Northern Metropolitan Hospital Association, a member of the American Legion Advisory Board, and the list goes on and on. The America we all know and love is typified by the spirit of dedication to the preservation of the community. The idea of individual sacrifice has long been ingrained in our national identity, and its individuals such as Mr. Kauper, who so ably maintains this tradition. Both the patients and staff of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Veterans Hospital and the people of Westchester County have a great deal to be thankful for in having people such as Mr. Kauper preserving this ideal. In this spirit Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in offering my personal congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Mr. Kauper, not just as Members of Congress but as members of one community--America. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the friends, colleagues, and admirers of Lee Kauper, I hereby express my heartfelt appreciation for his years of service and recognize the joyous occasion of his retirement.

Mr. KELLY

Mr. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, on the night of April 23-24, 1915, the Ottoman Empire initiated one of the great human disasters of the modern age when it began the systematic arrest, deportation, and execution of Armenian political, religious, educational, and intellectual leaders. During the years that followed, more than 1.5 million Christian Armenian men, women, and children lost their lives and another 500,000 were cruelly uprooted from their ancestral homes. Today we mark the 80th anniversary of this terrible and tragic blight on humanity. It is essential that we honor the memory of those who perished in the Armenian genocide. But as we remember the victims of this vicious event, it is also essential that we renew our determination to preserve basic human rights for all people everywhere. I believe deeply that the Armenian Christians so senselessly murdered 80 years ago deserve nothing less than our utmost efforts to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. The efforts of the Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian National Committee, and the entire Armenian-American community have ensured that the passage of time does not erase the memory of these terrible events which started 80 years ago. In these efforts, they have performed a great service for all people and I want to take this opportunity today to recognize and to honor their very important work. Mr. Speaker, as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, we pause to remember its 1.5 million victims and all those who have suffered crimes against humanity. And, in doing so, we reaffirm our pledge that such crimes will not be repeated.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, perhaps we have not made clear what Mr. Gephardt's motion would have meant for the senior citizens of this Nation. This would eliminate the repeal of the tax on social security benefits. This would eliminate the tax preference for long-term insurance, accelerated death benefits and long-term care benefits. This eliminates the elderly care tax credit. This would eliminate the increase in the Social Security earnings test. These are not tax cuts to those who do not need it. The Republican deficit reduction tax fairness act is one of the strongest pieces of seniors legislation that this Congress has moved to date, and that is why I am so proud to be an original sponsor of the seniors portion of the legislation. Essentially, what we have done with this legislation is remove the unfair tax burden that the Democrats imposed on senior citizens in the last session of Congress. Remember back in 1993 the Democrats imposed a $25 billion tax on our Nation's elderly. When President Clinton proposed this tax, he said that only the wealthiest Americans would face higher taxes. So, by President Clinton's definition, senior citizens living on fixed incomes as low as $34,000 are wealthy and ought to pay their fair share. Well, what President Clinton and the Democrats in Congress did 2 years ago was not fair, and after less than 100 days we have just corrected this injustice. In terms of New York, my State, my elderly will be able to keep more than $2.2 billion more of their hard-earned tax dollars, and I can assure you that this is going to benefit people who are definitely in need of a tax break. They do need it. Two of the other key elements of the deficit and tax reduction package which benefit the senior citizens are the custodial care tax credit and the estate and gift tax exclusion. All of us have heard a loved one at one time or another say they did not want to go to a retirement home. Well, by instituting a $500 elder care tax credit, we have started to take steps to ease their minds and their family's financial burden. This helps keep families intact by providing financial assistance to families who might otherwise have to place parents in a nursing home. I will stand strongly behind these tax provisions that help our seniors of this Nation.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share an award-winning essay by Ms. Sara Waugh, a young constituent of mine, who was recently recognized for her outstanding talent by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Having said this, I commend this piece to my colleagues: My Vision for America If I close my eyes and think of America, I imagine the country to be a sturdy, but still young, oak tree. The roots of our country are education, on which all else grows. The trunk of the tree and the branches represent the social environment of the people. The green leaves on my Tree of America symbolize culture. First--the roots. In my vision for America, I see the roots, the educational system, spreading out--growing, forming a steady base. Education must be firmly entrenched in society if there is to be any progress. Already, this country has one of the best education systems in the world. But I imagine that it will get even better. The old adage that, ``it takes an entire village to raise a child'' is true. In my vision of America's future, I see increasing community involvement in reaching educational goals. As the roots of the tree become more established and stronger, the trunk and branches will also grow. I believe that the social environment of the people can be equated to the branches of my tree. As education becomes more encompassing and complete, involving not only the children and teachers, but also parents, businessmen, and other citizens, the country's problems will be eradicated. Pollution, unemployment, crime and other social ills will dwindle with the loss of ignorance. Finally, as the overall environment improves, the culture will flourish. In my vision for America, culture is symbolized by the green leaves of the oak tree. The culture of America is the most visible part of our country. It is what people see from a distance, across the ocean, like the full branches of an oak across a wide meadow. But not only does culture add to the beauty of the country, it also energizes the entire community, just as the leaves catch the sun's golden rays and turn them into nourishment. Although travelers seeing the Tree of America from afar may only notice the waiving leaves, we citizens should realize how much educational effort made the vision possible--and this hard work will continue the growth of our oak in the future seasons. The parts of a tree are in a delicate balance--the roots draw raw materials to grow a strong trunk and branches, and these in turn support the leaves. But without the vital energy from the leaves, the rest of the tree would die. Similarly, without culture, America would not be the marvelous country it is. We would be just another spot on the map. In our national tree, the educational system takes unrefined human resources and processes them into socially useful ``nutrients.'' These nutrients are what create the diverse culture that is uniquely American. In America, the sun is a symbol of hope. Hope is the unifying force in my vision for America--it illuminates the future, and with it, all things are possible. in the future, I predict an increase in involvement and concern for education. With that added involvement, the lives of all citizens will improve, and the Tree of America will be in full bloom. This is my vision for America--we will be a durable and magnificent tree in the world forest.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, the American people sent us here to do the people's work and execute their will. Last night, I joined in an effort with more than 226 of my colleagues, Republican and Democrat, in an attempt to pass the term limits constitutional amendment. Our effort failed. I say it failed, Mr. Speaker, but that does not truly capture what transpired. Our efforts failed the American people. Last November, the American people overwhelmingly endorsed the principles behind Federal term limits, but what they got last night was nothing more than a victory for the status quo. Twenty-two States have already enacted some form of term limits legislation, and all we wanted to do was give the public the opportunity to voice their opinions. Simply put, Mr. Speaker, what could possibly be wrong with this? In my opinion, we should let them speak.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, this morning we will pass the Personal Responsibility Act of 1995. This is by far the most sweeping and far- sighted piece of social welfare legislation to come out of Congress in the last 40 years. We not only provide a true safety net for those less fortunate in our society, but we do so in the larger contexts of fiscal accountability and personal responsibility. We save hard-working American families $69 billion,while putting more food on the plates of hungry children. This is the true spirit of our Contract With America. Last November, Americans decided that they no longer wanted a government at odds with the people, but rather a government that worked in partnership with the people. A subtle yet striking difference in leadership. This welfare reform package, and the contract as a whole, give the American people the leaner, more efficient, and dramatically more responsive Federal Government that they demanded last November. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of this legislation, and I am proud of our contract. We are keeping our promises, and I believe that is what our democracy is all about.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, the American people want us to get on with repairing our Nation's broken welfare system. They know, as we do, that what was intended to be a safety net has become a tragic snare for generations of our fellow citizens. Today, Republicans will reform regulations on food stamps and commodity distribution. These are safety net programs that touch the lives of poor people every day. Our food stamp proposals will target benefits to those who truly need them. Our proposals will remove the humiliating piles of paperwork that now plague the poor in these programs. This means that resources now squandered on bureaucratic red tape will instead go to feed hungry Americans. Mr. Speaker, our reforms reduce paperwork and regulations that weigh about this much to only about this much. Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, our reforms will target our tax dollars where the American people want them--on the dinner tables of our Nation's needy children.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, who among us has not taken a child, probably their own, by the hand and walked with them down their neighborhood sidewalk? When we crossed the street, we either held their hand tighter or picked them up and carried them across the road to safety. This scene is repeated over and over again on sidewalks across our country. It is a simple, yet telling image of how we as a nation perceive the role of the stronger individual to take care of those in need in our society. For the past 30 years, we have held the hands of hundreds of thousands of people who needed our help, but unfortunately, we have forgotten how to let go, and more importantly how to help people stand on their own. Mr. Speaker, this is the essence of the Republican welfare reform plan. We all live our lives planning for our futures and those of our children. If we do not extend this same principle to those less fortunate in our society, all of our tomorrows will be bleaker. Our own children will confront us, asking us why we did nothing, why we allowed a broken system to continue unchecked. Mr. Speaker, let us try to work together and fix this broken system.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I voted ``nay'' on the Furse amendment to H.R. 956, Common Sense Product Liability and Legal Reform Act, but my vote did not register by the electronic voting device.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I do not know what is more disheartening, the vicious cycle of dependency perpetuated by the current system of welfare, or the mindset on the part of some Members of this institution that a national welfare bureaucracy is the only way to help those in need. The American taxpayer has not lacked in generosity. We have invested well over $5 trillion on welfare in this country since the mid-1960's, and welfare spending continues to rise. And yet, despite this commitment, illegitimacy rates have risen, welfare dependence remains constant, and fewer recipients of assistance are working. Five million families received AFDC benefits in May 1993, up from 3.7 million in 1988, and over half of those families will remain dependent on welfare for over 10 years. As working women and mothers, who among us does not remember earning their fist paycheck, meeting that first payroll, or the pride of seeing our own child bring home their first paycheck. It is this sort of restoration of self-esteem that we must achieve. The Personal Responsibility Act of 1995 fundamentally restructures the way in which we think about welfare. It maintains a system of support for those in need, while restoring the notion that welfare recipients have an obligation to use this assistance to better themselves. We have an opportunity to accomplish real reform, and instill real hope in the lives of those caught in the welfare trap.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 193, the amendment offered by Mr. Wyden, I amendment offered by mr. mineta to the amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, offered by mr. canady of florida

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 831, which will take the long-overdue step of permanently extending the 25 percent deduction for health insurance costs for the self-employed. Small business is the country's most important motivator for innovation, job creation and economic growth. Creating a successful small business takes guts, determination, and hard work, but it represents the very best of the American dream. I know this firsthand, Mr. Chairman. Both myself and my husband are small business owners. We both have experienced the satisfaction of creating successful small businesses, creating new jobs, and contributing to our community. However, we have also felt the onerous tax and regulatory burdens that stand in the way of successful small businesses today. Self- employed small business owners face a number of very unique problems, and the disparity in the tax treatment of health insurance costs represents one of the more troublesome of these. I believe tonight's vote is a referendum on tax fairness. Our Tax Code currently provides large corporations with a 100 percent deduction for health care insurance premiums. Unless we act and pass this legislation, however, self-employed entrepreneurs will be forced to shoulder the full cost of their insurance premiums. Making permanent the 25-percent deduction will take a small but needed step toward restoring a degree of equity in the manner in which we treat small business in this country. Let's support our small businesses, Mr. Chairman, by passing H.R. 831. And once we have accomplished this goal, I believe we should take the next logical step and raise the deductibility for the self-employed to 100 percent.

Mrs. KELLY

Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, it was necessary for me to undergo important dental surgery today and, in doing so, I missed two recorded votes on amendments to H.R. 2, the Line Item Veto Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on the Wise amendment. In addition, had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on the Spratt amendment. (Mr. GEPHARDT asked and was given permission to speak out of order.) legislative program