Patrick Kennedy

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Office of Technology Assessment. Since its inception in 1972, OTA has served as the scientific arm of Congress. In the effort to spend the dollars more wisely, it seems to me that OTA [[Page H 6174]] is more critical today than ever before. OTA helps Congress determine what projects should be undertaken, streamlined and made more effective. It is often said that knowledge is power. Having the right information, the right knowledge, will allow us to better be able to make the right decisions. In this case, OTA provides us with the knowledge, gives us the power. Opponents of OTA say that because OTA's reports take too long to prepare and are too detailed, they are out of sync with the legislative flow or speed with which Congress now operates. To the opponents of OTA, I ask you, what do you want? Do you want it fast, or do you want it right? When did speed become the hallmark of quality legislation? If we lose OTA, we effectively eliminate the lens by which Congress assesses the quality of its technology-based assessments. Mr. Chairman, in my district in Rhode Island, the fourth most elderly district in the Nation, OTA has been critical in advancing preventative medicines and cures that have helped reduce the cost of Medicare, which has helped save our taxpayers dollars. It saved over $368 million in a Social Security Administration computer system. It has helped us move to find out which technologies are more effective, and in my State that has a lot to do with the military. We have the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and OTA has done reports on that. Mr. Chairman, I think the OTA gives us the information that we need, and in this environment we need the right information. I would ask my colleagues to support the Houghton amendment and others that help maintain the function of OTA.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the motion to recommit. H.R. 1530 while it restores funding for heavily impacted school districts in the Impact Aid Program, ignores the special needs of those children classified as ``B'' students. In my State of Rhode Island it is the ``B'' student who will suffer most without this funding. Last year, the public schools of Newport and Portsmouth received nearly $330,000 in funding for these children. Without this funding, over 3,500 Rhode Island ``B'' students will receive less than an adequate education and be left unprepared and undefended in the harsh climate of the new global economy. This is a cost America simply cannot bear. I support the motion to recommit so we may pass a bill that fully funds Impact Aid and supports the future of America's children.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, at 2:08 a.m. Central European time, on June 8, 1995, history was made. With unparalleled perfection that only comes with countless hours of training and preparation, a team of U.S. Marines rescued Air Force Capt. Scott O'Grady from behind enemy lines in Bosnia. Among the Marines who risked their lives to save Captain O'Grady was Capt. Ian Walsh, whose parents, Laurence and Ellen, live in my congressional district in Providence, RI. Captain Walsh, 28, who piloted the Cobra attack helicopter which led the rescue mission, is no stranger to life-threatening missions. Having flown in Somalia and Haiti, Captain Walsh has made a typical day's work out of flying into hostile territory. The rescue of Capt. Scott O'Grady, who courageously eluded the enemy for 6 days, was by no means simple. Captain Walsh had to not only fly through dense fog and had to remain extremely low in order to avoid mountain ranges and power lines, but he also encountered missile and gun fire from the Serbians. All this was worth it in once Captain Walsh made the first audio contact with the downed fighter pilot. As Captain Walsh related later to the Providence Journal-Bulletin, ``It's one of those things you train and train and train, and you finally execute, and it pays off. I feel like I've actually made a difference--helped pull a guy out and saved his life. And that to me is probably the best feeling anybody could have.'' With Captain O'Grady back in friendly hands, there is indeed much to celebrate. In our joy, however, we should not forget that men and women are still putting their lives on the line for our country every day. They are truly heroes and should be recognized as such. I am proud to say that Capt. Ian Walsh is one of them. As Captain Walsh finishes the remaining 3 months of his tour stationed off the embattled shores of Bosnia, I want to let him know that this country and his friends are behind him. I wish for Ian a safe tour and speedy return home for one of Rhode Island's true heroes. I also offer best wishes to his wife, Charlotte of North Carolina, and his parents, Laurence and Ellen, all of whom must be very proud of Ian's dedication and service to his country.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, I just want to echo the eloquent comments of my colleague, the gentleman from California [Mr. Cunningham], who pointed out a very important concern, and that is the security of our military base, allowing convicted prison labor on those bases where there may be some very sensitive things going on on those bases, and we are allowing those prisoners to be on the base. Second, in terms of the money we plussed up by a figure of nearly $10 billion the operation and maintenance account in this year's authorization on the committee that I serve on so there will be money. Last, again we do not want prison labor taking away jobs from our local people in our districts, and for that reason I ask the defeat of the amendment.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Kolbe]. Mr. Chairman, I am compelled to rise against the Kolbe amendment authorizing the use of civilian inmate prison or convict labor at our military installations. This amendment has arrived on the floor of this body without the benefit of deliberation in the committee process or the blessing of the Department of Defense. There must be some specific reason for the absence of an official request from the Department on this program. Last year this same provision was considered in conference, and it was rejected. The primary reason for that rejection was the potential conflict with the ongoing contracts with Government workers. Nothing has happened since then to change that concern. This amendment would leave the implementation arrangements up to the State and local governments to determine the final details of the arrangement in some form of a memorandum of understanding with the installation. That includes who will participate, the nature of the task to be performed, and the conditions under which the tasks would be performed. Additionally, Mr. Chairman, the amendment purports not to involve services in skills for which there is a local surplus of available labor. It is inconceivable that unskilled or low skilled workers would not be found in the immediate area to perform these tasks. That, Mr. Chairman, is the reason the Department of Labor has continued to express concern over this program. It seems to me that while the objectives of this program might be laudable, there remains too much ambiguity with its implementation. We do not know enough about the program at this time to make an informed decision, and for that reason I ask that we allow the Department to assess the utility of this program prior to giving its approval. Let me just add this notion that prison labor is somehow a good break for the taxpayers is hogwash. In my State of Rhode Island, in the northwestern woolen mills up in Woonsocket, it is the prison labor authority that is stealing the jobs out of my workers in Woonsocket. Now this can be said for, I am sure, the military installation in my district in Newport, as well as it can be said for the woolen mills that manufacture those emergency blankets by which our service men and women keep themselves warm or by which our American Red Cross use in the humanitarian relief efforts. These are now being underbid, and they are not underbid because they are subsidized. Remember we pay the prison authority to incarcerate these people, so when they are doing the work and undercutting our labor market, it is not a good break for the taxpayers. In fact, if the taxpayers were to find out that what we were really doing was subsidizing convicted criminals, people who have transgressed the law, and subsidizing them to take good jobs away from American workers, why there is nothing more that could be said about the Chinese and their slave labor problems over there. We will be no better than them if we go down the direction that this amendment is asking us to go down. Mr. Chairman, I have seen it before in my State. I do not want to see it repeat itself anywhere else in my district because it does not make sense for the hard-working families of my district, and I might add the State of Rhode Island can make these contracts with the local installations, and you know what? They will underbid because they will be using this prison labor, and I do not think that is fair to the working class people who depend on an income and the civilian work that goes on in these bases, and for that reason I ask my colleagues to defeat the Kolbe amendment.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California [Mr. Cunningham].

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise the National Security Committee for adopting the Edwards-Bateman amendment to preserve partial funding for the Impact Aid program. Impact Aid provides essential funding for school districts which lack revenue because a portion of their student body lives on Federal land and does not pay local school taxes. The work of the committee has reaffirmed the Federal Government's pledge to provide over 5,000 children in Rhode Island with a sound elementary and secondary education. Without Impact Aid the Federal Government would abandon this essential commitment to all the children in these districts. These children are of course very special to our Nation. They are the sons and daughters of the people who protect our country by serving in the military. Impact Aid is clearly about our military readiness not just for today but for our future. Funding Impact Aid today ensures that our military personnel are prepared to serve because they do not carry with them the worry that their children are not receiving a proper education Moreover, Impact Aid today means supporting America's leaders tomorrow. Education and training will develop skills, and skills mean high quality jobs for Americans. Without the program over 17 million children nationwide would be left unprepared and undefended in the harsh climate of the new global economy. This is a cost America simply cannot bear. Again, I thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for funding Impact Aid and supporting the men, women, and children of the U.S. armed services.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere congratulations to Mr. Jack V. Cappitelli, Jr., and Ms. Robin C. Schwartz. Jack and Robin were wed on Sunday, May 14 in Montclair, NJ. Jack, who is formerly of Old Bridge, NJ, is the son of Mr. Jack Cappitelli, Sr. and his wife, Mrs. Theresa Cappitelli. From Old Bridge he moved on to enroll at Rutgers University where he graduated in 1990. He went on to study medicine at the New Jersey University of Medicine and Dentistry. Today, Mr. Cappitelli is contributing his services to his local community as a resident physician at the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. Robin grew up in Cedar Grove, NJ, and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Schwartz. She graduated from New York University in May 1992 with a masters degree in urban planning. She now serves as a municipal credit analyst at Moody's Investor Service in New York City. As Jack and Robin begin their new life together I sincerely hope that their years are filled with happiness. I know that they must be excited to begin a journey hand in hand--partners in life. I ask all my colleagues to join me in congratulating Jack, Robin, and both their families while wishing them the best for a long and prosperous life together.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, recently the General Assembly in my State of Rhode Island recently passed a resolution urging the Congress to support the 7(a) and 504 programs of the Small Business Administration. In my age when thousands of jobs are being created by small businesses, and thousands of people are finding new career opportunities as entrepreneurs, it is more important than ever to support these two important programs. We turn back on America's future when we fail to support these two initiatives. In the upcoming budget debate I hope my colleagues will listen to and heed the wisdom contained in this resolution which reads as follows: Whereas, the U.S. Small Business Administration was created in 1953 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to foster the growth of small entrepreneurs, and Whereas, our Nation's economic prosperity is linked directly to the health of the small business community, and Whereas, the Rhode Island business community is comprised of over 97 percent small businesses, and Whereas, small businesses have grown 49 percent since 1982, they employ 54 percent of the American work force, account for 50 percent of the gross domestic product, and account for 71 percent in new job growth in 1993, and Whereas, the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 504 and 7(a) financing programs are a public/private partnership that leverages private dollars and allows for continued access to capital for Rhode Island's small business community, and Whereas, SBA's technical resources including the Small Business Development Center at Bryant College and the Service Corps of Retired Executives provide much needed counselling to the Rhode Island small business community, and Whereas, the Rhode Island SBA District Office has approved over 800 loans totalling $160.5 million in guarantee and 504 financing to the Rhode Island small business community from October 1992 to present, and Whereas, this financial assistance has played a vital role in reviving the Rhode Island economy; now be it Resolved, That the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the United States Congress to financially support the U.S. Small Business Administration and its 7(a) and 504 financing programs, as well as its education/training and advocacy programs, and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and the President of the United States Senate, and to the Rhode Island Delegation in the Congress of the United States.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Chairman, I stand in strong opposition to H.R. 961. The Clean Water Act was written in 1972. In my State of Rhode Island, we have made a great deal of progress since then, thanks to the act. In 1970 the Blackstone River, north of Woonsocket was a dead river. Today at least 16 different fish species swim in the Blackstone, including game fish such as large-mouth bass and brown trout. In 1970 the Rhode Island Department of Health discovered metals in the fish of Narragansett Bay. Quahogs contained mercury, lead, and chromium. Today these are down 90 percent and are well within the safe zone because of private industry cutting back on discharges due to more stringent permits. In 1970 because Jamestown had no sewer treatment plant, 200,000 gallons of raw sewage was dumped into Narragansett Bay everyday. Shellfishing and swimming areas were closed. Today the town has a secondary sewage treatment plant and most of the Island is open to shellfishing and swimming. The Clean Water Act not only provides Rhode Island with the tools necessary to restore our coastal waterways, but also fosters economic development by preventing future shellfish bed closures through a full implementation of its coastal nonpoint source management program. Anyone who has ever farmed Mount Hope Bay or the Kikamuit River knows that because of stormwater runoff from parking lots and failing septic systems the wildlife in the water becomes polluted and inedible. Simply changing the definition of swimmable and fishable does not change the fact that the fish will be inedible. Hence, it does not mean the fish can be sold. The economy and the environment are not competing interests. In my State, relaxing standards will do more economic harm than good. Look at the facts. In Rhode Island commercial fishing industry is a $100 million industry, up 700 percent since the Clean Water Act was first implemented in 1972. Oppose H.R. 961. It is bad for the environment and bad for our economy. Many of you may not know that Rhode Island is the Ocean State. Because of the vast array of beaches, rivers, and boating marinas, the travel and tourism industry generates almost $1.5 billion a year for my State. The vast majority of this occurs in and around Narragansett Bay. Salt water swimming is enjoyed by 67 percent of the Rhode Island population and $70 million is spent in sport fishing every year. I seriously doubt that Rhode Island would be such an attractive place for almost 2 million people to visit every year if our waters were polluted with metals that are especially harmful to our children and the elderly. I ask you, who would want to smell the raw sewage blowing off the bay or pull a dying fish from the water. In short, if we gut the Clean Water Act today we will not only be jeopardizing our health, but the economies of our Nation's coastal States. It was the Clean Water Act regulations that allowed Rhode Island to reduce pollution in the Mount Hope Bay, adding 800,000 lbs. of additional quahogs to each years harvest. It was the Clean Water Act that saved Narragansett Bay so that many of New England's most important fish, like winter flounder, striped bass, and fluke could safely repopulate themselves. And it was the Clean Water Act that helped publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Narragansett Bay achieve a 57-percent reduction in the amount of pollutants they discharge. I ask all my colleagues to look not at the short-run interests, but the long-term concerns and quality of life of our citizens. We must act wisely to avoid the same recklessness that forced us to legislate the Clean Water Act in the first place. Unfortunately, environmentalists are typically characterized as eccentrics, with nothing better to do than complain about obscure pollutants or rare animals. I abhor that characterization. In my State, environmentalists come in many forms. They are the hard-working lobstermen and quahogers who farm Narragansett Bay. They are the sportsmen who canoe down the Runnins River or fish for striped bass in the Atlantic. Most importantly they are our children who swim in our rivers and play in our parks. I am proud to call myself an environmentalist. A person who sees the future not just on a balance sheet but by the air we breathe, the water we swim in, and the diverse variety of life we share our community with. In the words of Teddy Roosevelt, our 26th President and renowned conservationist: To waste, to destroy, our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed. Oppose H.R. 961 and support economic environmentalism rather than economic expediency.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, anyone reading the paper or watching the news last week knows that Medicare is on the front line in the battles that lie ahead. Seniors are watching and what they see is troubling. Yes, we do need to reform Medicare--but there is a right way and a wrong way. Last year we had the chance to strengthen Medicare the right way--in the context of health opportunity. And now seniors will bear the burden and pay the price for gridlock. Let us agree that the first rule of reform will be the same as it is in medicine: First, do no harm. Let us agree to put partisan interests aside and put seniors first. Let us agree that while good health care requires choice, managed care, when it is just managed profit, is wrong. That prevention, home care, prescription medicine is quality health care for high quality lives. Finally, let us pledge that we will not destroy Medicare in our effort to reform Medicare.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to support the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. For the thousands of Rhode Islanders from my district of Armenian descent who lost family members in this genocide, today is a particularly somber day. But whether you are of Armenian descent or not, this day would be even more tragic if we did not remember. There is a quote that I think is particularly important today, and it goes as this: First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me. This quote is telling, because it can be said as much for the Armenian genocide as the Jewish Holocaust. In fact, it has not been lost on historians of this century that the failure to recognize the Armenian genocide for what it was made it easier, not harder, for evil minds like Hitler to believe that they could do the same. Today, we in Congress are solemnly observing the tragedy of the Armenian genocide not only to honor the memory of those who died but, in doing so, to ensure that such horrors will never occur again.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, the question before us today is what kind of tax relief are we going to give the American people. The difference could not be clearer. The Republicans' tax break would benefit 76 percent of those families earning $100,000 or more. If you look at the Citizens for Tax Justice, they say 71 percent of the total capital gains tax breaks go to those making in excess of $200,000. Who pays the bill? It is young people who pay the bill. It is those who want to go out and get those well-paying jobs that the Republicans talk about. However, how can we expect them to get those well-paying jobs if they cannot first afford the higher education that they are going to need to get if they are to land those jobs? Mr. Speaker, it was wrong to repeal the interest deduction on student loans in the 1986 tax reform bill, and it is worse that the Republicans have rescinded the amount of the money for subsidizing those student loans that allow them to get an education, and not have the interest on those student loans accrue until after they graduate. That is not right. Members know that the cost of higher education is going up, and we should not make it more difficult for students.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, the debate is about students, students and their futures. The cost of a college education is rising faster than middle- income families can afford. In fact, paying for college now ranks second only to buying a home as the most expensive investment for the average family. Last week in my State of Rhode Island, three colleges announced once again that they were raising their tuition. In the last 5 years the University of Rhode Island has raised tuition 83 percent. Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island tuition has gone up 67 percent and 66 percent respectively since 1990. What makes matters worse, the balance of aid that students have used in the past to help them afford these rising costs has shifted. In the early 1980s it was 75 percent grants and 25 percent loans. Today, the reverse is true. It is 75 percent loans and 25 percent grants. And the Republicans now want to eliminate the interest subsidy for student loans. That compounds the already difficult problem that middle-class families are having in affording an education because of the elimination on the deduction on student loans that was put through in the 1980's. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentleman of the House, I ask my colleagues to support the Gephardt substitute, because the Republicans keep talking about jobs, but they are not going to be able to get the high- paying jobs without a high-skills education that they are going to need if they do not go to college. Mr. Chairman, the question before us today is what kind of tax relief are we going to give to the American people? Are we going to hand out huge tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans, open loopholes so big some of our most profitable companies will be able to avoid paying any tax at all, or are we going to give some help to middle income Americans, to young people who are struggling to pay for their education? The choice is clear--it is between the past and the future. The Contract plan is a return to the failed, unfair policies of the past. The Democratic alternative is about investing in our future. It is about making sure we have the high skill workers for the high skill, high wage jobs of tomorrow. Middle income families need the tax relief offered by the Democratic alternative. The cost of post-secondary education is rising faster than middle income families can afford. In fact, paying for college now ranks second only to buying a home as the most expensive investment for the average family. Last week, in my State of Rhode Island, three different colleges announced once again that they were University of Rhode Island has raised its tuition 83 percent. At Rhode Island College, and the Community College of Rhode Island, tuition has gone up 67 percent and 66 percent, respectively since 1990. What makes matters worse, the balance of aid that students have used in the past to help afford these rising costs has shifted. Fifteen years ago the mix of Federal student financial aid was 75 percent grants and 25 percent loans. In 1995 those figures are reversed. I submit to my colleagues, that if the Federal Government does not take some course of action, the middle class will soon be shut out of higher education. These are the people who need tax relief, not the Fortune 500 singled out in the GOP proposal. The Republican party offers tax cuts that will send more than 58 percent of total capital gains tax breaks to those making more than $200,000 a year--the top 2.6 percent of all tax fliers. Households earning $200,000 would receive an average cut of over $11,000 a year, whereas those under $30,000 would receive less than $150 per year. The Contract On America tax bill will cost the American people almost $700 billion over the next 10 years. It is clear what interests the Republicans represent. Under the Republicans, who is going to pay? Students--our future. They give loopholes to the rich and roadblocks to students. Simply put, they are standing on the backs of students to support the wealthy. In addition to their tax cut, the Republicans plan to severely cut aid to students. Fact: The GOP is poised to eliminate the interest-deferral on the Stafford Loan program. Currently, the interest on the Stafford Loan is deferred until 6 months after graduation. Under the Republican plan, interest would begin accruing on the loan immediately. Fact: By removing the interest deferral, American students will face a $9.6 billion increase in the cost of post-secondary education over the next 5 years. That's over $4,000 added to the loan repayments for each student. Fact: The GOP is poised to eliminate the Perkins Loan program. Post- secondary institutions use the Perkins program to help low income students take out low interest loans to pay for college. Eliminating this program will add $785 million to the cost of going to college over the next 5 years. In short, the Republican plan will kill the dream of higher education for thousands of middle income students. The Democrats however, have a plan that will help that dream come true. The Democratic plan identifies our students as our Nation's most precious commodity. It helps them achieve their goals by creating incentives to save and methods by which students will find it easier to payback their loan debts. During the last Congress, President Clinton's Direct Lending Program took an important step in helping young adults realize their education dreams. The Direct Lending program made it easier for students to take on the cost of higher education by simplifying the loan process and creating new ways for students to payback their loans. Ultimately, Direct Lending is a step in the right direction but it falls short of easing the burden of paying back the loans. For this reason I introduced the Student Loan Affordability Act of 1995. This bill grants a deduction for the payment of interest on student loans. Just like that provided for mortgage interest. Today, I am proud to say that Democratic Leader Gephardt has incorporated this idea into his education tax cut plan for the middle class citizens of this country. The Democratic alternative is affordable, and does not explode the deficit. Moreoever, it does not simply cut taxes, but it represents a real investment for the American taxpayer. Last year the Government paid out an estimated $2 billion to cover defaulted student loan costs. This is money that we can never retrieve and results in higher costs to the taxpayers. The Democratic proposal encourages students to work within the system, payback their loans, and one day make additional investments in the economy. I urge my colleagues to vote for the plan that represents real savings for the middle class of this country. Eighty-nine percent of the American people oppose cuts to student financial aid programs. They want their children to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams. The Republicans offer a tax cut to the rich and then try to pay for it on the backs of students. We can't afford trickle down 2. Support the tax cut that invests in our future--not the one which repeats the mistakes of the past. Support the plan that opens doors for our students--not the plan that shuts them out. Support the Democratic substitute and invest in the future of those who will lead America tomorrow.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise against the rule and the Republican tax cut for the wealthy that this rule allows, a Republican tax cut plan where, according to the Citizens for Tax Justice, more than 71 percent of total capital gains tax cut breaks goes to those who make more than $200,000 a year. The question is: Who is going to pay? School lunches are getting cut. Elderly are getting tossed out of senior high-rises because they are reducing the amount of subsidies for the elderly to have affordable high-rises. In addition, they have not let the students alone either. They are now going to tack on interest payments for student loans starting the day the student enters the university. This is not progressive and far from being the middle-class tax cut that the Republicans would have us believe because it is putting the burden on the students, and who gets the break? The people who have the most money. It figures. It is the Republicans all over again.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a group of 25 students from Central Falls High School who won the Rhode Island title in the ``We the People'' competition on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights which was held March 12 at the Community College of Rhode Island. The 25 juniors are all students in the U.S. history class taught by Bertrand Brousseau, Central Falls High School. The students will compete for national honors in joining 1,200 students from across the Nation in Arlington VA; and Washington DC, from April 29 to May 1. The competition involves students demonstrating their knowledge of constitutional principles and their relevance to contemporary issues. Making the feat more impressive is that 14 of the 25 students from Central Falls High School learned English as a second language. Some of the students or their parents are natives of Portugal, Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Mozambique, Colombia, Liberia, Poland, and Vietnam. I will be visiting these award-winning students in their classroom on April 10 to wish them the best of luck in this competition. I am very proud of their accomplishments. They have shown that hard work and desire, along with proper parental and educational support, can overcome any language barriers. I'd like to offer my congratulations and best wishes to Mr. Brousseau and his students: Kelly Bianchi, Berta Couto, Elizabeth Diaz, Elizabeth Gartska, Linda Layous, Juan Menzano, Christine Patricio, Hannah Tarawali, Alexandra Zaldana, Janet Blandon, Yolanda DaSilva, Michelle Doucet, Martha Gutierrez, Rebecca Lussier, Nelci Paiva, Celina Sackal, Halena Taveira, Melenie Casto, Daisy Diaz, Susan Freitas, Melanie Kowal, Mike Macedo, Beatriz Patino, Kathy Siwy, and Agnes Wec.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a young woman who represents the finest qualities of human nature. Carmen Pina, a student from the city of Pawtucket, has shown her entire community what it means to have grace under pressure. Carmen recently lost her father to Lou Gehrig's disease, a crippling illness that was emotionally draining on Carmen's entire family. Rather than succumb to perpetual sadness Carmen focused her energies on improving the quality of her own life. Recently Carmen has been honored with several awards that have become a testament to her hard work and dedication to life. Not only has she helped her family, natives of Portugal, get back on the path to emotional recover, but she has excelled in her own work, and has been named valedictorian of the senior class at Charles E. Shea High School in Pawtucket. Today, Carmen is 1 of 88 students from around the country to win this years Horatio Alger scholarship. This coveted award is reserved only for those who have overcome the obstacles of life and made a commitment to helping others in their times of need. I think I speak for all the citizens of Rhode Island when I say that we are all enamored by Carmen's courage and extremely proud of her. Next year Carmen will attend college. As she embarks on this new and exciting journey I want to wish her only the best that life can offer. I know that these last years have been difficult, but in the days ahead I encourage her to continue to draw strength from these difficult times. The special relationship that she had with her father is a memory that can never be taken away, and a constant reminder that life must be cherished. I hope that we can all learn a valuable lesson from Carmen's example. She has shown us that when times are hard it is a strong spirit that survives. Fulfillment is defined not only by what makes us happy, but by how we create a better life for ourselves by gaining strength from the people that we love most. My thoughts go out to Carmen and her family and I hope that her father's love remains eternal in all their hearts.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend congratulations on behalf of the U.S. Congress to Ms. April Gentes, a resident of Rumford, RI who is a senior at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, MA. Ms. Gentes has been named a national winner in the 1995 Voice of Democracy Program and recipient of a National Veterans of Foreign Wars Scholarship Award. This distinguished program began 48 years ago and, this year, had 125,000 participants competing for 47 annual scholarships nationwide with the submission of an essay on the subject of ``My Vision for America.'' Mr. Speaker, I am proud to present Ms. Gentes essay for the Record. ``My Vision for America'' (By April Gentes) A world without prejudice and bigotry anywhere. A place where the word hatred does not exist. Somewhere where people will help one another and not think of their own needs first. A place where children can run and play and moms and dads won't have to worry about their safety. A land filled with people who are not poor, hungry, or homeless. A place where all who are there feel loved and accepted. Somewhere where no man or woman, boy or girl, feels they are worthless or can not make a difference in someone else's life. A place where forgiveness and trust go hand in hand. A land with no disease, war or killing. This is my vision for America. I believe that every single person in this world is here for a reason. I have a story I'm sure you've heard before but it ties in well about how my vision of America would be. It goes like this: One day a girl was walking along a beach where thousands of star fish were washed up along the shore. The girl started picking the star fish up, one by one, and throwing them back into the ocean. As she was doing this a man walking noticed her. He walked up to her and asked ``little girl, don't you see there are thousands of star fish here all washed up on the sand. You can't possibly save them all, so why are you trying too?'' The little girl looked up at the man and, hurt by his question, thought for a moment. Then she replied ``No, you're right. I can't possibly save them all, but I can save this one (and she picked up a star fish and threw it back into the ocean.) and I can help this one'', and she picked up another one and did the same. She continued on walking and throwing the star fish back into the water feeling happy with what she could do to help. This story has so much meaning behind it. Instead of the girl being intimidated by the going. She was not ashamed of what she could not do, rather she only thought of what she could do. If everyone in America thought of one thing they could do to make someone else's life a little brighter, our country would be in pretty good shape. By starting out with lots of small things to do or ways of being there for other people, soon it will lead to big changes. By first starting with the family and having peace and happiness within the home, eventually that peace and love will spread into society. By learning to accept people's differences first in our communities we will then be able to accept and understand all those around us. By giving of our time and money to help those struggling right in our area, they in turn will help other people when they can. It will be like one big domino effect of humans loving and caring for each other as God calls us to do. People will feel good about themselves being able to make a difference in someone else's life. More people will want to work together to meet common goals and achieve individual and nationwide dreams. America will once again be the country of equal opportunities and freedom for everyone. There will be no more people trapped in fear or robbed of their pride. We will all be viewed as people, people who love and accept, forgive and protect, one another. I don't believe that having this hope of America is being naive. I believe it is putting a lot of faith and trust into one another through, and I know we can do this together. With each of us having different yet special gifts and talents, we are able to share these with one another. If all of our hopes and aspirations are put together we will be able to have one vision of America that is a vision for everyone.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in defense of America's future. In their attempt to reform government, the Republican leadership has placed in jeopardy the finest educational system in the world. The contract on America puts student financial aid on the chopping block. In my State of Rhode Island, over 28,000 students took out loans, worth an estimated value of over $94 million, to pay for their education in 1994. This year the Republicans want to remove the in school interest loan subsidy which allows students to forgo the interest on their loans while they are still in school. If passed this action will increase the debt of Rhode Island's students by over $10 million. I ask my colleagues, how does cutting aid to students help America compete in the global marketplace? The answer is, it does not. If we do not expand opportunities for higher education, the United States will fall behind. The American people are for balancing the budget, but not at the expense of students trying to make a better life for themselves; 89 percent of the American people oppose cuts to student financial aid programs. They recognize the simple truth that supporting higher education today is an investment in America tomorrow. Do not deny our students the education they deserve. Support student aid.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, we have heard time and time again that the opposition is determined to provide less Government and lower taxes, but for who? Well, now we have the answer. The cuts before us clearly show that the intention is to provide less help to those who most need it, and lower taxes for those who have the most. For those who fear the onset of winter, and the long and cold nights that it brings, these cuts will force a choice between heating and eating. My State of Rhode Island was supposed to receive $8.8 million in energy assistance next winter. No more. This bill turns its back on the 26,000 households, more than 59,000 individuals in Rhode Island, who rely on the little bit of help they get for energy assistance. When the average heating bill in Providence is $1,200 a winter, a grant of $414 can make a world of difference. To quote a couple from my State, writing about the assistance they received: Thank you so very much from our hearts to yours. By your compassion we're touched. May God bless you * * * Not one day did we live cold * * * Sixty percent of the households in Rhode Island who receive energy assistance are either elderly, on fixed incomes, or working poor. Most have household incomes between $6,000 and $8,000. A capital gains tax cut will provide little comfort to these people in the dead of winter next year. This cut is indefensible, and I suspect that is why the majority would not even allow an amendment restoring this money to make it to the floor. They will be able to avoid the pain of a vote today, but our seniors will be forced to feel the pain of their cuts tomorrow. The cuts to housing again hit at those most in need. Forty percent of the housing cuts will strike senior citizens, threatening the very viability and quality of their housing by slashing operating subsidies and modernization funds--maintenance, necessary improvements, and security will be cut back. In Pawtucket, RI, the cut in modernization funds could mean that a planned central security station will have to be eliminated. What protection will the seniors living in Burns Manor derive from the big business loopholes in the tax package? Is this the right way to begin cutting the budget? I do not think so. When it comes to cutting the budget, let us start with the programs that are the weakest and not the programs for the weakest.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, we will soon celebrate Youth Art Month, an opportunity for our Nation to recognize the special role art can play in enriching the lives of children. Artistic expression is one of the things which distinguishes us as human beings. By offering children the opportunity to express feelings and thoughts through creative expression, we offer them the opportunity to reach their full potential. While all of us may not have the talent of a DaVinci or a VanGogh, we have potential to express and enrich ourselves through art. Children in particular can learn much from education in the arts. They can learn about themselves and about the world around them. What President Kennedy said of poetry is true of the value of all forms of artistic expression, ``poetry [is] the means of saving power from itself. When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of a man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses. For art establishes the basic human truth which must serve as the touchstone of our judgment.'' For these reasons, I commend Youth Art Month for the way it is enriching the lives of children today across America. I hope all Americans will take a little extra time next month to appreciate the contribution art makes to our national life.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, we hear all the time from Republicans about how they want less Government. Now we know what are talking about. They are talking about less Government assistance to our senior citizens during the winter. That is right. The Republicans have cut heating assistance for low-income families in my State of Rhode Island. When the average heating bill in Providence, Rhode Island, is $1,200 a winter, a grant of $414 can make a world of difference. Sixty percent of the households in my State who receive energy assistance are either elderly or on fixed incomes, or working poor. Most have household incomes between $6,000 and $8,000. Mr. Speaker, talking about tax cuts, a capital gains tax cut is not going to be any comfort to my senior citizens in my State next winter. Mr. Speaker, we have heard time and time again that the opposition is determined to provide less Government and lower taxes, but for who? Well, now we have the answer. The cuts before us clearly show that the intention is to provide less help to those who most need it, and lower taxes for those who have the most. For those who fear the onset of winter, and the long and cold nights that it brings, these cuts will force a choice between heating and eating. My State of Rhode Island was supposed to receive $8.8 million in energy assistance next winter. No more. This bill turns its back on the 26,000 households, more than 59,000 individuals in Rhode Island, who rely on the little bit of help they get for energy assistance. When the average heating bill in Providence is $1,200 a winter, a grant of $414 can make a world of difference. To quote a couple from my State, writing about the assistance they received: ``Thank you so very much from our hearts to yours. By your compassion we're touched. May God bless you * * *. Not one day did we live cold * * *.'' Sixty percent of the households in Rhode Island who receive energy assistance are either elderly, on fixed-incomes, or working poor. Most have household incomes between $6,000 and $8,000. A capital gains tax cut will provide little comfort to these people in the dead of winter next year. This cut is indefensible, and I suspect that is why the majority would not even allow an amendment restoring this money to make it to the floor. They will be able to avoid the pain of a vote today, but our seniors will be forced to feel the pain of their cuts tomorrow. The cuts to housing again hit at those most in need. Forty percent of the housing cuts will strike senior citizens, threatening the very viability and quality of their housing by slashing operating subsidies and modernization funds--maintenance, necessary improvements, and security will be cut back. In Pawtucket, RI the cut in modernization funds could mean that a planned central security station will have to be eliminated. What protection will the seniors living in Burns Manor derive from the big business loop holes in the tax package? Is this the right way to begin cutting the budget? I do not think so. When it comes to cutting the budget, let us start with the programs that are the weakest and not the programs for the weakest.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of the Student Loan Affordability Act of 1995. Many of my colleagues already agree that the best way to ensure the future prosperity of America is to empower our students to meet the demand for the high skill high wage jobs of the 21st century. Post-secondary education is an essential component in developing the skills necessary to be competitive in today's global markets. Unfortunately, with the costs of post-secondary education dramatically rising the number of middle class families who can afford to send their children to college is falling. The Student Loan Affordability Act will offer middle income families the relief they need, and empower them to engage in the most important of tasks: sending their children off to college. The proposal will establish a tax deduction for the interest payments on student loans, just like that provided for interest on mortgages. As a result of this legislation, students and their families will be able to reduce the costs of their education. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that this bill is supported by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. The education of our students should not be a battleground for partisan politics but a source of pride and consensus that we may all support. We must invest in our children's education today if we are going to be competitive in international markets tomorrow. I encourage all my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I ask that a copy of the legislation be printed in the Record.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of March 7, 1995 being recognized as National Sportsmanship Day. Since its inception in 1991, over 7,000 schools nationwide have taken part in celebrating the essential life lessons that are developed through participation in sports. The participants, who range from elementary students right up through the university level will spend the day in constructive competition. For the past 5 years, the Institute for International Sport, located at the University of Rhode Island, has worked hard to help establish greater awareness in the area of physical fitness. In addition to National Sportsmanship Day, the institute works all year to promote initiatives like the Student-Athlete Outreach Program, where student- athletes from high schools and colleges travel to local elementary and middle schools to serve as positive role models and promote good sportsmanship. I fully support these initiatives and would like to acknowledge all the individuals who have devoted their time and efforts to broaden participation in the arena of friendly competition and sportsmanship.