Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, in 1937 we made a commitment to provide decent, affordable housing to our Nation's lower income citizens. That is a commitment I am not willing to scrap. Public housing can work. It has been a tremendous success in New York City, where more than 225,000 New Yorkers are on the waiting list to get into public housing. Not all public housing in this country is as successful, and we need change. HUD is already taking steps to make needed changes. Mr. Chairman, I want to take this opportunity to thank the members on both sides of the aisle for supporting the amendment I offered in committee with my colleague, the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Baker], to allow HUD to review the long-term viability of the local housing management plans. Taxpayers are entitled to meaningful review. This amendment ensures it, and I thank Chairman Lazio from the great State of New York for accepting my amendment. But while we work to improve public housing, we must not abdicate our commitment to our poorest public housing residents. The bill does just that. A 30-percent cap would be maintained for the elderly, disabled, and the very poor, but would only apply to current residents. What about the future residents who need housing? Even worse, within 3 years, the 300 best performing authorities would be completely exempt from even these minimal requirements. The current Brooke provision provides renters, landlords, and appropriators with a standard. By abolishing the standard, I believe we abolish the mission. The bottom line is we can fix the problems in public housing without penalizing seniors and our poorest residents. Let us make sure we stay focused on reforming the parts that do not work, not throwing out the parts that do.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, it would require every housing authority to allow pets for seniors and the disabled in all Federal housing, not just senior-designated, but it also allows the local housing authority to come forward with their own commonsense rules and regulations.

Mrs. MALONEY. Legislating on the floor.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to add to my colleague's statement that this is a very bipartisan effort. The lead sponsor is the gentlewoman from New York, Susan Molinari. We have 57 Republican cosponsors, and 63 Democrats cosponsors. It has been very much a bipartisan effort.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the Center for Jewish History. I ask my colleagues to join with me in celebrating the establishment of this very important institution and in recognizing the immeasurable contribution it will make to the study of Jewish history. The Center for Jewish History is comprised of four established institutions: the American Jewish Historical Society; the Leo Baeck Institute; Yeshiva University Museum; and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. These established and highly respected institutions have become partners in the visionary creation of a center devoted to the study of Jewish history and culture. The goal of this major partnership is to house each of the partner-institutions' research libraries, preserve each of their collections of historical documents, works of art, and objects, and to plan and mount exhibits of these combined collections. The new Center for Jewish History will also publish important works of scholarship, present lectures and educational events, and sponsor fellowships in Judaic studies. With the cooperation of major universities, the center will also establish specialized graduate and post-graduate studies programs. The collaboration of these four important institutions to form the center for Jewish History is an unprecedented enterprise. Sunday, April 28, 1996, marks the celebration of the center's founder's day. With the support of the Jewish community and the collaboration of the four established partner-institutions, the center is destined to become a major educational and cultural resource for all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to pay tribute here today to the inception of the Center for Jewish History, whose establishment marks an important milestone in the advancement of the study and preservation of Jewish history. I ask my colleagues to join with me in this tribute and to celebrate the creation of the Center for Jewish History, a very significant contribution to the resources for advanced Judaic scholarship in the United States.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and the representative of a large and vibrant community of Armenian-Americans, I rise to remember, to commemorate the Armenian genocide. First, I would like to commend the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone] and the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter], cochairs of the caucus, for all their hard work on this issue and other issues of human rights and international decency. April 24, 1996, marks the 81st anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian genocide. It was on that day in 1915 that over 200 Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leaders were arrested and subsequently murdered in central Turkey. This date marks the beginning of an organized campaign by the ``Young Turk'' government to eliminate the Armenians from the Ottoman Empire. Over the next 8 years, 1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of the Turks, and a half million more were deported. This tragedy is the first genocide of the 20th century and is well documented. The New York Times alone ran over 194 articles during the Turkish atrocities. As the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., has written: ``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 made no particular attempt to conceal the fact.'' Mr. Speaker, the time has come for Congress to put our government unequivocally on the side of the truth in this tragedy. I commend our colleagues, the gentleman from Michigan, David Bonior, and the gentleman from Massachusetts, Peter Blute, for introducing House Resolution 47, which I have cosponsored. This resolution not only represents official United States recognition of the memory of those who died, but will also put pressure on the Turkish government to do what it has so far callously refused to do: acknowledge and commemorate the atrocities committed over 81 years ago. We must not condone Turkey's attempts at historical revisionism and denial of the Armenian genocide's occurrence. Another issue of great importance to Armenia and Armenian-Americans is the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act. Mr. Speaker, I was in Greece several years ago and saw, firsthand, warehouses full of United States humanitarian aid destined Armenia which could not be sent because Turkey was refusing to allow its transport. While the situation has improved, this hateful practice must not be permitted by this Congress. We have addressed the issue on a temporary basis in the 1996 foreign aid appropriations bill, which included a temporary Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act. We need to make this permanent. Nothing we can do or say will bring those who perished back to life, but we can imbue their memories with everlasting meaning by teaching the lessons of the Armenian genocide to future generations. Adolf Hitler, in 1939, cruelly justified the Holocaust with the haunting and hateful words, ``Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?'' My fellow Members, tonight we remember the Armenians. We speak for the Armenians, and by doing so we salute their indomitable spirit. By remembering the past, by honoring the Armenians' marthyrdom and sacrifice, we will hopefully prevent similar atrocities in the future.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I am especially pleased today to bring to the attention of my colleagues Mrs. Lynden B. Miller, my close personal friend, whose years of behind-the-scene service to the public is deserving of a very special tribute. We owe a debt of gratitude to Lynden who, as a designer of public gardens, has made an immeasurable contribution of beauty and grace to the great parks and public spaces of New York City. Lynden Miller's most recent and notable contribution is on view in Bryant Park, on 6 acres located behind the New York Public Library. The city of New York closed Bryant Park in the late 1980's because it had become a haven for crime. In 1992, after 5 years of renovation, and with gardens newly designed by Lynden, Bryant Park was triumphantly re- opened. Since its opening, 10,000 visitors walk through the garden each day, rejuvenated by Lynden's pallet of spiraeas, hydrangeas, foxgloves, sedums, phlox, hollyhocks and Japanese anemones set in borders 300 feet long by 12 feet deep. Today, due largely to Lynden's vision of the possibilities for public space, Bryant Park has been transformed into an oasis of peace and elegance in the midst of busy midtown Manhattan. As the director of the Conservatory Garden in Central Park since 1982, Lynden has again defied expectations. This northeastern most area of Central Park was designed in the 1930's as an Italianate estate garden. Fifty years later, at the time Lynden was appointed to take on its renaissance, it has been abandoned. After 14 years of Lynden's direction of garden design, relentless fundraising and staff supervision, the Conservatory Garden of Central Park has become one of the great jewels in the greatest public park in the world. Under Lynden's guidance, the Conservatory Garden has also remained a community institution serving residents of both upper Fifth Avenue and some of the blighted neighborhoods of East Harlem. Other public spaces which bear Lynden's signature include the garden at the Central Park Zoo, portions of the New York Botanical Gardens, Wagner Park at Battery Park City, spring and summer annuals at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, gardens at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, and Herald & Greeley Squares. She is on the Boards of Directors of the United States National Advisory Council for the National Arboretum in Washington, DC, and New York City's Central Park Conservancy and The Parks Council, among others. Lynden also lectures and participates in symposiums in the United States and abroad. She has written several articles and essays on garden design. Lynden owes her sense of color to her training as an artist. She was a successful studio artist from 1967 until 1982 and has had several gallery shows in London and New York. She was educated at Smith College, the New York Botanical Gardens, Chelsea-Westminster College in London, and the University of Maryland. I am very proud to pay tribute to Lynden Miller, who for fourteen years has been quietly dedicated to the well-being and beauty of New York City's most frequented public spaces. I ask my colleagues to join with me today in celebration of Lynden for her many wondrous botanical gifts to the millions of residents and visitors of the city of New York.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, we will all gather in the majestic setting of the Capitol rotunda to carry out our solemn annual obligation to commemorate Yom HaShoah--Holocaust Remembrance Day. The length of time to pass since the Holocaust is now more than half a century, and it is even more incumbent upon us to ensure that the lessons and legacies of this dark period in history are never forgotten. As the Holocaust survivors themselves grow older and pass away, we must ensure that the phrase ``zachor''--remember--does not become a mere slogan. Preventing such a catastrophe from ever occurring again is only possible if we continue to pass on the memories of the Nazi era to our children. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was privileged to attend the Annual Holocaust Commemoration in New York City. This ceremony, which took place at the beautiful Temple Emanu-El in my district, included a stirring speech by Benjamin Meed, the president of the Warsaw Ghetto Resistance Organization. As he does each year, my friend Ben Meed delivered a moving tribute to those who perished and those who survived. I commend Ben's remarks to my colleagues. An Address by Benjamin Meed, President, Warsaw Ghetto Resistance Organization, 53d Annual Commemoration of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising We are together again--the entire Jewish people, men, women, and children, to commemorate the murder of the Jewish people by the Germans and their collaborators. They made no distinctions among Jewish people at the gates of hell. Together we were all pushed to the gas chambers. For one reason only--we were born as Jews. This commemoration, which I have the honor to chair for the 35th year, is deeply emotional for me as it is for many of you. For many years, the survivors alone remembered. We kept reliving our nightmares in the hope that the world would pay attention to our past, and now, the world has heard our story. People have started to understand that what happened was real. When we testified collectively, the world began to take our tragic experience seriously--and to heed our warning. Or perhaps it is because all humanity is frightened that the tragic, unique lesson that we Jews experienced, can happen again--this time on a cosmic scale--to all people. And it is all because survivors kept faith with the final command imparted to us by the Kedoshiml Zachor--Gedenk--Remember. We accepted that obligation and took it with us to our adopted homes throughout the world. In Israel or Argentina-- in Sweden or France--throughout the United States and Canada--survivors remember. How can we forget? How can we allow others to forget? How betrayed and isolated we were by the high and the mighty--and the ordinary people. The so called ordinary people were not so ordinary. Many highly educated were nevertheless motivated to murder us. Immediately after the Holocaust they said they did not know. How could they not have known? On the cattle cars to Auschwitz and Treblinka--throughout Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary on the way to death--we criss-crossed all of Europe--day after day after day--screaming for help in Yiddish and Polish, Greek and German, Dutch and Flemish, Russian, and French. But the world would not listen as we were herded together from the four corners of Nazi Europe to be murdered--only because we were Jews. We Jews now speak other languages. And on Yam Hashoah we gather from every part of the world--to remember together. And Jews are united--not by death--but by memory and by a love of Israel. To us survivors, the State of Israel is not only a political entity. It is a homeland--a realized dream-- a bright beacon of light in a world desperate for hope. And yet we are still afraid--but it is a different fear. Those who were fortunate enough not to have experienced the Holocaust do not and cannot understand how we survivors feel when we see how our tragic past is remembered by others. We are deeply hurt when we see the way the Holocaust is portrayed as only dead bodies--piles and piles of corpses and mass graves. We survivors shudder, for in a way we fear that Hitler succeeded because the world is not aware of the vibrant Jewish life that was before the Holocaust--or of the cultural heritage of 1,000 years of Jewish history in Europe. It does not hear the songs of the shtetl, the theme of Warsaw, the Yeshivot of Vilna, the Hasidim of Belz, or the poets of Lodz and Krakow. All it recognizes is death. Yet we remember the life that was destroyed--the world that is no longer. The world of Yiddishkeit and Menchlichkeit. We are still asking the questions--how did it happen? Who failed? What failed? But these questions should not distract our attention from the real murderers--the Germans and their collaborators--or from the profound failure of world leaders and church leaders. Their silence has yet to be judged by history. And we think not only of the past but also of the future. To you--our children assembled here, we would like to entrust our memories--as part of our last will and testament. You are the last generation to be blessed with the memories of the survivors--the living witnesses to the kingdom of night. This is your heritage, which we are transmitting to you. You must know your roots. You must remember that your very birth was testimony of the triumph of hope over despair--of dreams over pain. You are our response to those who tried to destroy us. We also want to protect the truth from innocent and well- meaning people who speak only of the good--of the rays of hope and goodness--the righteous Gentiles whose memories we cherish with gratitude. But where was the reality? For every righteous person, there were thousands who collaborated or who shared the enemy's desire to murder the Jews or who, at best, stood idly by and did nothing. Let us remember the Holocaust as it was. It was painful. It was bitter. It was ugly. It was inhuman. But it was real. Let us not permit it to be diluted or vulgarized. Let us not diminish its meaning by treating every event in human history--every instance of human suffering or discrimination as a Holocaust. We survivors know that time is growing short, we are getting older and we need each other more than ever before, and we need you--our children and our fellow Jews to continue our legacy.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I intend to vote for this bill. It contains measures which I strongly support. Most importantly, raising the debt ceiling is absolutely essential to ensuring the continued full faith and credit of the United States. Without passage of this bill, the economic security of our country would be gravely imperiled. The legislation also contains provisions to relieve the regulatory burden on our Nation's small businesses and a measure, which I strongly support, to increase the earnings limit for Social Security recipients. This measure also contains a line-item veto provision about which I have very serious concerns. First, this conference report grants to the President the significant power to item veto new entitlement spending. Spending on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and food stamps help out most vulnerable citizens, the elderly, and infirm. The original House bill, and the Republican's own contract on America, did not grant this authority. The line-item veto provision before us today also would not become effective until January 1, 1997. This timing conveniently exempts the fiscal year 1997 appropriations cycle from Presidential line-item vetoes. Cynics might conclude that the Republican majority wants one last chance to tuck the pet projects into this year's appropriations bills. Finally and most egregiously Mr. Chairman, this line-item veto measure takes a loophole included in the House-passed bill and expanded it into a black hole for special interests. The House bill included a provision on allowing the President to item veto targeted tax breaks. Unfortunately, the majority breached its own contract in defining that term very narrowly to mean only those tax give-aways that affect 100 or fewer people. This artificial number can easily be fudged by a smart tax lawyer--you simply have to help out 101 or 102 people. This conference report includes this loophole and expands it into a black hole for special interests by allowing the President to item veto only those targeted tax benefits identified by the Joint Committee on Taxation, a committee controlled by the tax writing committees of Congress. So if they say it isn't a special interest tax break, the President can never veto it. Mr. Chairman, this is a sham. The Republican Party was committed to the much broader definition right up to the moment they gained the majority, then they had a sudden change of heart. With this bill the Republicans claim they will end special interest tax breaks, but if you read the fine print you'll see they expect nothing of the kind.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1833. In yet another attempt to roll back a woman's right to choose, to roll back Roe versus Wade, and make all abortions illegal, choice opponents are putting forward legislation which could endanger a woman's life and her ability to have children in the future. How odd that the majority party would describe itself as family friendly. Plain and simple, the supporters of this bill feel it is more important to save a doomed fetus than the life of a mother and her ability to have children in the future. Coreen Costello is the mother of two. The Dole amendment would not have allowed her to use this procedure. Coreen Costello said in front of the Senate in her testimony that she would have taken any child that God gave her, regardless of any handicap. But her child was a child that could not live. Fortunately for Coreen and her family, her doctor was able to save her life and her fertility. She is now expecting her next child. But what about the women who come after Coreen? What will happen to them, their health, their lives, their families, if this life-saving procedure is outlawed? Congress has no place in their decisions and no place in their tragedies.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule. The bill in question presents a direct challenge to Roe versus Wade. As one member of the majority boasted, ``We intend to ban a woman's right to choose, procedure by procedure.'' I take him at his word, because this legislation will do just that. I would like to put a human face on this debate and talk about Coreen Costello, who is pictured here. Coreen Costello would have taken any child that God would have given her, regardless of any handicap. But this child, the child that she was expecting, was not a child that could live. The Dole amendment would not have allowed Coreen Costello to use the procedure that now allows her to have other children. She is currently expecting yet another child. The Committee on Rules denied an amendment that would keep Coreen Costello's doctor out of jail. I urge Members to have a heart. Vote humanitarian, vote for children, vote for women, vote for families, vote against this rule.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to rise to pay tribute to the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. We are happy to celebrate the 75th anniversary of this vital national organization which has been so integral to the rights of this Nation's retired Federal employees. The National Association of Retired Federal Employees [NARFE] was formed on February 19, 1921, with 14 founding members. It now boasts a membership of nearly half a million with 1,740 chapters in every State as well as overseas. Their mission is to protect the earned benefits of retired Federal workers and their families. I am proud to say that they have continually accomplished this noble mission, with remarkable success, for over 75 years. On this date, I am also proud to celebrate the 14th anniversary of Chapter 1871 of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Chapter 1871 serves retired Federal workers in the 14th Congressional District of New York. This local chapter of NARFE has been a tremendous help and an influential voice to countless retired Federal employees in that district. In this Chamber today, I am very pleased to give Chapter 1871 special recognition for all their dedicated work. NARFE remains as important today as it was 75 years ago. It is the only national organization that is solely dedicated to protecting the interests of Federal retirees and their dependents. There is an ongoing need to educate the Government, the media, and the public on the true needs of Federal workers and their benefits. NARFE has successfully accomplished each and every one of these essential tasks. Today, Mr. Speaker, in the year of its 75th anniversary and on the date of the 14th anniversary of Chapter 1871, I am very pleased to recognize the National Association of Retired Federal Employees for its many contributions to retired Federal workers and thereby to the Nation. I ask that my colleagues join with me in this celebration by paying tribute to its many years of accomplishments and dedication to serving retired Federal employees.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to bring to the attention of my colleagues the outstanding achievements of a community leader who is truly dedicated to public service. Martin S. Begun serves as senior associate dean of the New York University School of Medicine and vice president of external affairs of New York University Medical Center. Dean Begun serves as liaison to government officials on the city, State and Federal level. In addition, Marty oversees the public affairs and alumni relations offices of NYU Medical Center and School of Medicine. In July of 1995, in tribute to his years of activism and leadership in the Jewish community, Marty also assumed the presidency of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. JCRC is a representative organization encompassing over 60 major civic, communal, educational and religious groups within New York City's diverse Jewish community. As long as I have known Marty, he has been deeply involved in community service. He is a man who lives by the Talmudic maxim: ``If I am not for myself, who will be? and if I'm only for myself, what am I?'' Marty has worked tirelessly to raise the standards of the NYU Medical School. That is a critical task which affects Americans nationwide. Three medical schools in New York, NYU Medical School included, train approximately 15 percent of all doctors who practice medicine in the United States. What is good for NYU Medical School is good for the American people. Marty is always up-to-date on public policy. A long-time advocate for compassionate care for the homeless mentally ill, Marty often advises prominent public figures on the subjects of health care, public health, community relations and Jewish affairs. He was an excellent resource for me when health care reform was at the top of the national agenda in the 103d Congress. He advised me on the viability of the Clinton health plan, taking into consideration how it would impact not just the hospital and the medical school, but my constituents and New York City in general. While he sees the big picture, Marty never loses sight of the details. Throughout his tenure at NYU, Marty has seen to it that expansion of the NYU Medical Center complex has been carried out with great sensitivity to quality of life in the community. Until 1994, Marty also served the city of New York for 18 years as chairman of the community services board of the city's department of mental health, mental retardation and alcoholism services. He continues to sit on the boards of the executive committee of the Associated Medical Schools of New York, and, by appointment of the Governor of New York State, on the Battery Park City Authority. Mr. Speaker, for all of his good work; for his compassion; for his commitment to his community, his city and his country, Marty Begun has earned a reputation as mensch. I owe Marty a debt of gratitude for doing so much fine work in my district. And the city of New York owes him much, much more.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my colleagues the historic achievements of brave Greek-Cypriot freedom fighters. They are being honored by Justice for Cyprus and the Cyprus Federation of America, two philanthropic organizations that trace their roots back to Cyprus. On April 1st, we will celebrate the 41st anniversary of Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston [EOKA]. This organization is a group of dynamic Cypriot freedom fighters who struck the first blow for independence for Cyprus. More than four decades ago, their acts of courage led to a 4-year struggle against British colonization and occupation. EOKA's struggle for independence is joined with the American colonists who struggled against the British colonization and occupation in America over 200 years ago. These Greek-Cypriot lovers of democracy and freedom not only fought for Cyprus' independence, but they also fought on the battlefield against tyranny during world War II. Today we commemorate all the heroes of Cyprus including Gregorious Afxentiou, Kyriakos Matsis, Evaghoras Pallikarides, and Michael Karaolis, who gave their lives for freedom. By their sacrifice, they join America's Revolutionary War hero Patrick Henry, who freely gave of his life and summed up his commitment to freedom with the statement, ``Give me liberty or give me death.'' Cyprus became independent in 1960. Unfortunately, liberation was short lived; Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974. Today, one third of Cyprus remains occupied by Turkey. Once again, these heroes have been called upon to fight for the liberty and independence of their country. On this day, we celebrate freedom. When migrating to the United States, the Greek-Cypriots brought with them their love of Cyprus, culture and democracy. The Cyprus Federation of America, Justice for Cyprus, and EOKA serve as important links with Cyprus' past, but also act as a springboard for its future. These organizations remain committed to the campaign for freedom and human rights in Cyprus today. They also help young Greek-Cypriot Americans who will play an important role in the growth and success of the United States. So Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in the commemoration of Cypriot freedom fighters and in wishing the people of Cyprus long- lasting peace and liberty.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Christine McMullan, honored by the Pulaski Association as Woman of the Year. I ask my colleagues to join me and the Pulaski Association in recognizing Mrs. McMullan's contributions to community and civic groups in the 14th Congressional District of New York. Christine McMullan is to be commended for years of dedicated involvement in her community through several fraternal organizations. She currently serves as the president and chief executive officer of the Polish National Alliance, a fraternal insurance company. In the past, Mrs. McMullan has served as president of the New York, New Jersey & New England Fraternal Congresses and president of the State section of the National Fraternal Congress of America, which serves 10 million members. Her many years of dedicated participation in these organizations, all of which require community involvement for membership, show her to be a committed servant in the public interest. As a leader in several fraternal organizations, Mrs. McMullan must be recognized for the individual groups she is involved with. Currently, Mrs. McMullan serves on the boards of the Greenpoint Y.M.C.A., the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the Kosciuszko Foundation, and the Polish American Organizations and Endeavors. In the past, she has served on the parish council and other committees of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, and as president of the Krakowianki & Gorale Children's Polish Folk Dance & Song Ensemble. She has been involved with the Greenpoint Civic Council and the Polish Slavic Center. Christine McMullan is a native of the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, NY. She graduated with honors from St. Stanislaus Kostka School in 1956. She was equally as successful at All Saints High School where she was on the dean's honor list each year. She later attended the Drake Institute School of Business Administration, and took courses in insurance at New York University and Purdue University. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to pay tribute today, with the Pulaski Association and my colleagues in this body, to Mrs. Christine McMullan for her continuing contributions to the Polish community and to civic groups in the 14th Congressional District of New York.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, this bill is extreme. Three out of four Americans support the assault weapons ban. Two out of three gun owners support the assault weapons ban. This bill contradicts what the Republican majority claims they stand for. You cannot be anticrime and pro-Uzi. You cannot be pro-family and pro-AK-47. This debate is not a question of hunting and self-defense. Assault weapons are not used for hunting purposes. Only drug dealers use Uzis for self-defense. The only real question is, is there anything the Republican majority will not do for the NRA?

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, we are all looking forward to St. Patrick's Day festivities back home. For me, the upcoming celebrations bring back memories of the wonderful friends I made in Ireland last year when I accompanied President Clinton on his historic visit to that beautiful country--and of the message they conveyed in their words and actions: We want peace. For those of us involved with Irish issues, the recent setbacks brought true heartache. But that's why now, more than ever, the United States must stand firm in its commitment to help the Irish people win a lasting peace. Perhaps our best opportunity to do this is by promoting opportunities for economic growth in Northern Ireland and the Republic. This will be mutually beneficial, since one-third of all foreign business in the Republic is United States-owned. We've already taken several steps toward that goal. President Clinton has appointed a Special Envoy for Economic Initiatives on Ireland, and the White House convened a conference on trade and investment in Ireland. This week I was proud to vote to continue funding for the International Fund for Ireland. But I firmly believe we must do more. Along with my New York colleagues Peter King and Tom Manton, I have introduced H.R. 2844, the Ireland Economic Development Act. My bill would authorize the issuance of loan guarantees for economic development and job creation activities in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. I think Dan O'Kennedy said it best: ``Prosperity and peace go hand in hand--that's why the Irish American Unity Conference strongly supports H.R. 2844, the Ireland Economic Development Act.'' I urge all my colleagues who are friends of Ireland to cosponsor H.R. 2844 before going home this St. Patrick's Day. And every Member of this Congress should support the MacBride Principles, which I and 226 other Members of Congress cast our vote for earlier this week. I authored the New York City MacBride Principles Contract Compliance Law, which made it illegal for the city of New York to award contracts to companies which discriminate against Catholic workers in Northern Ireland. We should have a zero tolerance policy for discrimination: That's the statement we make when we vote for the MacBride Principles. Last, but by no means least, my heart goes out to all the families still threatened with cruel separation by deportation proceedings. I am committed to continuing my work on this issue with members of the Ad Hoc Committee for Irish Affairs, and I urge my colleagues to get involved. We all love taking part in the fun of St. Patrick's Day celebrations. But this year, as we put on our green shirts, we must all resolve to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work to help realize a bright and promising future for Ireland and her people.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the Honorable Abe Beame, Mayor of New York City and dedicated public servant. Today, March 20, 1996, we are happy to celebrate the 90th birthday of Mayor Beame and we remain forever grateful for his many years of service to New York City. Abraham David Beame became New York City's first Jewish Mayor in a landslide election in 1973. At the time he entered office, the City had a $12 billion budget and $1.5 billion deficit. At the end of his administration, in 1977, New York City had a cash surplus of $250 million. Under his guidance, New York City also regained its reputation as a national center--it was the host to the Democratic National Convention and the Bicentennial's Operation Sail. During his tenure, he convinced the United States Open to remain in Flushing Meadows. These successes are largely attributable to his many years of experience as the City's Budget Director and Comptroller. Because of the dire fiscal situation and Washington's refusal of support, Mayor Beame was forced to take drastic economic measures. Mayor Beame cut the City's spending by $100 million, reduced the work force by 65,000, and he convinced the trustees of the five pensions funds to buy nearly $4 million in New York City bonds. Such drastic measures, born of fiscal experience and skill and sound management procedures, returned New York City to the road to fiscal health. Mayor Beame had begun his public service in 1946 with a position in the budget office of Mayor William O'Dwyer. He eventually rose to Budget Director and was later elected to the position of City Comptroller. Describing himself as a New Deal Liberal, Mayor Beame won the Democratic party nomination for Mayor in 1965, but was defeated by John Lindsay. It was not until 8 years later, in 1973, that Mayor Beame would declare victory and become the 104th Mayor of New York City. Ninety years ago today, on March 20, 1906, Abraham David Beame was born in the East End of London. His parents were fleeing from Warsaw, Poland where his father had participated in an underground movement against the Russian Czar. They were en route to New York City, and the cold water tenement on Stanton Street in the Lower East Side, where Mayor Beame would spend his childhood. While in the seventh grade at P.S. 160, Abe Beame began working after school in the paper factory where his father was foreman. He would continue working at the factory and contributing part of his paycheck to his parents throughout high school and while attending Baruch College at night. In February of 1928, the same month he graduated from college, Abe Beame married Mary Ingerman, whom he had met over a game of checkers at a gathering of the University Settlement, a community organization. The Beame's moved to Brooklyn, where they had two sons and where they began a life heavily involved in City politics. Before joining Mayor O'Dwyer's budget office in 1946, Abe Beame was an accountant and public school teacher in Brooklyn, and a member of the Madison Democratic Club. Mary Beame was to remain devotedly at his side for 67 years. Since leaving office, Mayor Beame's commitment to public service has continued through his participation in dozens of philanthropic organizations that benefit the city and nation. Today, on his 90th birthday, I am very pleased to recognize Mayor Abraham David Beame's contribution to the great City of New York and thereby to the Nation. I ask that my colleagues join with me in this celebration by paying tribute to his nearly 70 years of accomplishments and dedication to public service.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring National Dance Week, which is being celebrated April 28 to May 4, to the attention of my colleagues. National Dance Week is an annual celebration sponsored by the United Dance Merchants of America to increase public awareness and appreciation of dance. National Dance Week encourages all forms of dance including not only classical dance, but also lyrical, hip hop, ethnic, jazz, and modern. The goal of National Dance Week is to encourage growth and development of dance in America by raising the level of public consciousness and focus on the value and importance of the contributions of dance to our daily lives and culture. Established 15 years ago, this celebration of dance has grown out of a grass roots campaign. Everyone who works on National Dance Week is a volunteer working to spread their love of dance to others. Today, a national steering committee enlists the talents of many prominent figures in dance manufacturing, publishing, worldwide dancing competitions, teachers, and choreographers. Regional managers are working with the local communities in order to coordinate events occurring during National Dance Week. Local events are the core of National Dance Week because they brig the most recognition to the art of dance. Some dance schools are sending cards of congratulations as well as gift certificates for dance classes to the parents of new born babies in their communities. Other dance communities are holding demonstration classes in schools and community centers to showcase the different types of dance as well a show much fun dancing can be. Other events include dance festivals and parades. There is also a nationwide poster contest for National Dance Week. In all, dance instructors across the country are working diligently to create an awareness of dance and to bring a new vision of dance to the American public. In today's society it is important to give our children outlets to express their energy and creativity. Dance is just such an outlet. As Marianne Prinkey, the National Dance Week Chair, put it, ``[Dance] enriches the body with discipline, activity and feelings.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the hard work that dancers, not only in New York City, but across the country have put into National Dance Week. Let us help them celebrate dance and the contributions that this wonderful art gives to society. Congratulations and best wishes to all for a most successful week and a most successful year of dance.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I likewise join her in thanking Rosa DeLaruo and Lucille Roybal-Allard for organizing this special order in honor of women during Women's History Month. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor as my Woman of the Year a former Congressman, New York's tireless advocate for women, Bella Abzug. On behalf of women everywhere, I salute this remarkable woman, whose dedication and courage deserves recognition as we honor her and as we follow her lead. Bella, who was born the same year that women won the right to vote, has spent her entire life fighting for women's rights. As a Member of Congress she wrote the first law banning discrimination against women in obtaining credit, and she initiated an organization which has become known as the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues. Today, Bella continues her advocacy for women with her Women's Environment and Development Organization, a group which will soon introduce its Contract with American Women. Today, in a Congress far more hostile to women's rights than any I can remember, I will do what Bella would appreciate the most, honor her spirit by reminding our adversaries that we will refuse to lose. We will succeed in overcoming the anti-women actions of this Congress because we have millions of women with us across this country. Madam Speaker, we will succeed, because brave women Like Bella Abzug have taught us how to succeed. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor, as my ``woman of the year'', former Congresswoman and tireless advocate for women's rights--Bella Abzug. On behalf of women everywhere, I salute this remarkable woman, whose dedication and courage deserve recognition--as we honor her, and, as we follow her lead. Bella, who was born the same year women won the right to vote, has spent her entire life fighting for women's rights. As a member of Congress, she wrote the first law banning discrimination against women in obtaining credit; and, she initiated what became known as the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues. Today, Bella continues her advocacy for women with her Women's Environment & Development Organization [WEDO], a group which will soon introduce it's ``Contract with American Women.'' Today, in a Congress far more hostile to women's rights than any I remember, I will do what I think Bella would appreciate the most--honor her spirit by reminding our adversaries that we refuse to lose. We will succeed in overcoming the anti-woman actions of this Congress because we have women like Bella with us. Madam Speaker, We will succeed, because brave women like Bella Abzug have taught us how to succeed. From every possible forum, Bella Abzug has spent her entire life fighting for women's rights. In 1970, Bella became the first woman to run for and win a seat in Congress on a women's rights and peace platform. Her term in office was far too short--only 6 years. But, her accomplishments however, were many. She wrote the first law banning discrimination against women in obtaining credit, loans, and mortgages. She introduced precedent- setting bills on comprehensive child care, social security for homemakers, abortion rights, and Gay rights. One of the earliest votes Bella cast was to approve the Equal Rights Amendment, and, she introduced a resolution proclaiming August 26th Women's Equality Day. The resolution was approved and signed into law by President Nixon. Bella's work in and outside of Congress led to her national and international renown as a forceful and tenacious organizer of women. She held the first planning sessions for the National Women's Political Caucus [NWPS] in her office, and, in 1971 became its first co-Chair. Since its inception, the NWPC has been a major force in recruiting women to run for office; in maintaining a database of women in politics; and in putting women's issues on the national and international agendas. Today, Bella has turned her attentions to women's rights in the global arena. Bella is the Co-founder of the Women's Environment & Development Organization [WEDO]. WEDO is an international network which organizes women to help save the planet from worsening environmental threats, and from pollution and poverty. As co-Chair of WEDO, Bella presided over the World Women's Congress for a Healthy Planet, held in Miami in 1991. The women's agenda which emerged from that Congress became the focus of activities used in connection with preparations for the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which Bella and WEDO leaders from around the world participated in. Most recently, I am pleased to say that Bella was a key organizer at the extremely successful Fourth U.N. World Conference on Women in Beijing, China in September of 1995. I was proud to join Bella in Beijing, and I am proud to continue working with her to ``Bring Beijing Home.'' Bella and the WEDO network continue to work at the United Nations, organizing women's caucus meetings at subsequent major international conferences of particular concern to women. Bella's international work has been recognized as crucial to the inclusion of women's perspectives, demands, and participation in policy-making in U.N. platforms for action and resulting programs. Madam Speaker, in honoring Bella Abzug here today, it is impossible to include all the contributions she has made to the advancement of women's rights. So, we must merely recognize and honor the enormity of her life's work. And, we must take up her baton to ensure continuation of her work--especially in this 104th Congress, the most hostile Congress to women's rights in my memory. We face a great deal more than the 104th Congress' hostility toward women. We must also face the following facts: 96 percent of our country's top executives are males; the more a professional field is dominated by women, the lower the pay scale; women are the sole breadwinners in more than 25 percent of the world's families; and prostitution and pornography are the only industries in which women earn more than men. Today, I rise to inform this Congress that in the honor and spirit of Bella Abzug, whom I put forward as my ``Woman of the Year,'' that we refuse to lose. We will succeed in enacting legislation which will counter the anti- woman actions of the extremists of the 104th Congress. We will succeed in enacting pro-woman legislation because women like Bella have blazed the way. We will succeed because over 150 years of women who faced greater obstacles than we do did not give up. We will succeed because Bella succeeded before us. We will succeed because of those that fought before her. We will succeed because we have a perpetual and ever-forward looking movement of women righting relentlessly for equal rights. We will follow Bella's lead, and remind ourselves that, ``It's up to the women!''

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I first of all want to thank very much the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] for organizing this special order to celebrate Greek independence day. I am very fortunate and very pleased and privileged to represent Astoria, NY, one of the largest and most vibrant communities of Greek and Cypriot Americans in this country. It is truly one of my greatest pleasures as a Member of Congress to be able to participate in the life of this community, and the wonderful and vital Greek American friends that I have come to know are one of its greatest rewards. March 25, 1996, will mark the 175th anniversary of the beginning of the Greek War of Independence. 2215 From the fall of Constantinople in 1453, until the Declaration of Independence in 1821, almost 400 years, Greece remained under the heel of the Ottoman Empire. During that time, the people were deprived of all civil rights. Schools and churches were closed down and many were forced to convert to the Moslem religion. One hundred seventy-five years ago, the Greek people were able to resume their rightful place as an ideal of democracy for the rest of the western world. The Greek ideal inspired our Country's Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson called ancient Greece ``The light which led ourselves out of Gothic darkness.'' Yet half a century later, the American Revolution became one of the ideals of the Greeks as they fought for their own independence. Since their independence, Greece has become one of the most trusted partners allied with the United States in every major international conflict in this century. In light of this special and long standing relationship, some recent actions taken by the administration are particularly troubling. The sale of high-powered missiles to Turkey is a case of point. These are medium-range antipersonnel missiles of great destructive power which have never been sold to another country, ever. Along with Mr. Bilirakis and others participating in this special order, we wrote to the President voicing our strong opposition to this sale. It is clearly contrary to the spirit of the 1996 Foreign Operations appropriations bill which cut aid to Turkey. Likewise, the administration's proposed sale of 10 Super Cobra attack helicopters I believe sends the wrong signal to Turkey, particularly given the tense situation in the Eastern Mediterranean which Mr. Bilirakis just mentioned in his comments. Last week Mr. Bilirakis joined me in a special order on that problem in Imia, an island in the Aegean over which there was recently a very heated conflict and confrontation between Greece and Turkey. In the Imia incident, Turkey challenged an established international boundary in an attempt to expand its Aegean border. This never would have happened if Turkey abided by international law. As we approach the 21st century, the use of violence and the threat of the use of violence are totally unacceptable. This Imia incident is just one of a long list of Turkish violations, including human rights violations of the Kurds, the blockade of Armenia, and the continuing occupation of the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus. Congress responded to these actions last June by cutting aid to Turkey. I believe that it is time for the administration to reach the same conclusion and end unfortunate weapons sales until certain actions are halted. We need a rational policy that does not encourage aggressive actions and attitudes. There can be no middle or neutral position between those who uphold the rules of law and those who violate it. One final note to my colleagues that are participating in this special order. The gentleman from Florida and myself have recently established a congressional caucus on the Hellenic issues. For Members of the House who would like to work toward better United States-Greek and United States-Cypriot relations, I would like to personally invite any Member participating here to night to join the caucus. Once again, I thank the gentleman from Florida, my very dear friend, for organizing this special order.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, we are all looking forward to St. Patrick's Day festivities back home. For me, the upcoming celebrations bring back memories of the wonderful friends I made in Ireland last year when I accompanied President Clinton on his historic visit to that beautiful country--and of the message they conveyed in their words and actions: We want peace. For those of us involved with Irish issues, the recent setbacks brought true heartache. But that's why now, more than ever, the United States must stand firm in its commitment to help the Irish people win a lasting peace. Perhaps our best opportunity to do this is by promoting opportunities for economic growth in Northern Ireland and the Republic. This will be mutually beneficial, since one-third of all foreign business in the Republic is United States-owned. We've already taken several steps toward that goal. President Clinton has appointed a Special Envoy for Economic Initiatives on Ireland, and the White House convened a conference on trade and investment in Ireland. This week I was proud to vote to continue funding for the International Fund for Ireland. But I firmly believe we must do more. Along with my New York colleagues Peter King and Tom Manton, I have introduced H.R. 2844, the Ireland Economic Development Act. My bill would authorize the issuance of loan guarantees for economic development and job creation activities in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. I think Dan O'Kennedy said it best: ``Prosperity and peace go hand in hand--that's why the Irish-American Unity Conference strongly supports H.R. 2844, the Ireland Economic Development Act.'' I urge all my colleagues who are friends of Ireland to cosponsor H.R. 2844 before going home this St. Patrick's Day. And every Member of this Congress should support the MacBride Principles, which I and 226 other Members of Congress cast our vote for earlier this week. I authored the New York City MacBride Principles Contract Compliance Law, which made it illegal for the city of New York to award contracts to companies which discriminate against Catholic workers in Northern Ireland. We should have a zero tolerance policy for discrimination: That's the statement we make when we vote for the MacBride Principles. Last, but by no means least, my heart goes out to all the families still threatened with cruel separation by deportation proceedings. I am committed to continuing my work on this issue with members of the Ad Hoc Committee for Irish Affairs, and I urge my colleagues to get involved. We all love taking part in the fun of St. Patrick's day celebrations. But this year, as we put on our green shirts, we must all resolve to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work necessary to help realize a bright and promising future for Ireland and her people.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1561, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1996. I oppose this conference report because it is an unwarranted usurpation of the President's constitutionally mandated foreign policy authority. It requires a sweeping reorganization of U.S. foreign policy agencies, but fails to provide the President the flexibility to undertake this reorganization in a manner which he believes is consistent with the national security interests of this Nation. This bill also continues the extreme Republican opposition to voluntary international family planning programs, slashing them by a devastating 87 percent, and which could lead to tens of thousands of unwanted pregnancies and abortions. I oppose this bill with some reluctance because it contains some provisions which I strongly support, including authorization for the International Fund for Ireland, support for the MacBride Principles, and a provision based on the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act. I have long supported the International Fund for Ireland and enactment of the MacBride Principles on a Federal level. While a member of the New York City Council, I authored one of the first MacBride bills in this Nation and I continue to strongly believe that this Nation should not do business with any company which practices religious discrimination. Likewise, I support strongly the International Fund for Ireland. Continued economic investment in Northern Ireland and the border countries is absolutely imperative. Enhancing the standard of living in Ireland is critical to improving the prospects for peace in that troubled part of the world. The Humanitarian Aid Corridor was enacted for 1 year as part of the fiscal year 1996 foreign operations appropriations bill. Nevertheless, it is important that this provision become permanent law. Nations which restrict the flow of U.S. humanitarian aid to third countries should be barred unequivocally from receiving the benefit of our economic aid. This situation has been most blatant in the case of Turkey, which has blocked United States humanitarian aid to the newly independent nation of Armenia. This blatant contempt for United States policy objectives should deprive Turkey from receiving assistance from our country. I would vote for the International Fund for Ireland, the MacBride Principles, and the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act if they were included in another measure. Unfortunately, this bill, with its partisan and shortsighted attack on the foreign policy powers of the President, is not one for which I can vote.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my constituents and to mourn his tragic and premature death. New York truly suffered a devastating loss this week with the death of Abe Lebewohl. On Monday, March 4, his life was cut short when a robber shot him twice as he went to the bank to make the daily deposit for his deli. Mr. Lebewohl founded and owned the Second Avenue Deli where he will always be remembered as a hard worker, a brilliant businessman, an enlightened employer, and a distinguished community leader. A Holocaust survivor, he started the deli in 1954 as a 12-seat diner. After 42 years of hard work, Mr. Lebewohl built it to the current 250-seat restaurant that is know all over the world. Not only did the community lose a wonderful man and a great entrepreneur, but also one of the last links to the historic old Jewish neighborhood of the Lower East Side. Abe Lebewohl greeted people by name, gave free sandwiches to homeless people or to anyone out of work, and supplies nourishment to workers on strike. He made everyone feel like family, never hesitating to give a helping hand when they were down on their luck. The Second Avenue Deli has become one of their most popular landmarks in New York City. Almost every day, famous people come to eat and tourists often line up around the block in order to taste one of Abe's sandwiches or his soup. But more than anything, Abe's deli was a part of his community. It was his neighbors, employees, and family who stood outside of the deli on Monday to mourn his passing. Mr. Speaker, I would ask that my colleagues join me in sending our deepest condolences to Abe's wife, Eleanor, his daughters, his grandchildren, his employees, and his friends on this most devastating loss.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, before we get to the substance of our special order, I want to express my outrage and condemnation for the wave of murderous terrorist attacks that have struck Israel in the last 2 weeks. I extend my condolences to all the families of the victims, including the two American young people who had studied in New York City and were killed in Jerusalem. conflict over the island of imia I want to thank my good friend from Florida, Mr. Bilirakis, for joining me in these special orders to bring attention to the recent conflict over the Island of Imia. The gentleman from Florida has always been a good friend of Greece and Cyprus, and it has been my great honor and pleasure to work closely with him on many issues of concern to Greek- and Cypriot-Americans. In fact, just this week, the gentleman and I announced the formation of the new Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues. As such, I know that Mr. Bilirakis shares my outrage over the recent comments of Mr. Denktash, the Turkish-Cypriot leader, who has admitted that many of the 1,619 Americans and Greek Cypriots who are missing from the Turkish invasion of 1974 were in fact murdered by Turkish forces. The fact that he waited 22 years to admit to these atrocities is itself a crime against humanity. As the gentleman knows, the families of several of the missing live in my district in Astoria. Mr. Denktash's admission points to the need for an accurate accounting for each and every one of the Americans and Cypriots whose plights are still unknown. Mr. Speaker, we could talk about this tragedy all evening, but we rise tonight to discuss a different outrage--the conflict in the Aegean. For those Members who may not know, the island of Imia is one of the Dodecanese islands that were formally returned to Greece by Italy as part of the 1947 Paris Agreement. It has been Greek for almost 4,000 years. Last Christmas, a Turkish cargo boat ran aground near Imia. Even though the accident occurred in Greek territorial waters, the captain of the cargo boat refused assistance from Greek authorities, claiming he was in Turkish waters. The incident escalated swiftly. The Greek mayor of the nearby island Kalolimnos rightfully put a Greek flag on Imia, which was then torn down and replaced by a Turkish flag by so-called Turkish journalists. Troops and ships from both Greece and Turkey quickly came to the area and a major confrontation developed. Only through the swift intervention of the United States was violence avoided. President Clinton deserves enormous credit for working hard to diffuse this dispute. However, Turkey's challenge of established international boundaries in an attempt to expand its Aegean borders is totally unacceptable. This confrontation over Imia would never have happened if Turkey abided by international law. The real issue here is not the status of a small, uninhabited islet in the Aegean. Rather it is the much more fundamental one of a challenge to Greek sovereignty. Greek sovereignty over Imia is well established and, until this incident, unchallenged by anyone, including Turkey. In 1932 Italy and Turkey concluded an agreement clearly stating that the Greek island of Imia belonged to Italy. At the conclusion of World War II, Italy ceded the Dodecanese islands--including Imia--back to Greece with the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947. By international law, the successor state automatically assumes all rights and obligations established by international treaty. But Turkey has challenged the international status quo in order to create a destabilizing situation in the Aegean. Violations of international law are, unfortunately, nothing new for Turkey. The list includes: massive human rights violations against the Kurds; the illegal 1974 invasion and occupation of Cyprus; the blockade of Armenia, which prevented United States humanitarian assistance from reaching that country; and religious restrictions for the Eastern Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul. Clearly, Turkey is the main cause of instability in the eastern Mediterranean. Last June, the United States House of Representatives sent a clear signal to Turkey that we find these actions unacceptable by voting to cut aid to Turkey by 25 percent. Turkey must be made to pay a real price for defying the will of the international community. If Turkey continues to ignore this message, our sanctions should only increase. Turkey must understand that future actions of this kind will bring about an even greater reduction in United States aid. Maybe Turkey will then realize that there are serious consequences for its behavior. Once again, I thank the gentleman from Florida for joining me on the House floor this evening.