Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the World Trade Center is still burning, and this administration is wavering in its support for New York. New York has enormous unmet needs and unpaid bills. Whoever says we do not need the money, just look at some of the invoices that are long overdue that I have brought to the floor today. Like money for hospitals that canceled elective surgery so they could aid the victims. Like costs to utilities to rewire lower Manhattan. Like reimbursements to transport children to temporary schools. Right after the attacks, the administration said that they would do ``whatever it takes'' to help New York. But now, with full support of the administration, the House leadership is doing ``whatever it takes'' to deny New York the money and the aid that it was promised. Out of the $40 billion that was allocated, only $11 billion is allocated for New York, when $20 billion was promised. Vote against this rule on the New York amendment alone that was denied, so we can come back with the New York amendment included.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Loula Loi-Alafogianni, the Executive Global President and CEO of the Euro-American Women's Council. Mrs. Alafogianni has spent her professional life facilitating the needs of the Greek and American entrepreneurial communities and advancing the cause of women's rights in the areas of business and education. Mrs. Alafogianni has demonstrated that intelligence, integrity, energy, clear objectives and the love of a task well-executed, creates credibility. Her love for Greece and her desire to promote greater understanding and cooperation between Greece and America has made her a strong advocate and a wonderful ally. Mrs. Alafogianni, like so many talented women of her generation, has had several careers. For two decades, Mrs. Alafogianni served as an elementary school director, helping to ensure that our young people have a strong educational foundation. She then turned to the challenges offered by business, public relations and event-planning. Mrs. Alafogianni's entrepreneurial skills are widely recognized and she has served as a delegate to White House Conferences on small businesses since 1990, and has advised numerous public officials and government leaders. Additionally, Mrs. Alafogianni is very civic-minded. With her husband, John, Mrs. Alafogianni co-founded the United Hellenic-American National Council, which has sponsored numerous White House luncheons for prominent and influential businesswomen from across the United States and Greece. In 1991, she founded and organized the ``Best Buddies Foundation'' in Greece, along with Anthony Kennedy Shriver, who serves as its Global President and CEO. In 1995, Mrs. Alafogianni became the Global President and CEO of the Euro-American Women's Council, which promotes ties among Greeks, wherever they may live, and their motherland. She is also President of the ``daughters of Roumeli'' and of the ``Hermes Athletic Club'' of New York. She is currently a board member to the Human Rights Advisory Council of New York. Mrs. Alafogianni has received a number of prestigious awards for her outstanding contributions, including the Crown Award, which recognizes her as one of the most creative minds of the top leading entrepreneurial women of the world. She has also earned the distinguished award of ``Honorary Citizen of Baku'' as a result of her pioneering efforts to improve entrepreneurial training in the former Soviet Union. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring to the attention of my colleagues the outstanding work of Loula Loi-Alafogianni. Her unwavering dedication to improving relations among the Greek and American entrepreneurial communities, and promoting opportunities for women is truly worthy of our recognition. Thank you.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, after the September 11 attacks, the administration told us it would do whatever it takes to help New York recover. Forty billion dollars was quickly approved, $20 billion to fight terrorism and $20 billion for disaster relief primarily for New York. Well, yesterday, the Committee on Appropriations allocated that $40 billion and New York got less than $10 billion. Now we want to know, what will it take for New York to get its fair share? Will it take a mass exodus from the city? Because people and businesses are making decisions to stay or go right now and New York's future hangs in the balance. We are told that we will get the money eventually. I want to congratulate two of my Republican colleagues, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), for their courage in saying eventually is not soon enough. That money was allocated for this year. Now we have to go and hunt for it somewhere else. New York is one of the economic centers of America and it should not take this much trouble for America to give New York help.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, 2 days ago New York suffered another tragedy in the skies, another day of mayhem, carnage, fire and tears. As we pray for the families of the victims, Americans are again doubting whether it is safe to fly. We need to pass a strong airport security bill quickly. We have the best military in the world, the best law enforcement agencies, the best firefighters and police officers and world-class security right here at the Capitol. All of these people are public employees and many of them are union members. When we get serious about protecting our people, we put government employees on the front lines. It is time to get serious about airport security. That means x-raying every single bag that goes into the belly of an airplane, and it means replacing today's flawed system with the full resources, manpower and focus of the Federal Government. Federalize airport security.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, regrettably, I was detained at a meeting, my beeper did not go off and I missed two critically important votes. On the conference report on H.R. 2620, I would have voted ``yes''; and on the motion to instruct conferees on 3061 for Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations bill to insist the House level for education, I certainly would have voted ``yes.''

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) for his strong efforts in working with me to secure funding for this very, very important project. One in seven women die of breast cancer, and we have a huge incidence in our two respective districts. I also especially thank the gentleman from New York (Chairman Walsh), who worked very hard with us in the VA-HUD bill, along with the ranking member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan); and we appreciate very, very much their support. I believe we will save lives eventually.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is human nature: When tragedy strikes, most people want to help you right away. But you can tell your true friends by who still wants to help as time goes by. Will the real friends of New York please stand up. The World Trade Center is still smoldering and the Federal Government is already wavering. On September 18, the administration authorized $40 billion, $20 billion to fight terrorism and $20 billion for disaster relief, primarily for New York. But the budget office has allocated only $9.8 billion for New York. They offer vague assurances that we will get the money eventually. Well, we cannot wait for eventually. They say we cannot spend it anyway. Well, just ask New York's devastated businesses and unemployed workers. As September 11 recedes into the past, so is the administration's resolve to help New York, and that is unacceptable.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, on November 6, 2001, I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall votes numbered 426, 427, and 428. Rollcall vote 426 was on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to Senate amendments to the Need-Based Educational Aid Act; rollcall vote 427 was on the motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, the Financial Services Antifraud Network Act; and rollcall vote 428 was on the motion to instruct conferees on the Aviation Security Act. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 426, 427, and 428.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Thomas J. Nowierski and Rose Marie Poveromo who are being honored on November 3, 2001 at this year's annual Taminent Regular Democratic Club, Inc. dinner and dance. Taminent's two honorees have made outstanding contributions to the civic life of the community. For twenty-five years, Thomas J. Nowierski has served this community's pharmacological needs. He opened his first pharmacy, Ravenswood Drugs, in the Ravensview projects in Long Island City. He purchased Astoria Chemists at Astoria General Hospital, now known as The Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens, three years later. In 1984, he opened Chris Drug, named for his daughter Christine, at Astoria Medical Group. Mr. Nowierski established one of the first programs in the state where seniors could receive information about their medications free of charge, in various languages. Mr. Nowierski has spent much of his career working to address the needs of others. This is precisely what led him to open the Western Queens Dialysis Center almost two years ago. His goal was to ensure that patients in need of dialysis can get the quality of care they require. Over the last decade Thomas Nowierski has worked on behalf of the Variety Boys and Girls Club. He became President of its Board of Directors in 1999. Tom has also dedicated his time and energy to SHAREing & CAREing, work he has done largely in memory of his late mother who battled breast cancer. For two decades Rose Marie Poveromo has been a dedicated community activist in Astoria and Jackson Heights. A native New Yorker, she owns and operates Rose Marie Realty, while also working as an aide to City Council Speaker Peter Vallone. She served as President of the United Community Civic Association for 9 years, during which time she organized one of the most successful Town Hall Meetings coordinated by a civic association in Queens County, with more than 600 residents participating to discuss community needs and concerns. She also organized a ``Community Health Fair,'' which attracted over 700 attendees. Rosemarie is a tireless advocate for a better quality of life in Queens, and I have often worked with her on issues relating to the noise and congestion generated by the airports. Rose Marie Poveromo has also served her community in numerous other capacities. She was a member of Community Board #1, Vice-President of the Astoria Heights Homeowners and Tenants Association and Vice President of Kiwanis Club of Jackson Heights. She currently serves on the Queens Borough President's Air Monitoring Task Force and the Queens Borough President's Aviation Advisory Council. Mr. Speaker, today I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Thomas J. Nowierski and Rose Marie Poveromo for their contributions to their community.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) for organizing this Special Order in memory of our colleague and fine friend. Mr. Speaker, last week New York and America lost a great patriot, a fierce advocate, a fine leader and legislator and an extremely decent, kind and wonderful man. Whatever differences we had on policy, I always admired Jerry Solomon and our differences were never personal; they were merely based on policy disputes. He spoke and acted with tremendous conviction. One never needed to interpret what Jerry was saying. He was refreshingly direct. He stuck to his guns, and I know my colleagues are going to miss him as much as I will. Jerry led the Committee on Rules with distinction, decisiveness and fairness. His stewardship of that powerful committee was a credit to this institution. As a fellow New Yorker, Jerry was extremely gracious to me when I came to Congress in 1993 and all the years that we served together. He and I shared a love of the Adirondacks and Upstate New York. He was devoted to his wife, Freda, and his family. Above all I will remember Gerry's passion, an ex-Marine, an entrepreneur, and a father of five. Jerry had a rock-solid vision of the American way. He was true to that vision in everything he did and to his dying day he wanted to know what he could do for his country. Jerry, I think every Member of this body would agree that you did more than enough, and we will miss you.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, those who oppose the aviation security bill which the other body passed 100 to 0 are arguing that the bill would create yet another public employee union. Those who preach the evils of public employees unions ought to remember one thing: the heroes of the World Trade Center disaster, the policemen, the firefighters, were union members, and about 400 of them lost their lives rescuing others. Public employees do a great job protecting us here in the Capitol, and they can do a great job protecting our constituents at airports. We are at war. Polarizing a debate by criticizing working men and women who devote their lives to serving the public is exactly what we do not need to do. Terrorists look for weak spots. They do not care about unions either. We cannot wait any longer for airport aviation security. Pass the Senate bill.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for organizing this Special Order tonight that really focuses on the plight of the women in Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago I came to the House floor to condemn the Taliban's appalling treatment of women. I relayed the tragic story of a 16-year-old girl who was stoned to death for going out in public with a man who was not her family member; and for a woman, for the crime of teaching girls in her home, was also stoned to death in front of her husband, children and students. Sadly, these terrible acts are real, and they continue under the Taliban regime. But tonight I want to highlight who the Afghan women are and how we must support them when Afghanistan rebuilds. Afghan women are neither weak nor helpless. They are merely being imprisoned by an oppressive and brutal regime. Many of those women behind the burqas are strong, capable women who once played a major role in Afghan society. Women's rights in Afghanistan have fluctuated greatly over the years. Women have bravely fought the forces of extremism at various points in the country's turbulent history. At one time, women comprised 70 percent of the school teachers, 50 percent of the civilian government workers, 40 percent of the doctors, and 50 percent of the students in universities. They were scientists and professors. They led corporations, nonprofit organizations, and were very active in their local communities. Extremist forces in the early 1990s, some of the same groups that are being proposed as potential leaders of a new government in Afghanistan, began to curtail women's freedoms. But when the Taliban came to power in 1996, it banned women from all public life. Working itself became a crime. Today, women who were once diplomats and judges can be beaten for improper dress. Women who were once army generals can be shot for leaving their homes without a male escort, even to receive medical care. The Taliban condone rape as an effective means of punishing women and rewarding soldiers. Mr. Speaker, one of these days, we do not know how long it will be, but it will happen, we will end the Taliban regime for its support of terrorism; and we will be in a position to help Afghan women forge a better future for themselves and their families. We must begin to discuss the future of women in Afghanistan. It is crucial that any coalition that is assembled to run Afghanistan fully restore the rights of women. We will not need to construct a new, novel idea of equality between men and women. Instead, we can help reconstruct an old and better way of life. Afghan women are proven leaders among their people. They can once again rise as thoughtful, powerful community leaders. Women in Afghanistan were guaranteed equality in their constitution, which they helped write in 1964. Women represent the majority of the Afghan people. We need to ensure that their voices are heard and their impact is felt. Eliminating the Taliban will not automatically end the struggle for women's rights in Afghanistan. There are no angels waiting in the wings to deliver Afghanistan from all the evils of its checkered past. When the U.S. liberates Afghanistan from the Taliban, we must use our moral authority to ensure that power does not fall into the hands of a new regime with extremist views on women's rights. Any regime will surely be better than the Taliban, but our standard must be much higher than that. President Bush has done our country proud in our war on terrorism and against the Taliban. I urge him to be mindful of this issue and vocal about it as he begins to lay the diplomatic groundwork for a new Afghanistan.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I want the gentleman to know that there are many women who appreciate his leadership on this issue and appreciate the gentleman coming to the floor and speaking out for the women in Afghanistan. I also want to bring to the attention of my colleagues in Congress and others the leadership of the gentleman on the Voice of America, the voice for Afghanistan, to bring the truth to the people about what our country is trying to accomplish. The fact that we are also supplying humanitarian aid and that we are attacking terrorists, not Afghanistan and the people there, but the Taliban and the terrorists. I would like the gentleman to explain his bill which I think is an extremely important one, which I support. Even though it is not the purpose of this Special Order, I think it is an important issue and one that should be highlighted.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, New York City was forever changed by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Our bonds with each other as New Yorkers and Americans are stronger now than ever before. As our compassion for our fellow New Yorkers has grown, so has our respect and admiration for New York City's firefighters and police officers. Our sense of gratitude cannot be fully expressed in words. This crisis has touched the heart of the nation. It has engendered unprecedented acts of altruism and a remarkable outpouring of support and coordination to assist the city of New York. The heroic men and women of the New York City Fire Department and New York City Police Department must be commended for their tireless and heroic rescue and recovery efforts. Each firefighter and police officer in their own way, acted quickly and decisively, saving thousands of lives in the face of extreme danger on September 11, 2001. Every fire station and police precinct in New York City contributed to the rescue work. Most lost friends, partners, and colleagues. New York's Bravest and Finest from the Eighth Battalion, Engine Eight and Ladder Two, of the New York City Fire Department and the Seventeenth Police Precinct of New York City were among those who responded to this terrorist attack without hesitation; risking and, in too many tragic instances, sacrificing their own lives to save the lives of others. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the men and women of the Eighth Battalion, Engine Eight and Ladder Two, of the New York City Fire Department and the Seventeenth Police Precinct of New York City, for their great courage, sacrifice, and enduring spirit in this time of crisis; for risking their lives every day as part of their jobs; for going beyond the call of duty through acts of tremendous and unparalleled heroism on September 11, 2001, and for selflessly continuing to protect New York and its residents from danger in the wake of the worst attack against the United States in the nation's history. Please join me in extending heartfelt sympathies to the families of all those lost in the tragedy. I also want to honor with our thoughts and prayers those men from the Eighth Battalion, Engine Eight and Ladder Two, of the New York City Fire Department who sacrificed their lives on September 11, 2001: Chief Thomas D'Angelis, Captain Frederick Ill, Firefighters Michael Clarke, George DiPasquale, Dennis Germain, Daniel Harlin, Thomas McCann, Carl Molinaro, Dennis Mulligan, and Robert Parro. We will never forget. Let us today reaffirm our support and commitment to all of the Nation's law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians as they selflessly serve their communities.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I support the resolution of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella). On December 7, 1941 America awoke to the immediacy of war. Sixty years later, war returned to U.S. soil. In each case the reaction was the same, and so will be the result. America came together to help the victims and mobilize against the enemy. Japan regrets December 7, and Osama bin Laden will regret September 11. We must never forget the lessons of these two days or those who were massacred. They were killed simply because they showed up for work or got on a plane. On the morning of September 11, thousands of innocent people, many of whom were my friends and constituents, went about their morning routines. They ate their breakfasts, read the paper. Then unknowingly, they kissed their loved ones good-bye for the last time. We must enact this day of remembrance not just for those gone, but because those morning routines, the simple, sacred pleasures of daily life, are worth protecting with all our might.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues to mark the Breast Cancer Awareness Month and thank the co-chairs of the women's caucus for putting this together tonight. We have made enormous progress in the fight against breast cancer. We have more than doubled the Federal dollars for breast cancer research since I came here in 1993. This has been the effort primarily of women in the women's caucus, some famous, some infamous, and many men who have been our allies and they have helped us get this funding. In particular, I would like to mention the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), who each year funds breast cancer research in the DOD budget to well over $175 million. Over the past 20 years thanks in large part to this government-funded research, there has been an explosion in what we know about and how to prevent and treat a disease that is expected to strike over 192,000 American women in 2001. Breast cancer mortality rates have fallen every year since 1989. We now have a drug that can decrease the chance of developing breast cancer by 50 percent if we detect problems early; and research on new detection and treatment methods is moving forward faster than ever before. Gene expression will isolate the genes that will trigger breast cancer allowing for customized, more effective treatment. Biologically targeted therapies will identify and target proteins and other agents that make cancer cells grow without affecting healthy cells. Thirty different targeted therapies are now in clinical trials and some are expected to receive FDA approval within 1 or 2 years. Angiogenesis inhibitors which target blood vessels that contribute to tumor development are also in the final stages of clinical trials. Finally, several different vaccines are in clinical trials, and it is realistic that we will see a breast cancer vaccine in the near future for a disease that strikes one in eight American women during their lifetime. The notion of a vaccine was unthinkable a decade ago. So we are learning more and more about breast cancer all the time, but we have always known that prevention is the best way to treat breast cancer. An exciting detection method which could supplement mammograms is in the works. Ductal lavage spots unusual changes in cells lining the milk ducts which are the source of most breast cancers. This promises to be a highly effective method for assessing a woman's risk for developing cancer which will give her a vital head start on prevention and treatment planning. Until additional methods are finalized, women are still best served by monthly breast exams, bi-annual gynecological exams, and annual mammograms. These preventative steps save lives. Mammograms must continue to be a major focus of our legislative action on breast cancer. There are two pieces of legislation before Congress that will go a long way towards minimizing the fatality rates of the most common form of cancer in women. In May, Senator Feinstein and I, along with the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) introduced H.R. 1809, the Cancer Screening Coverage Act, that ensures that Americans will be covered for breast, prostate, and cervical screening. It would require Federal and private health plans to inform members about and provide coverage for cancer screening. Mammograms and clinical breast examinations would be expressly covered under this bill. In the 105th Congress, along with the woman's caucus and support from many of my colleagues, I was successful in getting enacted the Breast Cancer Early Detection Act of 1997 which provides for coverage of an annual screening mammogram under part B of the Medicare program for women age 65 and older. To ensure the continuation of this successful program, which has saved countless lives, we need to update the Medicare payment rate so that mammography centers can stay open. In my city of New York, screening centers have had to close because they could not afford to stay open. They were losing too much money. The reimbursement rates were too low. We must increase the Medicare reimbursement rate for both diagnostic and screening mammography, and that is what the Assure Access to Mammography Act of 2001 will do, which the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) has introduced and which I am cosponsoring with him. We must renew our commitment to providing this life-saving technology. The inclusion of mammography coverage by Medicare was a hard-won landmark provision that must be preserved. HHS' center for Medicare and Medicaid have recently proposed cuts in funding for diagnostic mammograms, mammograms for women who have been diagnosed with or are fighting cancer, breast cancer. Any proposal to cut back treatment for women who need it most is unconscionable and must not stand. We must maintain the Medicare reimbursement rates. This is especially important since Medicare serves as a benchmark for private health plans. What we cut in the public sector is likely to be mirrored in the private sector. Mr. Speaker, we have come so far in the fight against breast cancer, and this is no time to turn back. I thank the co-chairs of the Women's Caucus for arranging this special order, and I will continue working with them for breast cancer treatment funding research.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, as we look to stimulate the economy, we should help the industries that have been hit the hardest, the airlines and tourism. The airlines are losing billions. They have laid off over 100,000 people. Tourism is New York State and New York City's second largest industry, and it is reeling. 15,000 restaurant workers and over 6,000 hotel workers in New York City have been laid off since September 11. The Incentive to Travel Act, which has been introduced in a bipartisan way with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) will help the economy. It will give Americans the incentive to take a vacation at a time when we all deserve one. For 1 year, the bill would provide tax deductions for families of up to $2,000 nationally, and an additional $1,000 for New York for travel and entertainment expenses. It would immediately restore the deduction for business meals and entertainment to 80 percent from 50 percent. The Incentive to Travel Act is an incentive to stimulate the economy, unlike the Republican stimulus package, which is called the ``Special-Interest Payback'' in USA Today. They say it is time to take a vacation for the special- interest Republican payback. Mr. Speaker, I request to put this editorial in the Record. [From USA Today, Oct. 23, 2001] Special-Interest Payback Crisis becomes excuse to raid federal till for favored groups Just about everyone recognizes that the events of Sept. 11 and afterward impose new challenges and responsibilities on the nation and its leaders. But this new reality doesn't seem to have penetrated House Republican leaders. In the latest example, they take up today a special wartime ``stimulus'' bill that's little more than a good old-fashioned special- interest giveaway. The case for a stimulus wasn't strong from the beginning. While the economy is clearly suffering, no one yet knows how bad it is or how long it will last. Given that uncertainty, the best bet is for a temporary jolt that eases the current slump without jeopardizing the nation's long-term economic health with a return to deficit spending. Yet against Bush's advice, and that of experts such as Alan Greenspan and former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, the House has decided to repay corporate patrons for their years of campaign support. Among its many deficiencies, the House plan is: Long-lived: More than a third of the tax cuts take effect in 2003. Even if there's a recession this year, it most certainly will be over long before those cuts kick in. Unfocused: Rather than target relief at those who need help the most, the House lavishes tax benefits on just about everyone with a lobbyist. Companies get 70% of the tax cuts in 2002, and some of their breaks are permanent. Low-income families get a one-time rebate check. Fiscally irresponsible: The House version blows through Bush's stimulus goal of $75 billion. And with many provisions long-lasting, it imposes costs on the country's fiscal health over the next decade. That means less money to pay down debt, higher mortgage rates and slower economic growth. This is easy to dismiss as politics as usual. But that's the problem. These are times that require everyone, especially political leaders, to put aside petty self- interest and everyday horse trading for the country's good. The House leaders showed an unwillingness to do that with their adamant refusal to consider federalizing the nation's airport-security system. Now they're at it again with their brazen attempt to use the current crisis to please well- heeled special interests. Worse, they've weakened the hand of those in the Senate who are trying gamely to provide focused relief to the economy. If Republicans pay off their contributors under the guise of stimulus, what's to prevent Democrats from doing the same? Already, some Democrats have been trying to get a minimum- wage boost included along with money for road and school construction, among other longstanding party priorities. History shows that Congress rarely gets the timing or the size of stimulus packages right. The Fed, which can act far more quickly and with greater precision, is best suited to manage the ups and downs of the economy. If stimulus is to be provided, it should be targeted at low- and middle-income families most in need of help. That would cost far less than the $160-billion House proposal. Ideally, any money used for stimulus should be repaid down the road so that the nation's debt-repayment schedule isn't also sacrificed in the war on terrorism. If lawmakers can't rise above their traditional narrow focus and produce a stimulus that works, the country would be best served if they gave this idea a long vacation.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman raised a very important point. We are not voting on airline security, yet we are voting on a stimulus package, yet the two industries that are most hurt, the airlines and tourism, is there anything in this so-called stimulus package that does anything to get our airlines flying better, any deductions, any support? Is there anything in that stimulus package for the airlines?

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan anti-money laundering legislation produced by the Committee on Financial Services. As we move to pass comprehensive antiterror legislation, this work product, which was approved 62 to one, must be included in any legislation that the President signs. Since September 11, our Nation has dedicated its resources to fighting terrorism on all front. The brave men and women of our military are targeting the terrorists overseas. Our security agencies are working around the clock to seek out domestic threats, and our law enforcement apparatus is on the trail of the perpetrators in working to prevent future attacks. This antimoney laundering legislation provides critically needed tools to help law enforcement in these efforts. Like any business, money is as important as oxygen to terrorists. This legislation aims to cut off their oxygen. And like any business, Terrorism, Inc., is out of business when they are out of money. In the past, money laundering has been associated with drug cartels and criminal organizations that attempt to wash money that is the product of illegal enterprises. In fighting terrorism, we face a new challenge. In addition to stopping money that comes from illegal sources, we must stop money that comes from front charities, overseas businesses, and underground financial systems such as hawala. This bill targets all of these. The sources of terror money are wide spread. The New York Times recently reported that al-Qaeda has gone so far as to use profits from Mid-East honey trading to fund terror. While it will never be possible to plan for every inevitability, this legislation greatly increases our ability to detect suspicious flows of money, no matter what their source. The legislation gives Treasury the authority to impose additional due diligence requirements on U.S. institutions when they conduct business with individuals or banks in weak money laundering enforcement countries. In the past, terrorists such as Osama bin Laden have used accounts in the Sudan or other countries to set up correspondent accounts with U.S. banks and wire money to individuals in the United States. This provision directly targets such relationships. The bill also criminalizes the concealments of $10,000 or more in currency to avoid reporting requirements. All the provisions of H.R. 3004 greatly increase cooperation between the private sector, the financial services regulators, and law enforcement. Communication and cooperation among these divergent interests is key to coordinating resources and cutting off terror money. Global money laundering is an immense problem. The IMF has conservatively estimated that between $600 billion and $1.5 trillion is laundered annually worldwide. Working with our allies, the President has frozen terrorists assets around the world. This legislation gives our government additional tools to fight old and new laundering schemes. Mr. Speaker, I applaud our Chair, our ranking member for their consistent and outstanding leadership in passing this bill and the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), the former chairman.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am happy that last Friday this body voted and passed an Anti-terrorism bill. However, instead of bringing to the floor the legislation reported out of committee. Legislation that was crafted in a bi-partisan manner and voted on unanimously. Instead of bringing that language to the floor for a vote, we were forced to debate and vote on bill that was taken off the printer that morning! The process by which this body is supposed to conduct its business was disrupted and I along with some of my colleagues were misinformed about the exact content of the bill that was brought to the floor at 8:00 that morning. I inadvertently reported that the provision increasing the funding for the fallen public safety officers was not included. This provision was indeed included in the legislation that passed the House. I am happy that the families of the men and women who lost their lives in the attempt to save others have our support during a time when they need the most help. However, I have a great concern about the manner in which this body conducted business on Friday. Preparing for one bill only to be have legislation brought to the floor for debate before anyone can carefully read and analyze its provisions, is irresponsible and dangerous. I hope that in the future this body will return to conducting its business in a responsible and respectful manner.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this Interior Conference Report. This bill includes important funding for conservation programs and includes monies for the maintenance of wildlife habitat protection in national parks, forests and refuge areas. I am especially happy to see that 65 million dollars was included for the Forest Legacy Program which provides assistance in the private and voluntary conservation of our forest lands, including $2 million dollars to protect the Adirondack Lakes in beautiful upstate New York. Since 1990 the Forest Legacy Program has protected nearly 100,000 acres of forest lands in eight states, ensuring that these lands will never be developed but will be managed sustainably and continue to provide much needed raw materials for today's marketplace. In addition, given the recent attacks on New York City and the threat of bioterrorism we have been very concerned about the quality of our water supply. The $500,000 dollars designated in the Forest Legacy Program for the New York City watershed project is an important and vital step in protecting New York City's drinking water. The critical funding of the Forest Legacy Program will ensure that these areas continue to provide recreational opportunities, filter our water, clean our air, and protect tourism and forest product jobs in the area. I am also pleased that this legislation includes $98 million for the National Endowment for the Arts and $125 million for the National Endowment of the Humanities, amounts which exceed the current funding levels for these valuable agencies. We cannot ignore the rich cultural benefits that the arts provide to our nation. Additionally, the arts generate approximately $3.6 billion each year for local economies across the country. I am disappointed that an oil royalties amendment of mine--which was included in the House-passed version of the bill--was removed in conference. The amendment would have ensured that the Royalty in Kind program would not continue to lose money for America's tax payers. I offered the amendment to guarantee that oil industry fees, collected through the so-called ``Royalty in Kind'' program, earn at least fair market value or more. I will continue to work on this issue; we must stop what I consider to be a Corporate Welfare Scheme. Mr. Speaker, I support the conference report and I want to thank the Conferees for working together to bring to the floor an Appropriations bill that both sides of the aisle can and should support. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) for organizing this Special Order and speaking out for the women in Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, the attacks of September 11 broke the hearts and boggled the minds of most every American. It left us all wondering just what kind of people would turn planes into bombs and slaughter thousands of people simply because they showed up for work. The answer is the Taliban, the terrorists among the Taliban, the terrorists they harbor, and the terrorists they refuse to surrender. But anyone who was familiar prior to September 11 with how the Taliban treat women should have recognized that the Taliban are capable of doing just about anything. The Taliban have controlled 90 percent of Afghanistan since 1996 when they unilaterally declared an end to women's basic human rights. The restrictions on women's freedoms in Afghanistan are unfathomable to most Americans. Women are banished from working. Girls are not allowed to attend school beyond the eighth grade. Women and girls cannot venture outside without a burqa which they are forced to wear. It is an expensive, heavy, cumbersome garment which covers the entire body, and it includes a mesh panel covering the eyes. The veil is so thick it is difficult to breathe. The mesh opening for the eyes makes it extremely difficult to even cross the road. Women must be escorted by male relatives to be allowed to leave their homes. Women are not allowed to seek health care from male doctors, even in emergency situations. Female doctors and nurses are not permitted to work, so women and girls are dying from treatable illnesses. An Afghan woman dies in childbirth every 30 seconds. Violate the Taliban's draconian strictures, deliberately or accidentally, and you will pay dearly, sometimes with your life. Women who trip while crossing the road and show their face or ankles risk being beaten, arrested or even executed. A 16-year-old girl was stoned to death because she went out in public with a man who was not her family member. A woman who was teaching children in her home was also stoned to death in front of her husband, her children and her female students. An elderly woman was beaten and suffered a broken leg because she exposed her ankle in public. These atrocities are real, and the economic consequences for women are just as severe. They cannot earn money because they are not allowed to work. Since they have no means of supporting themselves, many Afghan widows have no income at all. Unless they have a close male family member, they have no access to society or food for families and themselves. Mr. Speaker, let us be clear, we are at war with the Taliban strictly because they are harboring Osama bin Laden and because they are involved in terrorism against the United States. Still, this just war which we have no choice but to wage has contributed to a humanitarian tragedy of staggering proportion. Our commitment to helping the innocent people of Afghanistan must never waiver. There are now 1.5 million Afghan refugees along the Pakistan border. More than half of them are women. 66,000 are pregnant. Winter is imminent. I salute the Bush administration for balancing war for compassion, for dropping food as well as bombs. Even in war, we are showing a regard for human life and human rights that the Taliban will never know. The good news is that the Taliban's days are numbered, and that some women from Afghanistan are fighting for their freedom. I am submitting for the Record an inspiring article by Rone Tempest of the L.A. Times. It is about the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, or RAWA. RAWA sends women on dangerous missions into Afghanistan to set up secret schools for girls and to use cameras to document the abuse of women. In Pakistan, RAWA runs hospitals, schools, orphanages and refugee camps. In the face of the most repressive regime in the world, women are risking their lives to gain rights so basic that we in the United States do not even think about them. Well, this is a night to think about them and to express solidarity with our persecuted sisters in Afghanistan. We will continue to send humanitarian aid. We will continue to battle the Taliban, and the women in Afghanistan who are fighting for freedom should know that they are not fighting in vain. The women in Congress, the women across this country are standing with them. The article previously referred to is as follows: Training Camp of Another Kinid In Pakistan, defiant young Afghan women bent on reversing years of brutal oppression study and plan. To them, the conflict has no good guys. Khaiwa Refugee Camp, Pakistan--The sprawling refugee camps on the Pakistani-Afghan border have long been breeding grounds for male militants in Afghanistan--first for the moujahedeen fighters who battled the Soviet occupation in the 1980s and, more recently, for the fundamentalist Taliban. But here in the dusty, abused terrain of Pakistan's northwestern frontier, the Khaiwa refugee camp is a uniquely feminist outpost. Women in the Khaiwa camp shun the head-to-toe raiment known as a burka. Girls study science and Koranic scripture in a mud-walled school and dream of attending university. The camp's male physician, Dr. Qaeeum, vows that his infant daughter will be educated ``from cradle to grave, until PhD.'' Khaiwa is a training ground for a different kind of fighter: intense young women bent on reversing the trend of female oppression that has helped hurtle Afghanistan into a new dark age. For the female activists based here, there are no good guys among the factions battling for supremacy in their homeland-- not in the notorious Taliban and not in the opposition Northern Alliance. They worry that in the international rush to bring down the Taliban, the United States and its allies will form partnerships with the Northern Alliance or with other groups that also have a history of brutally oppressing women. ``The devil is the brother of evil. The dog is the brother of the world,'' Khaiwa camp school Principal Abeda Mansoor said in her native Dari language. ``We condemn both the Taliban and the Northern Alliance.'' Mansoor, a former geography teacher in Afghanistan, is a 16-year member of the Revolutionary Assn. of the Women of Afghanistan, or RAWA, a small but influential rights group that sends women on dangerous missions into Afghanistan to set up clandestine schools for girls and to use hidden cameras to document abuse of women. Under the Taliban's harsh version of Islam, girls cannot attend school and women are prohibited from working outside the home. Displayed on the association's Web site at www.rawa.org, secretly taken photos and videos of public executions and floggings have played a major role in building international opposition to the Taliban. The recent critically acclaimed documentary ``Beneath the Veil,'' by London-based filmmaker Saira Shah, was made with the help of RAWA workers who escorted Shah in Afghanistan. In Pakistan, the group operates hospitals, schools and orphanages in the camps where 2 million Afghan refugees live. But even here, their activities remain mostly secret. Taliban-style fundamentalism thrives in many of the camps. A recent RAWA human rights procession in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, was attacked by stick-wielding fundamentalist students. But the Khaiwa camp, in the middle of a rutted quarry surrounded by smoking brick kilns, is an island of tolerance. It is small and exceptional, home to only 500 families. But it is a microcosm of what Afghanistan might resemble if it was freed of religious extremism and civil war. Safora Wali, 30, manages the camp's small orphanage, home to 20 Afghan girls ages 6 to 19. A former student at Kabul University in the Afghan capital, Wali also teaches older women in the camp how to read. ``My oldest student is 45 years old,'' Wali said. ``She's so happy now to be able to read letters from her relatives. She told me, `I now know the pleasures of my eyes.' '' The Khaiwa camp was founded in the early 1980s by one of the more enlightened moujahedeen commanders, who believed in universal education. He allowed RAWA workers into the camp to teach and counsel the families. The camp eventually became known as an open-minded haven for the RAWA activists, who run the 450-student school and the orphanage. Wali came to the camp last year from western Afghanistan after Taliban authorities found her distributing RAWA literature and she was forced to flee. In Afghanistan, Khaiwa is known as a place to send girls who are threatened by either the religious restrictions of the Taliban or the sexual aggression of Afghan warlords. Danish, 15, said she was sent here after her father was killed by agents of the former Communist government in Kabul. She said her mother still lives in Afghanistan but could no longer protect her. Like the other girls in the four-room adobe orphanage, she wants to finish high school and reenter Afghanistan as a RAWA operative--teaching in underground home schools. When asked by a reporter how many of them planned to go to work for RAWA, all but the youngest of the 20 girls raised their hands. Women in Afghanistan have suffered a long history of repression punctuated by brief periods of progressive leadership. Inspired by the reforms of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, self-styled King Amanullah lifted the veil of subjugation for a short period in the late 1920s. But women in Afghan cities probably enjoyed their greatest freedom during the Soviet-backed Communist regime that ruled in Kabul from 1979 to 1992. RAWA was founded in the capital in 1977. But its founder, known by the single name Meena, opposed the Soviet occupation and joined resistance forces to fight against it. Considered an enemy by both the Communist regime and the fundamentalist moujahedeen, Meena was assassinated in a Quetta, Pakistan, refugee camp in 1987. Sahar Saba, 28, who like many of the RAWA activists uses a pseudonym for protection, grew up in one of the Quetta camps and was educated in a RAWA school. Now she works as a spokeswoman for the group in Islamabad and travels abroad seeking foreign support. Saba came to Pakistan when she was 7 after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, she has spent much of her time working to make sure that the U.S. and its allies do not forget the cause of women's rights as they continue their campaign against the Taliban. Besides providing a well-documented history of the Taliban's suppression of women, RAWA has recorded hundreds of cases of abuse by the Northern Alliance and non-Taliban warlords. Saba and the other RAWA activists favor the return of Mohammad Zaher Shah, the former Afghan monarch who was deposed in 1973. Through the agency of the ex-king, she says, Afghanistan could have a new leadership tainted neither by the abuses of the warlords nor by the restrictions imposed on women by the Taliban. When the Taliban swept into power in 1996, it capitalized on its claim to be a ``protector of women.'' Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar gained fame by rescuing two girls who had been kidnapped by a warlord. According to Taliban Iore, Omar killed the man and hanged his body from the barrel of a tank. ``The parties that were in power before the Taliban were in some ways worse,'' Saba acknowledged. ``Many girls were raped. Many others committed suicide. ``When the Taliban came to power, women were safer,'' she added. ``But they set the wheel of history back hundreds of years.''

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Sanders amendment. I understand that corporations need to pass along research costs to customers--when they pay for the research themselves. But something is amiss when taxpayers pay for drug research and pharmaceutical companies charge those same taxpayers exorbitant prices for drugs the government develops and licenses to them. This isn't just egregious corporate welfare. It's a matter of life and death. And it happens every day, all the time, all over America, with drugs that treat AIDS, cancer, high blood pressure, and other deadly diseases. It's enough to make anybody sick, especially those forced to choose between treatment and food. This amendment would simply ensure that pharmaceutical companies offer the benefits of federal drug research at a reasonable price. This amendment is a prescription for fairness and compassion. NIH should subsidize drug research not pharmaceutical companies. I urge my colleagues to support the Sanders amendment.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule. By voting on the exact language reported out of the other body, we would effectively negate the hard work and thoughtful input of the entire House of Representatives. As a New Yorker, I am appalled that the provision increasing the funding for the fallen public safety officers is not included. The bill does not include the expedited implementation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System which would help ensure that student visas do not become passports for terrorists. The sunset provision has been eliminated. Finally, I want to emphasize that any final terrorism package must address illegal money laundering, and this bill does not include the federalization of airport security which is needed deeply in this country. In developing the best possible bill to combat terrorism, the House should advocate, not abrogate on their responsibility. I urge a ``no'' vote on both sides of the aisle.