Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), the ranking member of the housing subcommittee of the Financial Services Committee.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I mourn the passing of our distinguished former colleague, the Honorable Thomas J. Manton. Tom was a great public servant, a great New Yorker, and a great American. Indeed, Tom Manton was the personification of the American Dream. The son of immigrants from the Irish countryside, Tom Manton was born and raised a New Yorker. His father was a plasterer, and Tom loved to tell the story of how proud his father was of his election to Congress; and how when he came to celebrate that election, they were in the Longworth Building, and his father told him that he had helped build that building in which Tom served. After serving with honor and distinction in the United States Marine Corps, Tom put himself through college and law school while serving proudly in the New York City Police Department. He was recognized by his community in western Queens for his outstanding leadership abilities when his neighbors chose him to represent them on the New York City Council from 1970 to 1984. I was proud to call myself a colleague and friend of Tom Manton. We served together on the New York City Council, and I served with him on the Housing Committee, which he chaired. I will never forget one day he came in late to a meeting. He was never late. But that night he had stayed up all night counting votes that sent him to Congress. It was in that legislative body that I learned to appreciate his quiet, firm, steady powers of persuasion and conciliation, the true hallmarks of leadership in a democratic society. I was privileged as well to call Tom Manton a colleague in the halls of the United States Congress. No Member of this House was ever more dedicated to serving the needs of his constituents. Tom played a crucial role in helping forge the peace that prevails in Ireland today through his patient and persistent efforts to bring peace to that once troubled land. He served as co-chair of the bipartisan Irish Caucus, on which I served. And he was selected to be the Grand Marshal of the New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade. He was very proud of that and kept in his office a big picture of that event. But he also embraced Tip O'Neill's maxim that all politics is local, and he lived it, to the everlasting gratitude of the people that he represented in Queens and the Bronx. When the Long Island Railroad threatened to build a waste transfer station in western Queens, Tom led the successful fight to block it. When police officers suffered permanent job-related injuries, Tom made sure that they and their families received fitting lifetime compensation. But perhaps Tom Manton's most enduring legacy may be forging the most united and effective political party organization in any county in New York City. He accomplished this remarkable achievement in what is probably the most ethnically diverse county in the Nation, and he did it with his singular and extraordinary powers of leadership. He was able to convene diverse groups and views and unite them behind common goals and purposes. He showed an unparalleled ability to identify and encourage new leadership and talent from the emerging communities of our City and to develop and nurture future public servants who were worthy of the responsibilities with which they were entrusted. That is truly Tom Manton's greatest legacy, a history of leadership through inclusion, guided by the principles of tolerance and equality. When I first came to Congress, Tom took me under his wing. He was an important mentor to me, an important friend, and my heart goes out to his wife, Diane, his children and his grandchildren. You are in our hearts and in our prayers. Tom will be deeply missed.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 921. No sovereign nation can tolerate having its borders invaded, its people shelled and its soldiers kidnapped. America wouldn't, the members of the EU wouldn't, and Israel shouldn't. Under the circumstances, Israel's response has been measured. Israel clearly has the right to defend its cities and its people from rocket fire, its borders from terrorist tunnels and its military bases from kidnappers. Hamas and Hezbollah are terrorist organizations. They have no purpose and no aim other than to destroy Israel. For months they have been waging a war against Israel--and Israel has shown restraint. They have lobbed rockets at Israeli targets--and Israel has shown restraint. They have bombed Israel's cities--and Israel has shown restraint. They have sent their suicide bombers--and Israel has shown restraint. There comes a point when Israel can no longer be restrained. It has a right and an obligation to protect its people from attack. Ironically, these attacks originate in the areas from which Israel withdrew its troops and settlers. Israel left Lebanon in 2000 and disengaged from Gaza last year. Instead of rewarding and encouraging such movement, Hamas and Hezbollah set about arming themselves with increasingly dangerous and potent weapons. We are now seeing the extent to which these terrorist organizations have been fortifying themselves, and it is terrifying. Their weapons are reaching areas of Israel that have never been subjected to rocket fire before. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis are living in bomb shelters or have been evacuated from their homes. I am pleased to note that the United States and many members of the international community, including the G-8 have supported Israel's right to defend itself. ``We demand first that the Israeli soldiers be returned to Israel healthy, that the attacks on Israel cease, and then naturally for Israel to halt military action,'' German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters at the G-8 summit. Many Arab leaders and opinion molders have also condemned Hezbollah and/or Hamas for their actions. Although he issued the usual condemnations of Israel, Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, also chided Hezbollah's ``unexpected, inappropriate and irresponsible acts.'' I understand that delegates from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and the UAE backed Mr. al-Faisal. In the same vein, the official Saudi Press Agency opined, ``A distinction must be made between legitimate resistance and uncalculated adventures undertaken by elements [without] . . . consulting and coordinating with Arab nations.'' Ahmed al-Jarallah, editor of Kuwait's Arab Times, condemned both Hezbollah and Hamas in an editorial on July 15, 2006, writing, ``Unfortunately we must admit that in such a war the only way to get rid of `these irregular phenomena' is what Israel is doing. The operations of Israel in Gaza and Lebanon are in the interest of people of Arab countries and the international community.'' I am pleased that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is planning a trip to the region shortly, and hope that she will remain fully engaged. In the meantime, Israel should not be asked to stop its actions as long as Hezbollah and Hamas continue to send missiles toward Israel and to hold Israeli soldiers hostage.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked a true tragedy for the medical history of this country. For the first time in 5 years, this President chose to veto a bill that has the potential to save millions of lives and impact millions more. This veto will go down in history as a monumental step backward for medical research and a profound and significant disappointment for victims and their families. Hope was just a signature away and to millions of people in this country, this President could have become a hero simply by signing H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, into law. Instead, he chose to veto this bill and stall the advancement of science. In contrast, by signing S. 3504, the President gave cover to opponents of lifesaving science. I would hope that this President would give more credit to the American public. S. 3504 is a useless bill that does nothing for victims of ravaging diseases and instead rubs salt in the wound. Mr. Speaker, I stand here with many of my colleagues, pleading with the President to listen to 72 percent of Americans, the overwhelming majority of scientists, researchers, and even Nobel laureates who all recognize the promise that embryonic stem cell research holds. Right now, only 22 of the 78 stem cell lines approved by President Bush are left. Many of these lines have been contaminated and are no longer useful, but more than 400,000 frozen embryos exist in the United States. To be clear, these are embryos that were extracted for in vitro fertilization. Most of them will be discarded. If the President had signed H.R. 810, they would have instead been used to save human lives. With further research, these cells may be used as ``replacement'' cells and tissues to treat many diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, AIDS, Lou Gehrig's disease and others. Mr. Speaker, as a founder and current co-chair of the Working Group on Parkinson's Disease and as someone who lost my father to Parkinson's disease, I know firsthand just how important this legislation is and how important it is to open up the stem cell lines. I cannot be more clear: This bill is about saving lives and preventing devastating diseases from ravaging and ending people's lives. In vetoing this legislation, this President has stalled science, ended hope, and reversed progress. I stand with a bipartisan majority of Congress to express my severe disappointment with the President's decision to veto this lifesaving legislation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her leadership in so many areas. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this legislation. As a strong supporter of our Nation's wilderness, I am opposed to it, the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act. I am joined in my opposition by the Sierra Club, and I will place their statement in the Record. I am also joined in my opposition by 44 different organizations, most of which are located in the great State of Idaho, and I will place their statements in opposition also in the Record. I am also joined by Wilderness Watch. They are opposed because they say that the legislation contains ``wilderness-weakening provisions.'' And I will place their statement in the Record. Sierra Club, July 21, 2006. Re Please oppose H.R. 3603/CIEDRA. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: The 750,000 members of the Sierra Club are citizens from across the country who share a common interest: protecting and restoring wild and special places. Sierra Club members believe that good and responsible stewardship requires that we protect wildlife habitat, halt the loss of wild lands, and secure our natural heritage for future generations. As a member of the House of Representatives, you will make a decision on the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA) (H.R. 3603). While we acknowledge several changes have been made to the bill since its original introduction, and we are supportive of wilderness protection for Idaho, we continue to have very serious concerns regarding several aspects of the legislation. Sierra Club, therefore, continues to oppose H.R. 3603 in its current form and asks that you vote NO on this legislation. Privatizing Public Lands The American public has overwhelmingly opposed recent proposals to privatize public land. CIEDRA will give away over 5,000 acres of National Forest and BLM-managed lands, including lands from the congressionally protected Sawtooth National Recreation Area (Sawtooth NRA). These lands include elk wintering grounds and salmon waters in the Salmon River watershed near Stanley, Idaho. If CIEDRA is adopted, these lands will be open to large-scale home development and motorized recreational parks. It is wrong to give away public lands. Taxpayers have invested nearly $65 million over 30 years to protect the Sawtooth NRA. CIEDRA would reverse this policy, even giving away land inside the Sawtooth NRA that was purchased in 1989 for $341,000 with federal tax dollars in 1989. CIEDRA sets a precedent of dismantling protections on public lands to benefit a few local interests, despite the strong opposition of many residents. Wilderness Lost The failure to include 130,000 acres of wilderness quality lands long advocated for protection by the conservation community for wilderness reduces the habitat and wilderness values that should be protected. Waters of the Sawtooth NRA The streams and rivers of the Sawtooth NRA must be protected for fish (especially spawning salmon) and wildlife. Normally, federal lands such as the Sawtooth NRA include federal protection of instream flows. However, in 2000 the Idaho Supreme Court stripped the Sawtooth NRA of its protections for water and the State of Idaho is free to continue issuing new water rights further degrading instream flow protections. CIEDRA should reassert flow protections. Instead, the bill expressly denies a federal water right under current Idaho law for the Wilderness areas, and is silent as to the new Boulder White Clouds Management Area. The Salmon River and its tributaries could be degraded as a result, further harming salmon recovery. Off Road Vehicle Use CIEDRA would give priority use to motorized recreation for a newly designated 540,000-acre Boulder White Clouds Management Area, and would in effect subvert the conservation purposes of the Sawtooth NRA. To encourage off-road motorized use, what should be a cohesive Wilderness is cleaved into multiple parts. CIEDRA would codify significant ORV trail incursions into prime habitat. In particular is our concern that CIEDRA adopts a ``no net loss'' requirement that would prevent Sawtooth NRA land managers from closing motorized trails. No matter how great the damage or risk to public safety, motorized recreation is protected by statute. On October 27, 2005, current and retired land managers from the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior testified before the House Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health opposing provisions and costs of CIEDRA, including the ORV provisions. We acknowledge Rep. Simpson's work in moving forward the discussion of Wilderness in central Idaho. We welcome the opportunity to work with Rep. Simpson and other Members to find accommodations in the bill that would address these issues and help advance and not undo the protections when Congress established the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Thank you for your consideration of Sierra Club's position and our reasons for opposing H.R. 3603 in its current form. Respectfully yours, Carl Pope, Executive Director.

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, among other harmful provisions, the underlying bill, H.R. 3603, will give away many public lands for private development to local governments completely for free. A bill this controversial should not be considered under suspension of the rules. The bill, H.R. 3603, includes unusual language that allows the giving away of publicly owned land, owned by the taxpayers, to localities, to counties, and local governments for them then to possibly develop it for private development. It will also give away, I am told, by the Sierra Club, 5,000 acres. My good friend on the other side of the aisle, Mike Simpson, said that it is only 3,600 acres. I asked the Democratic staff what is the correct number? They say they do not know because they just got the maps of this controversial bill today at 12:30. And I think that illustrates, if we do not even know how many acres of publicly owned land we are giving away, this needs a further investigation. In any event, it will give away thousands of acres of national forest and Bureau of Land Management managed lands, including lands within the congressionally protected Sawtooth National Recreation Area, to be opened to large-scale home development and motorized recreational parks. American taxpayers have invested nearly $65 million over 30 years to protect the Sawtooth National Recreational Area, and it is among the most beautiful sites truly in our country. And now this bill will be giving away roughly 3,600 or 5,000 acres. We are not clear how many. Make no mistake. We are setting a dangerous precedent by turning over land that is truly owned by this country by all Americans for private development, most of it completely for free. Some are willing to accept this dangerous precedent and other comprises harmful to the land and wildlife because this bill designates some wilderness. However, Madam Speaker, the esteemed ranking member, Nick Rahall, of the Resources Committee, and I quote his statement in the committee, ``I believe that wilderness designations should not be the result of a quid pro quo,'' this is from Nick Rahall, who is opposing this bill. Mike Thompson has a bill before us today that would designate 275,000 acres of wilderness, and I am totally supportive. But apparently, these two bills have been tied together in an unprecedented way. But even if you believe they should both move forward, let us look at what getting in return for our public lands. We are getting a number, according to the Wilderness Watch and the Sierra Club, of wilderness-weakening provisions that are contrary and, indeed, undermine the intent and provisions of the Wilderness Act that has been the gold standard for wilderness protection in America for over 40 years. For example, H.R. 3603 fragments the largest remaining contiguous, roadless area in the continental U.S. into four parcels separated and surrounded by all-terrain vehicles and motorcycle trails. Secondly, according to Sierra Club and Wilderness Watch, it weakens stream protection by saying that the Forest Service, in order to get water rights, they must get these rights from the State. But the State does not provide wilderness water rights. Therefore, the Democratic staff says that this is a complete and total charade. Also, it weakens restrictions on access to mining claims and releases more than 130,000 acres of Wilderness Study Areas and recommended Wilderness, suspending protection and opening these lands to damaging uses. We must not set a precedent of giving away lands for private development, and we must not get in place of it watered-down, substandard ``wilderness.'' It is simply not worth the cost. A bill this controversial simply should not be considered under suspension, and I urge, along with the Sierra Club, 44 organizations, Wilderness Watch, a ``no'' vote on H.R. 3603. And I feel it should not be tied in any way to Mr. Thompson's very fine bill that provides for wilderness protection.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus. I have commemorated this day each year since I became a Member of Congress. PSEKA, the International Coordinating Committee ``Justice for Cyprus'', the Cyprus Federation of America, SAE, World Council of Hellenes Abroad, and the Federation of Hellenic Societies are primarily located in the 14th Congressional district of New York, which I am fortunate to represent. These organizations have been strong advocates against the division of Cyprus and the human rights violations perpetrated by the Turkish army in Cyprus. The United States must continue to play an active role in the resolution of the serious issues facing Cyprus. First and foremost is the ongoing illegal occupation by the Turkish military forces of the northern part of the island in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. The peaceful and cooperative spirit in the person-to- person, family-to-family interactions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots is an encouraging sign for the successful reunification of Cyprus. However, it is time for Turkey to remove its troops from the island so that Cyprus can move forward as one nation. Turkey must also show respect for the rights of the owners to their property in the north. I have introduced legislation, H. Res. 322, which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives in support of the European Court of Human Rights for its decisions in the Loizidou and Xenides-Arestis cases against Turkey. Turkey must respect these decisions while ending the illegal exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties in the areas of Cyprus under Turkish military occupation. Earlier this month, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed to begin a process of bi- communal discussions to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem. Based on President Papadopoulos' initiative, the two leaders agreed to a set of principles including a commitment to the unification of Cyprus based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions; recognition that the status quo is unacceptable and that its prolongation would have negative consequences for the Turkish and Greek Cypriots; and agreement to begin a process immediately involving bi- communal discussion of issues that affect the day to day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both of which will contribute to a comprehensive settlement. I welcome these developments. As a full-fledged member of the European Union, Cyprus is playing a vital role in European affairs while also strengthening relations with the United States. Last July, the United States and the Republic of Cyprus signed a reciprocal Proliferation Security Initiative, PSI, Ship Boarding Agreement, which is aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Cyprus was the first EU member to sign this agreement. In the fall Cyprus became a signatory to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. Finally, as citizens from many nations including the United States evacuate from Lebanon, Cyprus is providing critical support in helping these individuals reach safety. A unified Cyprus would promote stability, both politically and economically, to the entire Mediterranean region. The people of Cyprus deserve a unified and democratic country, and I remain hopeful that a peaceful settlement will be found so that the division of Cyprus will come to an end. In recognition of the spirit of the people of Cyprus, I ask my colleagues to join me in solemnly commemorating the 32nd anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus. Long live freedom. Long live Cyprus. Long live Greece.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of the House several key moments over the last several weeks where the United Nations has been called upon by the international community to address issues of grave global concern and has taken significant steps to increase its own efficiency and efficacy. In the last week alone, the U.N., which is located in my congressional district, has been asked to deal with the nuclear threat from North Korea, hostilities in Lebanon, and the deteriorating peace and humanitarian situation in Gaza. In fact, as I speak, a U.N. team, led by Under Secretary General Vijay Nambiar, is on the ground in the Middle East helping defuse the current crisis. They have already met with the prime ministers of both Israel and Lebanon and the foreign ministers of the Arab League. Over the next few days, they may return to Lebanon and, perhaps, travel to Syria, Jordan, and the Palestinian territories before returning to New York to brief the U.N. Security Council. Secretary Rice called for the creation of this team and has, along with the President, the National Security Advisor, and a host of other administration officials, publicly supported it since its inception. In fact, during a press briefing in Germany on July 13, Secretary Rice called the Secretary-General's mission ``the best opportunity now for deescalation of this crisis.'' The U.N. Security Council has also taken action against Iran and North Korea, two regimes that the United States has deemed a serious threat to international security and stability but has been unable or unwilling to address directly on its own. Last Saturday, the Security Council voted unanimously to demand that North Korea suspend all ballistic missile launches and related activity and required all member states to prevent the import or export of funds or goods that could fuel Pyongyang's missile or weapons of mass destruction programs. And, as reported in Tuesday's New York Times, the Security Council, including China and Russia, is currently developing a resolution based on a previous agreement to require Iran to suspend its nuclear programs or suffer actions under article 41, chapter 7, of the U.N. Charter, which allows for sanctions. In addition, at the request of President Bush and the Iraqi Government, the United Nations announced earlier this month that it will help create an ``International Compact for Iraq'' to provide a platform for international support. The Deputy Secretary General has already traveled to Baghdad to begin discussions with Iraqi President Jalal Talibani. The U.N., through a similar ``Compact'' for Afghanistan, raised billions of dollars for relief and reconstruction and built an international consensus on ways to improve the economy, security, and human rights situation in Afghanistan. Today, in part because of the U.N.'s role as a platform for international cooperation, Afghanistan has its first democratically elected parliament in more than 20 years; 4 million refugees have returned; 5 million children are back at school; 60,000 combatants have rejoined society; and the economy is growing. These are only the most recent of a long list of ways in which the U.N. helps to safeguard American peace and prosperity. The U.N. currently maintains the world's second-largest standing army, which is keeping the peace in some of the world's most hostile environments. It is working to detect any outbreaks of avian flu and develop the first line of defense against a possible world pandemic, as the President noted in his National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza. It is providing humanitarian assistance and saving lives in volatile regions of the world. And it is developing an international legal framework and bringing those guilty of crimes against humanity to justice. In addition to taking a central role in addressing these global problems and maintaining an increasingly important presence around the world, the U.N. has taken significant action over the past few months to look inward and improve its own efficiency, transparency, and accountability. Over our July 4 recess, the U.N. General Assembly--with U.S. consensus--agreed to a slate of broad reforms, many of which had been recommended by former State Department Under Secretary for Management and current U.N. Under Secretary General for Management Christopher Burnham, that include an upgrade to the U.N.'s information technology systems to help better analyze and organize real-time financial data from computer systems spread around the globe and an acceptance of internal accounting standards. These particular actions were made against a backdrop of broader reform over the last 6 months, during which time the U.N. dismantled and replaced the discredited Human Rights Commission; increased staff and funding for internal auditing; created an Ethics Office; and enacted whistleblower and financial disclosure policies that are more far-reaching that those in the U.S. Government. Mr. Speaker, the U.N. is an indispensable presence in the world, and it is absolutely necessary for maintaining peace and prosperity in the United States. Were the U.N. not to exist or were it unable to fully fund its programs, the U.S. would be forced to confront a rising tide of issues that are simply too numerous, complex, costly, and diplomatically implausible for us to handle on our own. The U.N., as the world's platform for international engagement, can only work when member states, especially the United States, actively engage with the organization and each other. Today--and in the future when we discuss U.S. dues to the U.N.--we will be sending a message to the international community. We must make sure, in the interest of all Americans, that the message is one of cooperation, engagement, and support for the United Nations.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 2389, the ``Pledge Protection Act.'' This legislation represents an attempt by the Majority to strip the federal courts of jurisdiction over yet another important issue. The effect of H.R. 2389 would be to prevent individuals who have legitimate cases from ever reaching a courtroom. The U.S. Constitution clearly states that a separation of powers, ensured by a system of checks and balances established by our Founding Fathers more than 200 years ago, must exist among the three branches of government. What the proponents of this bill want to do is to tell the courts what cases they can and cannot hear. This bill is wrong and costs too high a price. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 2389.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, it isn't every day that we get to come to the House Floor with the opportunity to save lives. When we voted on H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, we were given that very chance. With the Senate voting on the bill in the coming days, we must respond to 72 percent of Americans, scientists, researchers, and Nobel laureates and vote to continue our support for lifting the ban on which stem cell lines can be federally funded. Right now, only 22 of the 78 stem cell lines approved by President Bush are left. Many of these lines have been contaminated and are no longer useful, but more than 400,000 frozen embryos exist in the United States. With further research, these cells may be used as ``replacement'' cells and tissues to treat many diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, AIDS, Lou Gehrig's disease and others. Stem cell research holds hope of one day being able to treat brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke for which there is currently no treatment available. And they may solve the problem of the body's reaction to foreign tissue, resulting in dramatic improvements in the treatment of a number of life-threatening conditions, such as burns and kidney failure, for which transplantation is currently used. As a co-chair on the Working Group for Parkinson's Disease and as someone who has lost a very close family member to Parkinson's disease, I know firsthand just how important this legislation is and how important it is to open up the stem cell lines. Parkinson's disease is a progressive degenerative brain disease which kills a specialized and vital type of brain cell, a cell which produces the substance dopamine, that is essential for normal movement and balance. The loss of these dopamine-producing cells causes symptoms, including slowness and paucity of movement, tremor, stiffness, and difficulty walking and balancing, which makes the sufferer unable to carry out the normal activities of daily living. In 30 percent of the cases those symptoms include dementia. As the disease progresses, it inflicts horrific physical, emotional, and financial burdens on the patient and family, requiring the caregiver to assist in the activities of daily living, and may eventually lead to placement in a nursing home until death. With further research into stem cells, scientists will be able to ``reprogram'' the stem cells into the dopamine-producing cells which are lost in Parkinson's disease. One million Americans are afflicted by this terrible disease. This bill will directly help them. As for the suspensions we are debating today. I have heard Members of the other body claim that they are useless, but harmless. That they don't do anything to help and that there are no applications of science that they would impact, that fetal farms simply don't exist. Mr. Speaker, we have a bill before us that will save millions of lives and impact millions more. It's time that we put the politics aside, listen to the science, and do what's right. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 810.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, in this age of electronic transactions, we are all highly vulnerable to having our identity stolen and our credit ruined. Americans deserve every tool available to help protect their identities and their credit. And yet a data protection bill that passed out of the Committee on Financial Services and that is moving to this floor for a vote strips away the ability that consumers in 18 States have to control access to their credit reports at all times. It would allow consumers to freeze their files only after they are victims of identity theft, and that would absolutely do no good. File freeze works because it stops the granting of new credit without the consumers' expressed permission. I urge my colleagues to help protect consumers' credit and identities. I urge them to cosponsor H.R. 5482 and join me in fighting for consumers to have the ability to freeze their own credit information.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 88. Instead of spending time working on the issues that really matter to the American people, we are here debating a proposed amendment that would write discrimination into the Constitution. We do this even after the Senate failed to pass a similar amendment. So let's be clear, regardless of what the vote is today, this amendment is going nowhere. This makes our time on this even more pointless. What this debate really is about is dividing our country and riling up the base for a Republican party increasingly concerned about their election prospects this November. And the Republican leadership is willing to trample on our Constitution in order to do so and no issue is worth paying such a price. Instead of debating discrimination and dividing our country, why don't we spend our time working to make health care more affordable, work to lower gas prices and achieve energy independence, raise the minimum wage, cut the cost of college or work to ensure our hardworking constituents a dignified retirement? Why is it that my Republican colleagues who talk so much about family values refuse to allow our families to earn a livable wage, refuse to fix the prescription drug program and turn their backs on our children by raising the interest rate on all student loans? We must resist this divisive use of this House to score a few political points. We must reject this effort. We need real leadership that will bring our country towards a new direction. There is a new direction that our country must go in that will help American families and address the issues that impact them every single day.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 784, which commends and supports Radio Al Mahaba, Iraq's first and only radio station for women. In the midst of all the bad news coming out of Iraq, it is important that we recognize one of the positive developments there. Radio Al Mahaba provides a unique service to the citizens of Iraq, particularly the women. It allows Iraqi women to express their opinions about issues important to them, including women's rights. For Iraq to have any kind of future, there must be full participation and equal treatment under the law for women in Iraq. The voices of Iraqi women must be heard in all levels of government, the private sector, in schools, and in the media. I am pleased that today this body officially goes on the record in support of these efforts. However, we should not stop here. We must continue to encourage the leadership in Iraq to protect the rights of women, particularly in the amendment process for the constitution. Iraqi women and men should be guaranteed equality in the constitution to ensure that women will never become second-class citizens. Both women and men should have the right to vote, access to equal opportunities, and equal treatment under the law. I am particularly concerned that final language in the constitution could limit women's rights, including in matters such as divorce, child custody, and inheritance. I have introduced legislation, H.R. 5548, the ``Empowerment of Iraqi Women Act of 2006,'' which would establish an Iraqi Women's Fund to help Iraqi women and girls in the areas of political, legal, and human rights, health care, education, training, security, and shelter, and it would authorize $22,500,000 in each fiscal year 2007, 2008, and 2009 for this fund. I have met with several delegations of Iraqi women during my trips to Iraq and here in Washington. I am always inspired by their strength and courage to speak out in support of equality, even in the face of danger. While these women have hope, they understand that the future is very uncertain. I know my colleagues join me in expressing our strong support and solidarity with the women of Iraq as they fight for the rights to which they are entitled. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this important resolution.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, on July 10, 2006 I missed rollcall votes Nos. 358 and 359. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes Nos. 358 and 359.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership, and I rise in opposition of the underlying bill, H.R. 2990, and in support of the Kanjorski substitute. I believe that all of us in this body support the promotion of healthy competition and improved transparency and accountability and independence in the rating agency industry. I certainly am concerned about the transparency and accountability of the industry. However, I believe that this particular bill will do more harm than good. While the bill has been somewhat improved through various manager's amendments, I still have serious concerns regarding the bill that is before us. The bill contains a free-for-all in the ratings market without the usual market protections against abuse. For example, the bill allows almost anyone to register as a rating agency and issue ratings, but insulates rating agencies from lawsuits. The fact that the bill does not provide adequate rating quality assurance is of grave concern to me for safety and soundness. Taking away the SEC's seal of approval for rating agencies will cause investors to possibly lose confidence in the markets because they are rightly concerned about ratings shopping or simply inaccurate ratings. We spent the last several years working to overcome the crisis in investor confidence caused by corporate governance scandals, and this is absolutely not the time for taking risks in this area. Mr. Chairman, I also have procedural concerns regarding how this bill was advanced through the committee on which I serve. As you know, the SEC was not asked to participate in either of the two hearings that this committee held on this legislation. And given the role that the SEC plays now in effectively overseeing rating agencies and the role it will play in administering this legislation, I think we should receive testimony from them before taking legislative action. This is a very complicated issue that could have a tremendous effect on the capital markets both here and abroad. I note that other international regulators have recently taken a very different approach than the one advocated by this bill. While I am not prepared today to say which approach is better, I think it would be prudent for us to learn more from the SEC and other international regulators on credit rating agencies, and to determine whether we want to move towards greater international harmonization of standards, as opposed to going forward with this new change. Simply put, before rushing to judgment, we need to better understand all of the impacts that could result from our actions here today. Rushing this bill to the floor is not the way to reach sound public policy. We need to understand all of the consequences of this change and the effect it will have on the quality of our rating agencies. So I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 2990 and to support the Kanjorski amendment.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the achievements of NOW-NYC and the recipients of the 2006 Susan B. Anthony Awards and the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Award. Whether it's fighting against the appointment of Judge Alito, demanding an increase in the availability of emergency contraception or working to end the statute of limitations for rape in New York State, the members of NOW-NYC have been leaders in standing up for women's rights. The Elizabeth Cady Stanton Award is presented to a woman of outstanding achievement who has made important contributions toward creating a more equal society and has served as a role model for other women. The Susan B. Anthony Awards honor women who have accomplished something remarkable. Each of this year's recipients has, in her own way, spoken up, spoken out, gotten involved and made a difference. They are our role models and heroines. Councilwoman Gale Brewer, recipient of this year's Elizabeth Cady Stanton Award, is an outstanding member of the New York City Council, representing Manhattan's Upper West Side. She is a strong ally, a good friend and a champion of women's rights and human rights. Brewer has been instrumental in passing numerous laws, the most recent being the Human Rights Bill, which protects domestic partnerships from discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. In 2000, the Daily News hailed her as ``One of 50 New Yorkers to Watch.'' When the crime rate in their North Brooklyn neighborhood began to rise, Oraia Reid and Consuelo Ruybal started helping women take back the night by offering them a safe way home. In 2004 they founded RightRides, a not-for-profit organization that offers free late-night rides home to women in several Brooklyn neighborhoods and parts of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Their creative response to improving women's safety so impressed Mayor Michael Bloomberg, that December 12, 2005, was named ``RightRides for Women's Safety Day.'' Nancy Lublin has proved that one person really can change the world. Recognizing that what you wear can make the difference between getting the job and getting shown the door, she created Dress for Success, which provides business attire for low income women who are seeking jobs. For many women, that would have been enough. But Nancy saw another need--the need to encourage kids to get involved in their communities and to recognize their achievements when they do. So she agreed to become CEO of Do Something, an organization, founded in 1993 by Andrew Shue (of Melrose Place) and Michael Sanchez, childhood friends who wanted to make community service as cool as sports. Do Something has distributed over 1 million dollars through its Brick Awards to young people who are making a difference in their communities. In 1998, CNN dubbed the BRICK Awards ``The Oscars for young people in service''. Former NOW-NYC President and current Chair of the Board, Jane Manning has taken her activism to the courts as well as to the streets. A graduate of Yale College and NYU Law School, Jane served as Assistant District Attorney for six years and currently defends women's rights as a human rights attorney for the non-profit organization Equality Now. A dedicated advocate for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and trafficking, Jane launched NOW-NYC's campaign to repeal New York's statute of limitations on rape cases and works closely with human rights groups to bring an end to the human rights epidemic of trafficking in women. Recently she represented a coalition of feminist organizations before New York State's highest court, arguing as amici curiae to reverse an appellate court decision that would have made the defense of extreme emotional disturbance almost universally available to men who kill their wives or girlfriends. In a unanimous decision, the court reversed the lower court's decision and ruled in favor of the feminist groups. Finally, I want to congratulate Kathleen Ham, a symbol of courage to rape victims around the country. She is one of the reasons I fought so hard to pass the Debbie Smith Act. In June of 1973, Kathleen Ham was brutally attacked and raped in her New York apartment. Although the suspect was immediately apprehended while fleeing the scene, the trial resulted in a hung jury. In 2005, DNA technology linked the man charged in her rape definitively not only to her rape but also to at least 23 other rapes in Maryland and New Jersey over the past 32 years. Knowing that this serial rapist must be put behind bars, Ms. Ham courageously decided to take the stand once again, and to go public with her identity and story. When she came forward, nine other women also came forward to say that this man had raped them. Their stories are being used to illustrate the absurdity of New York's five-year statute of limitations for rape. Mr. Speaker, I request that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to the 2006 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Award winners.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 5672, the Science-State-Justice Commerce Appropriations bill. This legislation includes approximately $176,000,000 for a DNA analysis and capacity enhancement program and other local, State, and Federal forensic activities. Of this funding, not less than $151,000,000 is directed toward the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program which help to reduce and eliminate the backlog of DNA samples and increase State and local DNA laboratory capacity. I met Debbie Smith five years ago when she came to Washington to testify at a hearing about the importance of DNA evidence. The evidence collected from her rape sat on a shelf for years waiting to be analyzed. After hearing her story, I resolved to do something about the hundreds of thousands of rape kits that were sitting on shelves, unanalyzed, because of a lack of funding. ``The Debbie Smith Act'' became law in 2004, and with the critical funding provided by Congress, DNA evidence will be analyzed and rapists put behind bars. I commend Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Mollohan for their steadfast support for this issue. I also am pleased that this legislation contains $21,488,000 to enhance State and local efforts to combat trafficking of persons, as authorized by legislation that I sponsored with Representative Deborah Pryce (R-OH), the ``End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act.'' This funding will also go toward conducting comprehensive research and statistical review of sex trafficking and unlawful commercial sex acts in the United States. Approximately 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year. However, trafficking is not just a problem in other countries. Each year, men, women, and children from all over the world are brought into the United States for the sole purpose of being bought and sold by American citizens for commercial sex. And the victims are often Americans. I have worked on the trafficking issue for many years including working to stop sex tour operators like Big Apple Oriental Tours, which is based in New York City, from sexually exploiting impoverished women and girls in developing countries. It is important that we protect the victims of the sex trade industry, and punish the predators that exploit them. This funding is an important step in preventing the many human rights abuses inflicted on men, women, and children around the world. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. WOLF Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise and report the bill back to the House with sundry amendments, with the recommendation that the amendments be agreed to and that the bill, as amended, do pass.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today, along with Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), I introduce legislation to force the Department of Defense (DoD) to implement fully the Defense Incident-Based Reporting System (DIBRS). I firmly believe that the best way to effectively tackle a problem such as sexual assault in the military is to have accurate data. The DoD has made several promises that DIBRS, which collects statistics about crimes committed within the military services, would be up and running by now. Congress first mandated that the Pentagon collect crime statistics in 1988. I repeat--Congress told the DoD to do this in 1988. Yet eighteen years later, DIBRS is not slated for completion until June 2007, if we can believe the DoD. This legislation will direct the Secretary of Defense to ensure that DIBRS is fully implemented by January 1, 2007. If DIBRS is not fully implemented by that date, the Secretary's salary will be deducted by $1,000 each day starting January 1, 2007. I believe that if the DoD will not take it upon itself to make this a priority, we in Congress have a responsibility to see that our mandates are met.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today, along with my friend and colleague from New York, Representative Nita Lowey, I am introducing a resolution to recognize President Clinton's 60th birthday which will occur this August 19th. President Clinton has had a long and distinguished career in public service including serving as Governor of Arkansas and President of the United States. During Clinton's two terms in the White House, this country experienced unprecedented economic expansion including the creation of 22 million jobs. He worked with our NATO allies to end the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, and he played a major role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland. Since leaving office in 2001, President Clinton has continued to devote himself to helping people around the world through the Clinton Foundation. It is because of his commitment to not only the American people, but to the people of the world that I am honored today to recognize President Clinton's birthday and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Frank resolution that we are not permitted to vote on. All of us support legal efforts to track terrorist financing. But what we have before us is a nonbinding resolution that is more about stirring the Republican political base and silencing the press than protecting our country. The resolution makes declarations about actions that have yet to be confirmed without conducting any oversight and without all the facts. The Republican Party has become masters of cut and run, cutting from the issues so that they can run for reelection in November. This resolution is a diversion. If it was really about condemning leaks of classified information, it would also mention Valerie Plame, Karl Rove and Scooter Libby. And as the Member of Congress representing the district that suffered the greatest loss of life on 9/11, I believe that combating terrorism is a serious, bipartisan issue, not a one- sided, last-minute, take-it-or-leave-it, Republican-only, political campaign stunt.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to read the statement of Kimberly Flynn, a member of 9/11 Environmental Action, a community group in New York City focused on environmental and health impacts of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Ms. Flynn gave this statement at a rally in New York City that I attended to bring attention to the health problems that continue to exist from 9/11. Good afternoon. I'm Kimberly Flynn and I represent 9/11 Environmental Action. We're community activists. For nearly 5 years, we've been fighting for the comprehensive EPA cleanup that never happened. And we're also fighting for the health needs of all those harmed by 9/11 pollution to be met. In the days after 9/11, like many people, my mother in New Orleans was glued to CNN. Now, my mother has no expertise in occupational health and safety, but she called me with concern in her voice: Kim, why are some people digging through all that rubble wearing respirators, but most people are not? Isn't that going to cause serious problems down the line? How is it that our government, whose job it is to protect human health from the unprecendented and obvious hazards never asked that question? After 9/11, when two of tallest buildings buildings in the world were reduced to rubble, and the air was thick with dust and smoke . . . when toxic dust penetrated into buildings throughout the area, they told all of us it was safe. At a time when your heroism and patriotism were the admiration of the entire world, they told the people of Lower Manhattan it was their patriotic duty to go about their business. Well, I have a question for President Bush and Governor Pataki: It has been nearly 5 years, when are you going to do your patriotic duty? To Governor Pataki: Your Ground Zero legacy is at stake. You must act to fix the unconscionable workers comp fiasco . . . NOW. To President Bush: We will not let you leave office without acknowledging to the American people that so many of those workers, volunteers and cleanup workers who came to the rescue on and after 9/11 are sick . . . as are many others who live, work and go to school in Lower Manhattan. And that they need and deserve our government's help . . . NOW. We will not let you leave office without making a full commitment to provide for the long-term 9/11 health needs of everyone harmed by these obvious and unprecedented hazards. These are days of desperation for many of you, and our hearts go out to you and all those suffering from their Ground Zero exposures. But more than that, we are with you! We are yours in the struggle for justice, for the duration.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I would like to add my support to what has already been said about the importance of developing a joint program initiative by the Greek and Turkish language services at the Voice of America to promote an end to the division of Cyprus and to help engage the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities in a revived process aimed at their reunification. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, way too long, and we all want this division to come to an end. I believe that this type of initiative would go a long way in making that happen by keeping the lines of communication between the two communities open. I am especially pleased to join my fellow cochair and cofounder of the Hellenic Caucus, Representative Bilirakis, as well as the cochairs of the Turkish Caucus, Representatives Wexler and Whitfield, in showing our collective support for this effort. I would also like to thank Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Mollohan for restoring the cuts to valuable programs at the Voice of America, including the Greek and Turkey services, and I look forward to working with them on this new and exciting project for Cyprus.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, later today, some of our colleagues plan to offer amendments to this bill that would divert money from the 2010 Census. Many of them have good intentions and would send the money to other worthwhile programs. However, I would like to strongly urge those colleagues to consider the damage that would be done--not just to this Nation, but perhaps even to the very district they represent--should the Census be depleted. It a program with an enormous impact and should never be carved up and handed out like a Thanksgiving turkey. Five years from now, if Members begin complaining about problems with Census and the count in their States, we will only have ourselves to blame. If members want to take money from Census, perhaps they should volunteer their States for inaccurate counts. Just because the actual survey takes place in 2010 doesn't mean that cutting the Census in 2006 is irrelevant. Initial planning is ongoing and the Census Bureau is gearing up for the largest peace-time mobilization in American history. The Census doesn't just appear in an instant and then disappear every ten years, it is a constant, massive effort that never stops. Some might try to divert money from the Census to other programs in this bill in the name of law enforcement. But they should keep in mind that the Census is a critical tool for fighting crime. Crime mapping, after all, relies on accurate demographic and housing data to help police determine where to deploy manpower, equipment and other resources. Furthermore, imagine the impact of an inaccurate Census on the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. The distribution of this money is based on population and crime statistics, both of which are based on Census statistics. Mr. Chairman, I hope our colleagues understand that the Census affects much of what we do, from billions upon billions in federal dollars that could assist our districts to our States' representation in Congress. It is especially important for areas that are undercounted and underserved. It is not a throwaway program--in many ways it is the lifeblood of this government. Point of Order

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, there are no further speakers on our side of the aisle, and I yield back the balance of my time.