Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks).

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I applaud his leadership. And I would like to be associated with the comments of the Members of minority in their comments strongly against this bill. It is not about protecting children. It is merely a part of the majority's agenda to please anti-choice extremists. If the majority were truly concerned about children, then this bill would not be so extreme, so complex, and so unconstitutional. It provides no exception for the health of the mother, as required by the Supreme Court. It does not always provide an option for judicial bypass, which is also required by the Supreme Court. And it violates States rights by forcing the laws of one State on to another. What this bill is really about is the majority war with our courts. The majority knows that this bill is unconstitutional, but they do not care. And when the first court determines that it is unconstitutional, the majority will blame the judges, just as they labeled them judicial activists, as they did in the Terri Schiavo case, and just as they did in the partial birth abortion case. Believe me, when the judges make their decision, it will be based on volumes and volumes of case precedent that sets the standard of constitutionality and not on a political agenda. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to thank the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy) for his constant work on this bill and his support. We are very grateful. I believe the gentleman's input has made it a stronger bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill that the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) and I have offered that is a win-win for taxpayers and the economy. The Presidential Dollar Coin Act builds on the remarkable success of the 50 State Quarter Act of the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), which is well into its 10-year run and has earned praise from educators and coin collectors and benefited the Treasury. My daughters, like many young people across America, enjoy collecting this popular coin. Like the State quarter bill, the Presidential dollar coin will educate Americans about our Presidents and our first ladies while making money for the taxpayers. In addition, this bill will encourage use of the Sacagawea dollar coin, which will continue to be issued throughout the program and will be the sole U.S. dollar coin after the program ends. Thanks to discussions with the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy), Indian tribal chiefs and women's groups, the provisions of the bill relating to the Sacagawea dollar coin have been clarified and strengthened to assure that Sacagawea, the only woman on our currency at this present moment, will continue to be honored on the dollar coin. In a similar vein, the bill also provides for commemorative coins honoring each first lady to be issued during the period that their husbands were President. These will be issued both as gold bullion collectors' items and also in a bronze version, making them more accessible to school children and the public. I am particularly pleased that the bill provides for a coin to be issued in honor of the noted suffragette Alice Paul at the same time as the coin commemorating President Chester Arthur, who served without a spouse. As a New Yorker, I am particularly pleased that Lady Liberty, the international symbol of the United States, will be on the back of the coin. The General Accounting Office has estimated that general use of dollar coins could save the government as much as $500 million per year because they last longer than the dollar bill. Boosting usage of the dollar coin in everyday commerce also helps small businesses and provides consumers with faster and better service. At the halfway point of issuance, the 50-State Quarter program had made the government over $4 billion primarily from collectors taking the coins out of circulation so that the Federal Reserve then buys more from the Mint. We have similar expectations for the effect of individuals collecting the dollar coins. This bill earns money for the government, benefits small businesses and consumers, educates all users of American currency about their Presidents and first ladies, and encourages wider use of the Sacagawea dollar coin. I would call that a bill that deserves our full support. I particularly want to thank the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) for his work, not only on the quarter coin, which has been a huge success for our school children and our Nation and helped our economy, but his leadership and constant work on this bill, along with the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Oxley) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank). I particularly thank Joe Pinder of the committee staff, who is really an expert on coins and has put a great deal of time and effort on this, along with Emily Pfeiffer from the staff of the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) and Eleni Constantin, my financial services counsel. Mr. Speaker, I hope that this will pass overwhelmingly and be circulating soon. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy).

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, and the representative of a large and vibrant community of Armenian Americans, I rise to join my colleagues in the sad commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Today we declare to people living in every comer of our globe that the Turkish and American governments must finally acknowledge what we have long understood: that the unimaginable horror committed on Turkish soil in the aftermath of World War I was, and is, an act of genocide. I strongly believe that the tragic events that began on April 24, 1915, which are well known to all of us, should be part of the history curriculum in every Turkish and American school. On that dark April day, more than 200 of Armenia's religious, political and intellectual leaders were arrested in Constantinople and killed. Ultimately, more than 1.5 million Armenians were systematically murdered at the hands of the Young Turks, and more than 500,000 more were exiled from their native land. On this 90th anniversary of the beginning of the genocide, we lend our voices to a chorus that grows louder with each passing year. We simply will not allow the planned elimination of an entire people to remain in the shadows of history. The Armenian Genocide must be acknowledged, studied and never, ever allowed to happen again. The parliaments of Canada, France and Switzerland have all passed resolutions affirming that the Armenian people were indeed subjected to genocide. The United States must do the same. I will not stop fighting until long overdue legislation acknowledging the Armenian Genocide finally passes. Of course, an acknowledgment of the genocide is not our only objective. I remain committed to ensuring that the U.S. government continues to provide direct financial assistance to Armenia. Over the years, this aid has played a critical role in the economic and political advancement of the Armenian people. Additionally, it is clearly in our national interest to foster peace and stability in the South Caucasus region. We in Congress need to renew our commitment to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which denies assistance to Azerbaijan until it ends its stranglehold on the embattled region of Nagorno-Karabagh. We will not stand by as the Armenian people are threatened yet again. On this solemn day, our message is clear: the world remembers the Armenian genocide, and the governments of Turkey and the United States must declare--once and for all--that they do, too.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the 9/11 Can You Hear Me Now Act with Representatives Chris Shays of Connecticut, Anthony Weiner, Major Owens, and Carolyn McCarthy of New York. The attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993 and on September 11, 2001, exposed serious communication problems for the New York City Fire Department, FDNY. Since these attacks, there have been major efforts to improve the FDNY's communication system, but much more needs to be done. As we all know New York City is repeatedly mentioned as a top terrorist target and the lack of a fully-functional communications system is a threat not only to FDNY and New York residents lives, but also to all those who visit there. The terrorist attacks were not just attacks on New York City, but on the Nation. With New York as a continuing top terrorist target, the protection of New York City is becoming a national responsibility. Other cities with tall buildings throughout the country face the same challenges with their communication systems and will need the same upgrades. Improvements in New York will lay the groundwork for improvements to communications systems across the country. Recognizing this need, the 9/11 Can You Hear Me Now Act instructs the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, to provide the FDNY with a communication system that must be capable of operating in all locations and under the circumstances we know firefighters face and will continue to face when responding to an emergency in New York City. This bill would require a communication system that includes three components--radios, dispatch system and a supplemental communication device. It would require it to work in all buildings and in all parts of the city, something that the radios, unbelievably, do not now do. The supplemental communication device would allow firefighters to transmit an audible emergency distress signal when a firefighter is in need of immediate assistance, and DHS would work with the city of New York in their planned upgrades of the emergency 911 system and any interoperability initiatives with other public safety communication systems. I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 6. The people of our nation need an energy policy. We need to pass an energy policy that actually brings down record high gas prices, protects our environment, and truly reduces our dependence on foreign oil by encouraging energy efficiency and the use of renewable sources of energy. Instead, at a time of record gas prices, this special-interest, anti- consumer energy bill would actually increase gas prices. The national average price for gasoline remains at a record level of $2.24 per gallon. And yet, according to the Bush Administration's own Energy Department, the Republican bill will actually increase gas prices by 3 cents and will have almost no effect on production, consumption, or prices, As if raising gas prices were not bad enough, H.R. 6 also harms our environment. It rolls back important safeguards in the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, which are critical in keeping our waterways clean and safe. Protecting the producers of MTBE from paying for polluting our drinking water, H.R. 6 actually passes the cost of cleaning up the industry's mess to taxpayers. Finally, it opens the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one of our nation's greatest natural treasures, to drilling by the oil and gas industries. At this time in history, it is crucial that we work to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by prioritizing energy efficiency and renewable energy. Of all the tax incentives in H.R. 6, only 7 percent are designated to encourage renewable energy and conservation, while billions of dollars in tax breaks are funneled to the oil and gas industries. On top of these tax breaks, provisions in this bill would provide as much as $2 billion over ten years to companies who drill in the deep waters off the Gulf of Mexico. Instead of increasing corporate giveaways at a time when oil and gas companies are raking in record profits, we must redouble our efforts to support renewable energy and conservation. Mr. Chairman, because H.R. 6 would increase gas prices, harm our environment, and do so little to encourage renewable energy sources, I oppose this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the ``Whatever It Takes To Build Act'' with Representatives Owens, Israel and Serrano of New York. This legislation would remove a $5 million cap placed on the Community Disaster Loan program that provides communities with lost tax revenues following disasters. This cap was added in 2000. Prior to 2000, no cap was in place and several communities received in excess of $5 million from the Federal Government for lost tax revenues, to recover from disasters. Right after 9/11, the President promised New York City that he would do whatever it takes to rebuild. While he and the Congress has provided billions in relief, much more still needs to be done to make New York City whole. The new GAO report shows that we are still suffering significant tax losses. Lack of this revenue forces New Yorkers to payout of their pockets again and again for the attacks of 9/11 or suffer the loss of essential services. New Yorkers should not be forced to bear this burden alone. That is why I am introducing the Whatever It Takes to Rebuild Act and I implore the Congress and the President to support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I introduce legislation, the Revitalizing Cities Through Parks Enhancement Act, that would establish a $10 million grant program for qualified, non-profit, community groups, allowing them to lease municipally-owned vacant lots and transform these areas into parks. These vacant lots often are areas of heavy drug-trafficking. Parks and gardens created with the grants will not only provide safe places to gather, but will increase property values as well. The grants will be available from the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to groups who have met standards of financial security, and who have histories of serving their communities. To further ensure that these grants are used to make lasting positive changes, land improved and made into open community space under this legislation must be available for use as open space from the local government for at least seven years.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, April 10, the world lost one its foremost religious leaders. It was with tremendous sadness that I learned of the death of His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, who for 37 years was the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America. As the Hellenic-American community mourns the passing of this great leader, I hope that we can all pause to reflect upon the Archbishop's greatest legacies: his profound love of God and his lifetime of work to promote freedom, human rights and religious tolerance. He will be greatly missed. I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Archbishop Iakovos in 1992, shortly after my election to Congress, and I will never forget his kind words of encouragement and advice. As the representative of Astoria, New York, home to the largest Hellenic population outside of Greece, the Archbishop's wise counsel was truly invaluable to me. The Archbishop once said that although the Orthodox Church is rooted in Greece, ``America is the place God intended it to grow.'' Throughout his life, His Eminence helped millions to explore their lives in the Americas without losing touch with their religious and ethnic heritage. In addition to his role as the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in the Americas, Archbishop Iakovos was a staunch defender of human rights, both here in America and in his Greek homeland. Whether he was marching hand-in-hand with the Rev. Martin Luther King in support of civil rights or demanding an end to the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, His Eminence was a tireless champion of peace and freedom for all mankind. I join with all New Yorkers and all Americans in extending my deepest sympathies to the Hellenic-American community on this solemn occasion. May Archbishop Iakovos rest in peace.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today, along with my Republican colleague, Christopher Shays, and my Democratic colleagues, Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the House and Senator Lautenberg in the Senate, I am introducing the Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act, which will ensure that a woman's access to birth control cannot be denied by pharmacists who have personal objections to certain legal prescriptions. A disturbing trend has recently erupted in drug stores across the nation: some pharmacists are refusing to fill women's prescriptions for legal contraception. It's happening everywhere: in small towns and large cities, in the north and the south. And it's happening to all women, whether they are young or old, married or single, with children or without. In some cases, the pharmacists are refusing to tell women where they can fill the prescription; in others, they are refusing to return the prescription paper back to the women. These women are frequently ridiculed and lectured by these pharmacists about their choice to use birth control pills. It is incomprehensible that in the 21st century, we are living in a time where women are having to fight for their right to obtain birth control pills. Something must be done so that this assault on privacy does not continue to invade the bedrooms of American women. The Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act, ALPhA, protects an individual's access to legal contraception. It requires a pharmacy to ensure that if a pharmacist has a personal objection to filling a legal prescription for a drug or device, the pharmacy will ensure that the prescription is filled without delay by another pharmacist who does not have a personal objection. This act also ensures that if a prescription drug is not in stock, and it is a type of drug that the pharmacy routinely carries, such a drug will be ordered without delay. A November 2004 poll conducted by CBS and the New York Times indicated that 8 out of 10 Americans believe that pharmacists should not be permitted to refuse to dispense birth control pills. This opinion was strong despite party affiliation--85 percent of Democrats and 70 percent of Republicans polled squarely opposed pharmacist refusals. The Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act reiterates the beliefs of the majority of Americans and the principles of our Constitution: that women have a fundamental right of access to birth control.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule. There is much that should be law in this bill; but as written, it should not pass. If this bill becomes law, children will have to compete for the first time with credit card companies in State court for the limited assets of debtors emerging from the bankruptcy process. I believe that there are many good parts of this bill; but as a mother I came to Congress to protect the rights of children, not to make their interests second to those of credit card companies. Congress has always insisted that debtors should take care of their children before their credit cards, and we should not undermine this important family value. I am a strong supporter of the netting provisions of the bill. These provisions provide for the orderly unwinding of complex financial transactions when one participant becomes insolvent. Alan Greenspan has said these provisions reduce uncertainty for market participants and reduce risk by making it less likely that the default of one financial institution would have a domino effect on others. I support this; and as a New Yorker, I am really concerned that these provisions go into effect to protect the financial sector in the event of another terrorist attack. And I agree we need to build savings. But these positive aspects of the bill are outweighed by an unacceptable feature that the majority has refused to address, the fact that the bill pits child support claimants against credit card companies in State court for the assets that the debtor has when she or he goes into bankruptcy. In other words, kids will lose. I offered an amendment to address this, but the Committee on Rules did not make it in order. They did not make other important amendments that would protect victims of medical catastrophes, of identity theft and many others. This is very, very important. The sponsors say that they take care of this, but none of their steps address the new threat created by the bill to protect children from having to fight credit card companies in State court. We have never done this before. We should not leave this as a legacy of this Congress. We can get this right. We should have put children first. We must vote against this rule and the bill.

Mrs. MALONEY. Is it just rhetoric or do you really care about children?

Mrs. MALONEY. And this is wrong. Where are the family values in this Congress?

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I request permission to place in the Record, in response to this statement, statements by Bar Associations across this country, women's organizations, women's legal defense, asserting what I have said that children are put second to credit card companies.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, irresponsible budget and tax policies have squandered the budget surpluses that President Bush inherited and turned them into a legacy of debt and deficits. Now he is trying to do the same thing to Social Security with a private accounts plan that would add trillions to our national debt. This plan is exactly backwards. Instead of thinking up ways to weaken the Social Security Trust Fund, we should be taking steps to guarantee that the assets in the trust fund are truly there to pay future benefits. We cannot do that if we run up large deficits outside Social Security that weaken our economy and increase our foreign debt. Anyone looking for a plan to address the Social Security problem can begin with two basic steps. First, take private accounts, privatization off the table; and, second, worry about the real crisis, which is the current budget deficit outside Social Security.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the achievements of the Pancyprian Association's Women's Issues Network (WIN) on the occasion of its annual Woman of the Year Award dinner dance. WIN's 2005 honoree, Dr. Mary Marangos, is a longtime community leader and dedicated public servant. WIN was founded in 1996 to serve the Cyprian-American community, promote the Hellenic Cypriot culture and provide opportunities for future generations of Cyprian women. The organization sponsors health lectures, health fairs, cultural events and breast and cervical cancer screening for women with no health insurance. Additionally, WIN has worked against the Turkish occupation of Cyprus since 1974. This year, WIN is honoring the noted community leader and civic activist, Mary Marangos. Dr. Marangos has served the people of the New York's 14th Congressional District with distinction, providing a critical link between the residents of western Queens and their representation in the United States Congress. She has worked to gain access for New Yorkers to constituent services and educational and cultural programs in those communities. Active in numerous causes and community organizations, Dr. Marangos has devoted herself to the Women's Issues Network and other organizations that promote and protect the Hellenic culture. Dr. Marangos is a recent retiree of the N.Y.C. Public School System where she has served as an educator, administrator and coordinator in vocational and alternative high schools; additionally, Dr. Marangos served as a coordinator of the G.E.D. program of the Vocational Training Center at LaGuardia Airport. Dr. Marangos also coordinated an AIDS Prevention Program on the high school level, training teachers on AIDS prevention instruction, organizing conferences and workshops on the epidemic and promoting staff development on the elementary level. A graduate of the City's public school system, Dr. Marangos earned an Associate Degree in dental hygiene from Brooklyn Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene/education from the New York State Education Department. Dr. Marangos went on to earn a Masters Degree in high school administration and supervision from Fordham University and a Ph.D. from Florida State University in International- Intercultural Developmental Education under a U.S. Department of Education full fellowship. The loving and devoted daughter of Pantelis Marangos from Kalavasos, Cyprus and Despina Kyriacou, descendant from Lesvos, Greece and Cyprus, Dr. Marangos was steadfast in her devotion to her parents. Dr. Marangos truly exemplifies the tradition of community involvement that makes America the greatest nation in the world. On behalf of the residents of the Fourteenth Congressional District of New York, I would like to extend to Dr. Marangos, the Pancyprian Association and the Women's Issues Network my continuing respect, admiration and support. Mr. Speaker, I request that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to this wonderful organization and its 2005 Woman of the Year, Dr. Mary Marangos.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today we are introducing a bill to end government subsidies for private clubs that discriminate against Americans based on sex, race, or color. The Ending Tax Breaks for Discrimination Act of 2005 makes it illegal to deduct expenses at clubs with discriminatory membership policies. We think it's wrong for corporations to write off big expenditures for entertainment, meetings and advertising at clubs that keep women out on America's dollar. Men play and women pay. I am joined by my distinguished colleague, Representative Brad Sherman from California. In the early '90s Mr. Sherman, as a member of the California tax board, implemented legislation similar to this Act. Since then, other states have followed. The time for the federal government to take a stand and end government-subsidized discrimination is long overdue. Right now, conventions and meetings are considered legitimate business deductions for corporate income tax purposes, including those held at private clubs that discriminate. Half the price of a business lunch is deductible. But if you're a woman, you subsidize one half of a man's lunch with your taxes, even though you can't join the club. Augusta and other clubs on par with it are already way out of bounds by discriminating. For taxpayers to have to foot the bill for business conducted under these discriminatory conditions is obscene. This is something that comes into focus every Masters Week, but people need to know they are subsidizing discrimination every day of the year. Members of these clubs profit--either indirectly through career opportunities and board appointments, or directly through tax deductions. Women can't get these same financial gains--just because they're women. Men get the membership, the deal, the deduction, and women get the bill. Ending Tax Breaks for Discrimination Act of 2005 would put a stop to that. It ends deductions for advertising, travel, accommodation and meals associated with these clubs, and it requires discriminatory clubs to print right on their receipts, ``not tax deductible''. This bill is not an attack on deductions for big business. Legitimate tax deductions should continue, but when these deductions support clubs that bar Americans from becoming equal partners, equal players, and equal earners--just because of their sex or race--they are NOT legitimate. The time for discrimination is over.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Siblings Day, a day to honor our brothers and sisters for the many ways in which they enhance our lives. This celebration gives us the opportunity to show our appreciation for our siblings, much like Mother's Day and Father's Day are celebrated. Siblings Day was founded by my constituent, Claudia Evart. Ms. Evart has worked tirelessly to promote the observance of Sibling's Day on April 10th. Siblings make important contributions to our lives, and often, when our parents have passed away, siblings are our only remaining family. Siblings Day helps us remember the integral role brothers and sisters play in our lives, and it also provides an opportunity to remember siblings who we have lost at an early age. April 10th marks the birthday of Claudia's sister, Lisette, who died tragically in 1972 at age 19 in a car accident that also killed their father. An additional tragedy struck in 1987, when Ms. Evart's older brother, Alan, died in an accident at his home. He was 36 years old. According to the Siblings Day Foundation, Siblings Day was recently marked in 22 states (Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin); the governor of each of these states proclaimed the 10th of April to be Siblings Day. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the importance of family by saluting the contributions of siblings. I applaud the work of Claudia Evart, who has created a loving tribute to her deceased siblings through her work to establish Siblings Day. Her dedication should serve as an inspiration to us all.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 184th anniversary of Greece's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire. Against impossible odds, the Greeks defeated one of the most powerful empires in history and gained their independence. In March 1821, after 400 years of Ottoman rule, Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the traditional Greek flag at the monastery of Agia Lavras, inciting his countrymen to rise against the Ottoman army. The Bishop timed this act of revolution to coincide with the Greek Orthodox holiday celebrating the archangel Gabriel's announcement that the Virgin Mary was pregnant with the divine child. Bishop Germanos's message to his people was clear: a new spirit was about to be born in Greece. Greek Independence Day is an appropriate time to reflect upon the strong ties between Greece and the United States. Indeed, when the Greeks of 1821 fought for independence from the Ottoman Empire, they drew inspiration from the ideals and institutions of the fledgling United States. During their War of Independence, the Greeks also received encouragement from many Americans, including Presidents James Madison and James Monroe and Representatives Daniel Webster and Henry Clay, each of whom gave memorable speeches in Congress in support of the Greek revolutionaries. Just as our defeat of the British army was remarkable, so too was the Greek triumph over the Ottoman Army, a momentous achievement in world history. As many of my colleagues know, New York City is home to the largest Hellenic population outside of Greece and Cyprus. Western Queens, which I have the honor of representing, is often called Little Athens because of the large Hellenic population in that neighborhood. New Yorkers celebrate Greek Independence Day with a parade on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, along with a great many cultural events and private gatherings. These events, hosted by the Federation of Hellenic Societies and other Hellenic and Philhellenic organizations and friends, remind us of the Hellenic-American community's many contributions to our nation's history and culture. On April 10, the President of the Federation of Hellenic Societies, Nikos Diamontidis, along with the organization's officers and board members, will join Parade Committee Chairman Dinos Rallis, Co-Chairmen Tasos Manesis and Philip Christopher and Co-Chairwoman Georgia Kaloidis in reminding New Yorkers of the glory of Greece, the joy of the Olympics and the hope of freedom and human rights for all. The Grand Marshals of this year's parade are my distinguished colleague, Senator Paul Sarbanes, his wife, Christine, Anthony Diamataris, the Editor and Publisher of the National Herald and his wife, Litsa. Adding to the day's ethnic pride will be parade emcees Nick Gregory, Anthoula Katsimatides and Petros Fourniotis. In 2004, the Athens Olympics united the world. Today, while New Yorkers pay tribute to Greece's accomplishments, we also seek to add our hometown to the list of great Olympic host cities. It is my hope that one of Greece's most enduring contributions to world history will finally come to New York City in 2012. As the founder and co-Chairperson of the Hellenic Caucus in Congress, I ask the nation to join me in celebrating Greece's independence. Additionally, it is my sincere pleasure to pay tribute to New York's Hellenic-American community for its many contributions to our city and nation. ``Zeto E Eleftheria!'' (Long Live Freedom!)

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, people around the world of all faiths share a deep sadness for the passing of His Holiness John Paul II. New York City mourns the loss of John Paul II with special remembrance and appreciation for the care and attention he showed our city, visiting twice as Pope and before that as Cardinal. I was personally touched and grateful for the prayers and blessings he offered to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, their families, and all the rescue and recovery workers who responded to Ground Zero after the attacks. He met personally with several New York firefighters who had responded to the attacks, praying for their strength and the health of their fellow firefighters, families and fellow New Yorkers in a dark and difficult hour. This is just one example of how Pope John Paul II was always attentive to the needs of those suffering. His Holiness John Paul II traveled the world for twenty six years in his Papacy, delivering a consistent message of the need for peace and the promise of hope. Through his faith, his words, and his example in life, Pope John Paul II helped democracies to blossom and greater tolerance to flourish across the world. Crowds of thousands will mourn the passing of Pope John Paul II in the days and weeks ahead. I hope that in this time of sadness and reflection, we also remember the gifts that John Paul II brought into the world, celebrating his life and his ministry to the world's greatest troubles and needs. We should keep Pope John Paul II's actions for the betterment of others always in our mind. He fought for the dignified treatment of all people, he stood up for the downtrodden, and he worked to unify the world in common missions for greater good.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, on March 21, 2005, I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall vote number 90. Rollcall vote 90 was on S. 686, a private bill to provide for the relief of the parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo. Had I been present I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall vote 90.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the achievements of James McManus, a tireless public servant, legendary New Yorker and very good friend of mine. Additionally, I am pleased to offer my warmest wishes to the McManus Democratic Association for another year of outstanding service to New York City residents. St. Patrick's Day is a time when Americans of all ethnicities gather with friends and relatives to have fun and to celebrate the Irish- American community's many contributions to our nation and culture. On this happy occasion, it is fitting to honor Jim McManus, who has never forgotten his Irish roots and who continues to be the driving force behind one of New York City's most effective public service organizations. The McManus family has been a fixture of New York City politics for more than one hundred years. For the past three decades, Mr. McManus has been an advocate, ombudsman and friend to residents of midtown Manhattan. It is a testament to Jim McManus's leadership that the McManus Democratic Association is just as vibrant and strong an organization as when his great-uncle Thomas founded it. Throughout his career, Mr. McManus has strived to strengthen the McManus Association's tradition as a center of service to the community. The Association's dedication to public service is perhaps best demonstrated by its efforts to welcome immigrants to New York and help them integrate into the life of the City. Mr. McManus has organized citizenship drives and helped immigrants prepare to take the test to become American citizens--so that they can take full advantage of the benefits and responsibilities of living in the United States. The McManus Association, an active social-service organization, has also conducted registration drives that have helped thousands of New Yorkers register to vote; works with seniors who are having difficulty finding housing; helps its members locate jobs, educational opportunities and better medical care; and strives to promote the interests of working-class New Yorkers through collective action. Furthermore, the Association has made a longstanding commitment to young New Yorkers, introducing students to the political process and to government service. I commend James McManus for his lifelong dedication to improving the well-being of New York City residents. Time and again, the McManus Association exemplifies the notion that we work best when we work together. Mr. Speaker, I request that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to James McManus and the McManus Democratic Assocation. To Mr. McManus and the dedicated professionals, volunteers and friends of the McManus Association, I offer my continuing admiration, respect and support.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, the $81 billion that the president is requesting for the war in Iraq is his 3rd request for emergency spending--and still there is no exit strategy and no plan for success in Iraq. This is a war that was sold to the American people and Members of Congress under false pretenses, and the American people cannot continue to fund indefinitely this administration's gross incompetence, particularly without any real oversight tied to it. The administration is rapidly bankrupting this country for this war, while starving our most important priorities here at home, such as homeland security, social security and education. The administration has raised the debt ceiling three times to a record $7.6 trillion, grown the largest budget deficit in our history, $412 billion last year, and expanded a record trade deficit of $619 billion. Mr. Speaker, I support and honor the troops. My father is a veteran of World War II and my brother is a veteran of the Vietnam War. The National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division is made up of brave New Yorkers--I am deeply concerned for their safety. Which is why I was shocked and appalled when some photos straight from the 42nd I.D. in Tikrit were given to me recently. Despite the billions already allocated for Iraq, these photos show humvees with metal sheets slapped on to their sides like makeshift armor; with empty oxygen canisters being used to anchor the soldiers' weapons; with junkyard quality doors. You can view these pictures for yourself on my website. I want to know, why hasn't every cent we have appropriated gone to properly equip the troops until they are all safe and secure? Mr. Speaker, the lack of equipment for our troops is the most awful example of misspending of the money we have already allocated, but it is not the only one. And then there are billions of dollars that we either can't find or that were spent unwisely. The Coalition Provisional Authority completely lost $9 billion in Iraq. And now we have reports that the administration actually assisted Haliburton in concealing at least more than $100 million in overcharges out of its $7 billion in no-bid contracts. We must have stronger oversight. The administration should be able to tell the American taxpayer what is going on with its money in Iraq. There should be open and honest accounting. But even though previous spending bills set out specific requirements for reporting how the money is being spent and for an estimate of future costs, we have yet to receive either. How do mismanagement, poor decisions and no-bid contracts help our troops? Certainly, there are parts of this supplemental spending bill that I strongly support. The $650 million for tsunami relief and reconstruction is very important, and my amendment that was accepted will designate $3 million specifically for the UNFPA's efforts to aid maternal health in the tsunami-stricken areas. I also support the provisions to aid the peace in the Sudan, as well as development assistance for the West Bank and Gaza. Still, it is extremely troubling that we cannot get an honest accounting of the billions we are spending on this war. I'm deeply disappointed that the Republican House voted down an earlier amendment that would have ensured proper accounting of the money we spend. This administration needs to implement oversight and accountability, but it fails to do so. Before I can vote for another enormous expenditure of the American taxpayers' money for this war, I must be convinced that this administration will keeps tabs on the money and make sure it benefits our troops. Doing so is good for the war effort, and it's good for the troops. We cannot continue to hemorrhage the hard-earned money of American taxpayers when the troops need it, and we need it here at home. There is no end in sight to the loss of lives on all sides, and this administration still has no answers.