Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time and for his leadership on this important bill that I am supporting. But I rise today to pay tribute to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and, on behalf of my colleagues and constituents, to join with them in mourning his passing today. Senator Moynihan was one of our truly inspiring legislators. He was a scholar, a legislator, an ambassador, a cabinet officer, a Presidential adviser in four administrations, the only person in history to serve four consecutive administrations. He was a teacher, a writer, and one of the best Senators ever to grace the halls of this institution. He was unmatched in his ability to craft innovative solutions to society's most pressing problems, from welfare to Social Security, to transportation, to taxes. His legislative stamp is everywhere. Known as, and I quote from the Almanac of American Politics, ``the Nation's best thinker among politicians since Lincoln, and its best politician among thinkers since Jefferson,'' Senator Moynihan moved people through the power of his ideas. He was a unique figure in public life, a man of pure intellect, who was unafraid of speaking inconvenient truths. Senator Moynihan's life exemplified the American dream. He grew up in a slum known as Hell's Kitchen. Abandoned by his father, his mother became the sole supporter of the family during the Depression. Small wonder that Senator Moynihan grew up to be a strong voice on welfare issues. He recognized the danger of fostering a culture of dependency, while understanding the importance of maintaining a strong safety net. He proved to be one of the most accurate prophets of our era. Time and time again he correctly predicted future consequences, even though many refused to believe him when his prediction ran counter to conventional wisdom. In the 1980s, he predicted the coming collapse of the Soviet Union. In the 1990s, he expressed concern about the tendency of our society to define deviancy down. For New Yorkers, Senator Moynihan has and always will be one of our own homegrown heroes, our proud gift to the Nation. Despite his reputation for attention to the more scholarly pursuits, he authored 18 books, Senator Moynihan never forgot those of us who elected him. He was a hero to landmark preservationists for his effort to preserve the Custom House and the Farley Post Office, the new train station on the Farley site, which he helped plan and which he helped to fund, but it does not yet have a name. I believe that it should be named for Daniel Patrick Moynihan. When the Coast Guard left Governors Island, he persuaded President Clinton to agree to give the island to New York for $1, and it was this Congress that was able to make that pledge a reality. As ambassador to the United Nations, he denounced the resolution equating Zionism with racism. Seventeen years later, the U.N. reversed itself, revoking this shameful resolution. Senator Moynihan was a prime mover behind ISTEA, which changed the way highway and transportation funds are distributed. He was widely credited with shifting transportation priorities and making it possible for us to invest in alternatives, like high-speed rail. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, he was a guardian of Social Security; and he focused his attention on the importance of opening up government filings and reducing secrecy in government. I was proud to have worked with him on the passage of the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure bill. After 50 years, Americans finally are beginning to get a glimpse of the things that our government knew. Senator Moynihan was also a tireless worker on getting an accurate census for our country. Senator Moynihan's passing will make this country a poorer place. I join my constituents and my colleagues in paying tribute to the great Senator from the Great State of New York. Senator Moynihan was truly an American treasure. He was a great friend and mentor to me, and we will miss him greatly. My colleagues and I send to Elizabeth and their family our deep concern and condolences. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a biography of this remarkable man. Daniel Patrick Moynihan was the senior United States Senator from New York. First elected in 1976, Senator Moynihan was re-elected in 1982, 1988, and 1994. Senator Moynihan was the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Finance. He served on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. He also was a member of the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress. A member of the Cabinet or sub-Cabinet of Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford, Senator Moynihan was the only person in American history to serve in four successive administrations. He was U.S. Ambassador to India from 1973 to 1975 and U.S. Representative to the United Nations from 1975 to 1976. In February 1976 he represented the United States as President of the United Nations Security Council. Senator Moynihan was born on March 17, 1927. He attended public and parochial schools in New York City and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in East Harlem. He went on to attend the City College of New York for one year before enlisting in the United States Navy. He served on active duty from 1944 to 1947. In 1966, he completed twenty years in the Naval Reserve and was retired. Senator Moynihan earned his bachelor's degree (cum laude) from Tufts University, studied at the London School of Economics as a Fulbright Scholar, and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Senator Moynihan was a member of Averell Harriman's gubernatorial campaign staff in 1954 and then served on Gov. Harriman's staff in Albany until 1958. He was an alternate Kennedy delegate at the 1960 Democratic Convention. Beginning in 1961, he served in the U.S. Department of Labor as an assistant to the Secretary, and later as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy Planning and Research. In 1966, Senator Moynihan became Director of the Joint Center for Urban Studies at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been a Professor of Government at Harvard University, Assistant Professor of Government at Syracuse University, a fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies at Wesleyan University, and has taught in the extension programs of Russell Sage College and the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Senator Moynihan is the recipient of 62 honorary degrees. Senator Moynihan was the author or editor of 18 books. His most recent work is Secrecy: The American Experience, published in the fall of 1998, an expansion of the report by the Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy. Senator Moynihan, as Chairman of the Commission, led the first comprehensive review in forty years of the Federal Government's system of classifying and declassifying information and granting clearances. Since 1976 Senator Moynihan has published an analysis of the flow of funds between the Federal Government and New York State. In 1992 the analysis became a joint publication with the Taubman Center for State and Local Government at Harvard University, and includes all fifty states. Senator Moynihan was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He was Chairman of the AAAS's section on Social, Economic and Political Science (1971-72) and a member of the Board of Directors (1972-73). He also served as a member of the President's Science Advisory Committee (1971-73). Senator Moynihan was Vice Chairman (1971-76) of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He served on the National Commission on Social Security Reform (1982-83) whose recommendations formed the basis of legislation to assure the system's fiscal stability. He was the founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (1971-85) and served as Regent of the Smithsonian Institution, having been appointed in 1987 and again in 1995. In 1985, the Smithsonian awarded him its Joseph Henry Medal. In 1965, Senator Moynihan received the Arthur S. Flemming Awards, which recognizes outstanding young Federal employees, for his work as ``an architect of the Nation's program to eradicate poverty.'' He has also received the International League of Human Rights Award (1975) and the John LaFarge Award for Interracial Justice (1980). In 1983, he was the first recipient of the American Political Science Association's Hubert H. Humphrey Award for ``notable public service by a political scientist.'' In 1984, Senator Moynihan received the State University of New York at Albany's Medallion of the University in recognition of his ``extraordinary public service and leadership in the field for education.'' In 1986, he received the Seal Medallion of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Britannica Medal for the Dissemination of Learning. He has also received the Laetare Medal of the University of Notre Dame (1992), the Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture from the American Institute of Architects (1992), and the Thomas Jefferson Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts or Humanities from the American Philosophical Society (1993). In 1994, he received the Gold Medal Award ``honoring services to humanity'' from the National Institute of Social Sciences. In 1997, the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University awarded Senator Moynihan the Cartwright Prize. He was the 1998 recipient of the Heinz Award in Public Policy ``for having been a distinct and unique voice in the century--independent in his convictions, a scholar, teacher, statesman and politician, skilled in the art of the possible.'' Elizabeth Brennan Moynihan, his wife of 44 years, is an architectural historian with a special interest in 16th century Mughal architecture in India. She is the author of Paradise as a Garden: In Persia and Mughal India (1979) and numerous articles. Mrs. Moynihan is a former Chairman of the Board of the American Schools of Oriental Research. She serves as a member of the Indo-U.S. Subcommission on Education and Culture, and the visiting committee of the Freer Gallery of Art at the Smithsonian Institution. She is Vice Chair of the Board of the National Building Museum, and on the Trustees Council of the Preservation League of New York State.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleague and dear friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), with whom we founded and co-chair the Hellenic Caucus here in Congress; and I rise with him today to celebrate the 182nd anniversary of Greece's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire. As many of my colleagues may know, New York City is the home of the largest Hellenic population outside of Greece and Cyprus; and historic Queens, which I have the honor of representing, is often called Little Athens because of the large influence from Greece and Cyprus in that neighborhood. I rise today to pay tribute along with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) to the Hellenic American community, not only in the 14th Congressional District but in the entire country, for their many contributions to America; and also I rise to honor the Federation of Hellenic Societies, which will lead the Greek Independence Day Parade in Manhattan, again in my district, that pays tribute to the Olympic spirit. The grand marshal this year is Senator Schumer, who will be accompanied by the Federation president, Apostolos Tomopoulos, and officers Petros Galatoulas, Takis Vassos, Sotirios Vahaviolos, Demetrios Kachulis, Kleanthis Meimaroglou, Stylianos Manis, Elias Tsekerides, Anastasios Stasinos, George Georgopoulos, Nikos Alegkakis, Gregory Demetroulakos, Nikos Diamantides, Vasilios Petratos, Demetrius Kalamaras, George Kaloudis, Nikos Kouzilos, along with other major leaders from Astoria and Manhattan, Konstantis Lambrakis, Elena Maroulleti, Andreas Savva, John Zapantis, Bill Stathakoss who is the honorary president, and John Spyridakis and George Razis. Democracy traces its earliest roots back to ancient Greece and the Greeks of 1821 fought for independence from Turkey; and when they fought, they truly drew inspiration in turn from the ideals and institutions of the fledgling United States as they waged their own struggle for independence. In the year 2003, a vibrant Greek democracy serves once again as an inspiration to its neighbors and the free world. The recent apprehension of one of the 19 members of the November 17 terror group provides reassurance that Greece deals sternly and effectively with terrorists. That is one reason that in Greece this is considered as the trial of all trials. Certainly, there is every reason to welcome the fact that the group responsible for killing many people, including four American officials and a British general, is finally being brought to justice. This significant contribution to the prevention of terrorism and Greece's membership to the EU will provide Hellenes with even greater stature. The Hellenic American community shares a love of freedom, liberty, and individual rights. The friendship between our two nations is based on mutual respect, a commitment to common goals, and a sharing of fundamental values. Ties of blood and kinship also unite us. The modern community of approximately 3 million Greek Americans has established a natural and enduring bridge between our two nations. Today, we take special note of these citizens and thank them for their many contributions to our Nation's cultural, economic, and political heritage. In the coming year we look forward to the preparations for the 2004 Olympics, which will take place in their birthplace of Greece. We also look forward to progress in the reunification of Cyprus. The EU council said, ``The EU strongly supports the continuation of the Secretary General's mission of good offices and of negotiations on the basis of his proposals.'' They continued that ``it urges all parties concerned to spare no effort toward a just, viable and functional settlement and, in particular, the Turkish-Cypriot leadership to reconsider its position.'' My desire is that this Greek Independence Day be the symbol of independence for all enslaved people. Zeto e eleftheria.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, it is with great regret that I come to the floor in opposition to this bankruptcy bill, H.R. 975. Last year, I voted for this legislation when it came to the House floor when we had reached a deal with strong legislators on the other side of the aisle, Representative Hyde and Senator Hatch. Unfortunately, the bill that we are voting on today lacks a critically important provision which would prevent perpetrators of abortion clinic violence from filing for bankruptcy and then avoid paying the fines and penalties assessed against them as a result of their illegal activity. The Bankruptcy Code's central purpose is to provide a fresh start to the ``honest but unfortunate debtor.'' These debtors are not honest, unfortunate, innocent, or peaceful protestors: They owe fines because of their threats and acts of violence against doctors, clinic staff, and women. The problem is widespread. Since 1977, there have been over 75,000 acts of violence and/or disruption at the Nation's clinics. This includes: 7 murders; 17 attempted murders; 41 bombings; 165 arsons; 82 additional failed bombing and arson attempts; 370 physical invasions of personal and business properties; 942 acts of vandalism; 100 butyric acid attacks; 557 anthrax threats, of which 480 happened since September 11, 2001; 122 assaults; 343 death threats; and 3 kidnappings. Bankruptcy reform is critically important, but without this provision, we will be sending a message to perpetrators of health clinic violence that they can continue to trample on the rights of American women and use violence to do so. Without this provision, if someone injures or kills someone outside an abortion clinic, they can file for bankruptcy and avoid paying any judgements made against them. In other words, they are not held financially responsible for violating the law. We must stop these people from violating the law and we must stop them from finding shelter in bankruptcy. It is for this reason that I cannot vote for this bill.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark) for yielding me the time and for his leadership. Today is a solemn day, but as Americans focus on our Armed Forces abroad, here at home we face an unprecedented moment in our budget history. Never before has Congress tried to pay for a war and at the same time pass a massive tax cut. This budget also compromises future economic stability because it is so demographically blind. If we cannot plan to address the debt now, how are we going to keep our promises to the elderly when the baby-boom generation retires? The fiscal policies of the President enacted by the Republican Congress will impose a massive deficit burden on our children and our grandchildren. In 2000 we had not only eliminated the deficit, President Bush inherited a surplus of over $230 billion a year, but now the projected deficit is over $300 billion for this year alone, and at the close of fiscal year 2002, the government debt stood at $6.2 trillion. The President's own numbers show that were we to enact his programs as proposed, we would grow this debt by $2.1 trillion from 2002 to 2011, and that is before we begin to account for the war. And we know that former economic adviser to the President, Lawrence Lindsey, estimated the war would cost over $100 billion. We have learned that we cannot have guns and butter without negatively affecting the economy, yet the Republican budget pushes ahead with a massive long-term tax cut before we finance the war. At the same time, they grow the deficit, the Republican budget manages to cut vital programs, including health care, Medicare, Medicaid, housing, school lunches and veterans' benefits. The impact of these Federal cuts will be magnified by the States where budgets are unbalanced, forcing additional reductions in services and local tax increases. The Republican budget does absolutely nothing to help the States. The Democratic budget does. This irresponsible budget has long-term consequences. I disagree with the administration. Deficits do matter. Over time, the debt will lower economic growth and increase interest rates. The effect will be a hidden tax increase on our constituents in the form of higher interest rates on mortgages, credit cards and car loans. I urge a no vote on the Republican budget and a yes vote on the responsible Democratic budget.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to join my colleagues in honoring Congressman Ted Weiss and encouraging them to support H.R. 145 to name a federal building in his honor. Ted Weiss was often referred to as the conscience of the House for his idealism, independence and unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for all Americans. He exemplified all the attributes of a great member of Congress--he championed the disadvantaged, stood up for his principles and used the oversight power of Congress to effect real improvement in health care and food safety. By naming a building in his honor, we will be recognizing his legacy. Congressman Weiss relished his position as a member of Congress, saying after his election that at last, he was ``where the clout is.'' Even his strongest critics were impressed by his appetite for hard work, his intellectual honesty and his zest for thorough research. He was a staunch supporter of civil rights, criticizing the Reagan Administration for its handling of civil rights complaints against schools and colleges. An unrepentant liberal, Congressman Weiss was best known for his advocacy on health care issues and food safety. Millions of Americans benefitted from his dedication and keen desire to investigate problems presented to him. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations and Human Resources, Congress Weiss had jurisdiction over the Department of Health and Human Services. He used his position to advocate tougher testing of food additives, stricter government oversight of Federally financed scientific research and new regulations to allow AIDS medication to reach the marketplace quickly. He was the first to hold Congressional hearings to seriously question the safety of breast implants. Following the appearance of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the early 1980s, he became one of the most active members of Congress in seeking a strong federal response. His committee was the first to hold hearings on AIDS in 1983. Eventually he held more than 20 hearings to push the federal government to dedicate more funding and staff to combat the epidemic. Congressman Ted Weiss brought real humanity and a sense of decency to public office. He was a dedicated New Yorker who truly cared about the people he served. For all of the foregoing reasons, I am hopeful that we will recognize the achievements of Congressman Ted Weiss by naming 290 Broadway in his honor.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed by the failure of the recent talks between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopolous and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, which ended yesterday without an agreement due to the intransigence of Mr. Denktash. We have observed years of intense negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities and were hopeful that this round would end in success. As you know, in 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, and to this day continues to maintain an estimated 35,000 heavily armed troops in Cyprus. Nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots, who fell victim to a policy of ethnic cleansing, were forcibly evicted from their homes and became refugees in their own country. Despite the hardships and trauma caused by the ongoing Turkish occupation, Cyprus has registered remarkable economic growth, and the people living in the Government-controlled areas enjoy one of the world's highest standards of living. The latest success is the European Council's invitation to Cyprus to become one of the ten new Member States of the European Union. Sadly, the people living in the occupied area continue to be mired in poverty. We had hoped that a united Cyrus would join EU. Instead, we are faced with failure. Failure because Mr. Rauf Denktash has denied Turkish Cypriots the opportunity to determine their own future and to vote in a referendum which would have likely lead to a solution of the Cyprus problem. Despite my concerns and disappointment, I appreciate the comments of President Papadopolus who has stated that the Greek Cypriot side will ``continue the efforts for reaching a solution to the Cyprus question both before and after Cyprus joins the EU.'' I urge the government of Turkey to take constructive steps for resolving the Cyprus problem. And I urge the Administration to continue with its efforts to persuade Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot leader to work within the UN process to end the division of Cyprus. At a time when tensions are rising around the world, we must seize every opportunity to achieve peace and stability.

Ms. MALONEY

Ms. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 5, the Medical Liability Limitation Act. I represent many of the nation's premier health care and biomedical research institutions in the nation. As such, I have worked diligently to represent the interests of my district on health matters. On this issue in particular, I have met with numerous doctors and I agree, they need relief from the high cost of insurance premiums. Rising health costs are not just impacting doctors. High health costs are hurting consumers, hospitals, employers and the economy, in general. But H.R. 5 is not the right prescription! Because of the strict caps for pain and suffering, H.R. 5 will especially harm women, children, the elderly and disabled individuals who may not have significant economic losses to recover. Stay-at-home moms and caregivers for children or the elderly, in particular, will be denied the ability to seek adequate compensation for damages inflicted upon them. H.R. 5 also will be especially punitive to women because many kinds of injuries that happen mostly to females--like those that affect the reproductive system, that cause a loss of fertility, or that are inflicted through sexual assault--are largely compensated through pain-and-suffering awards and other non-economic loss damages. I met recently with a constituent who was a victim both of medical malpractice and pharmaceutical negligence. When she was in her mother's womb, her mother was prescribed DES at a time when reports about its ineffectiveness and its potential harmful effects on the fetus had already been circulated. Almost two decades later, she developed an adenocarcinoma, an aggressive cancer affecting her reproductive organs. Not only was she then misdiagnosed, her doctor prescribed treatments that were contraindicated and that hastened the growth of her cancer. The misdiagnosis resulted in extensive surgery and reconstruction resulting in her infertility and a lifetime of intense emotional and physical suffering. The pharmaceutical negligence, which was not accurately diagnosed for years--long after the statute of limitations would have expired under the terms of H.R. 5--has resulted in a lifetime of pain and a mountain of bills for follow-up medical care. If H.R. 5 had been the law when her mother had been prescribed DES, she would never have been awarded enough even to pay her extensive medical bills, let alone compensate her for years of pain and suffering. For several Congresses, we have worked to pass a patient's bill of rights, to make sure that doctors and patients make medical decisions, not bureaucrats. H.R. 5 is an anti-patient's bill of rights. H.R. 5 is too broad. Beyond the issue of medical malpractice, H.R. 5 includes severe liability limitations for pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and insurance companies. Unlike the Conyers/Dingell alternative which I strongly support, H.R. 5 promises no relief from the high malpractice insurance rates paid by doctors and hospitals and serves as nothing more than a bailout for insurance companies who are passing on their investment losses to doctors. Vote ``no'' on H.R. 5.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, this is a difficult time. We're worried about the possibility of war and concerned about the men and women in our armed forces, but the best way to honor democracy is to ensure equality and justice for all. That's why we're leading this bipartisan movement for the Equality Amendment for women and men. We intend to do all we can to see that it becomes part of the Constitution, which is where it belongs. I am proud to be joined by my Republican colleagues, Jim Leach and Judy Biggert. I am also grateful to the dean of the House, John Dingell, for his leadership on so many issues important to women; to leading pollster Mark Penn of the firm Penn, Schoen, and Berland; and to the noted economist, Dr. Heidi Hartman. I'd also like to acknowledge the representatives of so many organizations dedicated to improving the lives of women and families. Women have achieved a great deal, but the statutory route has not been as successful as we hoped. The Glass Ceiling, the Pink Ghetto, the wage gap, the occupation gap, and sexual harassment are real problems. We're reintroducing the Equality Amendment because the only guarantee that American women will never again be subject to inferior treatment is to engrave the principle of women's equality into the Constitution. We've seen over the years that laws can change, judicial attitudes can shift, and the gains we've won can slip from our grasp. The need for a constitutional guarantee of equal rights for women is compelling. We must do more, much more, to guarantee fair treatment in the work place. Existing laws can't get the job done, and could be rolled back. Title IX, which for three decades guaranteed equality in education and in academic sports programs, is being eroded. Enforcement measures on discrimination laws are backlogged and badly underfunded. Women continue to be treated differently than men in pensions, insurance, and judicial awards. Women still have trouble gaining access to housing and to equal pay for equal work. The wage gap persists. In fact, the Dingell-Maloney study that we released last year showed the gap in managerial salaries is actually widening. Women still earn 76 cents for each dollar earned by a man. After a full day's work, no woman should be forced to take home only three quarters of a paycheck. Too many women continue to be victims of sexual harassment. Over nine out of ten Americans support equal rights for men and women, as Mark Penn can discuss. In fact, polling data shows that most Americans think the Constitution already guarantees gender equality-- and they don't want it repealed. The ERA would establish that as a reality once and for all. It is time to ensure that the legal right to equality regardless of sex is subject to the same level of judicial review as race or other classes. With 187 co-sponsors so far, the Equality Amendment has strong support in the House. And it enjoys strong backing in the Senate. Ours is a bipartisan, grass roots effort. With the help of organizations represented here and the over 140 groups that have already endorsed it, I hope we'll be able to move the ERA to a vote. It is time for women to have an equal place in the Constitution. It is time for the Equal Rights Amendment to become law. Inscribed over the Supreme Court is the statement ``Equal Justice Under the Law'' and it means ALL people. And in 2003, we intend to SEE that equal justice under the law happens . . . and making the ERA part of the Constitution is the right way to do it.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Andreas T. Stamboulidis Parthenon Chapter of the Order of AHEPA on the occasion of their annual dinner dance. For their extraordinary service and commitment to the community, Senator Frank Padavan, James Efthimiades, Stephen Cherpelis and George Doulaveris will be honored. They are truly ``Axie'', worthy of this honor. Established to fight prejudice and racism, AHEPA is philanthropic organization that has been serving the Hellenic community since its inception 80 years ago. The many dedicated members of AHEPA have provided the community with an understanding of the Hellenic heritage and an awareness of its contribution to the evolution of democratic ideals in the United States and Greece. AHEPA's many contributions to the community include the establishment of educational scholarships, relief drives to aid the victims of warfare, persecution and national disaster, sponsorship of sports tournaments, support for women and children, the elderly, and the disabled. Through all of their community outreach efforts, AHEPA has striven to promote appreciation of Greek culture and further advance understanding between the Hellenic-American, American and the Hellenic community abroad. The Andreas T. Stamboulidis Parthenon Chapter is exemplary of the AHEPA objective. Founded by the late Andrew Stamboulidis twenty-two years ago, the Parthenon Chapter has raised and contributed over $35,000 toward the Holy Cross School and Community Center. For the Parthenon Chapter's extraordinary support of the school, one of the classrooms is named after founder Andreas T. Stamboulidis. Mr. Stamboulidis typified the ideals and aspirations of AHEPA. It is a true pleasure to honor this chapter and its members, including Theodore Stamas and my good friend Manny Mavroidis. As the founder and co-chairperson of the Hellenic Caucus in Congress it has been my pleasure and honor to work with many of the members of AHEPA. Since its inception, the Parthenon Chapter of AHEPA has become an important and invaluable member of the community. In recognition of the Andreas T. Stamboulidis Parthenon Chapter of the Order of AHEPA's many contributions to the community, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting this organization and all of tonight's honorees on the occasion of their annual dinner dance.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to CIVITAS, Citizens Committed to Improved Neighborhood Life in the Upper East Side and East Harlem on the occasion of their annual benefit. As founding President of CIVITAS, Genie Rice will be honored for her many years of tireless service to CIVITAS and commitment to the community. Founded in 1981, the first chair, August Heckscher, looked to the Roman Republic for a name that embodies the spirit of citizen involvement that founders envisioned as the guiding principle of the new community organization. In ancient Rome, CIVITAS referred to that quality of a citizen that caused that person to be deeply involved in the life and fate of the city. The members of CIVITAS have dedicated themselves to protecting and enhancing the quality of life in the Upper East Side and East Harlem. CIVITAS has steadfastly fostered, mobilized and coordinated civic activism in Manhattan's Upper East Side and East Harlem by focusing on promoting, preserving and protecting residential neighborhoods. Currents projects include cosponsoring a remapping of East Harlem with Community Board 11 and tree planting on East 86th Street. Among the issues that CIVITAS has identified as being crucial to ensuring that the community remains lively and livable are: (i) urban planning, including limits on residential towers, coherent zoning, attractive public and private spaces and a reasoned approach to the siting, size and permit use of community facilities; (ii) infrastructure, including good public transit; (iii) the environment, and (iv) landmark preservation. An effective and dedicated community advocate, Genie Rice has served as CIVITAS President since 1982 and has played a key role in many important projects, including initiation of the remapping of East and Central Harlem. Devoted to the improvement of the community, Ms. Rice organized focus groups with East Harlem property owners to encourage rehabilitation of dilapidated buildings. In 1992, Ms. Rice served as Committee Chair at the New School's Environmental Simulation Center to model and discuss zoning options for East Side Avenues. Ms. Rice worked tenaciously for 8 years in a successful advocacy effort to pass these zoning modifications for Upper East Side avenues and other high-density Manhattan avenues. When a developer arrogantly added 12 stories to his building, in violation of the zoning law, at 108 E. 96th Street, Genie Rice, CIVITAS and I were at the forefront of the effort to bring it down. We won a historic decision forcing the developer to remove the 12 stories, the first of its kind in the city. Ms. Rice is an active member of many other community organizations including Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, the 7th Regiment Armory Conservancy and the New York League of Conservation Education Fund. The many members and friends of CIVITAS have made it an extraordinary and invaluable community organization. I am proud of my involvement as a member of CIVITAS. CIVITAS's contributions over the years have truly preserved the quality of life of Upper East Side and East Harlem residents. In recognition of these outstanding contributions, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring CIVITAS and Ms. Genie Rice on the occasion of their annual benefit reception.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership, and I thank him for yielding me the time, and I rise in opposition to the rule and in opposition to the underlying bill, H.R. 534. I am against human reproductive cloning, but I am concerned that the Weldon bill could exert a devastating impact on future life-saving research, and I fear that it will bring current research that offers great promise to cure a whole host of diseases to a grinding halt. I represent a district that includes many premier medical research institutions. Top scientists have told me that therapeutic cloning could lead to cures and new treatments for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS, and other chronic or fatal illnesses, and they say that it could alleviate tremendous human suffering. In a recent Newsweek article by Dr. Gerald Fischbach, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Columbia University Medical School and former head of NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, he wrote the following about this issue: ``A less obvious, but real, cost is the damage to the fabric of America's extraordinary culture of inquiry and technical development in biomedical research. If revolutionary new therapies are delayed or outlawed, we could be set back for years, if not decades.'' It is appropriate that policymakers scrutinize cutting-edge science. We must ensure that research is conducted in a legal and ethical manner, but the underlying bill goes too far. A more appropriate approach is the Greenwood-Deutsch substitute, and that bill will allow potentially life-saving research to proceed while banning human reproductive cloning. I know something about the suffering of millions of American families as their loved ones struggle against disease for which research cloning may one day offer a treatment or cure. My own father battled against Parkinson's until he passed away this year, and I cannot in good conscience tell those families that our society will benefit from an outright ban on this vital research. I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 534 and to support the substitute.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, ten years ago this month, President Clinton signed into law the Family and Medical Leave Act (PL 103-3), legislation that allows employees to take time off from work to care for a new baby or sick family member. Because of this landmark legislation, more than 35 million Americans have been able to take unpaid leave without the risk of losing their jobs. Today, I am introducing the Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act. Building upon the success of the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), this legislation would allow more people to benefit from FMLA by allowing employees in companies with more than 25 employees to take Family and Medical Leave and would extend employee leave for workers to meet their family's needs. The legislation includes 24 hours of leave (during any 12-month period) for parents and grandparents to go to parent-teacher conferences or to take their children, grandchildren or other family members to the doctor for regular medical or dental appointments. Currently, the FMLA allows qualified workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for newborns, seek emergency medical care for themselves, parents, children under 18 or a legal spouse. My legislation would add commonsense enhancements to FMLA. In 1997, this legislative measure was supported by President Bill Clinton. In February 1997, President Clinton said, ``I call upon Congress to expand the family leave law to give parents an additional 24 hours of unpaid leave each year to take a child or an elderly relative to a regular doctor's appointment or to attend parent-teacher conferences at school. In so doing, we'll make our families stronger and our workers more productive, building the kind of country and economy we all want for our children.'' On behalf of America's families, I urge my fellow colleagues to join me in support of the Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise in support of legislation that will preserve Monticello on the United States nickel. All Americans are familiar with the role Thomas Jefferson played in our Nation's founding. Jefferson was the third President of the United States, author of the Declaration of Independence, and the founder of the University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson's beautiful home, Monticello, was where one of America's foremost thinkers produced many of his finest writings and great work. Monticello still stands outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, and it is appropriate that we preserve its place in our national heritage upon our national coinage. This year marks the 200th year celebration of the Louisiana Purchase and the voyage of Lewis and Clark into the western frontier. In an effort to recognize this important journey, the United States Mint has proposed celebrating this anniversary by commemorating the voyage and discoveries of Lewis and Clark on the nickel. The intent of the legislation we are considering today is to allow this anniversary to be celebrated while mandating that Monticello will return to the nickel after the celebration of Lewis and Clark. The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), whose district contains Monticello, has put forth a plan to allow the U.S. Mint to commemorate the journey of Lewis and Clark on the nickel for 3 years, after which the nickel will revert to the Monticello portrait in 2006. The likeness of Thomas Jefferson and Monticello is a fixture on our national coinage. This legislation ensures that the memory and importance we hold for the author of our Declaration of Independence will be preserved while we celebrate the achievements of Lewis and Clark. Additionally, title II of this legislation makes technical changes to the Commemorative Coin Reform Act enacted in 1995. These changes are intended to make coin programs operate more smoothly. I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) for his leadership on this bill. I know he has worked with the Mint and Treasury to resolve the issues that were raised, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Washington (Mr. Baird) where Lewis and Clark reached their final destination.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kanjorski) for his leadership on this important legislation and I thank him for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Emergency Securities Response Act, legislation intended to assist the recovery of the securities markets in the event of another major terrorist attack or emergency. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 wreaked a tremendous toll on my city of New York, the center of the world financial markets. As we all know, the loss of life, buildings, property, and communications equipment prevented the reopening of the financial markets until September 17. While the stock market went down the day it opened, the most important thing was that it was opened and functioning. This was a major boost in confidence for the economy, for New York City, and for the entire Nation. For their roles in reopening the markets, the SEC and the other regulators deserve much credit. Without their work, the economic fallout of the attack would have been even more serious and harmed more people. The legislation we are voting on today is intended to give the SEC additional flexibility to deal with just such a situation should we face another terrorist attack, disaster or emergency. The Emergency Securities Response Act extends the commission's emergency authority from 10 to 30 days and up to 90 days in certain circumstances. This legislation is necessary because we know that our Nation's financial infrastructure is a frontline target in the war against terrorism. The World Trade Center was a symbol of the United States' economy. I truly want to compliment the leaders of other such symbols of our economy in New York. The New York Stock Exchange and the New York Mercantile Exchange have done an extremely good job not only during that emergency, but since, in their efforts to upgrade security to almost fortress-like levels. I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley), the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), the ranking member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kanjorski) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) for their work on this issue. And I truly hope we never have to use the powers this legislation grants the SEC. I truly hope we will never have such an emergency again. But I strongly support this legislation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation that I am reintroducing with my colleague, Representative Judy Biggert of Illinois, the Privacy Protection Clarification Act. This legislation resolves the controversy as to whether attorneys at law, who are subject to strict codes of professional conduct, should be subject to the privacy section of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA). The Biggert- Maloney legislation recognizes that the practice of law and the business of financial services are wholly different and that GLBA should be clarified to recognize this distinction. With passage of GLBA in 1999, Congress took an important step in ensuring that consumer privacy is protected as financial institutions continue to merge and as the economy grows increasingly digital. As a member of the then Banking Committee, I was proud to play a role in requiring that financial services companies supply their customers with privacy policies and allow customers the right to opt-out of information sharing with third-parties. Unfortunately, GLBA has caused significant confusion for the legal community. On February 11, 2002, 1 joined 12 of my bipartisan colleagues on the Financial Services Committee in writing to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ask that it grant attorneys an exemption to the GLBA privacy provisions. As we wrote at the time, ``Attorneys are already bound by a duty of confidentiality, enforceable under the laws of all 50 states, that prevents misuse of client information and provides a higher degree of privacy protection than GLBA.'' After a thorough review the FTC determined that it does not presently have the authority to grant the exemption we requested. The privacy protections in Title V of GLBA were a response to specific cases where consumers' private, personal financial information was mined without their consent in an effort to market products. Where Title V is an appropriate response to such cases, it is inappropriate to apply it to most lawyers whose clients already expect that all their disclosures are confidential, covered by state codes of ethics and attorney-client privilege. For example, the Legal Aid Society of New York City had to translate its privacy notice into many different languages to serve its ethnically diverse clientele. It also had to devote an inordinate amount of time to dealing with confused clients who could not understand why they were getting privacy notices from their lawyers when information they share with their lawyers is presumed to be confidential. I fear this could have a chilling effect on the willingness of individuals to share critical information with their attorneys. The confusion these privacy notices are causing in New York is unnecessary given that there is express language forbidding the sharing of client information in the New York state ethics code for lawyers. The recently filed amicus brief at the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia by 19 state and local bar associations further lays out some of the ways that the Act conflicts with the practice of law, the rights of clients and the duties of attorneys. The brief was drafted by the former President of the American Law Institute, Professor Geoffrey Hazard. To quote from the amicus brief: ``Not only does the GLBA provide less broad and less beneficial privacy protection than do existing state ethics rules governing lawyers, there are contradictions and discrepancies in the concepts of confidentiality and in the responsibilities of the `service providers' under GLBA as applied to practicing lawyers. These disconnections make clear that the application of both privacy regimes to lawyers is unworkable. . .'' The stringent enforceable codes of professional conduct that attorneys are under contain opt-in requirements tailored to the profession. Their clients must affirmatively agree to the attorney revealing any personal information about that client. I join Representative Biggert in introducing this legislation today, because it is my intention to target this limited area where the interpretation of GLBA can be improved by a legislative fix. The FTC's standing interpretation of Title V of the Act is causing confusion that is detrimental to the attorney-client relationship. It is appropriate for Congress to intervene. I have met with numerous constituents from New York City on this issue and am convinced that attorneys should not fall under the existing language. I look forward to continuing to work to safeguard the privacy of my constituents during this Congress. This legislation is limited and strictly targeted. As for the larger privacy issues--the American public deserves more privacy protections, not fewer. When this body passed the GLBA provisions, we never considered its impact upon the practice of law because we had not intended it to apply to lawyers. Now that we see the confusion, expense and conflict that this act has wrought upon the legal community, we must act to clarify our original intent.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of legislation that I am reintroducing with my colleague, Jose Serrano of New York. Following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, individuals who required temporary housing assistance relied upon the Mortgage and Rental Assistance program (MRA), included in the Stafford Act, for aid. Under the MRA program, which can be used for both natural and non-natural disasters, they may have been eligible for grants to repair homes to a habitable condition, or to obtain mortgage or rental payment assistance to prevent foreclosures or evictions. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 amended the Stafford Act to end the program in May 2002. Without this program, thousands of people affected by future major disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and terrorist acts, may be unable to obtain any assistance to address their housing needs. This legislation reauthorizes this program so that it will be available in the future. Although there were clear problems with FEMA's implementation of the MRA program in New York after 9/11, progress has been made to ensure that FEMA assists all the individuals who have experienced these types of housing problems because of the terrorist attack. With the program finally running the way it should, we must take the necessary steps now to guarantee that anyone affected by future disasters will have the aid that they need.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the Panpaphian Association of America, Inc., on the occasion of the Fourth Evagoras Pallikarides Award of Merit. An outstanding organization established in 1987, the Panpaphian Association has enriched its community through its promotion of the rich culture of Cyprus. Founded by a small group of Cypriot Americans of Panpaphian ancestry, the Panpaphian Association of America has grown considerably in the past two decades. It has played a significant role in educating others about Cyprus and it history, traditions, and customs. The Panpaphian Association's contributions to the community include a choir and a soccer team, as well as various educational lectures on Paphian archaeological excavations and their findings. Originally a small community organization, the Panpaphian Association prospered remarkably and has developed into a pillar of the Cypriot American community. In addition to supporting Cyprus and increasing awareness of Cypriot heritage, the association is involved in motivating and aiding its community in various ways. It promotes and stresses the importance of education through its annual academic excellence awards. Further, the association has made a major effort in fundraising for those who require medical attention, and it has made helpful donations to Paphos Hospital. In 1999, the Panpaphian Association established the Evagoras Pallikarides award, honoring the memory of Pallikarides, a Cypriot hero who was killed in 1956 while fighting for his country's freedom. Dennis C. Droushiotis, the Trade Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, has been selected as the honored recipient of the 2003 Evagoras Pallikarides Award of Merit. Among his many accomplishments are the establishment of the first Cyprus Trade Center in the United States and the implementation of many successful exports and investments programs, leading to the exponential growth of Cypriot exports to the U.S. The Trade Center's bilateral initiatives were a crucial factor in the United States becoming the main exporter to Cyprus and the growth of two-way trade. Mr. Droushiotis is also the founding member of the Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, inaugurated in 1998 by President Glafcos Clerides and Minister Nicos Rolandis. He has served as a delegate to the World Trade Organization, the United Nation 33rd and 37th General Assembly Sessions, and other such prestigious gatherings. His many civic involvements include work with the European Travel Commission, the Cyprus Olympic Committee, and the Cyprus Children's Fund. Throughout his life, Mr. Droushiotis has been committed to the cause of justice, peace, and prosperity for Cyprus. He has been honored by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce, and in 2000, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his work in international trade. As an individual who has contributed greatly not only to his nation but to both the Cypriot and Cypriot American communities, he is truly worthy of the Evagoras Pallikarides Award. The organization has also chosen Charles Socrates as 2003 Member of the Year. Mr. Socrates, who originates from a small village in Cyprus, immigrated to the United States and, despite limited resources, developed a successful career while establishing an extensive network of family and friends. The Panpaphian Association honors Mr. Socrates today for his hard work and pride in his ethnicity. In recognition of the Panpaphian Association of America's many contributions for the Cypriot American community, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting this organization and all of tonight's honorees on the fourth anniversary of their annual Evagoras Pallikarides Award of Merit.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to Rabbi Sidney Kleiman on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Both a scholar and a vigorous leader, Rabbi Kleiman inspires his community and congregation with his pious dedication and moving sermons. With the longest active tenure of service in the same synagogue of any living rabbi, Rabbi Kleiman, has been serving New York City's historic Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El for over 60 years. First as Rabbi from 1939-1999, he now serves as Rabbi Emeritus since 2000. Rabbi Kleiman tells the story of how he became rabbi of Adareth El. ``In 1939, I was Rabbi of the Jewish Center of Violet Park [in Bronx]. A Mr. Finkel, of blessed memory, was a member of my shul and also a member of the 29th Street shul. He noticed that I left every morning to go down to Henry Street on the lower east side, to take my children to school in the yeshiva, and that I would go back every afternoon to pick them up. Mr. Finkel said to me, ``Rabbi, you can't keep this up! You will not last, it is too much for you. There is an excellent opportunity, the 29th Street shul is looking for a Rabbi. The position would be perfect for you.'' Rabbi Kleiman was happy in his current position, but Mr. Finkel persisted. Rabbi Kleiman agreed to preach a sermon one Shabbos, with the understanding that he was not applying for the position of Rabbi. He recounts, ``The Saturday I preached was the week that Britain's Prime Minister Chamberlain had held his now infamous meeting with Hitler in Munich. When Chamberlain returned to 10 Downing Street, it was a rainy day. He opened up his umbrella and declared to the world: Peace in our time! The title of the sermon I preached that Shabbos was Peace Not in Our Times.'' Rabbi Kleiman explains that Chamberlain should have known from his meeting that Hitler was out to destroy the Jewish people and their rich culture. In the pacifist and isolationist climate of the United States during that time, the Rabbi stressed that the prestige of the Jewish people and their leaders had to be raised. In his words, ``The congregation said that if this Rabbi is crazy enough to deliver this kind of sermon when America is so isolationist and pacifistic, let's elect him for six months and then fire him. And so it was. Every six months I was fired and re-hired. And that's how I lasted 60 years!'' And after fifty years as Rabbi, the Board of Trustees at Adereth El asked him if he would consider retiring. He said, ``No Way!'' He told them that his mother lived to 104 and was alert to the last day and he expects to outlive her. Currently, after 60 years of outstanding service and leadership, Rabbi Kleiman has been given the new honor and title of Rabbi Emeritus, which he expects to be for at least another fifty years. Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El, founded in 1857, has the distinction of being the only Jewish congregation in New York City to have worshipped for more than 140 years on the same site. Since 1863, Adereth El has been located on East 29th Street. The original design and integrity of the synagogue's simple and dignified interior has been substantially unaltered. Today, the congregation continues to provide a spiritual home to over 150 New York City families. The contributions of Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El have touched many lives by providing spiritual guidance as well as fostering an enduring spirit of community. This spirit of giving is epitomized by the dedication and selflessness exhibited by Rabbi Kleiman. For his unwavering dedication to his community and congregation, Rabbi Kleiman will forever remain a prominent and lasting community and spiritual leader. In recognition of Rabbi Kleiman's lifetime of service and leadership of Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El, I ask that my colleagues join me in saluting Rabbi Kleiman and the congregation on his 90th birthday celebration.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to Gouverneur Healthcare Services, on the occasion of their Annual Chinese New Year Celebration. Founded in 1885, Gouverneur Healthcare Services has a rich and lengthy history of providing innovative healthcare services for New Yorkers and their families. In 1885, Gouverneur made history by becoming America's first public hospital to establish a tuberculosis clinic. As a pioneer in healthcare, it was also the first institution to employ a female physician on its ambulance service as well as the first to set up day camp on a boat for undernourished adults and children. A century later, Gouverneur established Project HELP, the first psychiatric mobile crisis unit for homeless, mentally ill individuals. These are just a few examples of Gouverneur's ability to create innovative programs to fulfill the needs of our community. Gouverneur's 210 bed Nursing Facility has provided outstanding skilled nursing and rehabilitation care for over a quarter of a century. Care is provided in an ethnically and culturally sensitive manner, with special programs for Chinese and Hispanics. In addition, Gouverneur's ambulatory care facility, with over 300,000 visits in FY 1998, is one of the city's busiest. Among Gouverneur's many notable services is the Diagnostic and Treatment Center, which is the largest in New York State, providing more than 300,000 visits each year. The center focuses on maintaining patient wellness through a wide range of outpatient diagnostic and healthcare services including general medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, obstetrics, HIV care, behavioral health, dentistry, podiatry, dermatology and an eye clinic. Gouverneur aims to reach all members of the culturally and ethnically rich Manhattan community. Special programs include the Asian Bicultural Unit, which provides psychiatric services for members of the Asian community, and the Roberto Clemente Center and the Sylvia Del Villard Continuing Day Treatment Program, which offer mental health programs designed to suit the needs of the Latino community. Gouverneur's attentive concern and dedication to a multi-cultural patient population have made it a leader in providing services to non- English speaking patients. Gouverneur's staff is multilingual and is devoted to meeting each patients' individual needs. For example, Gouverneur's nursing facility provides Chinese, English and Spanish menus, with an emphasis on individual food preferences. Gouverneur's multicultural services department works diligently to ensure that each and every patient feels comfortable while his or her healthcare needs are addressed. The department has members and volunteers that provide interpreting services in various languages, and printed materials are available in English, Chinese and Spanish throughout the facility. Gouverneur has also piloted TEMIS, an award winning system that enables patients and their providers to receive simultaneous translation during exams through the use of wireless technology. As an active leader in the community, Gouverneur hosted ``Celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month'' in May 2002. The event raised public awareness and offered free speech and language screenings to children from a widely diverse community in their own native languages. As a result of the collaboration, many children were screened and approximately 75% were flagged for possible speech and language difficulties. In recognition of Gouverneur Healthcare Services' outstanding contributions to the community and their commitment to the quality of life of the diverse New York City community, I ask that my colleagues join me in saluting Gouverneur Healthcare Services on the occasion of their Annual Chinese New Year Celebration.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Obey Motion to Instruct. We are four months into fiscal year 2003, yet 11 of the appropriations bills have yet to be enacted. I am happy to see that we are close to wrapping up this appropriations process. But now is not the time to skimp on the people's priorities. In our rush to finish, we must ensure that Homeland Security and our first responders are at the top of our list. I urge the conferees to incorporate into the final conference report the language included in the omnibus bill by the other body. In particular, I support the $90 million to continue the health monitoring at Mount Sinai Hospital for the men and women who were on the front lines of defense on September 11th and the days that followed. The other body included specific instructions to FEMA on this $90 million. Yesterday, several firefighters and rescue workers who worked the pile at Ground Zero were here in Washington to call attention to this very important issue. These brave heroes entered a battle zone of a new kind of war, and are really the first victims of the war. And we need to ensure they receive the medical care they deserve. The need for this money was underscored in a report released this week by Mount Sinai Hospital showing that a majority of ground zero workers and volunteers screened for health problems have serious persistent illnesses from the disaster. The initial screening program which ends this July will screen only about 9,000 of the approximately 40,000 rescue workers in need of medical attention. The analysis reveals that over 50 percent of the sample study have pulmonary illnesses, ear, nose and throat ailments, or persistent mental health problems. The Doctors at Mt. Sinai believe the same statistics will hold for the roughly 3,500 responders they have seen to date. 78 percent of the participants reported at least one World Trade Center-related pulmonary symptom that first developed or worsened as a result of their rescue efforts; 52 percent reported mental health symptoms requiring further evaluation; and only about one-third of the sample participants had received any prior medical care for any of their symptoms and conditions. In other words, for about one-third of these participants--their trip to Mount Sinai had been their only source of medical care; emphasizing the critical need to fully fund this program now, not later, not months down the road. I urge my colleagues in the House to read the findings from the Mt. Sinai report--which can be found on my website: http:// www.wtcexams.org/. Medical monitoring delayed is proper health care denied. But again we face the challenge of securing the House support and the Administration's support and leadership to make this happen. Medical monitoring delayed is proper health care denied. I hope that the conferees will include in the final conference report the language included in the omnibus bill by the other body. The first responders were there for us when we needed them, now the question is will the federal government be there for them.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, the rescue workers were there for us when we needed them. The question before this body today is will we, the Federal Government, be there for them when they need us? I rise strongly in support of the gentleman from Wisconsin's (Mr. Obey) motion to recommit that provides the necessary funding to help protect this country, but I particularly want to speak about one program that was instituted and planned to help the first responders in New York City, and that is the $90 million proposed monitoring of health care at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. The 12 million that was originally allocated will run out in July, and only a small portion of the roughly 40,000 workers, and I mean laborer, fire, construction worker, those that were exposed to these deadly, deadly toxins, have been screened. Earlier, in a bipartisan way, we passed a supplemental, but that was vetoed, and these heroes need to be helped, and what I see is sort of the selective amnesia. When it is time to have a photo op or time to talk about heroes, everybody is there for the photo op, but when it comes to the time to allocate the money to the men and women who need the health care and need the continued services, it has not been there. Underscoring this is an important Mt. Sinai study that came out yesterday showing the illnesses and persistent illnesses caused by 9- 11, and I include it for the Record. I rise in support of Representative Obey's motion to recommit, which provides crucial funding to help protect the country. In particular, I support the $90 million to continue the health monitoring at Mount Sinai hospital for the men and women who were on the front lines of defense on September 11th and the days that followed. Sixteen months after that fateful day, we must make sure that those brave men and women who entered a battle zone of a new kind of war, and are really the first victims of the war, receive the medical care they deserve. Underscoring the need for this money was a report released yesterday by Mount Sinai hospital showing that a majority of ground zero workers and volunteers screened for health problems have serious persistent illnesses from the disaster. The initial screening program which ends this July will screen only about 9,000 of the approximately 40,000 rescue workers in need of medical attention. Dr. Stephen Levin and Dr. Robin Burton said the findings showed ``disturbing levels of long term health problems'' and that it was ``alarming.'' The analysis reveals that over 50 percent of the sample study have pulmonary illnesses, ear, nose, and throat ailments, or persistent mental health problems. They believe the same statistics will hold for the roughly 3,500 responders they have seen to date: 78 percent of the participants reported at least one World Trade Center-related pulmonary symptom that first developed or worsened as a result of their rescue efforts; 52 percent reported mental health symptoms requiring further evaluation; and only about one-third of the sample participants had received any prior medical care for any of their symptoms and conditions. In other words, for about one-third of these participants, their trip to Mount Sinai had been their only source of medical care; emphasizing the critical need to fully fund this program now, not later, not months down the road. Medical monitoring delayed is proper health care denied. Last week Senator Clinton, in a bipartisan effort, again successfully directed $90 million dollars from FEMA for this purpose. But again we face the challenge of securing the House support and the Administration's support and leadership to make this happen. These firefighters are just here to pick up their check not only for themselves, but for the ironworkers, the construction workers, laborers, rescue workers, volunteers, and their families who care deeply about their health. Medical monitoring delayed is proper health care denied. The rescue workers and volunteers were there for us when we needed them, now the question is will the federal government be there for them.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my disappointment in the Majority's failure to provide real relief to unemployed Americans. During this economic downturn, millions of Americans have faced difficult times as they lost their jobs, and then dealt with the harsh reality that their unemployment benefits would run out before they could find employment. Recent estimates find that 35,000 workers in the New York City area lost their benefits on December 28, 2002. That is not acceptable. The 107th Congress adjourned before passing an unemployment package. While this legislation will help some, it does not provide an extension to the nearly one million workers who have already exhausted their benefits. I have heard from my constituents who have been looking for work for months and find that there just are not jobs out there right now. And they cannot believe that their elected officials, the representatives who are supposed to fight for their interests, turned their backs on them when they needed help the most. It's time that we stop putting the interests of the wealthy ahead of the needs of America's workers who shoulder the burden when the economy is bad. I wholeheartedly support legislation introduced by Congressman Rangel which would guarantee all jobless workers at least 26 weeks of extended unemployment benefits. We must provide this necessary relief to America's unemployed. While I will vote for this legislation, it's time for the Majority to make unemployment relief a priority and to give us the opportunity to vote for meaningful legislation that will make a difference in the lives of workers.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to The 23rd Street Association on the occasion of their Annual Award Luncheon. This year, the 23rd Street Association is honoring North Fork Bank and Carolyn Drexel for their outstanding community involvement. In addition, the owners and management of the Flatiron building are being recognized on this, the building's centennial anniversary, for their dedication to the buildings restoration and modernization. Ranked number one by the leading industry publication U.S. Banker in their annual survey, North Fork Bancorp is considered one of the nation's top bank and thrift companies. North Fork was also ranked fourth among the top 100 banking companies that include all types of financial services companies. Organized in 1980, today, the total assets of the Bank are approximately $19 billion with over 165 branch locations that provide a wide range of personal and commercial banking services throughout New York. Carolyn Drexel joined North Fork Bank as part of a new Management Training Program in 1979. After landing a position in the Speonk office as the Assistant Branch Manager, she continued to advance her career, and in 1993 became a Senior Vice President in charge of the Branch Network. In April 1997, Ms. Drexel's professionalism and skill led her to take on the responsibilities of managing the entire Retail Division which includes the Branch Network, Marketing, Sales, Retail Operations and the Cash Management Department. Ms. Drexel was promoted to Executive Vice President in January of 1998. As Vice President, she leads more than 2,300 employees of the Bank with 168 branches located from Eastern Long Island to Upstate New York. Ms. Drexel has also been a tenacious community activist, and has volunteered her time at various organizations including the Epilepsy Foundation, Salvation Army, Suffolk County Special Olympics, Yeshiva of South Shore. Most recently, Ms. Drexel was appointed to the Board of Directors of Safe Horizon. The legendary three-sided structure at the intersection of Broadway, Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street, The Flatiron Building, is one of New York's oldest surviving skyscrapers. Opened in 1902, the building's unique architecture in the form of a geometrically perfect, straight- edged right triangle, separates it from the New York City streetscape. Now, thanks to a recent refurbishment under new owners and last year's $5 million reconstruction of the six-acre oasis of Madison Square Park, the building continues to be the flagship of the reborn Flatiron district. I would also like to commend the 23rd Street Association in their mission of enhancing the quality of life for families and businesses in the area bounded by the Hudson and East Rivers from 17th to 28th Street. Incorporated in 1929 by 22 local business people, today's 23rd Street Association has approximately 300 members. Their efforts have included conducting business-training programs in local junior high schools, mobilizing the community to bring about a $2.5 million renovation of Madison Square Park, working with the local police to combat drug dealing and other crime, and developing annual summertime concert programming and children's entertainment in the community. The Association is fortunate to represent individuals and organizations that are so committed to the advancement of their community. In recognition of the invaluable contributions and the selfless efforts of tonight's honorees, I ask that my colleagues join me in saluting the 23rd Street Association on their annual award luncheon.