Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce legislation that will fortify the current Federal debarment system. The United States is the largest consumer in the world and invests over $215 billion in goods and services annually. Yet the Federal government's watchdogs, the Federal suspension and debarment officials, currently lack the information they need to protect our business interests. We have no central way of accounting for the performance of our purchases. Beyond a listing of currently debarred or suspended persons, officials are limited to their individual agency's knowledge of an entity's track record, press reports and personal contacts with other agencies. The American public's knowledge is limited even further. Often times this allows Federal contractors and assistance recipients to repeatedly violate Federal law yet still receive millions of dollars from the Federal government. In a time when corporate accounting scandals are being revealed at an unprecedented pace, isn't it wise to have a full accounting of the Federal government's investments? A recent report conducted by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) discovered that 16 of the 43 top Federal contractors (based on total contract dollars received) have a total of 28 criminal convictions. The top 4 contractors have at least 2 criminal convictions since 1990. The Contractors Accountability Act of 2002 establishes a centralized database on actions taken against Federal contractors and assistance participants, requiring a description of each of these actions. This will provide debarring officials with the information they need to protect the business interests of the United States. It places the burden of proving responsibility and subsequent eligibility for contracts or assistance on the person seeking contracts or assistance should they have been previously convicted of two exact or similar violations that constitutes a charge for debarment. Additionally, it improves/clarifies the role of the Interagency Committee on Debarments and Suspension and provides for retention by the prosecuting Federal agency of fines paid by offender for reimbursement of costs associated with suspension and debarment activities.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan Nurse Reinvestment Act. I applaud the hard work of Congresswoman Capps and thank her for her dedication to this important public health issue. Today's nurses are overworked, period. And despite their best efforts, the nursing shortage is impacting patient care. Included in this bill's many worthy provisions, are measures to provide incentives for young Americans to decide to become nurses. Keeping our nurses in the workforce, while recruiting new staff will be critical to reversing these startling shortages. Our nation's nurses are stressed and overworked. More and more, the stress and the work conditions have caused many nurses to stop practicing. According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, 19 percent of New York's registered nurses were not practicing in 2000, up 4 percent since 1996. Worse yet, three quarters of nurses feel the quality of nursing care at the medical facility at which they work has decreased over the last two years, in large part do to under staffing. In New York, the nurse patient ratio violations have become so frequent that the New York Professional Nurses Union has put the hotline to report these violations on the front of their webpage, right next to instructions on how to take a sick day, or a vacation day. When nurse patient ratio violations are as common as a sick day, health care is clearly hurting. Again, I applaud the hard work of Mrs. Capps and her colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker..

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, for almost seven years, Lori Berenson, an American, has been imprisoned in Peru under exceptionally harsh conditions that have seriously affected her health. From the beginning, many of us have said that Lori's convictions were based on extremely flawed trials in which she was denied due process. Her first conviction by a hooded military tribunal was so tainted that it was thrown out by Peru. Earlier this month, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights announced that her second trial was also flawed, determining that the Peruvian government violated Ms. Berenson's rights. Indeed, much of the evidence used against Lori was gathered during her discredited military trial, in many cases from witnesses who had been subjected to torture. Most of the witnesses have since recanted their earlier statements. The only witness against Lori at the second trial received a reduced sentence in return for his initial testimony condemning Lori and, on the eve of Lori's second trial, was given a new trial so that he can get another reduction in sentence. Furthermore, court proceedings clearly show that the judges had decided the verdict long before this trial began. How fair is a trial in which a judge proclaims a defendant guilty while witnesses are still being heard? Even this badly tainted court admitted that Lori was innocent of terrorist acts or of belonging to a terrorist organization. Further, the law under which Lori was convicted has been widely condemned by the international community for its broad scope and outrageously heavy penalties. The Inter-American Commission has spoken and Peru should listen. Lori has condemned terrorism and has said that she opposed the violence and deaths there have been. Peru embarrasses itself by continuing to keep her in prison based on a flawed trial and an indefensible statute. She has been in prison for far too long. It is time for Lori to come home.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Morella amendment. We do not make our homeland more secure by undermining job security. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Morella-Danny Davis amendment to protect federal workers. As a New Yorker, I care deeply about homeland security. Even since, Sept. 11th, we have had several security alerts issued by the government. Everyone wants a strong homeland, but it shouldn't be achieved on the backs of the dedicated and talented men and women of the federal workforce. We should not erode the rights of federal workers. In the event of a homeland security crisis, do you really believe that anyone would abandon their posts when the clock strikes five? The Morella amendment is a fair amendment. It is clear that the government employees who transfer into the new department can keep the rights they already have. It applies only to those who currently have collective bargaining rights and would in NO WAY affect those employees who do not currently have these rights. Some of the papers are using the example of a ``druken Border Patrol agent'' as a reason of why they want to take away workers' rights. This is a silly anecdote. I can tell you in New York right now, if this were to happen with one of our officers in the City, such a person would be removed immediately from their post, but due process would still be protected. We don't make our homeland secure by undermining job security.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Turner amendment. The Turner amendment is narrowly targeted and fiscally responsible. The Republican majority's immunity provisions in the bill are the ultimate anti-corporate responsibility provisions and living proof that the leadership is not serious about increasing corporate accountability. The Turner amendment addresses one of the challenges that we have experienced in New York after September 11 where one of the biggest problems we have is the lack of available insurance. It is stifling our economy. Commerce cannot go forward without insurance, and I hope Congress will act quickly on antiterrorism insurance. Similarly, we have very talented private sector industries developing cutting-edge technologies to make our homeland secure. But without sufficient insurance coverage and liability, these technologies simply will not be offered. And without a safety net for catastrophe, businesses simply will not do antiterrorism business. What this amendment does is that it indemnifies providers of antiterrorism technology, which we desperately need, only after they have obtained all the insurance that they can from the private market and above that insurance they are indemnified for additional liability. I might say that they must also get the approval of the Secretary of Homeland Security and of OMB. So I urge my colleagues to support the Turner amendment. It merely gives companies that will do business with the new Department of Homeland Security the same protections, the same indemnity protections to companies that work with other agencies like the Department of Defense. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Turner amendment.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Morella-Danny Davis amendment to protect federal workers. As a New Yorker, I care deeply about homeland security. On September 11th, we should remember that the first responders who rushed to the World Trade Center were civil servants--wonderful, selfless civil servants. More than 10 months after September 11, the pain from that day has not begun to fade for my constituents in New York. While we have cleaned up the site and begun to focus on rebuilding, no New Yorker can walk past a firehouse or see a police car race across the city without being reminded of the incredible herorism displayed by the 343 firefighters, 37 Port Authority Police and 23 New York City Police who gave their lives to save others that day. In my own district 25 different fire stations lost people in the terror attacks. One firehouse in my district--the Roosevelt Island based Special--Operations unit lost 10 men. The loss was so great from this facility because a duty change was in progress. Men who were finishing their shift grabbed their equipment and headed to the scene. As a result, twice as many perished as would have otherwise. These men and women didn't hesitate to respond. So I ask you, in the event of a future homeland security crisis, do we really believe that any federal worker at the new Department of Homeland Security would abandon their posts when the clock strikes five? Everyone wants a strong homeland, but it shouldn't be achieved on the backs of the dedicated and talented men and women of the federal workforce. We should not erode the rights of federal workers. The Morella amendment is a fair amendment. It is clear that the government employees who transfer into the new department can keep the rights they already have. The amendment applies only to those who currently have collective bargaining rights and would in NO WAY affect those employees who do not currently have these rights. Some of the papers are using the example of a ``drunken Border Patrol agent'' as a reason of why they want to take away workers' rights. This is a silly anecdote. I can tell you in New York right now, if this were to happen with one of our officers in the City, such a person would be removed immediately from their post, but due process would still be protected. We don't make our homeland secure by undermining job security. Vote for the Morella amendment.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this conference report, the strongest reforms since FDR was President in corporate law. Our markets run on trust and this trust has been violated. This bill puts forward new tough standards based on old values to restore investor confidence. The overwhelming majority of the accountants in the U.S. are hardworking, honest people, but the self-regulation of their industry has failed. This bill responds with the Sarbanes-LaFalce proposal for the strongest possible new independent accounting oversight board. It also adopts the Sarbanes-LaFalce plan to put an end to the inherent conflict of interest of allowing the same firm to provide both audit and consulting services for the same client. Investors have lost faith in boards of directors and managers to look out for their interest. This legislation empowers independent members of boards to hire and fire auditors, prohibits trades during pension blackouts, requires CEOs and CFOs to certify the accuracy of their company's financial statements, and if there are misrepresentations, they face criminal penalties. More and more Americans depend on the markets for a secure retirement. Executives who take advantage of investors will now face serious jail time for securities fraud, up to 25 years. Importantly, the bill also authorizes $776 million for the SEC, including money for pay parity. Finally, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) for his work on this legislation and the hearings he held. I especially want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) who recognized a crisis in financial reporting years before it became front page news. This legislation may be called the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, but much of it is the hard work and product of the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) and leader on the Committee on Financial Services, on the House floor and in the conference.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today we will be enacting the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a historic overhaul of financial services oversight. But I am saddened by the crisis that brought us here. Today my heart goes out to all the innocent workers who have lost their jobs and the investors whose pensions have been pillaged. Out of this calamity we have produced the strongest legislative reaction to a business scandal since Franklin Roosevelt was President. It is a triumph over incredibly powerful special interest lobbying and includes world-changing reforms for U.S. companies. I have high confidence in our free market system. We have been through other market declines, insider training scandals in the eighties, and the S&L crisis. Our system is the best at generating economic growth, jobs, and rewards initiative and innovation. The Sarbanes-Oxley bill is an important step toward restoring investor confidence and transparency in our system.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today disappointed that the Rules Committee would not allow an amendment that would have provided the new Department of Homeland Security with the tools that are necessary to appropriately respond to a terrorist attack or another Homeland Security Emergency. The amendment that I speak of is one that I offered in the Committee on Government Reform, where it passed by a unanimous vote. Government Reform is the Committee that had primary jurisdiction in the creation of this new department, yet much of its wonderful bipartisan work was unexplainably rejected by the Majority, was not allowed in today's Bill and is not even being allowed a chance to be debated on the floor today. Obviously, prevention needs to be our and the Department of Homeland Security's number-one priority, and we must do everything possible to prevent all future attacks. However, there are two major priorities for homeland security--not only preventing terrorism, but also responding to the impacts of terrorism should it occur again. With this reorganization, we seem to have only focused on the first. If a fail-safe system cannot be created, then why are we being blocked today from taking the lessons learned from the worst terrorist attack in American history and using the research of GAO, CRS and the NY Federal Reserve to create an improved system of response? Experience is often the best teacher and very regrettably, New York learned much on 9/11. The bipartisan amendment that I introduced recognized the need to improve the nation's response should we have another attack. My amendment does exactly that. It gives the Secretary the authority to respond quickly following a homeland security event and eliminates much of the redtape New York experienced after 9/11. These are things that when they need to be done, they need to be done quickly. If they are not done quickly then the challenges to the affected areas significantly increase. I must stress that all of these options are at the discretion of the Secretary. I cannot imagine why the Majority would not allow the opportunity to give the Department of Homeland Security the ability to respond and provide aid to schools, hospitals and local governments that may need it. We know from September 11th that there's a great deal of room for improvement in response and recovery operations. While the hearts of Washington were 100% behind New York's recovery, the system was not adequately prepared to get the job done. The series of complications and delays in federal relief efforts for New York City show a real need for expanded authority and flexibility in disaster recovery operations. I think we can all agree that delivering immediate aid, to the right people, at the right time, is and will always be our top priority. It's painful to think that thousands of people, in any of our districts, could once again be left without assistance because of outdated rules and inconsistent procedures. Sadly, America experienced a major disaster we can learn from, showing in some cases what works, and in many cases, how not to respond. My amendment learns from the past and prepares for the future. Enclosed are materials on my amendment. Although my amendment was not included, I do support the rule and underlying bill.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time and for her tremendous leadership on this issue and so many others. Mr. Speaker, this bill is nothing more than a cruel ploy to prevent women from obtaining the safest and best medical care from their doctors. What is more, it is unconstitutional. This bill is no different from the Nebraska law struck down by the Supreme Court 2 years ago in Stenberg v. Carhart. It has the same flaws and the same dangers. Like the Nebraska law, this bill's broad language bans the safest and most common form of abortion used in second trimester, posing an undue burden on a woman's right to choose. It has no exception for preserving a woman's health. It ties the hands of medical practitioners, condemning women to less safe procedures that may put their lives at risk. Sandra Day O'Connor's opinion was very clear that government ``may promote, but not endanger, a woman's health when it regulates the methods of abortion.'' The decision went on to say, ``Where a significant body of medical opinion believes a procedure may bring with it greater safety for some patients and explains the medical reasons supporting that view, neither Congress nor the States may ban the procedure.'' The Supreme Court has said neither Congress nor the States may ban the procedure, so if we already know that this bill is unconstitutional, then why are we here? I believe it is to give the anti-choice forces one more chance to spread the lie that this is about a particular procedure at a particular phase of pregnancy. So let us set the record straight. This ban covers many procedures and all phases of pregnancy. This is not about late-term abortions, this is not about the D&E procedure, this is about outlawing choice, pure and simple. It is an extreme measure that sacrifices women's health to further an ideological agenda that opposes choice. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in voting against this deceptive attempt to deny women access to choice. I urge a no vote on this rule and the underlying bill, and I urge this body to follow the words of Sandra Day O'Connor and the majority of the members of the Supreme Court that have already ruled that the bill before us is unconstitutional.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding time and compliment him for his strong leadership on this issue and so many others. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill and I would like to put this debate in perspective. Today marks the 167th vote against women and their right to choose since the Republicans came to this House in the majority beginning with the 104th Congress. It is nothing more than a cruel ploy to prevent women from obtaining the safest and best medical care from their doctors. This is a deceptive and unconstitutional, extreme abortion ban. Once again, some of my colleagues are trying to strip away difficult private decisions that belong in the hands of women and their doctors. Many things are the same since the last time we voted on this type of ban that puts the rights and health of women in jeopardy. Under this bill, women are still prevented from receiving necessary and safe medical care. Under this bill, doctors who are sworn to save lives are still criminals for doing what they are supposed to do, save lives. Under this bill, women are still at risk of losing their future fertility, their health and even their lives. But one very important thing is very different and that is a Supreme Court decision. In 2000, in Stenberg v. Carhart, a law that is very similar to the one we are discussing today, banning late-term abortions in Nebraska, was ruled unconstitutional because it did not have an exception for the health of the woman and because it places an undue burden on a woman's ability to obtain an abortion. This means that in addition to being restrictive and cruel policy, this bill is unconstitutional. The writers of this bill are trying to be both the Supreme Court and every woman's doctor. They are making a mockery of the separation of powers and are stealing decisions from women and their doctors. This bill is a direct assault on Roe v. Wade and a direct attack on a woman's right to choose. It politicizes families' tragedies and disregards the life and health of the woman. The bill is unconstitutional, unsafe and puts an undue burden on women. Furthermore, ACOG, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which represents 90 percent of the doctors in this field, rejected the ban, and I quote, as inappropriate, ill-advised and dangerous. With this bill, Congress is doing something that we have never done before and something that we should never do, and, that is, dictating to doctors and the entire medical establishment which procedure they may choose. Congress is overriding the medical profession's best judgments, even in emergency situations, and it is in direct conflict with a Supreme Court decision ruling it as unconstitutional.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of real corporate reform legislation and urge the conference committee to adopt the proposals put forth by Senator Sarbanes. Financial markets around the world are in a highly anxious mood, U.S. fiscal policy is plunging our country back into deficits, and the credibility of some of our most trusted companies' financial statements is undermined. This is no time to delay the establishment of fully independent oversight of the industry by a newly created public accounting board that is not under accounting industry control. As the conference committee nears its completion, the funding for the new oversight board must not be used as a means of undermining its independence. Senator Sarbanes' legislation provides the board with funding from public companies as they are audited, a mechanism that separates the board funding from the accounting firms it will oversee and it protects its independence. The Sarbanes legislation will not turn the markets around by itself but it will send a message to investors here and abroad that Congress is serious about removing the conflicts of interest.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this very important legislation. I want to express my sincere thanks and happiness that the funding for New York's recovery has been included in this bill. I would like to also note that this legislation includes $90 million for a longterm study that will be conducted by Mt. Sinai hospital to track the health impact of 9/11 on the dedicated and courageous response-and-recovery workers at the World Trade Center. However, while I am pleased that this study was included and that we are taking care of the utilities, I must say that I am very troubled that this bill does not contain any funding to aid the New York City Board of Education with its costs because of the September 11th terrorist attack. I, along with many members of the New York Congressional Delegation, and especially my friend and colleague Representative John Sweeney, who tried to include the aid in Committee, have been working on this important issue since the Board came to us with their concerns. Because of the attack, the Board has incurred costs such as making up for lost instructional time, clean up and repair of impacted buildings, transportation for relocated students, and the loss of perishable food and lunch revenues. Our goal simply has been to obtain for the New York City schoolchildren the same kind of aid that was made available to the Northridge schools following the 1994 earthquake. FEMA indicated that it wanted to help, but lacked the necessary authority. After months of correspondence with FEMA, we believed that to provide the Board with this funding, language needed to be included in the Supplemental Appropriations bill directing FEMA to reimburse the Board. However, even after the inclusion of such language by our colleagues in the other body, FEMA and OMB have indicated that this language is not sufficient, and the FEMA still lacks the authority to reimburse the Board. I am very disappointed with FEMA's inability to come to the aid of New York City's schoolchildren, who have done nothing wrong and deserve to have the best possible educational experience. Mr. Speaker, the events of September 11th are unprecedented in our nation's history. As a result, President Bush pledged that his administration would do whatever it takes to rebuild New York City. While we appreciate his support and much of the good work that has already occurred, the red tape that seems to be tying up the aid for the New York City schools must be cut as soon as possible. I am hopeful that we will be able to come to some resolution with FEMA so that the Board can continue its preparations for the upcoming school year.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me this time; and particularly I am pleased to join my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), in support of the True American Heroes Act. Actually, I just am coming in from New York, having toured yet again Ground Zero. This legislation combines a bill that the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) and I were able to get through the House last December that would present gold medals to emergency rescuers who perished at the World Trade Center with legislation put forth by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) to create a Spirit of America coin, as well as suggestions for honoring rescuers at the Pentagon and the brave passengers who wrestled Flight 93 to the ground in Pennsylvania. More than 10 months after September 11, the pain from that day has not begun to fade for my constituents in New York. While we have cleaned up the site and begun to focus on rebuilding, no New Yorker can walk past a firehouse or see a police car race through the city without being reminded of this incredible horror that happened and the incredible heroism displayed by 343 firefighters, 37 Port Authority police, and 23 New York City police who gave their lives to save the lives of others. In my own district, 25 different fire stations lost people in the attack. One firehouse in my district on Roosevelt Island had the special operations unit, and it lost 10 men. The loss was so great from this facility and others because of a duty change which was in progress, so men who were finishing a shift grabbed their equipment and headed to the scene. As a result, twice as many perished as would have otherwise. At Ground Zero, on September 12, we heard estimates that as many as 20,000 people had perished. We now know that thanks to the heroic work of the rescue workers the death toll was under 3,000 because these rescue workers charged up into the towers to save as many strangers as they could. From the moment the plane struck the towers, from all over the city and surrounding areas rescuers poured out of firehouses and precinct houses and reacted without regard for their own safety. They were cops, firemen, EMTs, and other public servants. This legislation lets us honor these men and women who died so that others could live. Thousands of families are missing members after 10 months, but perhaps the best reason to pass this bill is that tens of thousands of families are not. As New York and the world watched in horror as the planes struck and the towers were engulfed, these individuals honored by this bill thrust themselves toward danger without a second thought. They are true American heroes. In the past, the Congressional Gold Medal has been awarded to honor contributions to America for outstanding individuals and groups. The True American Heroes Act will award Congressional Gold Medals to brave rescuers who perished in the attack. What better way to pay tribute than to award these families the most distinguished honor bestowed by Congress. This legislation also designates that the individual precinct houses, firehouses, and emergency response stations that lost people in the attack will receive copies of the gold medal. As you pass the firehouses and precincts in New York, the emotion of this tragedy is still overpowering. This legislation will ensure that we will forever have public displays around the city to preserve the memory of those rescuers who made the ultimate sacrifice. The offices of the Mayor, the Governor of New York, and the head of the Port Authority will also be awarded copies of the medals. As we all know, the head of the Port Authority himself, my friend Neil Levin, was lost in the attack. Neil was serving as the executive director of the Port Authority, the agency that ran the World Trade Center for 28 years. In addition to the gold medals, the U.S. Mint will make bronze reproductions of the medals available to the general public. The bill also awards medals to the exceptional brave passengers who battled the hijackers of Flight 93. They saved an untold number of lives and, quite possibly, the very building in which we are now standing. Finally, the bill is much improved with language provided by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts) and my fellow colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel). Together, they worked over the past 10 months to create an official U.S. Mint coin to commemorate September 11. This Spirit of America Coin is a highly appropriate remembrance for this solemn occasion. I thank them for their important contributions to the legislation. I also thank very much my colleague and counterpart, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy, Technology, and Economic Growth, the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), who has worked on this legislation tirelessly; and we all owe a deep debt of gratitude to him. New York is thankful to all of the Members of this House who have responded to the City of New York in its time of need. We thank you so much for the 20-plus billion dollars in rescue aid and rebuilding aid; and we thank you, hopefully, for your support for this legislation.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, we are approaching a solemn time in the calendar of Cypriots. Twenty-eight years ago, on July 20, 1974, the Turkish armed forces invaded Cyprus, in a tragic an brutal disregard for the human rights of Cypriots. Since the devastating attack on Cyprus in 1974, 37 percent of Cyprus has remained under Turkish rule. This year, PSEKA (the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus), the Cyprus Federation of America (an umbrella organization representing the Cypriot American Community in the United States), SAE (the World Council of Hellenes Abroad) and the Federation of Hellenic Societies are commemorating the anniversary of the invasion with a series of special events in New York. They have chosen to hold these events in New York City out of respect for the terrible tragedy that occurred here on 9/11 and in support of New York, which bore the brunt of the terrorist attack on America. The largest Hellenic Cypriot community outside of Cyprus is located in the 14th Congressional District of New York, which I am fortunate to represent. In a spirit of remembrance and commemoration, a concert will be held on July 20, 2002 at the SummerStage in Central Park, New York, with the participation of two exemplary artists from Greece, Dionyssios Savopoulos and Alkinoos Ioannides. These remarkable performers have been strong advocates against the division of Cyprus and the human rights violations perpetrated by the Turkish army in Cyprus. On July 21, 2002, memorial services will be held for the victims of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus at the Cathedral of Holy Trinity in Manhattan. His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Church of America, will officiate. The occupation of Cyprus has had a devastating impact on the people of Cyprus. Families have been separated, parents have lost the right to bequeath land that has been in their families for generations, churches have been desecrated and historical sites destroyed. More than 1,500 Greek Cypriots, including four American citizens, were missing after the invasion and we still do not know what happened to many of them. By commemorating the tragic anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus, we keep alive the memory of those who perished and those who have suffered under occupation. After twenty-eight years of occupation, all Cypriots deserve to live in peace and security, with full enjoyment of their human rights. I am hopeful that their desire for freedom will one day be fulfilled. In recognition of the spirit of the people of Cyprus, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring PSEKA, the Cyprus Federation of America, SAE and the Federation of Hellenic Societies and in solemnly commemorating the twenty-eighth anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus. I hope that this anniversary will make the advent of true freedom and peace for Cyprus.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of my special order.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor and privilege to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus. I have commemorated this day since I came to Congress; and unfortunately, each year the occupation continues. PSEKA, the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus; the Cyprus Federation of America, an umbrella organization representing the Cypriot American community in the United States; SAE, the World Council of Hellenes Abroad; and the Federation of Hellenic Societies, are all primarily located in the 14th Congressional District, which I am fortunate to represent. These individuals refuse to believe that peace will not come to Cyprus and have chosen to commemorate this event in very special ways. On Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21, in the spirit of remembrance and commemoration, a concert will be held on July 20 at the Summer Stage in Central Park, New York, with the participation of two artists from Greece, Dionyssios Savopoulos and Alkinoos Ioannides. These remarkable performers have been strong advocates against the division of Cyprus and the human rights violations by the Turkish Army in Cyprus. On July 21, memorial services will be held for the victims of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus at the Cathedral of Holy Trinity in Manhattan. His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, will officiate. The fundamental fact is that the continued presence of Turkish troops represents a gross violation of human rights and international law. Since they invaded Cyprus in July, 1974, Turkish troops have continued to occupy 37 percent of Cyprus. This is in direct defiance of numerous United Nations resolutions and has been a major source of instability in the eastern Mediterranean. The new peace initiatives embarked upon by Cyprus, Greece and Turkey continue to say there is hope. I support President Bush, like his predecessor, President Clinton, in saying that true human rights are the goal of the United States Government. A unified Cyprus would promote a stable Mediterranean, economic stability and justice with a comprehensive and fair settlement. Now is the time for a solution. More than 20 years ago, the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities reached two high-level agreements which provided for the establishment of a bicommunal, bizonal federation. Even though these agreements were endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, there has been no action on the Turkish side to fill in the details or to reach a final agreement. Instead, for the past 28 years, there has been a Turkish Cypriot leader presiding over a regime recognized only by Turkey and condemned as legally invalid by the U.N. Security Council. Cyprus has been divided by the Green Line, a 113-mile barbed wire fence that runs across the island. Greek-Cypriots are prohibited from visiting the towns and communities where their families have lived for generations. With 35,000 Turkish troops illegally stationed on the island, it is one of the most militarized areas in the world. This situation has also meant the financial decline of the once-rich northern part of Cyprus to just one-quarter of its former earnings. Perhaps the single most destructive element of Turkey's fiscal and foreign policy is its nearly 28-year occupation of Cyprus. We now have an atmosphere where there is no valid excuse for not resolving this long-standing problem. Cyprus is set for entrance into the European Union in 2004, and I am hopeful that this reality will act as a catalyst for a lasting solution of the Cyprus challenge. EU membership for Cyprus will clearly provide important economic, political, and social benefits for all Cypriots, both Greek and Turkish alike. This is why both sides must continue to negotiate. There is also a new climate of cooperation between Turkey and Greece with many positive signs. More has been achieved in the past 2 years than in many years before. While the U.S., the EU, Greece and Cyprus have all acted to accommodate Turkish concerns, it is time for Turkey to complete the peace process in good faith. Make no mistake about it, if Turkey wants the Cyprus problem resolved, it will happen. Now is the time for a solution to the Cyprus problem. It will take diligent work by both sides, but with U.S. support and leadership, I am hopeful that we will reach a peaceful and fair solution soon. Twenty-eight years is too long to have a country divided, it is too long to be kept from your home, and it is too long to be separated from your family. We have seen many tremendous changes around the world. It is time for the Cypriots to live in peace and security, with full enjoyment of their human rights. I am hopeful that their desire for freedom will one day be fulfilled. In recognition of the spirit of the people of Cyprus, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Cyprus Federation of America, and in solemnly commemorating the twenty-eighth anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus. I hope that this anniversary will mark the advent of true freedom and peace for Cyprus.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule which prohibits important amendments from being fairly debated and voted on. However, I support the underlying bill and thank my colleagues on the subcommittee for continuing contraceptive coverage for all Federal employees. This important provision ensures that prescription contraceptives are covered by government employees' health plans, while it respects the rights of religious organizations. Eighty-seven percent of Americans support access to birth control because it's smart policy. Though I support this language, I regret that it does not cover all necessary medical procedures. Similar women in the military, Federal employees, are prevented from access to coverage for abortion. As the Nation's largest employer, I hope that the Federal Government will continue to work to consider all of the needs of its employees and their families.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this increase, although it is so minimal I hesitate to call it an increase. We have still not recovered from the grave cuts of 1994, but I strongly support this amendment and wish I had time to talk about how important the arts are to New York and this country. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to voice my enthusiastic support for the Slaughter-Dicks-Horn-Johnson amendment. The $10 million for the National Endowment for the Arts and the $5 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities will continue the process of restoring Federal funding for the arts to appropriate levels. It is difficult to call it an increase since the amount is so minimal. These organizations have not recovered from the severe cuts of 1994. NEA funds do more than simply support individual programs, they support entire communities. NEA funds help encourage private donors to give to a program, so every dollar we spend pays dividends. When we invest in the arts, entire neighborhoods benefit. Studies show that children who are involved in the arts, concentrate better, learn how to listen and do better in school. Every community has their own example of a program that has benefitted from NEA grants. I'll give a small example from my district. The New York Ballet Theater received a $15,000 grant from the NEA last year. They are a terrifically innovative program that teaches young people to dance and introduces children to the ballet. More importantly, they recruit students from the shelter system, along with their more wealthy pupils. Their work has literally saved lives, taking at risk children and giving them a future. One student, Steven Melendez, a 15-year-old boy from the shelter system, has literally had his life changed. He is a phenomenally talented dancer who has a future because of the New York Ballet Theater. His dancing received national recognition and he has been offered a place at the world renowned American Ballet Theatre. His story shows what a difference NEA funding can make in the lives of our young people. I urge my colleagues to support the slaughter amendment, to enable the NEA to reach more programs. In addition, the nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion in economic activity yearly and over $20 billion in taxes. Millions of Americans are employed in arts organizations, and they depend on the U.S. Government to continue to fund their industry. We can help them, help our children, improve our economy, and create an enduring cultural legacy--all by passing this necessary amendment. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, to enable the NEA and NIH to reach more programs.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Cyprus Federation of America, Inc. which will solemnly commemorate the 28th year anniversary of the tragic invasion and occupation of Cyprus by the Turkish armed forces on Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21, 2002. The Cyprus Federation of America is an umbrella organization representing the Cypriot American community in the United States. The largest Hellenic Cypriot community outside of Cyprus is located in the 14th congressional district, which I am fortunate to represent. Twenty-eight years ago, on July 20, 1974, the Turkish armed forces invaded Cyprus, in a tragic and brutal disregard for the human rights of Cypriots. Since then, 37% of Cyprus has remained under Turkish rule. The Cyprus Federation of America has been leading the effort to promote an end to the devastating occupation. The occupation of Cyprus has had a devastating impact on the people of Cyprus. Families have been separated, parents have lost the right to bequeath land that has been in their families for generations, churches have been desecrated and historical sites destroyed. More than 1,500 Greek Cypriots, including four American citizens, were missing after the invasion and we still do not know what happened to many of them. In a spirit of remembrance and commemoration, a concert will be held on July 20, 2002 at the SummerStage in Central Park, New York, with the participation of two exemplary artists from Greece, Dionyssios Savopoulos and Alkinoos Ioannides. These remarkable performers have been strong advocates against the division of Cyprus and the human rights violations perpetrated by the Turkish army in Cyprus. On July 21, 2002, memorial services will be held for the victims of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus at the Cathedral of Holy Trinity in Manhattan. His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Church of America, will officiate. After twenty-eight years of occupation, all Cypriots deserve to live in peace and security, with full enjoyment of their human rights. I am hopeful that their desire for freedom will one day be fulfilled. In recognition of the spirit of the people of Cyprus, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Cyprus Federation of America, and in solemnly commemorating the twenty-eighth anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus. I hope that this anniversary will mark the advent of true freedom and peace for Cyprus.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I support the motion to go to conference because it affirms the supremacy of the Leahy provisions. The President asked Congress to get him a bill before the August recess. We could easily get him a good bill by the weekend if we took up and passed the Sarbanes bill. The problems facing corporate America are extremely serious; and I think the head of Goldman Sachs, Henry Paulson, put it well when he said accounting at Enron ``bore little or no relationship to economic reality.'' The Sarbanes bill will restore the credibility of the accounting industry by creating a truly independent accounting oversight board that will not be dominated by the industry. The Sarbanes bill will not solve all of corporate America's problems overnight, but it will send a strong message to investors that Congress did not succumb to special interests but, rather, worked very hard at the public interest in building in more accountability. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the motion to instruct, and I hope that we will report back to the floor the Sarbanes bill.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his leadership and his assistance on this matter, and I look forward to working with him and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen) in a bipartisan way to preserve these forts for our country.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee of the Interior of the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks), but before that I would like to join my colleagues in thanking the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen) for his outstanding leadership. I remember one of the first things he said to me when I came to this body was that the best legislation was bipartisan, and I have appreciated how he and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) have worked together on this subcommittee in a bipartisan way to help our country in so many ways. I want to especially thank him for his leadership on the Parkinson's Task Force, in which he, along with many of my colleagues, called upon the National Institutes of Health to come forward with a 5-year plan to cure Parkinson's, and he has worked diligently to implement that plan. We will miss the gentleman. As the gentleman knows, I say to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks), he may be aware that Governor's Island at the entrance to New York harbor has played an extremely important role in the history of our country. Two forts on the island, Fort Jay and Castle Williams, helped protect New York harbor from invasion in both the War of 1812 and the Civil War. New York gave the island to the Federal Government to serve as a military base. For more than 200 years it served our country, first for our Armed Forces, and since the 1960s, as a Coast Guard base. One of President Clinton's last acts was to declare the fort a national monument, and one of President Bush's first acts was to publish this executive order in the Federal Register. I am very pleased that President Bush has continued to show his support for the island with the promise to give it back to New York State so that it can be developed for the enjoyment of all Americans. We hope that the forts will remain national monuments under the jurisdiction of the Park Service. The forts should soon be included in one of the most revered park systems of the Nation, along with Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, at the gateway to New York harbor. Unfortunately, the forts are in very bad shape. In fact, they are on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of the 11 most endangered historic sites and buildings, a measure both of their bad condition and their historic importance. The Park Service needs appropriate funds to protect the forts from further destruction, and to help restore them so that the public may soon have an opportunity to visit them and to learn more about the important role that they played in the history of our country.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. The statue of Alfred Dreyfus that stands in Paris had the words ``dirty Jew'' painted on it earlier this year. Dreyfus was a Jewish Captain in the French army before he was sent to jail on trumped-up charges and fabricated evidence. He served eleven years and survived several attempted cover-ups by the French military before his innocence was universally recognized. He was finally released in 1906. To many people, including the father of Modern Zionism Theodore Herzl, Dreyfus is the symbol of the persecuted Jew and anti-Semitism. For all those who remember history, the fact that this statue was the target of anti-Semitism in today's France is horribly disturbing. Unfortunately, France is not alone. Belgium, Britain, Italy, Germany, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Greece have all experienced anti-Semitic incidents since the upswing in anti-Semitism began. In Germany, police have warned Jews that wearing yarmulkas, the traditional Jewish head coverings, could cause them to be targets of attacks. Last April, the Simon Wiesenthal Center released its first ever travel advisory, urging Jews to exercise caution when traveling to France or Belgium. It has been only sixty years since the defeat of Hitler and now swastikas have reappeared in Europe. They can be found sprayed on Jewish schools, drawn on gravestones in a desecrated Jewish cemetery, painted on the wall of a synagogue, stitched on the flags of anti- Israel demonstrators, and in the hearts and minds of the people who attack rabbinical students and Jewish athletes. The governments of Europe must protect their citizens. They must work actively to stop the increase in anti-Semitic incidents, and denounce anti-Semitic remarks thinly veiled as anti-Israel. Only then can progress be made toward the true goal: an atmosphere of cooperation and reconciliation among the Jewish and non-Jewish citizens of Europe.