Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Gramercy Neighborhood Associates in New York City. Committed to neighborhood improvement and preservation, this organization is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Founded in 1912, Gramercy Neighborhood Associates, Inc., is one of the oldest community groups in New York City. Located in a neighborhood celebrated for its rich history and well-preserved architectural treasures, Gramercy Neighborhood Associates came together to ensure a grand future for a truly remarkable area. It is dedicated to the enhancement of its neighborhood and the preservation of historic buildings. It is also committed to ensuring safe streets and the protection of the residential character of the neighborhood. To accomplish this mission, Gramercy Neighborhood Associates works closely with the 13th Police Precinct as well as local Community Boards 5 and 6. It also works with elected officials, and the East Side Rezoning Alliance. Gramercy Neighborhood Associates also provides a permanent presence on the Historic Districts Council. Gramercy Neighborhood Associates plants and maintains trees alongside neighborhood sidewalks and also works vigorously to preserve and enhance the neighborhood's architectural and historical treasures. For its successes in fostering the creation of the East 17th Street/Irving Place Historic District, they were honored with receipt of the New York Landmarks Conservancy's prestigious Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award. In 1984, the association sponsored the production of Gramercy Park: An Illustrated History of a New York Neighborhood, by Stehen Garmey, which won the 1985 Annual Book Award of the New York Chapter of the Victorian Society of America. This association's ambitious publication program also supports a newsletter, The Gramercy Gazette. The organization sponsors a number of events which encourage community involvement, including Clean and Green Day each spring and a Canine Comedy Day in October. They come together each year to celebrate the annual lighting of the Monorah at the beginning of Chanukah, and on Christmas Eve for caroling around the Christmas tree in Gramercy Park. Throughout its 90 year history, Gramercy Neighborhood Associates has played a crucial role in community efforts to improve and maintain the quality of life in their neighborhood. In recognition of these outstanding achievements, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the great contributions of this tremendously dedicated community group.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute and to recognize the courage and professionalism of the New York City Public Schools community during the attack on September 11, 2001. I know that none of us will ever forget where we were and what we were doing when the attacks on the World Trade Center occurred. For the New York City Public Schools community, the attacks were not something they watched on television, they were in the middle of the mayhem. In the immediate aftermath eight schools which were located in the ``frozen zone'' were closed, displacing nearly 6,000 students, a number which is more than 2\1/2\ times the average school district in the U.S. Not only did the faculty and staff in these affected schools react with extraordinary calm, grace and bravery to evacuate their schools and to ensure that every child in their care was safe and accounted for, the students and staff from these heavily impacted schools worked together in spite of the fact that over 1,500 students and 800 staff members lost a family member or loved one as a result of the disaster. Consider these snapshots from one of the most horrific days in our history. Jordan Schiele, ajunior at Stuyvesant High School, retold his experience in a recent article in The Washington Post. Jordan was in band class when the first plane hit Tower One. He saw the second hit, in the middle of a class debate on the best form of government. From the window, he watched what he first thought were fax machines and later realized were people falling from the Tower's top floors. As Tower One collapsed, the lights in his classroom flickered, the whole Stuyvesant building rumbled, and Jordan fled with his classmates out of the building and began running north up the West Side Highway, looking back as a cloud of dust engulfed his school. ``I'll never forget when the dust engulfed Stuyvesant,'' he remembers. ``I felt it was engulfing my future, because school is your future at this age.'' Ada Dolch, Principal at the High School for Leadership and Public Service just four blocks from the site of the Twin Towers, made a series of decisions that students, staff and parents credit in saving innumerable lives. When the first explosion came, Principal Dolch looked outside and what she saw made her immediately fear for her 600 students. She watched in horror as debris rained down on Liberty Plaza and waves of frightened people ran into the school lobby for safety. She moved her students away from the 6-by-6-foot windows in every classroom out into the hallways and told her kids to remain calm. Then the second plane hit and Stephen Kam of the New York Police Department's Division of School Safety raced into the lobby and said to Principal Dolch that it was time to get the students out. Dolch agreed and teachers quickly moved students out of the building floor by floor. Once outside, they met up with 750 of their peers from the High School for Economics and Finance, which is located next door to Leadership, and their Principal, Dr. Patrick Burke. Two secretaries from Economics, Kathleen Gilson and Joan Truteneff, wanted to stay and answer calls from frantic parents but Burke told them ``No way, you have to come with me.'' Right as the students got to Rector Street the first building collapsed and a dust ball, full of debris, began to chase them. One teacher shouted to her kids, ``Run! Now you can run!'' and they hopped over benches as many raced for Battery Park at the tip of lower Manhattan while others headed north and east. Once in Battery Park, the students hopped on ferries to Jersey City and Staten Island. Nearly 100 of the students, those who could not make it home that night, were fed and spent the night on cots in Curtis High School on Staten Island, accompanied by their teachers. Still others were housed and fed by parishioners of a Jersey City Catholic Church. John O'Sullivan, an earth science teacher at Economic and Finance, said that when the first tower fell, he thought they were finished. ``It was an optical illusion, but it looked like it was falling on us,'' said the teacher. ``I'll never forget the look on the face of one of my students from last year. The look of terror. It was like that picture of the little girl running from the napalm attack in Vietnam,'' he said. Other teachers walked students home over the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn. Mr. O'Sullivan and several of his colleagues walked north with a group of students and then caught a bus to O'Sullivan's apartment. Once there, the teachers fed pizza and soda to the students and put on a video until their parents could pick them up. What make Principal Dolch's heroism even more remarkable is that she performed all of these acts of bravery while knowing that her sister Wendy Wakeford, who worked for an investment banking firm on the 100th floor of 1 World Trade Center, was more than likely a victim of the attack. Her sister remains missing. ``She was in the first building that was hit. I think that she was caught in the fireball. We haven't heard from her,'' Dolch said shortly after the attack. ``I prayed she was safe, but I had kids to worry about, I knew I had to get them out.'' The teachers at P.S. 234, the Independence School, which is located dangerously close to the crash site, had to evacuate 6- and 7-year old students during the most harrowing part of the disaster immediately after the second Trade Center tower collapsed and enveloped the school in a debris-filled cloud. Many of the children were screaming for parents who actually worked in the towers. As one teacher stepped into the street, a small child saw the burning bodies falling from the towers and cried out, ``Look teacher, the birds are on fire!'' Taking some students by the hand and carrying others on their shoulders, the teachers plunged through the rubble-strewn streets that were clogged with adults running for their lives. With their small charges in tow, they walked 40 minutes north to the nearest safe school in Greenwich Village. Some children whose parents could not come to get them by the close of the day went home with their teachers, and stayed with them until their mothers or fathers could be reached by phone. Mr. Speaker, I salute the New York City Public City School community for their courage on September 11, and I ask my fellow Members of Congress to join me in recognizing their efforts by becoming, a co-sponsor of House Resolution 325, which recognizes the courage and professionalism of the entire New York City Public Schools community during and after the attack on the World Trade Center on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, as well as supporting Federal assistance to the school community.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Michael Wylie Slater, a beloved environmentalist and activist, who passed away on December 8, 2001. Michael Slater was a compassionate, dedicated and active member of his community, located in the 14th Congressional District, which I represent. His passing is truly a loss to us all. Michael Slater's commitment to environmental issues ultimately defined his career and his life. As President of the Friends of the Earth Foundation he had the opportunity to work on those environmental issues closest to his heart. Following his tenure as President, he continued his activism on environmental issues. Michael Slater graduated from Stanford University. He began his career as an investor, but felt deeply connected to those issues which affect our Earth. He believed, correctly, that those issues which affect the earth affect all of us. Therefore, he devoted himself to working to make the Earth a better, safer and healthier place for us all to live. For this reason, he has been cited by many as not only an environmentalist, but a humanitarian; a fitting label for someone so committed to valuing and preserving humanity. He shared his love of the environment and commitment to environmental issues with his wife of 34 years, Teri. Along with her work on environmental issues she has worked tirelessly as a preservationist to save precious landmarks and to ensure that important pieces of our history are maintained. A day rarely went by in which the two of them did not take in the beauty of flowers, plants and other natural wonders. They passed their appreciation and passion for the environment on to their two sons, Eric and Edward. Michael and Teri would often travel to wilderness locations together. Michael Slater believed it was his obligation--and the obligation of all of us who are here today--to ensure that what we have today will be here for the next generation to enjoy tomorrow. These are the words Michael Slater lived by. Mr. Speaker, I salute Michael Wylie Slater today and I ask my fellow Members of Congress to join me in honoring the life and legacy of this member of the community who will be so deeply missed.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ken Mills and Niki Stern, leaders of the Lexington Democratic Club in New York City. The Lexington Democratic Club has been such a vibrant part of the community in which I live and represent. It is a pleasure to pay tribute to two of its most illustrious leaders. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Princeton University, Ken Mills went on to make his mark in the field of communications. After working for many years in the private sector, including a tenure as Vice-president and Director of Promotion and Communications for The Katz Agency, in 1978 he was appointed Director of Communications for the New York City Office of Economic Development by Mayor Ed Koch. In 1981, he was appointed Director of Public Information for the New York State Banking Department. He was then named Vice-president and Director of Media Relations for The Chase Manhattan Bank. In 1994 he founded Ken Mills Communications which he continues to operate today. Ken Mills first joined the Lexington Democratic Club during John F. Kennedy's 1960 campaign for President. After serving on the Club's Executive Committee he was elected its president. He then went on to become a District Leader, serving in that position until 1978. In 1995 he began another tenure as Lexington Democratic Club President, a position he held until early this year. Ken, who also serves on Manhattan Community Board 8 is not only an effective leader, but one who has earned the respect and admiration of professional and political colleagues. In recognition of his many outstanding achievements, we pay tribute to Ken Mills today. Niki Stern has long demonstrated a commitment to social and political causes. A long time community activist, she worked extensively on behalf of the Peace Movement in Westchester County, New York in the 1960's. She remained actively involved upon moving to New York City and in 1979 began working as a Community Liaison for Assemblyman Mark Alan Siegel and for New York City Comptroller Harrison J. Goldin. She was also appointed to Community Board 8. She also joined the Lexington Democratic Club where she was elected to many offices, culminating in her 1993 election as president. Working with Ken Mills, since 1995, as Executive Vice-president, she initiated the Club's annual mid-winter receptions and dinners and many other innovations which helped restore the Lexington Democratic Club to its position as the largest political organization on Manhattan's East Side. They have made the Lexington Democratic Club an invaluable part of the political landscape of New York City. Mr. Speaker, I salute Ken Mills and Niki Stern and I ask my fellow Members of Congress to join me in recognizing the great contributions of both of these tremendously dedicated community leaders.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced the Electronic Marketplace Ownership Disclosure Act. This legislation requires operators of Internet sites that match buyers and sellers to disclose whether they have financial relationships with parties involved in transactions that take place on their sites. Some Internet sites portray themselves as disinterested third parties that simply host a site matching buyers and sellers. The Electronic Marketplace Ownership Disclosure Act requires companies hosting such sites to affirmatively disclose corporate relationships they have with companies offering goods or services on their site. Many consumers now rely on Internet marketplace sites to compare prices and buy goods. They should have the right to know who really owns an Internet exchange purporting to provide a neutral marketplace. The Electronic Marketplace Ownership Disclosure Act will enable consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions. In the long term, the continued growth of Internet commerce depends on the medium's integrity as a marketplace. This legislation will support the Internet's continued growth by increasing public confidence. There is a tangible need for this legislation. Last year, Money magazine disclosed that Quickenlnsurance.com, a site owned by Intuit Corporation, claimed to provide the ``best prices from America's top insurance and loan companies.'' However, according to the article, Quicken does not disclose on their site that they receive a commission from every insurance policy they arrange. The American people deserve honesty, whether they are shopping online or in person. For too long, some Internet retailers have avoided telling consumers the truth about who they are owned by and who benefits for special arrangements that may do harm to consumers. The Electronic Marketplace Ownership Disclosure Act let American consumers know the whole truth. This bill is good for consumers, it is good for businesses, and it will benefit the Internet.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bi-partisan conference report. I would like to thank my colleagues, Chairman Kolbe and Ranking Member Lowey for their tireless work and impressive effort in producing this comprehensive report. I would also like to specifically thank Chairman Young and Ranking Member Obey for their support on a number of important issues. Thanks to the hard work of this subcommittee and with the direction of Chairman Young, over 250,000 ``at risk'' children in Bosnia will now be helped. Since the tragic war in Bosnia, it is estimated that 13 percent of children in Bosnia and Herzegovina live in extreme poverty and 2,673 children do not have parental care. These children need and deserve a stable, safe environment where they can grow up and enjoy the support of a loving family. I am proud that my colleagues have addressed this need and have appropriated $3 million to help these children, many of whom live in terrible conditions. I would also like to thank my colleagues for the increase of funding for the U.N. Population Fund to $34 million--a $12.5 million increase from last year! What a victory for women and children around the world! Thanks to Chairman Kolbe and Ranking Member Lowey in the House and Senator Leahy in the Senate, we can now directly fund effective modern contraception for nearly 1.6 million women in low-income countries, prevent 780,000 unintended pregnancies, prevent 365,000 unwanted births, help women avoid over 312,000 abortions, prevent thousands of maternal and child deaths, reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS infection in dozens of high-risk countries, and help poor countries develop stable economies. This is truly a cause for celebration!

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

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

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre).

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2751, the General Shelton Congressional Gold Medal Act. This bill honors a truly great American hero and military leader. In October of this year, General Hugh Shelton retired as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The General wore our Nation's uniform for 38 years, and America owes him a special debt of gratitude for his unsurpassed leadership as our senior military officer. As the principal military adviser to the President and other civilian officials, General Shelton played a key role in the historic success of Operation Allied Force in extracting the Serbian forces of Slobodan Milosevic from Kosovo. His leadership, foresight and determination were directly responsible for this decisive and historic military victory without a single allied combat casualty. Throughout his near four decades of service to our Nation's military, General Shelton has displayed an admirable dedication to duty and professionalism. The General Shelton Congressional Gold Medal Act will bestow a fitting tribute to this superior warrior and great American. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2751. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), and commend the gentleman on his hard work in bringing this important bill to the floor this evening.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H. Con. Res. 273. Each of these bills sends a strong message. H. Con. Res, 273 appropriately thanks the Philippines our strong ally, for their unwavering support in the current war on international terrorism. And H.R. 3169, the International Disability and Victims of Landmines, Cibil Strife and Warfare Act of 2001 sends a message to muslims around the world that the United States cares about the people of Afghanistan and want to help in rebuilding their lives. Landmines have killed more people than nuclear, chemical and biological weapons combined. Today, innocent civilians are threatened by up to 80 million landmines buried in over 80 countries. More than 100,000 Americans have been killed or maimed by these inhumane weapons. The majority of landmine survivors are civilians, often women and children. In Afghanistan, there are 4-8 million landmines buried throughout the country. Sadly, last Sunday, three U.S. Marines learned about the danger of landmines first hand. They were all wounded when one of them stepped on a mine. Last September, I, along with 50 of my colleagues, sent a letter to Chairman Regula urging him to restore the $5 million in funding for the landmine victim assistance partnership between the landmine Survivors network and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I was happy to learn that $12 million has been restored and this program will now be able to reach the 26,000 casualties that will happen in just this year alone. Innocent civilians are threatened by landmines each day. While our Government has worked to help those victims, much more needs to be done.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

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

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise with the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) and congratulate him on his leadership and hard work in drafting this legislation and working to secure the proper signatures and the support of the leadership of this body. I rise with strong support for the True American Heroes Act. This legislation honors the over 300 men and women, firefighters, EMTs and rescue workers, dozens of police officers from both the city and Port Authority, and other Federal, State and local emergency workers who charged into the World Trade Center Towers on September 11, and perished as they attempted to save the lives of workers in the building. From the moment the planes struck the towers from all over the city and surrounding area, rescuers poured out of fire houses and precinct houses and ran into the burning towers without regard for their own personal safety. They were men and women, cops, firefighters, EMTs, and public servants like FBI Special Agent Lenny Hatton. This legislation lets us honor those who died so others could live. At Ground Zero on September 12, I heard estimates from people in authority from the State and city, and they estimated that as many as 20,000 people had been killed in the World Trade Center. We know now that thanks to the heroic work of the rescue workers the death toll was closer to 3,000. This rescue effort has been called the largest and most successful in our history, and it resulted in saving roughly 25,000 lives. Thousands of families are in mourning this holiday season. But perhaps the best reason to pass this bill is that tens of thousands of families are not in mourning. They have traumatic memories of a narrow escape, but they have their whole lives ahead of them. The people died on September 11, but they did not die in vain. As New York and the world watched in horror as the planes struck and the towers were engulfed, these individuals thrust themselves towards danger. To those with hearts of gold, we award medals of gold. They are true American heroes and heroines. The Congressional Gold Medal honors contributions to America by outstanding individuals and groups. What could anyone do that is more outstanding than saving the lives of innocent people, people who merely showed up for work. The True American Heroes Act will award Congressional Gold Medals to families and next of kin to these 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 station houses and fire houses that lost people in the attack will receive copies of the gold medal. One example in the district that I represent is the Roosevelt Island-based Special-ops unit of the New York Fire Department, which lost 10 people. The loss was so great because at this particular facility there was a duty change in progress. Men who would and could have gone home, grabbed their equipment and headed to the scene. As a result, the loss was twice as high as it might otherwise have been. As we pass the fire houses and precinct houses where flowers fill the sidewalks in New York City, the emotion of the tragedy is still overpowering. This legislation will ensure that we will forever have public displays around the city to preserve the memory of these rescuers who made the ultimate sacrifice. The offices of the Mayor and the Governor of New York and the head of the Port Authority will also be awarded copies of medals. As we all know, the head of the Port Authority, 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 the past 28 years. He was last seen helping people get out of the building. Neil died in the brave tradition of the captain going down with the ship. It is fitting that a copy of the gold medal will be given to the Port Authority. Mayor Giuliani himself rushed to the scene of the attack so quickly, that for a time his own safety was at risk. The copies of the medals given to the Port Authority, Mayor, and Governor are a highly appropriate honor for leaders who responded so quickly. In addition to the gold medals, the United States Mint will make bronze reproductions of the medals available to the general public. The proceeds from these sales will go toward building a memorial at Ground Zero that will serve as a lasting tribute to the fallen heroes and heroines. All around America, our citizens can purchase these medals and demonstrate their solidarity with the fallen heroes and heroines of New York. Finally, the bill 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 standing. I thank my colleague and counterpart on the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy, Technology, and Economic Growth, Chairman King, for working with me on this legislation. I would also like to acknowledge Chairman Oxley and Ranking Member LaFalce from the Committee on Financial Services for moving this bill to the floor so quickly. Chairman Oxley and Ranking Member LaFalce have shown bipartisan leadership in the immediate wake of the attacks. Working together, they worked to produce a number of important bipartisan initiatives which responded to the new threats to our financial system. New York City is thankful to them and all the Members of this House who have responded to the city in its time of greatest need. This was an attack on our country, and New York is a symbol of our country. All New Yorkers join me in thanking my colleagues, and especially Chairman King for his leadership on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Earnest L. Rice, on the occasion of his retirement from United Parcel Service after thirty-four years of service. Earnest L. Rice was born and raised in Georgetown, South Carolina. After graduating high school in 1962, Mr. Rice moved to New York City. In 1965 he joined the army, where he served a year of duty in Vietnam. Upon his return to New York City, Mr. Rice began his career to United Parcel Service in 1967 as a package car driver in the Harlem area of Manhattan. After several years, he was promoted to supervisory position, before being assigned to managerial post in 1983. In 1992, Mr. Rice was appointed as the Community Relations Manager for the Metro New York District, a position he has held for the last ten years, and a position in which he has striven to provide every United Parcel customer the highest quality of service. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Rice has been an invaluable community leader, lending his talents and abilities to assist the community. Currently he is a member of Congressman Jose E. Serrano's Military Advisory Board. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Harlem YMCA, and volunteers time with the American Cancer Society and City Meals-On-Wheels. In March of this year, Mr. Rice was presented with the ``Outstanding Volunteer'' award by the American Cancer Society. The East Harlem Citizens Committee presented him with the ``East Harlem Distinguished Service`` award in June. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring to the attention of my colleagues the achievements and work of Mr. Earnest L. Rice, and I ask my fellow Members of Congress to join me in recognizing Mr. Rice's many contributions to New York City.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to welcome to this Chamber Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein, senior Rabbi at Manhattan's Central Synagogue. Built in 1872, Central Synagogue is a national and city landmark that was nearly destroyed by fire in 1998. But thanks to Rabbi Rubinstein and others, the Central Synagogue rose from the ashes not only restored, but improved. New York would do well to follow its example. On September 9, along with thousands of New Yorkers, I was pleased to attend a glorious celebration when the synagogue reopened. But the joy was shortlived. Just days later, Central Synagogue was hosting memorial services for World Trade Center victims. In retrospect, the renovations were completed just in time. The Central Synagogue and Rabbi Rubinstein have been there for New Yorkers in times of joy and sorrow alike, and the synagogue was ready for the most sorrowful day in our city's history. It gives me great pleasure that a man who has meant so much to so many was able to lead us in prayer today.N O T I C E Effective January 1, 2002, the subscription price of the Congressional Record will be $422 per year or $211 for six months. Individual issues may be purchased for $5.00 per copy. The cost for the microfiche edition will remain $141 per year with single copies remaining $1.50 per issue. This price increase is necessary based upon the cost of printing and distribution. Michael F. DiMario, Public Printer

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his kind words and his leadership and congratulate him and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) for bringing this important bill to the floor which takes steps to correct the registration balloting and vote counting problems that disenfranchised so many Americans last year. I also want to thank my good friend from the great State of New York (Mr. Reynolds) for being an important voice for the voting rights of Americans living abroad. We introduced a bill together, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Reform Act and many of the elements of this bill are incorporated in the underlying important bill. Though this legislation isn't perfect it's a positive step toward preventing another presidential election fiasco. The bill includes several improvements to the election process, including authorizing funds to help states and counties replace outdated punch card voting systems. In addition, the bill establishes a minimum standard for state election systems to ensure that votes cast on all types of equipment are counted. I would like to take a moment to discuss my concerns about the difficulty of Americans living abroad and participating in our election process. Congressman Reynolds and I introduced H.R. 1997, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Reform Act of 2001. Though not all of the provisions of that legislation are included in this bill, this legislation does include many helpful provisions. One would allow an absentee ballot application to apply to two consecutive general federal elections. These applications can be particularly difficult to obtain for overseas residents whose Board of Election in the U.S. do not keep regular business hours. Another provision requiring the collection and publication of statistics on overseas voting by the states will fill a serious gap in our overseas voting monitoring system. The legislation also contains provisions to promote participation in voting assistance programs. They include providing voting assistance officers on military installations, and designating an office in each state, whose sole responsibility is to provide information on voter registration procedures and an absentee ballot application to any overseas citizen. Passing the Help American Vote Act of 2001 would be a victory for the Democratic process. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, on the three-month anniversary of September 11, I rise to pay tribute to the unsung heroes of the World Trade Center disaster--the thousands of volunteers from the construction trades and the New York City construction industry. As we all know, the rescue and recovery efforts in response to the attacks on the World Trade Center involved unprecedented, selfless acts of heroism by thousands of firefighters, police officers, Emergency Medical Service workers, and ordinary citizens, who all risked their lives to save others. But often overlooked is the heroism of thousands of men and women from the building trades who ALSO risked their lives and their health working side-by-side uniformed rescue workers all along. These volunteers--construction workers, iron and steel workers, and many others--toiled alongside firefighters and police officers, digging tunnels and gaining access to victims by operating cranes, burning steel, driving trucks, and moving debris by hand as part of the ``Bucket Brigade.'' Many of these individuals gave their time and labor for a week or more, giving up their salaries, families and the comforts of daily life to search for survivors around the clock. They did so at great risk to their health as fires raged and toxic fumes emanated from the burning rubble. Three months later, those fires are still smoldering, and the fumes are still endangering everyone working at Ground Zero. But even as their boots melt from the heat of the fires below, hundreds of workers are persevering at the site, removing what remains of seven office buildings that once symbolized the center of the global economy. They embrace this unprecedented and perilous challenge out of enduring determination to get New York get back on its feet and one day restore Lower Manhattan's majesty and vibrance. Throughout this heartbreaking process, these unsung heroes have shown profound respect for the victims and their families. The hushed silence at the site, which lasted for many days after the bombing, reflected an appreciation for the magnitude of the horror--and the fact that they were working on the surface of a mass grave. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the New York City Department of Construction and Design, who, at my request, preserved a segment of the ruins to be transformed into a national monument at an appropriate time in the future. We all remember images of steel fragments from the towers that plunged upright into the pavement like arrows in the hearts of all New Yorkers, and nearby fire trucks that were partially submerged in the rubble. Thanks to the care and respect that workers have demonstrated in dismantling and removing the wreckage, these images will be preserved in honor of those who were lost, and in remembrance of a black Tuesday that this nation must never forget. The scores of companies, organizations and union members who have cooperated in clearing the site with extraordinary speed, efficiency and safety include, but are not limited to: a special team of the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the New York City Department of Design and Construction; with main contractors Turner Construction Co./Plaza Construction, Bovis Construction, Amec Construction and Tully Construction; and dozens of subcontractors, including Thornton-Tomasette Engineering, LZA Engineering, New York Crane, Bay Crane, Cranes Inc., Slattery Association, Grace Industries, Big Apple Demolition, Regional Scaffolding & Hoisting, Atlantic-Heydt Scaffolding, York Scaffolding, Weeks Marine, and Bechtel Corp. In addition, many other entities worked to resolve the daily problems confronted by the Fire Department of New York, the New York City Police Department and the Port Authority Police Department in rescuing and recovering their own. Every New York City agency, especially the New York City Department of Sanitation and the Department of Environmental Protection, was involved, as were the New York State Police, The National Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers, Con Edison, Verizon, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, many Members of Congress and the Senate have come to Ground Zero. They have seen devastation, but also resilience and redemption in the work that's being done there. I know I speak for this entire body in expressing our country's deep appreciation for the risks taken and sacrifices made by the unsung heroes at Ground Zero, who have reminded us what the American spirit is all about.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Rita J. Kaplan, who is the driving force behind the new mammography clinic at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. Ms. Kaplan is an inspiration to us all. She is a known fighter and victor for important causes. She fights for what she believes in and never loses her sense of compassion for others. Ms. Kaplan realized the need for a new clinic at Bellevue Hospital when a family member was diagnosed with breast cancer. Ms. Kaplan's four grandparents, who arrived in the early 1890's, had a history of receiving extraordinary and caring treatment at Bellevue, and she wanted to make sure that today's Bellevue patients continue to receive first class care. Recognizing that Bellevue's mammography clinic needed refurbishment and new equipment, Ms. Kaplan devoted her considerable energies and resources to making Bellevue's facility the finest available. In her honor, Bellevue is naming the new center, the Rita J. Kaplan Breast Imaging Center. As a child, Ms. Kaplan wanted to be a doctor, but while in college at the University of Wisconsin, she turned to a career in social work. She continued on with her education, receiving a master's degree in social work form Columbia University. She was trained as a clinical social worker and received advance training at the Ackerman Institute, in family therapy. In the early 1980s, she and her husband, Stanley H. Kaplan, donated a fund to found the Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center. They also donated $2 million to help establish a new home for the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services, which was named in their honor. Ms. Kaplan, a life-long crusader and political activist, is a member of the Board and Executive Committee of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services; Chairperson of the Management Committee of Jewish Connections, Divisional Committee of JBFCS; Member of the Management Committee at Kaplan House; and a Member of the Board of Sutton Place Synagogue where she sits on the Rabbi's Committee. She also sits on various UJA-Federation committees. Ms. Kaplan served on boards of the Hemlock Farms Community Association in the Poconos; the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra; the Madeline Borg Community Services Divisional Committee; and the Board of the Solomon Schecter High School of New York. Mr. Speaker, I salute the work of Rita J. Kaplan, and I ask my fellow Members of Congress to join me in recognizing her contributions to the New York community and to our country. Thank you.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, if anyone watching tonight has ever called New York ``the Big Apple'' or uttered the words ``I love New York,'' I hope they will join me tonight in remembering the man who brought those phrases into the public domain. His name was Lewis Rudin, but he was better known as ``Mr. New York.'' On September 20, at the end of his 80th summer, Lew Rudin died of cancer. We all know what happened in New York 9 days earlier. As we look to rebuild and renew New York after the tragic events of September 11, we must do so with Lew Rudin's vigor, vision, imagination, spirit, and wholehearted love for our great city. At a time when the city's skyline has two gigantic cavities, I take heart in knowing that it is populated with so many buildings developed by Lew and his family. The Rudin family has never sold a building it developed, embodying a virtue that too few people value and practice today, and that is loyalty. Lew was fiercely loyal to his family, his friends, his city, and his father's commitment to rewarding New York because New York had rewarded his family. Lew was a tireless booster and advocate for New York City. He co- founded the Association for a Better New York, which has lived up to its title time and time again. It has also brought us better schools, improved transportation, and cleaner and safer streets. The association became a watchdog, rewarding those who enhanced our city with Polished Apple Awards. Lew Rudin bet on the city, even in its darkest hours; and he bet right every time, in part because he helped solve the city's biggest problems. In the mid-1970s he helped rescue New York from the brink of bankruptcy by convincing corporations to prepay their property taxes. He beat back an effort by the President of the United States to abolish deductions for State and local taxes, which could have caused an exodus of businesses operating in the city. He persuaded the U.S. Tennis Association to move within Queens, rather than outside of New York. He gained landing rights for the Concorde, enhancing our stature as the business capital of the world. He helped expand the New York City Marathon to the five boroughs. Today, 30,000 athletes participate and millions watch around the world. Lew worked with me recently to transform the dream of a Second Avenue subway into a reality, and he championed the cause of bringing the Olympics to New York in 2012. Serving in various roles, Lew was a leader and member of a broad array of New York institutions, from North General and Lenox Hill Hospitals to Central Synagogue and Ford's Theater to Meals on Wheels and New York University. His enormous contributions to so many institutions made Lew Rudin an institution unto himself, and prompted the New York City Landmarks Conservancy to designate him a living legend landmark. Anything Lew Rudin loved, he also served. An avid golfer, Lew founded First Tee, which was dedicated to bringing the game to the inner city. He knew how to get things done. But as a third-generation American whose grandfather immigrated from Poland with only the change in his pocket, Lew did what he did mostly for ordinary New Yorkers: he fought to improve their quality of life, enhance the resources available to them, and to make a very special city all the more unique. Lew Rudin left behind a tremendous legacy of visible accomplishments, but he is also responsible for all sorts of contingencies that never came true, crimes that did not happen, companies that did not leave, criticisms of New York that were not uttered because Lew's efforts made them invalid. Tonight we honor Lew Rudin with kind words, but tomorrow we must honor his memory with good deeds. Mr. New York, we thank you, we miss you. May you sleep in heavenly peace. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record other eulogies and statements regarding Lew Rudin: Mr. Speaker, if anyone watching tonight has ever called New York ``The Big Apple'' or uttered the words ``I Love New York,'' I hope they will join me tonight in remembering the man who brought those phrases into the public domain. His name was Lewis Rudin, but he was better known as ``Mr. New York.'' On September 20 at the end of his (80th?) summer Lew Rudin succumbed to cancer. We all know what happened in New York nine days earlier. As we look to rebuild and renew New York after the tragic events of September 11 we must do so with Lew Rudin's vigor, vision, imagination, spirit, and wholehearted love, for our great city. At a time when the New York City skyline has two gigantic cavities, I take heart in knowing that it is populated with many buildings developed by Lew and his family--7.5 million square feet of office space, and more than 3,500 apartments that New Yorkers call home. The Rudin family has never sold a building it developed, embodying a virtue that too few people value and practice today: And that is loyalty. Lew was fiercely loyal to his family, his friends, his city, and his father's commitment to rewarding New York because New York had rewarded his family. Lew was a tireless booster and advocate for New York City. He co- founded the Association for a Better New York which has lived up to its title time and again. It has brought us better public schools, improved transportation and cleaner and safer streets. The Association became a civic watch dog rewarding those who enhanced our city with Polished Apple Awards. Lou's civic accomplishments were legion. As a developer he called his civic involvement enlightened self interest. The rest of us call it tireless philanthropy and activism. Lew Rudin bet on the city even in its darkest hours. And he bet right every time in part because he helped solve the city's biggest problems. In the mid-seventies he helped rescue New York from the brink of bankruptcy by convincing corporations to pre-pay their property taxes. He beat back an effort by the President of the United States to abolish deductions for state and local taxes which could have caused an exodus of businesses operating in the city. He persuaded the U.S. Tennis Association to move within Queens rather than out of New York. He gained landing rights in New York for the Concorde--enhancing our stature as the business capital of the world. He helped expand the New York City Marathon to the five boroughs. Today 30,000 athletes participate and millions watch around the world. Lou worked with me recently to transform the dream of a Second Avenue subway into a reality. And he championed the cause of bringing the Olympics to New York in 2012. Serving in various roles Lew was a leader and member of a broad array of New York institutions: from North General and Lenox Hill Hospitals to Central Synagogue and Ford's Theater to Meals on Wheels and New York University. His enormous contributions to so many institutions made Lew Rudin an institution unto himself, and prompted the New York Landmarks Conservancy to designate him a ``Living Landmark.'' Anything Lew Rudin loved he also served. An avid golfer Lew founded First Tee, which was dedicated to bringing the game to the inner city. Yes, Lew was on the speed dials of the rich and powerful. He was a force to be reckoned with and he knew how to get things done. But as a third-generation American whose grandfather immigrated from Poland with only the change in his pocket Lou did what he did mostly for ordinary New Yorkers. He fought to improve their quality of life, enhance the resources available to help them and to make a very special city all the more unique. Lew Rudin left behind a tremendous legacy of visible accomplishments. But he's also responsible for all sorts of contingencies that never came true. Crimes that didn't happen. Companies that didn't leave. Criticisms of New York, that were not uttered, because Lew's efforts, made them invalid. Tonight we honor Lew Rudin with kind words. But tomorrow we must honor his memory with good deeds. Mr. New York we love you. We thank you. We miss you. And we'll get right to work. May you sleep in heavenly peace. Eulogy by David N. Dinkins--Funeral Services for Lewis Rudin Central Synagogue, New York City--Sunday, September 23, 2001; 10:00 a.m. Rabbi Rubinstein; Cantor Franzel; Rachel; Jack and Susan; Beth and Clift, Billy and Ophelia; Carlton and Kyle, Samantha and Michael; Eric and Fiona, Madeline and Bruce Grant, Kathy and Nancy; President Clinton; Governor Pataki; Senator Schumer, Senator Clinton; Mayor Giuliani; Governor Cuomo; and the many other family and friends here today to remember Lewis Rudin. I have always looked upon Lew as a brother, and I am feeling an unspeakable sorrow at his passing. I ask your forbearance as I attempt to share my thoughts. I am reminded this morning of two others who regarded each other as brothers--the great theologians and activists, Rabbi Abraham Heschel and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was Rabbi Heschel, author of the definitive text ``What Manner of Man is the Prophet?,'' who was called upon by Coretta Scott King to eulogize her husband who, parenthetically, was later the subject of a fine biography by Lerone Bennett, entitled ``What Manner of Man.'' As the biblical reference that moved both Heschel and Bennett told us, the world is yet in awe of that manner of man who ``even the wind and the sea obeyed'' upon his command ``Peace, be still.'' Rabbi Heschel and Dr. King have long since found their answers to the question, ``What manner of man?'' And today, we each have our own answers . . . with respect to the man, Lewis Rudin. What manner of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey? Well, we know that our dear friend was a powerful man, though not perhaps so powerful that he could literally calm the wind and the sea. He did, however, have the power to calm an entire city in its times of storm and crisis. He not only had such power, he used it on every occasion that threatened his city's future. And he used it well. We will hear the truth of this often this morning, and rightfully so, for we are thankful for the strength, the wisdom, and the love that guided him in his mission here on earth. What manner of man was Lew Rudin. Lew Rudin was a man whose name became known to every New Yorker. He was, as many have said and will always say, ``Mr. New York.'' He earned that title. His extraordinary passion for his City and his spirit of public service will live on in our hearts as long as there is a New York. To Lew Rudin, New York City was more than a place . . . it was a people--a people whose struggles and joys, uniqueness and oneness, touched his heart and moved him to take on our burdens as his own. What manner of man? Many knew what manner of man he was by his deeds. He was a moving force and guiding light behind so many of the things that have become part of the fabric of New York--the many buildings of the most famous skyline in the world; the New York City Marathon and its Rudin Trophy, born of a collaboration of Percy Sutton, George Spitz and Fred LeBow (it was Percy Sutton who introduced me to Lew); the USTA National Tennis Center (a result of the hard work done with then USTA President Slew Hester) and later the realization of Arthur Ashe Stadium (when David Markin and Judy Levering were President); the ``Big Apple'' and campaigns; and so many other things that make New York, New York. Lew Rudin was always there, in times of joy and times of triumph, leading the cheers for this City and making things happen. But, as we know now too well, all is not joy and triumph. And it was during times like these--the toughest of times--when Lew Rudin's ``polished apple'' shone brightest. He knew, as did Dr. King, that: ``The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.'' It was Lew Ruding who stood with Abe Beame on the deck of what was then considered a sinking ship, and brought us in to a safe port. They refused to deliver up New York City to default. Instead, with the help of other faithful New Yorkers--Governor Hugh Carey, Victor Gotbaum, Felix Rohatyn, Barry Feinstein, Jack Bigel, among them--they weathered the storm of the most severe fiscal crisis this city has ever seen. And, with a national coalition in which Senators Moynihan and D'Amato, Cardinal O'Connor, Jay Kriegel, and my other brother Charlie Rangel played pivotal roles, Lew went toe-to- toe with the President of the United States to fight off an attempt to abolish deductions of state and local taxes--a move that would have caused corporations to flee our City. It couldn't have been done without Lew Rudin. This City is, indeed, in his debt. Lew Rudin was the heart of what has been called the ``Naked City'', a phrase all the more poignant in light of the events of September 11th. And he gave us so much more than magnificent structures and symbols. He gave us an unparalleled example of civic responsibility and commitment. And, man, do we need him now! In his final days, he was so proud of his fellow New Yorkers . . . of his City's spirit and resilience. He was proud of our resolve to rebuild our structures and reclaim our lives. He applauded the heroic efforts to rescue the missing, honor the dead and restore order to the City he helped to build, helped to save, and loved so dearly. Lew Rudin was, indeed, a true friend to this City. And he remained a true friend to his dying day. And this he did because he had a deep and abiding commitment and caring for the people of New York. For all of the people of New York. So many times, Lew Rudin was the only white person in a sea of black and brown faces, whether occasioned by a time of conflict or a time of celebration. Without fail, the annual gathering of the One Hundred Black Men and the Association for a Better New York found Lew and Jack, Howard Rubenstein, Bob Tisch, Alan Tishman, Al Marshal, Burt Roberts and others in brotherhood with Bruce Llewellyn, Arthur Barnes, Roscoe Brown, Luther Gatling and Paul Williams. Lew always welcomed, and was always welcomed by all the communities of this City. Lew Rudin lived his life according to very basic principles. He was heir to a family philosophy taught by his beloved parents, Samuel and May, that giving is its own reward . . . and giving of self is glorious. He shared that philosophy with Jack, and passed it on to his son Billy and daughter Beth. He gave his all to this City and its people, and gave of himself to many of us as individuals. Those of us who had the great good fortune to know him as a friend and brother have been blessed to know intimately . . . what manner of man he was. Joyce and I will miss you, Lew. Our lives are so much fuller for having known you. You gave us the gift of your wisdom and humor, your counsel and your support . . . you gave us the gift of your friendship. And there is no greater gift. The City of New York is a better place because you were here. And we promise you, Lew, that we will not permit your City to remain buried in ashes. We will rebuild, we will restore, we will reclaim. The death of Lew Rudin gives us reason to mourn. But his life gives us so much to celebrate. Lew Rudin has left us with more than memories--he has left us a rich legacy of his friendship, a legacy of caring, and a legacy of doing for others. It is said that service to others is the rent we pay for our space on earth. Lew Rudin departed us paid in full. Let him not look down and find any of us in arrears.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule for the reasons outlined by the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kanjorski) for not allowing substantive amendments and for fundamentally changing the work product of the Committee on Financial Services. But Mr. Speaker, the issue of terror insurance may affect our national economy more immediately and more drastically than any tax or spending bill that Congress considers in the next decade. Without Federal intervention in the terror insurance market, our economy will face a sudden, massive credit crunch after the first of the year. Nowhere will this impact be more serious than in the district I represent in New York City. Even if Congress passed a perfect bill, I am sure that insurance rates are going to go up and availability shortages will be a fact of life next year, especially in New York. The New York State insurance commissioner will have to be especially vigilant next year to make sure that rates remain affordable and products are available. The restrictions on victim rights in the majority bill deserve their own vote as an amendment separate from the substance of this bill. This effort to limit the access to the State courts and restrict individuals' access to the civil courts is simply an act of the majority's long-advocated partisan agenda. This bill is too important to play politics, and these provisions have no place in this debate. Insurance coverage is vital to our economy. Without a safety net for catastrophe, businesses simply will not do business, they will not employ people, and they will not meet consumer needs. While the industry should be complimented for quickly moving to cover the $50 billion to $70 billion in losses from the World Trade Center, the reinsurance industry, which buys risk from property and casualty writers, is unable to cover massive future events. Without reinsurance, we face a domino effect. Property and casualty insurance will be unwilling to write policies. Without property and casualty coverage, banks will refuse to lend money for major capital improvements or real estate projects.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), the ranking member, for yielding me the time and for his leadership and hard work on this issue. Our work today is not bailout of the insurance industry. We are simply working to keep our economy on track with a short-term program that addresses the new terrorist threat. I believe the gentleman from New York's (Mr. LaFalce) bill recognizes the importance of this potential insurance crisis to our country and the time-sensitive nature of the problem. With 70 percent of reinsurance contracts expiring at the end of the year, we have a limited time to act before the end of the year. In the Committee on Financial Services, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley), the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker), the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kanjorski) understand the importance of this issue and they have worked tirelessly to move the process forward. I was particularly concerned with surcharges placed on future policyholders in the bill that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker) originally introduced. It is my belief that this language would have placed an undue burden on future policyholders just as they are trying to recover from the attack. Working together, we have reached a compromise on this issue, limiting future surcharges to 3 percent of premiums. While we have reached agreement on many issues, I believe the approach taken in the Democratic substitute is superior to the bill that is the underlying one today. The goal of any bill should be to restore the availability and affordability of property and casualty insurance. Limiting the rights of potential plaintiffs is a peripheral issue. We are dealing with a crisis, and partisan legal reform issues have no role in protecting the viability of insurance markets. We do not know where the next attack will be, but we can be pretty sure that right now terrorists are planning to strike again. Hopefully our increased security will thwart any attack, but now is not the time to prospectively limit the rights of individuals to make themselves whole if they are victims of a future attack. To quote a letter from the Consumer Union, ``Although individuals in businesses may be unable to prevent future terrorist attacks and are not directly responsible for those acts, they should be expected to take reasonable and measured actions to promote public safety.'' I believe the legal limitations and the majority bill discourage such conduct. Furthermore, the LaFalce substitute is more taxpayer friendly by requiring the insurance industry to cover a deductible of $5 billion in the first year and $10 billion in the second. This industry is capable of covering this deductible and does not oppose this provision. Every Member of this House owns an insurance policy and we all face deductibles. This bill to prevent an insurance crisis should not be any different. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the LaFalce substitute. Mr. Speaker, viewers of this debate should be clear. Our work today is not a bailout of the insurance industry--we are simply working to keep our economy on track with a short-term program that address the new terrorist threat. I believe Ranking Member LaFalce's bill recognizes the importance of this potential insurance crisis to our country and the time sensitive nature of the problem. With 70 percent of reinsurance contracts expiring at the end of the year we have a limited time to act before the end of the year and we have to get this right. In the Financial Services Committee Chairmen Oxley and Baker and Ranking Members LaFalce and Kanjorski understand the importance of this issue and have worked tirelessly to move the process forward. I was particularly concerned with surcharges placed on future policy holders in the bill that Mr. Oxley and Baker originally introduced. It is my belief that this language would have placed an undue burden on future policyholders just as they are trying to recover from an attack. Working together--we have reached a compromise on this issue-- limiting future surcharges to 3 percent of premiums. While we have reached agreement on many issues, I believe the approach taken in the Democratic Substitute is superior to the bill that we are considering today. The goal of any bill should be to restore the availability and affordability of property and casualty insurance. Limiting the rights of potential plaintiffs is a peripheral issue. We are dealing with a crisis and partisan legal reform issues have no role in protecting the viability of insurance markets. We do not know where the next attack will be but we can be pretty sure that right now terrorists are planning to strike again. Hopefully our increased security will thwart any attack--but now is not the time to prospectively limit the rights of individuals to make themselves whole if they are victims of a future attack. To quote a letter that Consumers Union which was sent to Members yesterday. ``Although individuals and businesses may be unable to prevent future terrorist attacks and are not directly responsible for those acts, they should be expected to take reasonable and measured actions to promote public safety.'' I believe the legal limitations in the Majority bill discourages such conduct. Furthermore, the LaFalce substitute is more taxpayer friendly by requiring the insurance industry to cover a deductible of $5 billion in the first year and $10 billion in the second. This industry is capable of covering this deductible and does not oppose this provision. Every Member of this House owns an insurance policy and we all face deductibles. This bill to prevent an insurance crisis should not be any different. Unfortunately, I am fairly certain that businesses will pay billions more for insurance in New York in next year--even with Congressional intervention. As I have said, this increase could amount to a tax of billions of dollars on New York business. I urge my colleagues not to tie outside issues to this legislation. It is too important. Support the clean LaFalce substitute.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, there may not be another Member of Congress who lost more constituents in the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center than I did. So I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt) for organizing this Special Order and ensuring that some of those who were lost can be remembered on the floor this evening of the people's House. I would like to mention a few people I will never forget. David Alger, the chief executive officer of Fred Alger Management, was a brilliant investment professional whose ability to select successful growth stocks brought tremendous prosperity to his investors. He was also a neighbor of mine. Our daughters grew up together. I know Christie misses her father enormously. And I cannot believe he is actually gone. I will always remember Lindsey Herkness, a managing director at Morgan Stanley who died at his desk on the phone with clients. Many friends called him the day of the bombing to see if he was okay. His mailbox was full because he had hundreds of friends who he will never be able to call back. I feel privileged to have been one of them. I will never forget Lindsey's wonderful, vibrant spirit and great sense of humor. Neil Levin, head of the Port Authority and former Insurance Commissioner of New York State, devoted his life to public service and lost his life helping other people. He was last seen assisting people in the evacuation effort. That says it all about Neil. He was always helping others. Cat MacRae was the daughter of my good friends Cameron and Annie MacRae. She worked in the World Trade Center in her first job out of college. She had her whole life ahead of her and her future held tremendous problem. But like all the other people that were there that day, she was killed simply because she showed up for work. The last person I will mention, and I could go on all night, was literally the very first person to call 911 on 9-11. Jerry Hanlon was at Windows on the World. He was there for a breakfast work meeting that morning. He was there to make a living. And I am so sorry for his family that he made history instead. Mr. Speaker, for the last several weeks, we have been trying to prevent the administration from shamefully breaking its pledge of supplying the full $20 billion in disaster relief that is needed for New York City for the many unmet needs and unpaid bills that we confront. If they truly want to honor the victims we are talking about tonight, all they have to do is keep that promise.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this important bill. Over the past few months, I have come to the House Floor to emphasize the suffering conditions Afghan women have been forced to endure over the past 5 years and have urged the world to recognize the need to restore the rights of all people in Afghanistan. Thanks to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and to the strong voices in the administration, the plight of Afghan women have been highlighted and addressed in the past weeks. We have all learned that under the oppressive Taliban regime: All schooling was forbidden to girls over the age of eight. The women's university was shut down. Women were restricted access to medical care. But with today's bill, we will reverse the tragedies suffered by so many. This bill, introduced and supported by women, ensures that women and children living in Afghanistan will receive the proper education and health care they desperately need and deserve. In addition to restoring these basic rights, it is essential that women be incorporated in any coalition that is assembled to run Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, many Afghans have been celebrating since the liberation of Kabul, Mazar-e Sharif, and other Afghan cities that were once under Taliban control. However, women are reluctant to join in the celebration as it is unclear how the Taliban's collapse may impact their lives. Women's involvement in reconstruction and peace negotiations is essential to rebuilding that country. It will be impossible for the United States to achieve its long term goals for Afghanistan without restoring the social, human, and political rights that have been taken from women. Women must be guaranteed that their human rights are included in the constitution or legal structure of a new government in Afghanistan. This is why Congresswoman Connie Morella and I have introduced H.R. 3342, the Access for Afghan Women Act. H.R. 3342, which I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor, proposes that aid from the United States will ensure that the economic, social, and political rights of women are recognized. After all, excluding more than half of the Afghan population from the reconstruction process jeopardizes the long-term stability of the region. We must ensure that Afghan women are included at each stage of the peace process and the creation of a new government of Afghanistan includes women--they are entitled to it.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) for the opportunity to talk about this amendment, which is still subject to a point of order, and also to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds), and especially the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), as well as the New York appropriators, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) and the gentlemen from New York (Mr. Hinchey and Mr. Serrano). It is a shame we will not have the opportunity to vote on the Sweeney amendment because it would help address New York's tremendous unmet needs. We need all the Federal aid we were promised, not next year, not next month, not tomorrow. We need it yesterday. None of the $20 billion we need is going under a mattress. No one doubts that FEMA will pay to clear up the site at the World Trade Center. What is in doubt are the costs that do not neatly fall in the Federal guidebook for disaster relief; like money for hospitals that canceled elective surgery so they could treat victims; like costs to utilities to rewire Lower Manhattan; like many different kinds of costs of education. We have tremendous unmet needs and unpaid bills. Here are some of the invoices: $108 million to make up for lost classroom size; $6.1 million in reimbursement for lost revenues for food services for children; $13.4 million for reimbursement for additional school-related expenses including transportation, data infrastructure, and other critical-support services. Yesterday, I met a man who tells the whole story. His name is Eddie Rodriguez. He makes $38 an hour painting bridges, which is difficult and dangerous work. His son is also a bridge painter. His daughter is a freshman in college. Because of September 11, Eddie and his son lost their jobs. Today, the Rodriguez family has no health insurance, and Eddie had to tell his daughter that her dream of graduating from college would have to wait because he could not afford to pay for the tuition. Soon Eddie and his family will be attending the funeral of his wife's sister's husband who was killed in the World Trade Center attacks, and Eddie lost several friends in the crash of Flight 587. Eddie's story tells a story of the pain of New York. It has been a terrible year for New York and for Eddie Rodriguez. The American people understand this and they want Washington to help; and in a month and a half, without the New York amendment, Eddie and his son will not get extended unemployment benefits. His household will have no income at all, and his daughter's college dream will be suspended indefinitely. So do not go telling me that New York does not need the money. Go tell Eddie Rodriguez and the thousands of Eddie Rodriguezes in New York who have lost their jobs because of this disaster. Preferential Motion Offered By Mr. Ackerman