Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I do rely on the Census Bureau to give us the information. I know that last year as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Census, the gentleman from Florida was very concerned about political manipulation of the census data. I wonder if he would comment on whether or not this situation is an example of political manipulation. The Census Bureau consulted with a special interest group and then decided not to publish the numbers. This is one homeless group. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich) and I have a list of other groups that would like this information. What if it had been the NRA? What if it had been NOW? What is the difference?

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise to amend the fiscal year 2002 appropriations of the U.S. Census Bureau. On Monday night, I appeared before the Committee on Rules on behalf of myself and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich) to ask that this amendment be protected from a point of order. That committee did not grant my request. My intent, Mr. Chairman, was to make sure that the Census Bureau have adequate funds to produce a special report on the data from the service-based enumeration from the 2000 census. While those data are included in the tables that are currently being released, they are not in a form that is easily accessible so that local governments can access this information. In the 2000 census, the Census Bureau made a major effort to count people with no usual residence. They counted people at shelters, they counted people at food kitchens, they counted people at mobile food vans, and they counted people on the streets. This effort is similar to past censuses. What was different in 2000 was the Census Bureau's very important partnership program, which the chairman and I worked very hard to implement. As a result of the emphasis in 2000 on partnering with local governments and community groups, the service-based enumeration was qualitatively different than in the past. Local communities devoted considerable time and resources to assisting the Census Bureau in this count. In some cities the local government provided blankets as inducements to get people to cooperate with the census. In other cities, local citizens who knew the city were sworn in and went with the census takers to facilitate the interviews. In nearly all cities, local governments were active partners in this operation. And, in fact, one night the chairman and I went out to count the homeless together with the bureau. Consequently, those local governments are interested in seeing the results of their efforts. The data provided in the first census data released do not allow governments that opportunity. Instead, it is nearly impossible to sort out the results of this operation from the current data. At one point I was told that the Census Bureau had decided not to release these data because of the poor quality of the data. I am pleased to report that these data will be released in a special report this fall. This amendment is to ensure that sufficient funds are available to produce that report. I would like to make two other comments about these data: first, there has been some confusion about what these data represent. It is often convenient to call these data ``the data on the homeless.'' Those who advocate on behalf of those who find themselves without adequate shelter bristle at this suggestion, and they are correct in doing so. In the 2000 census, the Census Bureau counted a little more than 280,000 people in shelters and at soup kitchens and on the streets. No one should delude themselves that this is an accurate count of the homeless. In fact, it was the release of these data in 1990 at the track level that showed just how clearly the count did not represent reality. Here in Washington, D.C., the track that includes the White House and the Capitol, and the stretch of Constitution Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue in between, showed a street population of 41. The track adjacent to the White House, which includes McPherson Square, showed a street population of zero. One only has to walk through these areas to understand the inadequacies of these counts. This is not a good reason to suppress these data. I am pleased that the Census Bureau is issuing a special report on the service-based enumeration. That report can clearly describe just what these data do and do not represent. Our country is founded on the principle of free and open access to information. We have a long history of struggling against totalitarian regimes that would rather keep their citizens in the dark. It would be a tragic turn of events if our census, which is at the constitutional center of our Federal information system, were not open to the public. Suppressing information should never be a substitute for educating the public. Mr. Chairman, my amendment reduces the appropriations for other periodic censuses and programs by $500,000 and increases the appropriations for data content and products by the same amount. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the DeGette amendment. In recent years, a woman's access to abortion has been restricted bill by bill, vote by vote. The DeGette amendment seeks to correct one of these unjust restrictions. Women in Federal prisons should not be made to check all of their rights at the door. Women have a constitutional right to choose, which should not be denied even if they are incarcerated. Facing an unintended pregnancy is a tough situation for any woman, but a woman in prison is faced with very few choices. These women will have very limited prenatal care. Some women in prison will choose to carry the pregnancy to term, and I support this choice. But without the right to choose, their only option is to go through childbirth while incarcerated, and then to give their child up. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment which removes the ban on the use of Federal funds for abortion services for women in Federal prisons. These women have little or no access to outside financial or even family assistance and earn extremely low wages from prison jobs. Women in prison deserve the same choices they would receive for any other medical condition. We need equity in reproduction services. The ban on abortion assistance denies them of their constitutional rights. Women in prison must not be denied their right to choose when these prisons cannot guarantee a safe delivery or treatment while pregnant. The right to choose is meaningless without the access to choose. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the DeGette amendment.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today we are talking about an issue that over 250 Members of this House have voted for twice and passed in the past. A similar bill has already passed the Senate in April. The leadership of this House promised supporters of campaign finance reform a straight up or down vote on Shays-Meehan, a bill so similar to the Senate version that a conference committee was not required, and we know that the conference committee has been the graveyard for campaign finance reform. I guess the leadership felt they could not win on the merits, so they had to manipulate the process to shortchange the American people once again. Let us show the American people that our government is not for sale. Let us show the American people that we support elections, not auctions to the highest spender. Let us vote against this undemocratic rule. Let us bring it down so that we can bring Shays-Meehan to the floor for an up or down vote and send it to the Senate so a conference committee is not required, the President can sign it, and we can finally pass meaningful reform.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the supplemental but in opposition to the rule for the Shays-Meehan bill. What we needed was a fair fight, an up or down vote on Shays-Meehan, a quality, balanced, bipartisan campaign finance bill that a majority of this House has supported twice and that has already passed the Senate. We needed a fair rule. But what did we get? We got a mine field. We got Shays-Meehan shattered, fragmented, broken into 14 separate parts that needs to be reassembled in separate votes into that fragile flower called consensus. After the mine field, more poison pill votes. Apparently the leadership felt they could not win on the merits so they had to manipulate the process to shortchange the American people once again. Campaign finance reform is the litmus test for real change in this Congress. And the real litmus test for supporters of campaign finance reform is voting against this destructive, unfair, undemocratic rule.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York will reopen after a two-year renovation. The Center is housed in a historic former high school in Greenwich Village. The Food and Maritime Trades High School was built in 1844 and became the spiritual home of the Gay and Lesbian community of New York in 1983. Since its founding, the Center has served as a meeting place for those committed to improving the lives and assuring the rights of those who suffer because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation. The Center is an inclusive organization that recently changed its name to demonstrate a commitment to serving the Bisexual and Transgender community. Newcomers to New York have always joined together in fraternal and social groups. Just as some organizations help immigrants adjust to life in the City, so too, the Center helps newcomers from the gay community as they adjust to a new life in New York. Quarterly orientations and regular support groups for young people are some of the Center's most important programs. The Center is the ``heart'' of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community in New York City. Each week, more than 5,000 people visit the center to take advantage of the numerous services and programs it offers. It has also become a social center for many people in the community. The monthly schedule at the Center includes more than 100 political and social groups. The AA program alone provides counseling and support for several hundred people in recovery. The Center Library is a valuable resource for both the gay and straight community. The Center's real contributions can be seen in the lives of those who have been transformed by the Center. The HIV positive patient who is strengthened through the AIDS support group, the counseled teen who is empowered to stand up to taunts, and the participant in a 12-step program who can face the future with friends from the Center, have all improved their quality of life through Center programs. I am honored to salute the many people who work so hard at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of New York. The reopening of the Center is indeed a cause for celebration.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I come to the floor today in support of the Sanders/Crowley/DeLauro amendment. Prescription drug costs are a life and death issue for thousands of Americans. Making these life saving and health sustaining drugs affordable for our citizens, and especially our seniors, is simply the right thing to do. Just look at the cost of prescription drugs in my district. Last year, I conducted three different studies in New York City that showed rampant price discrimination against uninsured seniors by pharmaceutical companies. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, New Yorkers are being skewered by inflated drug prices. For instance, Tamoxifen--which is sold under the brand name Nolvadex--is the most frequently prescribed breast cancer drug in this nation. It is used by thousands of women across this state and across the country to treat early and advanced breast cancer. In fact, in 1998, total sales of Tamoxifen were over $520 million. Women in my district who need Tamoxifen must pay ten times what seniors in other countries pay. According to the study I conducted, a one month supply of Tamoxifen costs only nine dollars in Canada--yet it costs over one-hundred dollars in my district. That means that, over the course of a year, a woman in my district will pay roughly twelve- hundred dollars more than women in Canada. That's a price differential of over one-thousand percent. This is a life-saving drug that thousands of women need to survive. Many women in New York are forced to dilute prescriptions they need to fight breast cancer--forced to cut their pills in half or in thirds--in order to get by financially. No doctor recommends this. No person deserves this. All eight of the drugs I studied cost at least forty percent more in my district than they do abroad. The average price differential with Canada was 112 percent, and with Mexico it was 108 percent. Prilosec, an ulcer medication and the U.S.'s top prescription drug in dollar sales in 1998, cost $49.80 for a one month supply in Canada, but cost $121.83 for a one month supply in my Congressional District, that's a 145% price differential. Prescription drugs costs are too high for America's families and are now the largest out-of-pocket health care expense for America's seniors. Congress recognized this crisis last year when both the House and Senate passed a drug reimportation bill by wide margins. Once passed, however, significant flaws were detected in the details of the bill that jeopardized our ability to ensure lower prices and safe products for U.S. consumers through the new policy. The bill before us today tries to get us back on track by more explicitly preserving the Food and Drug Administration's authority to ensure the safety and efficacy of a system to reimport prescription drugs. I urge passage of this reimportation amendment which would allow U.S. pharmacists and prescription drug distributors to purchase and sell locally FDA-approved medicines purchased from abroad. This measure should lower the price of prescription drugs, perhaps as much as 50%. I strongly support adoption of the Sanders/Crowley/DeLauro amendment.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge the President to allow stem cell research to proceed. Along with the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) and many others in this Congress, we have introduced House Resolution 17 that calls on Federal funding of human pluripotent stem cell research to continue. As the recent statements by a number of prominent Republicans, such as Andy Card and Tommy Thompson, have said, they have come out in support of stem cell research. They underscore that this should not be a partisan issue. After a lengthy public comment period on August 25, the NIH published guidelines on human pluripotent stem cell research. Additionally, they accepted applications for research projects through March, 2001. However, President Bush has put a hold on this work, calling for a review of the guidelines. I say to the President that it is estimated that over 100 million Americans are living with diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes. These people could be helped by stem cell research. We need to support science. We need to support medical knowledge. We need to support stem cell research.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, in January 1997, when the Asian Longhorned Beetle was first spotted in the United States right in the heart of Brooklyn, I called on the Department of Agriculture to do everything in its power to eradicate this tree-killing beetle before it devastated the Northeast urban forestry network. The strong efforts from the Agriculture Department, in close coordination with State and city agencies, slowed the beetles spread significantly, but sadly, New York has lost more than 5,000 trees in less than 6 years from beetle infestation. In recent years, I have held numerous community forums on the issue to raise awareness about the beetle's devastating effects and to discuss strategies to prevent the spread of beetle infestation. I have also worked closely with my colleagues in the New York delegation to secure adequate funding to stop the beetle before it spreads deeply throughout the Northeast region and into the rest of the country. My aim has always been the protection of our farmlands, our trees and our forests through the containment and complete eradication of the Asian Longhorned Beetle. This year's Agriculture Budget provides crucial resources toward that end, with $35 million appropriated to fight the Asian Longhorned Beetle, citrus canker, and the plum pox virus. This is a significant increase in funding for a very significant problem. Unchecked, costs from the spread of the Asian Longhorned Beetle could rise as high as $41 billion nationwide. I want to thank Congressman Bonilla and Congresswoman Kaptur for including these significant funds to battle the beetle. I also want to note that the Interior budget currently includes almost $24 million for the U.S. Forest Service for the Cooperative Land Forest Health Management program specifically to fight the spread of the gypsy moth and the Asian Longhorned Beetle. Resources for the fight against beetle infestation are especially important to New York City. Just this month, 60 trees from Calvary Cemetery in my district in Queens were cut down, chipped, and burned to the root because of beetle infestation. Additional trees were recently cut down in Astoria and Woodside Queens. In fact, since the beginning of this year, the Brooklyn, Queens region has lost close to 300 more trees to beetle infestation. Manhattan has lost more than 50 tress and the Bayside area lost more than 150 trees. The total loss for the New York City, Long Island area is up to 5,300 trees. The beetle is simply devastating large portions of the region. With new resources, we will be able to fund areas where there have been significant shortfalls. We will be able to train our residents to identify the beetle and respond appropriately if they spot one. We will be able to increase funds for tree inspections, removal, and reforestation efforts. Also, we will continue to move forward with new treatments for healthy trees that help prevent beetle infestation. In short, we will battle this menace on all fronts to protect our trees, our environment, and our quality of life.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner).

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume; and I first want to compliment my friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grucci), for offering this important resolution. I am extremely proud to join him as the lead Democrat, and I congratulate the leadership on both sides of the aisle for bringing this important resolution to the floor so swiftly. It not only recognizes their valor and their sacrifice but extends the condolences of this body to their family; and it pledges our support to continue to work on behalf of all of our Nation's firefighters, who risk their leaves every day to ensure the safety of all Americans. While addressing the friends and family of Brian Fahey, one of the New York City firefighters who was killed on Sunday, June 17, the Reverend Anthony Pascual of St. Raymond Church said, ``How do you measure the quality of a man's life? Not by the number of years he lived, but by his deeds.'' Three brave men, Brian Fahey, Harry Ford, and John Downing made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Like all of our brave firefighters and officers, every day that they worked they risked their lives. Every time they entered a burning building, they knew that they were putting their lives on the line. But they placed the safety of others above their own well-being. They died trying to make our city and our country a safer place. June 17th was also Father's Day. These three men were not only firefighters but fathers, and among them they had eight children. New York City Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen referred to Brian Fahey as a firefighter to the core. He was a 14-year veteran of the department who was loved and respected by his colleagues and his family. In addition to coaching a little league team, one of his greatest passions was training volunteer firefighters at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy. He is survived by his wife Mary, and was a father of 3-year-old twin boys, and an 8-year-old son. Harry Ford was a 27-year veteran of the fire department who has been cited nine times for his bravery. He was renowned among his colleagues for his bravery and loyalty. He was also passionate about his family. He leaves behind his wife Denise and 3 children, a daughter age 24, and two sons, ages 10 and 12. John Downing from Woodside, Queens, the third man killed in the blaze, was an 11-year veteran beloved by his colleagues and respected as a hardworking and dedicated fire fighter. Mr. Downing was also a passionate family man, so much so that he had worked two jobs to be able to take his family on a month-long vacation to Northern Ireland. He leaves behind his wife Anne, a 7-year old daughter, and a 3-year old son. More than 10,000 firefighters from all over the country, some from California, Florida, and Canada, came to New York to mourn with the family and friends of these historic, heroic men. The men and women who fight fires every day have a strong bond between them. The deaths of these fine men touched the lives of firefighters everywhere. In remembering these brave men and their great deeds, we must not only honor their memory, but act now to ensure that a preventable tragedy such as this one never happens again. Fire Commissioner Von Essen has said that if the building had been equipped with a fire sprinkler system, the lives of these three brave men might have been spared. The fire in the Long Island supply store that killed these three men and injured many more raged for 12 hours. Stored in the basement of the building were flammable materials such as paint thinners and various other chemicals which caused the violent explosion that took the lives of these men. Because the building was 128 years old, it predated the New York City ordinance that requires a sprinkler system. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the efforts of my colleagues in city government who, in learning about this terrible tragedy, are working to enact legislation requiring sprinkler systems in all buildings that store flammable materials. We must ensure that such a tragedy does not reoccur so that the selfless sacrifices of these three men, heroes to all New Yorkers, were not in vain. One of my colleagues is the author of the Fire Safety Act, and I yield to the gentleman before he returns to his committee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) to place into the record his comments. (Mr. PASCRELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks, and include extraneous material.)

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty).

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley). (Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel). (Mr. ISRAEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record information for the memorial for all of our fallen heroes and our tributes today for our three heroes from New York. The Memorial, Memorial Park, Colorado Springs, CO ``somewhere--everyday'' ``Somewhere-Everyday'', is the copyrighted title given to the 17 foot, ``Heroic'' bronze Memorial statute by Artist and Sculptor Mr. Gary Coulter since it is with this frequency that somewhere every day Fire Fighters are engaged in acts of heroism and saving lives. All too often Fire Fighters give the ultimate sacrifice . . . their lives, in the line of duty. Mr. Coulter has captured the last step of a successful rescue while clutching a child safely within sheltering arms. The rubble of fire forms the base of this magnificent tribute of dedication and heroism. Mr. Coulter designed, with purpose, unequal beams of the 17 foot tall ladder. In the ``art'' world, ``unequal, parallel, lines define infinity''. As Gary stated, Fire Fighters acts of heroism does just that . . . it will always be that way! ``Somewhere-Everyday'' weighs 2,600 pounds, it's base extends 40 feet into the ground to bed rock. Somewhere- Everyday, was delivered to the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Committee in 1987 after nine months of work and a cost of $60,000. This remarkable sculpture was dedicated October 15th, 1988. Behind the Memorial sculpture is the Wall-Of-Honor containing names of Fire Fighters that have died in the line of duty since 1976. There have been countless numbers of Fire Fighters prior to this year that have made the ultimate sacrifice. 1976 is however when the United States Congress passed a bill titled the Public Service Officers Benefit and began real recording of deaths in the line of duty of Fire Fighters. This does not take away any feelings the Brotherhood of Fire Fighters. This does not take away any feelings the Brotherhood of Fire Fighting has for those in the past that have died-in-the-line-of-duty. It is further reason to identify, in silent tribute, the immeasurable numbers of devoted, courageous acts of heroism for accurate inscriptions. Fire Fighters are all: Part kid, adult, husband, father, or even wife or mother. They all are in real life human and have families. A Fire Fighters's family struggles daily as their ``Hero goes off to work without security in knowing if their loved one will be hurt before seeing him/her again. They all know the dangerous profession that has been chosen by their special person. With every wail or siren, uncertainty tugs at heart-strings'' in a way that only a Fire Fighters Wife, Husband, Mother, Father or Family feels. It is to them that this Memorial is dedicated. Special people . . . caring and living in a very special way. ``lamentations'' A gallant, noble sacrifice, a selfless life laid down: So rare this public servant's worth, no greater treasure found. No greater act of decency, no greater human love, no greater courage demonstrated by lives they gave. This tribute to unselfish hearts today will testify, that health and safety have a price, that firefighters die. The shadow of this sentinel, into tomorrow cast, forever will the gravestones shield of heroes who have passed. It bathes their tombs in bravery, and brands upon our memory the fight they gave, the cancelled debt, let town and peoples not forget the price they paid to keep us safe, our lives and homes secure. We honor these who gave their all their memories here endure. --Firehouse Poetry by Lt. Aaron Espy,

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the $250,000 for the Long Island City Links project and acknowledge the importance of this project and also to express my appreciation. Mr. Chairman, I include the following list for the Record of developments in this growing economy: I am tremendously pleased that the House Transportation Appropriations bill includes $250 thousand dollars for the Long Island City Links project, to improve transit connections and pedestrian paths in an area of New York City that is experiencing tremendous economic growth. These improvements are a vital part of our efforts to make Long Island City not only one of the best places to work in the region, but also a beautiful and livable residential neighborhood. Long Island City Links will immeasurably improve the quality of life for residents in the area by reducing traffic and increasing air quality and providing public parks and walkways. Long Island City, Mr. Chairman, is one of the fastest growing regions in New York City. Here are just a few of the recent developments in this growing economy: business moves to LIC MetLife brings almost 1,000 jobs to northwest Queens--MetLife recently decided to relocate almost 1000 employees in about six months to the renovated, six-story Bridge Plaza North. This move is expected to attract more businesses to this area by drawing attention to the convenient 15-minute commute to midtown Manhattan. MetLife plans to add another 550 jobs in the city during the 20-year term of its lease. The FAA has plans to develop a new Regional Headquarters in the area. Construction is already underway for a new FDA laboratory. International Firms such as Citicorp and British Airways already have major operations in the borough as well as Chubb who opened a backup facility in the area for Wall Street brokerage and financial firms. Established Companies in the area, such as Eagle Electric, Continental Bakeries, and Schick Technologies, are continually growing and expanding. Recently welcomed retail chains include Home Depot, Tops Appliance City, Costco, Caldor, Kmart, Sears, the Disney Store, Barnes & Noble, Marshall's, Conway, Ethan Allan, Staples, Circuit City, and Bed, Bath & Beyond with a CompUSA already being planned for the near future. With this growth in business and the economy in Long Island City it is absolutely vital that we move forward with community enhancements like public parks, transportation enhancements, and quality of life improvements for all residents in the neighborhood. Amendment Offered by Mr. Schiff

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. (Mrs. MALONEY of New York asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

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

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word to engage the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation in a colloquy. Mr. Chairman, I note that the subcommittee's recommendation for the New Starts program does not include any funding for the Second Avenue Subway in New York City. This is an important transportation investment planned in the metropolitan area, and it is vitally necessary to ensure fluid transit in an already over-congested metropolitan area. The project received $3 million for continued analysis and design in fiscal year 2001. I understand that the subcommittee's recommendation provides funding for only those projects that have full funding grant agreements in place, are likely to have full funding grant agreements in place in the very near future, or are in final design. While the Second Avenue Subway does not meet this criteria, it is important that the analysis and design continue on this important project. The MTA assures me that the project will be in preliminary design by the end of fiscal year 2001. The State and the MTA have made a major commitment for the project and have included $1.05 billion in the MTA's capital budget. I ask the chairman that if the Senate were to include an appropriation for the Second Avenue Subway in its fiscal year 2002 Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, that the subcommittee be accommodating to the greatest extent possible to ensure that Federal funding for this project is continued in fiscal year 2002.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, when Peru announced it would retry Lori last August, we hoped for an open and fair hearing. Instead, what she received was a public circus in which the verdict was a foregone conclusion. Peru has condemned Lori Berenson under draconian anti-terrorism laws enacted during the flawed Fujimori-Montesinos regime. The U.S. Department of State and the Inter-American Human Rights court system have been joined by human rights groups such as the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and Human Rights Watch: Americas, in concluding that the Fujimori-Montesinos anti-terrorism laws violate both international law and the Peruvian Constitution. Her trial should not have been held until those laws were reformed. International observers, human rights advocates and legal scholars report that Lori's trial has been riddled with violations of due process. Much of the evidence used against her 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 received a reduced sentence for his testimony against Lori and, on the eve of Lori's 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? In her public statement in court yesterday, Lori said that she was sorry for the violence and the deaths that there have been. She has condemned terrorism in the past and she did so again today. Lori has always maintained that she was innocent of the charges against her. I am hopeful that the Peruvian President will recognize that Lori has already served 5\1/2\ years in prison under very harsh circumstances and will pardon her. It is time for Lori to come home.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I would like to add additional comments to the previous statement I gave regarding my good friend from New York, Mr. Crowley's amendment to the Supplemental Appropriations bill. A few weeks ago this body voted on the President's education bill, showing support for our students. Nothing is more important to our children's future than a sound education. We all agree on that matter, but our schools cannot meet the needs of our children if they are underfunded. This amendment would strike 25 million dollars under the Operations and Maintenance account of the Army that has been requested for Recruiting and Advertising for this branch. These much needed funds would be transferred to the Department of Education for their Magnet School Assistance Program. Many of the students in my district benefit from Magnet Schools. Specifically Community School District 30 which serves a diverse student population in Queens, New York. Magnet Schools are important places of learning because these are specialized theme schools focusing on areas such as math and science. These schools often provide innovative educational programs. And perhaps most importantly because these schools are public, they provide parents a choice within the public school system. This amendment would provide additional funding to increase assistance to Magnet Schools and other Local Education Agencies to create or expand Magnet schools in needed communities. CSD 30 has created an interactive learning community employing the teachers, parents, students, and local universities of Queens, New York, and its mission would greatly be supported by additional funding. I join with my dear friend from New York, in that it is my hope that this body will find the additional 25 million dollars for the Magnet School Assistance Program at the U.S. Department of Education as this bill works its way through the process.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, earlier today, during debate on the Crowley amendment, I made reference to my concerns about cuts to the Workforce Investment Act. As I said, I am deeply concerned that the funding for the supplemental is at the expense of this very important program. As you know, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) provides job training and related services to low-income persons, dislocated workers, and other unemployed or underemployed individuals. The WIA trains people for jobs so that they are prepared to enter the workforce and participate as productive employees. And one major, positive consequence of the program is a true savings in the costs of crime and dependency. Without a doubt, the WIA is a vital investment in our workforce and our future. I am particularly interested in this program because of the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center which is located in my district. I am proud to say that the Isaacs Center has a long history of helping young people stay in school and prepare for entering into the job market. Fortunately, the Center was awarded $1.2 million over a 3 year period to work with 250 at-risk children ages 14-18 to help them complete high school, get work experience and training, and transition to work or to pursue further education. However, it is very clear: the Isaacs Center's funding and its ability to continue this project is directly linked to the continued funding of WIA. Our children count on this funding. Our future demands it. We must not cut WIA funding.