Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Gangone, who has been chosen as an honoree for the School Settlement Testimonial Dinner, in Brooklyn, New York, along with his brother, Vincent. John Gangone, the co-owner of a surgical supply store, has lived for over thirty years in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. After graduating from St. John's University with a degree in business, Mr. Gangone worked briefly for a local industrial real estate firm as an associate broker, and then went on to work for the New York City Division of Housing Preservation and Redevelopment. Although he enjoyed these positions, neither provided the interaction with his own neighborhood that John treasured. It was at this point that John Gangone, along with his brother, Vincent, pursued his dream and established Salerno Surgical Supplies. The name Salerno was borrowed from the Italian hometown of their parents, Nicola and Anna Gangone. Mr. Gangone, a successful business and family man, also devotes much of his time to the Greenpoint community. He serves on the board of directors of the St. Nicholas Preservation Corporation, an organization within the community that promotes and manages housing and special programs for the neighborhood's youth and elderly. He is also an active member of the St. Cono Di Teggiano Catholic Association, where he has served as treasurer, advisor, and, currently, as committee chairman for the organization's 25th anniversary. Mr. Gangone is also a member of the New York State Fraternal Order of Police and the New York City Police Athletic League. In addition, he holds a New York State license as a real estate broker, insurance broker, and a certified real estate appraiser. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise with me in this tribute to Mr. John Gangone of Brooklyn, New York. He is a dedicated member of the Greenpoint/Williamsburg community, which he has selflessly served for many years in a variety of capacities. I am proud to count him among my constituents.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Riggs amendment which would ban colleges and universities that consider race and gender in the application process from receiving Higher Education Act funding. Many of America's educational institutions try to correct past discrimination or to achieve the benefits of a diverse student body by taking race and gender into consideration in admissions. This amendment would force these colleges and universities to choose between abandoning these important policies or their participation in any Higher Education Act Program. In the year after the University of California's Board of Regents approved a policy prohibiting all affirmative action measures in public universities, the number of African Americans admitted to UCLA law school dropped by 80%, and at UC-Berkeley law school by 81%. Next fall's UC-Berkeley incoming class has dropped 66% for African Americans and 53% for Hispanics. When affirmative action is done right it is fair and it words. It is not quotas. It is not, and I do not favor, rejection or selection of any person solely on the base of gender or race without considering merit and qualifications. I believe there will be a day when we do not need affirmative action, but we are not there yet. The statistics show that the job of ending discrimination in this country is not over.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment to H.R. 6. H.R. 6 contains a provision which requires colleges to report on any potential reduction in athletic programs four years in advance and the reasons for that proposed reduction. This provision is just another attempt to get colleges and universities to blame Title IX for reductions in smaller, non-revenue men's sports. Title IX has been very successful in increasing the visibility and strength of women's collegiate sports. Its success can be seen in the two newly formed professional women's basketball leagues. Title IX has been very important program, and it should not become a scapegoat for fiscal difficulties affecting the institution. Title IX is not the only problem with this bill. Congress should not restrict a college or universities ability to decide on its programs and budget. Colleges and universities do not set their budgets four years in advance, yet this provision would force them to make decisions while just guessing at what the future may hold. In a time when the cost of college is rising much faster than the cost of living, we must find ways to help colleges decrease costs; not create obstacles to suspending programs that the college or university can no longer afford. This provision intrudes into the decision making policies of universities and colleges, and it would force colleges to make decisions prematurely about their athletic programs. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting yes to this amendment to delete this provision from the bill.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Musico, superintendent of School District 14 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. A life-long New York resident, Mr. Musico's distinguished career has truly encompassed all aspects of the New York City School system. A graduate of this system himself, he began his teaching career in 1967 at Public School 59, during which time he also served as UFT chapter chair and as a delegate to the AFT, NCA, and NYSUT conventions representing teachers until 1973. In 1973 Mr. Musico was selected to be an assistant principal of Early Childhood. He expanded this program, which was the largest of its kind in the district, to include an experimental three-year old program and all-day kindergarten. Four years later, he became principal of PS 110. During his 15 year term, Mr. Musico initiated many innovative ideas, including restructuring the reading and math programs, establishing a foreign language program, creating a gifted and talented program, and encouraging strong parental involvement. These accomplishments were recognized in his appointment as deputy superintendent of District 14 in December, 1992. In this position, Mr. Musico was dedicated to restructuring the district's schools and developing educational initiatives to promote the district's goal- oriented philosophy. His advocacy of an extended school day for students, staff development, and his concept of making every middle school teacher a teacher of reading helped to restructure and refocus the district. In 1996 Mr. Musico was unanimously selected by District 14's Community School Board to serve as superintendent, a post which, under his leadership, has led the district to achieve notable success. This year he was honored for his work by the mayor and the school's chancellor when the district achieved the largest gain in reading in the city, a success which can be attributed to the combination of an outstanding Community School Board, caring and involved parents, devoted teachers, and a group of the finest supervisors in the city. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise with me in this tribute to Mr. Musico and School District 14. It is due to the combined efforts of this outstanding man and the community he serves, that the children of this district can be assured one of the finest educations available. I am proud to count them among my constituents. Thank you.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the supplemental appropriations rule for a number of reasons, but for the moment I would like to talk about one special interest rider that was added in conference at the last minute that its supporters should be ashamed of. It is an amendment that allows big oil companies to pay lower royalties for oil extracted from federally-owned, taxpayer-owned land at the expense of our Nation's schoolchildren. Oil companies should pay royalties to the Federal Government based on the market price, but they are not doing that. They have been paying to the Federal Government based on what they call posted price. Of course, that is a lower price than what they pay each other for this same oil. What they are doing is keeping two sets of books, one to record their profits for what they pay each other and one to profit off the American people and the American taxpayer by paying a lower price for oil extracted from taxpayer-owned land. Oil royalties help pay for our children's education. Each year, big oil is taking $100 million out of our classrooms and putting it into their own pockets. The Washington Post and Rollcall both report that the companies are putting plenty of money into certain congressional campaigns. I guess it is paying off. This is poor policy. We should vote against the supplemental. The President should veto it on just this rip-off that was added at the last minute alone.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Specialized Treatment Program for Holocaust Survivors and Their Families, begun by Dr. Rachel Yehuda, which celebrated its fifth anniversary on April 27, 1998, in connection with Yom Hoshoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. Established in 1993, the Specialized Treatment Program for Holocaust Survivors is the leading program of its kind in the world. The program was created to study and treat Holocaust survivors suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. It is the only treatment program which offers comprehensive psychotherapeutic services to survivors and their families. Dr. Yehuda's work has illuminated the field of traumatic stress research. She has found, for example, that there is a demonstrated neurobiologic difference between trauma survivors and individuals exhibiting other kinds of stress. She has shown that these variations are found in Holocaust survivors, rape victims, and combat veterans, among others. In addition to these findings, Dr. Yehuda's work has enabled her to recommend improvements in current methods of treating traumatized individuals. Not only have her findings provided a ``biological blueprint'' for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, they explain why more traditional psychiatric treatments for trauma survivors have failed. One especially noteworthy aspect of her work has been the potential genetic links. Adult children of Holocaust survivors demonstrate similar biological alterations to those of their parents, and also exhibit symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress. Dr. Yehuda's efforts have played an important role in helping Holocaust survivors receive long overdue reparations from the German Government. Germany has often denied survivors reparations claiming the survivor has not been able to demonstrate to the government's satisfaction that a particular illness or medical condition is a direct result of Nazi atrocities in ghettos and concentration camps. Biological proof of suffering in Holocaust survivors determined by Dr. Yehuda has prompted the German Government to pay reparations in several cases. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise with me in this tribute to Dr. Rachel Yehuda and the Specialized Treatment Program for Holocaust Survivors, a program whose research is pivotal in the treatment of traumatized individuals. I am proud that such an effort is taking place in my district.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Loyola School Basketball team, the Knights, on their 1998 Independent School Athletic League championship win. This triumph is an important milestone in the school's history: the team's first championship in 18 years. The young men on this basketball team have an outstanding record: 12- 0 undefeated in the League, a 21-6 overall record and an impressive 17 game winning streak. I must also pay tribute to the values instilled in these young athletes by the Loyola School itself. The exceptional teamwork and athleticism demonstrated by the Loyola Knights is merely an extension of the spirit of the Loyola School. The Loyola School, the only co-educational Jesuit high school in the tri-state area, was founded in 1900. Its mission is to challenge its young men and women to become intellectually fulfilled, open to growth, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice. As a college preparatory school, Loyola is dedicated to challenging its students academically. The school places emphasis on personal study, reflection and leadership to help students expand their knowledge, to develop their skills, to grown as individuals and as members of a community. The Loyola Knight's successes this year on the basketball court are a testament to the success of the Loyola School's efforts to develop the diverse and unique talents of each student. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise with me in this tribute to the Loyola School Knights. These young men have worked very hard towards their goal. I am proud to have the Loyola School and its outstanding student body in my district.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to put on the Record my statement on the Armenian genocide on its 83rd anniversary. As we stand here on the floor now, the Armenian National Committee is hosting a meeting with Members of Congress to remember the genocide and to take action to make sure that it becomes part of the history of the world and is recognized. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter), who are cochairs of the Armenian Caucus, for all of their hard work on this issue and other human rights issues. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about a very important point, and that is getting a fair and accurate census, one that counts every American. There has been a lot of rhetoric about the Census Monitoring Board floating around. Once again, there has been little connection between that rhetoric and reality. I hope to set the record straight by discussing the facts of the situation and not the mythology the opponents of a fair census are trying to create. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues who oppose a fair and accurate census, who repeatedly call for spending billions more to assure that the inaccuracies of the past are repeated, have criticized the President for appointing a couple of, and I use their quotes, ``political hit men'' to the Census Monitoring Board set up in the 1998 appropriations bill. These appointments, they claim, show that the President is really interested in politics, not in science. The facts argue that just the opposite is true. The President has put forward a plan for the 2000 Census based on science, not politics. The opponents of that plan know they cannot win a debate on the merits, so they have tried to smear the President and the Census Bureau with innuendo. The President appointed politicians to the Census Monitoring Board because, from the outset, it has been clear that the board was a political entity. The President appointed politicians to counter the politicians appointed by the Republicans. It is clear that, from the beginning, the new leadership intended this board to be political. Let us look at the facts. When the board first appeared in language drafted by the Republican leadership during the negotiations over the 1998 budget, it had four Republican appointees and just two Democratic appointees. That sounds rather partisan and slanted to me. At the same time, they tried to give the board subpoena power, congressional printing authority, and a host of other functions. In fact, they designed the board to look very much like a House committee, where they could control the rules of the game. In other words, they tried to create a political entity. We are fortunate that the President refused to accept such a blatantly partisan board. Even after the President forced the Republican leadership to accept a board that had four Republican appointees and four Democratic appointees, the Republican leadership wanted the board to operate with a quorum of four. Mr. Speaker, I would like Members to stop and think about what that means. A quorum of four would allow the four Republican appointees to meet without including a single Democrat. Is that partisan? Does that tell us what their agenda is? I think it does. The Republican leadership at every turn has signaled that this monitoring board is nothing but a political entity. The President has responded to these signals in the only rational way possible. When the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate appointed board members with political rather than scientific credentials, the President did likewise. What is different is that the President has a strong record on the science of this issue, and the Republican leadership does not. The President called on the National Academy of Sciences for advice. The Republican leadership has ridiculed the Academy as political because it does not like their scientific judgment. The President continues to seek the advice of experts through the National Academy of Sciences and through advisory committees. The Republican leadership continues to fret about what a fair and accurate census might do to their attempts to manipulate the redistricting process. Right now, the Census Monitoring Board is a political entity because the Republican leadership made it that way. But it does not have to continue in that vein. Let me put forward four principles that, if adopted, could make the monitoring board a bipartisan operation. First, all personnel hired to work for the monitoring board other than the executive directors, have to be hired with the agreement of both executive directors. Second, all work done by board employees has to be approved by both executive directors. Third, any press release, publication, or statement attributed to the board has to have the approval of both chairs before released. Fourth, any funds expended by the board have to be approved by the two chairs. If the Republican appointees on the Board will agree to these four principles, the board can proceed in a bipartisan manner. If they refuse to agree with these principles, it is a clear indication that their agenda is to conduct partisan political activities and try to use the monitoring board to legitimize their partisan agenda. I ask the Chairman of the Census Subcommittee to join me in calling for the Census Monitoring Board to accept these four principles. His willingness to join me in supporting these principles will also send a signal that he too is interested in fact and not fiction.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), for yielding, and I thank the gentleman for organizing this special order for Bella Abzug. Perhaps it was fitting that we lost one of the world's greatest women's rights leaders at the end of March. March was Women's History Month. It was a time when we recalled the great contributions made by women for women, and Bella, my friend and my mentor, was a great contributor. I would like to say that Bella Abzug will not only be remembered for her flamboyant, colorful hats, but for what was under them; her wonderful mind and the voice with which she spoke it and her inspired heart. I am deeply indebted to Bella, and I know many women feel the same way. But I also know that there are many young women who may just take Bella's work and the work of other women before them for granted. I invite them to get to know Bella's memory, because without it we could lose ground. If we begin to take her hard-fought victories for granted, we will lose sight of the work that lies ahead. There is not an American woman alive today who does not command more respect or enjoy more opportunity as a result of Bella's work. Because of Bella Abzug, women today stand a little taller, walk a little prouder, and accept nothing less than what they deserve. Bella broke through barriers; she shattered glass ceilings, she rattled cages, and she set women free. Even in her last years when she was confined to a wheelchair, no woman stood taller in the fight for women's rights, for women's equality, than Bella Abzug. Bella was a pioneer on so many levels. She was a legislator, a peace activist, a labor lawyer, a lecturer, a news commentator, a civil liberties advocate, and the first woman to be elected to Congress, not under the banner of a particular party, but on a banner based on women's rights and a peace platform. She cofounded the National Women's Political Caucus, which celebrates this year its 21st anniversary. She coauthored the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts. She cast one of the first votes for the Equal Rights Amendment, which still has not been enacted into law in this country. She presided over the Women's Congress for a Healthy Planet. She organized the first National Women's Conference in Houston, Texas, and organized this past year the 20th anniversary of remembrance of the accomplishments of that conference. She authored Women's Equality Day, and she cofounded the Women's Environment and Development Organization. She had an impressive resume. However, the whole of Bella's life was much more than the sum of its parts. She is now a historical figure, a cultural icon. She changed how people thought, how they looked at the world, and how they lived their lives. Bella was a firebrand orator. One of my favorite Bellarisms goes like this: ``Women will change the nature of power, rather than power changing the nature of women.'' She proclaimed just last year, ``We are building a women's movement, and we have been making it larger and larger. It is worldwide. It is where it has never been before.'' She was building a worldwide network because she could. She was a consummate organizer. She was always pushing the envelope, always trying to do more, and challenging others to do more. I suspect by now Bella has already demanded a meeting with God and has begun to try to reorganize heaven. If she were with us here today, she would tell us not to mourn, but to organize and to mobilize, and she would be right. We can never forget Bella Abzug or her works or her funny charm, but our best vehicle for remembering her will be to carry on her work. Her sense of outrage must become ours. Her commitment to reaching out to our Nation's younger women must become ours. Her courage, her vision, her wit and her boundless energy must become ours. After all, these are the things she left us. We must take them as gifts and use them to advance the cause of women in America around the world.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the Hargraves had nine children, 23 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Helen Hargrave was 71, her husband, 83. Last Memorial Day, Charles Hargrave became violently angry. He pushed her to the ground, then shot and killed her before turning the gun on himself. Unfortunately, Helen Hargrave is not alone. Older people are victimized by different types of abuse, including psychological, financial, physical abuse and neglect. And there is a significant population of older people who are abused by adult children or care givers. The number of reports of elder abuse in the United States increased by 150% between 1986 and 1996. Further, of the more than one million people aged 65 and over who are victims of abuse each year, at least two-thirds are women. And older women report more serious injuries than male victims of elder abuse. These figures can no longer be ignored, these women can no longer be overlooked. The time has come to effectively and comprehensively address the issue of violence against older people. We must provide professionals with the skills needed to identify the problem, support for those who are too frightened or demoralized to ask for help, and protection for those who are vulnerable. In an effort to confront this complex issue, Congressman Mike Castle and I have introduced the ``Older Women's Protection from Violence Act of 1998.'' This legislation will help protect older people from elder abuse, including domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as institutional and community violence. This legislation will also encourage existing outreach efforts and other services to better assist older people victimized by such crimes. Older women often experience such violence differently than their younger counterparts. For example, it is more difficult for an older women to do something about an abusive relationship. She has fewer options than a younger woman, and usually is more dependent on her husband's medical coverage as well as his income. And like many women her age, she is unlikely to have a career or pension of her own on which to rely. Older women have reported being pushed, hit, and even shoved down flights of stairs, suffering fractures, dislocated joints, and deep muscle bruises that take weeks to heal. Further, domestic violence can be exacerbated by age-related conditions or circumstances, including retirement, failing health, financial pressures, and changing patterns of dependency in relationships. Several potential scenarios of older abused women exist. Some women have been in violent relationships for 30, 40, even 50 years. Others are starting new relationships following a divorce or the death of spouse, while some older battered women have been in non-violent relationships for many years with abuse starting later in life. Experts have found that service providers in the field of domestic violence often lack critical experience and skills in working with elderly clients. Most shelters for abused women are not equipped to deal with older women who may have physical limitations or health problems. Similarly, service providers in the field of elder abuse have also had difficulties in working with older battered women because their approaches often do not address the root causes of such violence. Some of the key issues addressed in the ``Older Women's Protection from Violence Act'' include: domestic violence services and outreach programs to address the specific needs of older victims; community-based intervention and prevention programs; reauthorization of ombudsman programs and the elder abuse prevention program under the Older Americans Act; measures to protect older people from financial and material exploitation; preferences given to health profession educational programs which require students to receive significant training in treatment issues related to elder abuse, including domestic violence and sexual assault; development of curricula for social workers, health care providers and law enforcement; legal assistance for victims of elder abuse through law school clinical programs; and research about the sexual abuse of older women. Not even the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) specifically addresses the specific concerns of older women. This bill, however, has been included in VAWA II--introduced earlier this month--to address that oversight. These efforts are vital if we are to adequately respond to the unique health, housing and legal needs of older women. Older women who just want to have a peaceful life. Older women just like Helen Hargrave.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, on the last day of Women's History Month, the world lost a great leader in Bella Abzug. Tears are being shed today, not just in the United States but around the world, because Bella's vision was not confined to one issue or to one nation. Bella Abzug was the original feminist, an icon in the women's movement here and around the world. But she worked for more than a constituency or an interest group, or even a movement. She will be remembered for her hats but, more importantly, for what was under her hat: her brains, her voice, and her heart. I am deeply indebted to Bella, and I know many women who feel the same way. I also know that there are women today who may not feel that Bella's loss has any connection to them. But I want to remind them about the rights Bella fought for and won on their behalf, rights so many of us now take for granted, or forget that women ever had to fight for them in the first place. Make no mistake, there is not an American woman alive who does not have more rights, commands more respect, or enjoys more opportunity as a result of Bella's work. Because of Bella Abzug, women today stand a little taller, walk a little prouder, and accept nothing less than they deserve. Bella broke through barriers, shattered glass ceilings, and woke people up. Even in her final years, when she was confined to a wheelchair, no woman stood taller in the fight for women's rights than Bella Abzug. Bella was a pioneer in so many forums: as a legislator, peace activist, labor lawyer, lecturer, news commentator, civil liberties advocate, and the first person to be elected to Congress on a platform of women's rights and peace. She cofounded the National Women's Political Caucus, coauthored the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts, cast one of the first votes for the Equal Rights Amendment, presided over the Women's Congress for a Healthy Planet, and cofounded the Women's Environment and Development Organization. But the whole of Bella's life was much more than the considerable sum of its parts. She was a historical figure in the women's movement, a cultural icon who transcended politics and policy. Bella did not just change the law, she changed how people thought, how they looked at the world, and how they lived their lives. She was a firebrand orator, a consummate organizer, and a living symbol of the limitless potential of what women can do. Bella was motivated by a sense of outrage about the rampant inequality between men and women that still exists today. She took this outrage to her grave. I know if Bella were alive today she would be telling us not to mourn, but to organize and to mobilize. Bella said just last year, we are building a women's movement, and we have been making it larger and larger. It is worldwide. It is where it has never been before. Bella's effort to connect with younger women and to create a worldwide movement for women's rights has ensured the women's movement will continue well into the next millennium. It is my responsibility, the responsibility of other women in Congress, and the women of this Nation to keep that spirit alive. As Bella herself said, women will change the nature of power, rather than power changing the nature of women.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, a promise is a promise. Back in November, the Speaker promised us a bipartisan campaign finance bill, a vote here on this floor. This is not a bipartisan campaign finance bill. It is a partisan campaign finance reform bill. This plan to put campaign finance bills up for suspension votes is like a magic trick: Now you see them, now you do not. The House leadership is using the process to ensure that these reform bills disappear into their magic black hats. The American people must know that their own democratic process is being used against them. There are enough Members of this House willing to vote for reform, and the House leadership simply will not put the bill out on the floor for a vote. They are manipulating the system. We need pressure; and we will keep pressure on until we bring a real bill, like Shays-Meehan, up for a real vote on this House floor. If the House leadership spent as much time fixing the Nation's problems as it spends figuring out how to avoid having a vote on this Shays-Meehan bill on the floor, our work here in Washington would have been completed. If the House leadership appropriated as much money trying to fix the Nation's problems as it spends figuring out how to shoot down the opposition, our work here in Washington would be finished. Millions have been spent so far on clearly partisan investigations into the 1996 elections, but there has been no serious attempt to reform the system. We have had many, many hearings in the Burton committee on alleged campaign finance abuses; and absolutely every single one of the abuses involved the use of soft money. Instead of continuing to look at problems, we should be spending time on how to fix the problems. Even if we just had a vote on one segment out of Shays-Meehan, which is banning soft money, we would have removed the ability for campaign finance abuse, which is being alleged in the many hearings before the Burton committee. Another point that is particularly troubling is the funding for the Federal Elections Commission. This is the only body that is empowered, and it is a bipartisan body, it is the only body that is empowered to look at campaign finance abuses and to try to correct the system, and to find those that abuse it. Yet the Federal Elections Commission has not been appropriated the money that they requested just to investigate the abuses that are before them. Yet there have been multimillions appropriated, $40 million appropriated to look into investigations before the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight on alleged abuses. Yet the Federal Elections Commission, the one bipartisan body that is empowered to actually do something about it, has not received the funding that they requested to get the job done. The money keeps pouring in. The FEC recently released a report showing that congressional candidates are setting new fund-raising records. In 1997 candidates for House and Senate seats raised $232.1 million. That is a $48 million increase from the same period in the cycle before. Mr. Speaker, the problem is getting worse on both sides of the aisle and Members from both sides of the aisle are asking for reform. More than 300 Members of this body have signed on to one form or another of reform campaign finance legislation before this body. Mr. Speaker, let us bring it to the floor for a vote. We certainly need to vote for campaign finance reform before we go back to our constituents and ask them to vote for us in our own reelection bids. Mr. Speaker, a promise is a promise, and it is time to turn the promise of the Speaker's handshake with President Clinton and others confirming support for campaign finance, it is time to turn the promise of that handshake into the reality of a law. At the very least, we should bring Shays-Meehan to the floor for a vote.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the Republican majority has spent in this Congress $8 million investigating alleged campaign finance abuses, yet the same Republican majority failed to fund the Federal Elections Commission at the level they requested and said they needed to do the job. It was $6 million short. I am pleased my colleague says he will get the funding for this bill, but we have to get the funding they said they need in order to investigate the cases before them, the only group charged to investigate in a bipartisan way. The Speaker earlier said we would have a vote on campaign finance reform in this Congress, but what we have tonight is a campaign finance reform kill. Everyone knows that true reform has to be comprehensive. A little small approach, although worthy, will not get the job done. We have a comprehensive bill, Shays-Meehan. We should allow a vote on this bill before we go home and ask our constituents to vote for us.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Forest Recovery and Protection Act. This bill starts with the assumption that our national forests are sick and diseased and, as a result, need more clear- cutting. This assumption is a myth. There is no direct scientific evidence that our national forests are suffering from excessive amounts of dead or diseased trees. Tree mortality remains well below 1 percent of live tree volume throughout the country. This rate has not changed in 40 years. The bill attempts to save our public forests by cutting them down. In my book, cutting down a forest does not save a forest. This mentality reminds me of the idea behind the timber salvage rider we passed last Congress. Proponents of the timber salvage rider claimed it would improve forest health. Well, the trees were cut, but the proponents of the Forest Recovery and Protection Act claimed we still have a forest health crisis. What we found was that the type of logging advocated in this bill will create problems rather than solve them. Mr. Chairman, 95 percent of America's original forests have been cut down. Just 5 percent remains standing, mostly on Federal lands, which is owned by the American people. Logging under the timber salvage rider upset forest ecosystems by draining the soil of important nutrients. It weakened the land, creating the potential for dangerous mud slides. Instead of this legislation, Congress should be working on the forest restoration bill like the one that my colleague just mentioned, the Act to Save America's Forests. This legislation would improve forests by prohibiting clear-cutting and even aged logging and other abusive practices on Federal land. It would all save hundreds of millions of road building subsidies and prevent dangerous mud slides. The Act to Save America's Forests would effectively shift our forest management focus from corporate profit to protection and nurturing of our rare and natural resources.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule. The bill cuts family planning funding and imposes the gag rule on family planning organizations. It eliminates funding for the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. The President has said very clearly that he will veto this bill. Let us put this vote in perspective. This vote is the 82nd vote against choice in this body since 1995. This bill with this language in it is yet another attempt by extremists on the other side of the aisle to roll back a woman's reproductive choices, program by program, procedure by procedure. Now anti-choice extremists are trying to intimidate reproductive health workers restriction by restriction. This agreement is a clear attempt to restrict the delivery of family planning information. It is misguided and just plain wrong. In developing countries, death from pregnancy-related causes is the single largest cause of death among women in reproductive ages. Simply providing unhindered family planning information to all who need it could reduce maternal mortality by one-fifth. The proponents say they want to prevent abortions, but we all know that international family planning actually reduces the number of abortions around the world. Recently, Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to speak with former Ambassador Wisner who represented our country in India. I asked him what was the single most important thing that we could do as a country in our foreign policy to aid the world's largest democracy? Quite frankly, I was surprised by his response. He said family planning money. He said that, in India, you could go out into various cities and see families that were lined up for miles just trying to get basic information on family planning. This language has absolutely no business being on the State Department authorization bill. I urge my colleagues to vote against it. I urge them to join the President in voting against it.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. I rise in support of the Pombo-Kennedy amendment to H.R. 2578. This amendment is narrowly drawn. It would raise the visa waiver program refusal rate from 2 to 3 percent. This would allow citizens of Greece and Portugal to travel to the United States for 90 days without a visa. There has been a lot of incorrect information that has been circulated about this amendment. This amendment is not about immigration but rather about tourism and commerce. It would allow people from Greece and Portugal to travel to the United States, whether for business or pleasure, without getting a visa, just as those countries allow people from our country to come to their countries. Tourism from these countries would increase dramatically and help and benefit the American economy. In fact, the first year that Argentina was in the program, tourism from that country to the United States grew by 11.5 percent. I am fortunate to represent Astoria, Queens, which is one of the largest Hellenic American communities in the United States. I know that they would like for their families to be able to come and visit them here in the United States without having to get a visa, just as they are able to travel to Greece without a visa. It is very appropriate that this amendment is before us today, because this is the 177th anniversary of Greek independence. Greece is one of our oldest and strongest allies. They have fought by our side in every war this century. Their ideas of democracy and individual liberties became the foundation of our government. It is time that we extend to them the same courtesy that they extend to us. I strongly support this amendment. It is narrowly drawn. It will help tourism in this country.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this Special Order.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am here tonight with my colleagues to commemorate the 177th anniversary of Greek Independence Day, which is a national day of celebration of Greek and American democracy. While commemorative resolutions are no longer permitted in this House, there is still tremendous support for Greek Independence Day. Every year since 1986, a resolution has been cosponsored by over 50 Senators and passed in the Senate, as well as one in the House, sponsored by over 218 Members, and passed. The President of the United States has once again signed a proclamation this year recognizing this day as Greek Independence Day, and I would like to insert his proclamation into the Record at this time. Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy, 1998 by the president of the united states of america--a proclamation This year, as we mark the 177th anniversary of the advent of Greece's struggle for independence, we celebrate with the Hellenic Republic and recognize the close ties that have long existed between Greece and the United States. Through two centuries, our nations have enjoyed a strong and enduring friendship. For more than half a century, we have stood together in NATO, modern history's most successful alliance. Our bonds are deeper still, however, for we are joined by blood, culture, and a profound commitment to shared values. Greek ideals of democracy and freedom inspired our Nation's founders and breathed life into America's experiment with democratic self-government. Generations of Greek Americans have enriched every aspect of our national life--in the arts, sciences, business, politics, and sports. Through hard work, love of family and community, steadfast commitment to principle, and a deep love of liberty, they have contributed greatly to the prosperity and peace we enjoy today. The bonds between America and Greece, in fact, have never been stronger than they are today. We are partners in the effort to find a lasting, peaceful solution in the Balkans and to build an enlarged NATO that will enhance our common security. As our two nations prepare for the challenges and possibilities of the new millennium, we look forward to building on that partnership so that the seeds of democracy we have nurtured together for so long will bear fruit in a bright future not only for ourselves, but for our global community. Now, therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 25, 1998, as Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-second. William J. Clinton.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, Greece has been called the birthplace of United States democracy, and I would like to quote: ``Our Constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of the minority, but of the whole people. When it is a question of settling private disputes, everyone is equal before the law. When it is a question of putting one person before another in positions of public responsibility, what counts is not the membership of a particular class, but the actual ability which the man or woman possesses.'' This sounds like it could have been written by one of our Founding Fathers, but it was actually written by Pericles in an address made in Greece 2,000 years ago. Thomas Jefferson once said, ``To the ancient Greeks we are all indebted for the light which led ourselves, the American colonies, out of Gothic darkness.'' Just as Greek ideas of democracy and individual liberties became the foundation of our government, the American Revolution became one of the ideals of the Greeks as they fought for their independence in the 1820s. Greek intellectuals translated the Declaration of Independence of the United States and used it as their own declaration. During the fight for independence, a Greek commander in chief, Petros Mavromichalis, appealed to the citizens of the United States saying, ``Having formed the resolution to live or die for freedom, we are drawn toward you by a just sympathy, since it is in your land that liberty has fixed her abode, and by you that she is prized by our fathers. Hence, honoring her name, we invoke yours at the same time, trusting that in imitating you, we shall imitate our ancestors and be thought worthy of them if we succeed in resembling you. It is for you, citizens of America, to crown this glory.'' Through two centuries, Greece has been a long and trusted ally. In fact, they fought alongside the United States in every major international conflict of this century. For more than half a century, we have stood together in NATO, in friendship, and in alliance. During the early 1900s, one of every four Greek males between the ages of 15 and 45 departed for the United States of America, and I might add that many of them settled in Astoria, Queens, which I am fortunate to represent. Astoria is one of the largest and most vibrant communities of Greek and Cypriot Americans in this country. It is truly one of my greatest pleasures in Congress to be able to participate in the life of this community with the wonderful and vital Greek American friends that I have come to know. I have also had the pleasure of establishing, along with my great friend from the great State of Florida, (Mr. Bilirakis) the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues. This caucus allows Members of the House to join together to find ways to work together toward better United States Greek and Cypriot relations. We are here tonight because 177 years ago the revolution which freed the Greek people from the Ottoman Empire began. Greece remained under the Ottoman Empire for almost 400 years, and during this time, the people were deprived of all civil rights. Many volunteers from various localities in the United States sailed to Greece to participate in Greece's war for independence. So today, as we mark the 177th anniversary of Greece's struggle for independence, we celebrate with the Hellenic Republic and recognize the close ties that have long existed between Greece and the United States. On this occasion we should also direct our attention to the Island of Cyprus, which for 24 years now has been striving for an end to its tragic division and the illegal Turkish occupation of 37 percent of the island. Again, Cyprus is on the verge of becoming a flash-point for regional conflict because of Turkey's opposition to European membership for Cyprus. Last fall, H.R. 81 passed the House of Representatives unanimously calling for a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem. President Clerides of Cyprus was recently reelected to a second term, and Cyprus is to begin negotiations with the European Union next week on March 31st. Mr. Speaker, it is now time to reaffirm our commitment to a peaceful solution. We must use Cyprus's EU accession as an impetus for positive progress and not let Turkey use it as an excuse for heightened tensions. A positive contribution by Turkey to help resolve the situation in Cyprus would facilitate Turkey's aspirations to become a member of the European Union. We should use our influence in the region to help Turkey to understand this. That is why I, along with many of my colleagues, introduced a resolution to assert our position on a peaceful solution to Cyprus. This bill encourages Turkey to work with Greece and Cyprus to find a just solution, and I would like to introduce into the Record at this time the resolution which the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and I are presenting today with well over 32 cosponsors. H. Con. Res-- Whereas President Glafcos Clerides of the Republic of Cyprus was recently re-elected for a second 5-year term with a renewed mandate to resolve the situation in Cyprus arising from Turkey's invasion of the island in 1974 and its continuing military occupation of 37 percent of Cyprus' territory; Whereas the international community, including the United States, is expected to engage in a sustained effort to bring about a just, viable, and comprehensive solution to the situation in Cyprus; Whereas Cyprus will begin negotiations with the European Union on March 31, 1998, for accession to the European Union; Whereas it is recognized that the prospect of Cyprus' accession to the European Union could serve as a catalyst for resolving the situation in Cyprus; Whereas the entire population of Cyprus, including the Turkish Cypriots, would benefit greatly from Cyprus's membership in the European Union; Whereas a positive contribution by Turkey to the solution of the situation in Cyprus, as repeatedly called for by the United States and the international community, will not only facilitate Turkey's aspirations in Europe but will also enhance stability and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean and will safeguard the interests on the United States in the region; Whereas the United States Government has sought to identify the remains of United States citizen Andreas Kassapis and hopes that this action will lead to further breakthroughs on the subject of the missing from both communities in Cyprus; Whereas, in July 1997, the House of Representatives and the Senate adopted House Concurrent Resolution 81 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 41 calling for a United States initiative to resolve the situation in Cyprus on the basis of international law, the provisions of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, democratic principles, including respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and in accordance with the norms and requirements for accession to the European Union; Whereas the House of Representatives and the Senate in these concurrent resolutions also consider that lasting peace and stability on Cyprus could be best secured by a process of complete demilitarization of the island; Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1092 of December 23, 1996, states that a Cyprus settlement must be based on a state of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded, and comprising 2 politically equal communities as described in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions in a bicommunal and bizonal federation and that such a settlement must exclude union in whole or in part with any country or any form of partition or secession; and Whereas the Congress intends to remain actively seized of the matter: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress strongly urges the President-- (1) to seize the opportunity presented by the beginning of a new presidential term in the Republic of Cyprus and the opening accession negotiations between Cyprus and the European Union to launch an initiative to resolve the situation in Cyprus based on the parameters and principles set forth in House Concurrent Resolution 81 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 41 of the 105th Congress and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1092 of December 23, 1996; and (2) to continue the bimonthly reports to the Congress on the active engagement of the United States in the efforts to find a solution to such situation in Cyprus.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Hopefully, Mr. Speaker, we will soon celebrate Cyprus Day when, once again, the entire island would be united. However, the reason we are here today is to celebrate Greek Independence Day. There has always been a very special bond of friendship between our two countries, and there is no better way to show this than as we did today with a concrete vote on this floor which was helpful to Greek citizens in our country. Today, Congress voted overwhelmingly, 360 to 46, for an amendment. This amendment will allow people from Greece to travel to the United States, whether for business or pleasure, without getting a visa, just as Greece allows Americans to travel to their country without a visa. I would really like to end with a quote from the great poet, Shelley, and he said, ``We are all Greeks. Our laws, our literature, our religion, our art have their roots in Greece.'' Tonight we celebrate Greek independence and the many contributions of Greece to American culture. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida, (Mr. Bilirakis), the cofounder and cochair of the Hellenic Caucus. We appreciate all of the gentleman's hard work on behalf of a better bond of friendship between Greece and the United States.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his statement. Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Klink). He is a leader in the Hellenic Caucus. He is one of the reasons that we were successful on the floor today in achieving the visa waiver. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Klink).

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his statement and all of his hard work and leadership.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to add to some of the gentleman's comments. Today the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and I had a meeting with the Hellenic Caucus and Mr. Miller, the special assistant to Richard Holbrooke, the special envoy who has been supported by President Clinton to support peace efforts in Cyprus, he gave a detailed report which the gentleman from Pennsylvania has brought part of it to the floor today. He also mentioned that they have not received information on the other four missing Americans, but they are working on the report, and he hopes to be able to bring it back to Congress and report to all of us exactly what happened. I just want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for helping pass this resolution that led to this report that has brought some conclusion for the Kasapis family, but not for all the other families. Mr. Speaker, I yield back to my colleague.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his really moving statement tonight. I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pappas), newly elected to the 105th Congress, but already a leader here on Hellenic issues and many other issues of concern for New Jersey and our country. I thank him for participating.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his statement. The gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) is a member of the very important Committee on International Relations. He has worked hard not only on the Hellenic Caucus but on many, many important issues before this Congress. I now yield to my colleague from California.