Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a respectful tribute to honor the memory of Alice Sachs, whose lifetime was dedicated to her party and her community. Alice Sachs passed away last month. Alice Sachs began her career in politics with the American Labor Party. After World War II, when most Labor Party members left to form the Liberal Party, Alice became a Democrat, thus beginning her lifelong dedication to the Democratic Party on the upper east side of Manhattan. In 1949, she founded the Lexington Democratic Club, an organization dedicated to reforming the political club system prevalent at the time. The club insisted that membership be open to all Democrats and that all endorsements be voted on by the full membership. By 1953, the Lexington Club--under the direction of Alice Sachs as District Leader--had become the official club for its assembly district. Alice served as District Leader for 30 years, until she became the club's State Committeewoman in 1983. During her years with the Lexington Democratic Club, Alice Sachs was twice their candidate for State assembly and once for State senate. Although she never won a legislative seat, she campaigned tirelessly and with innovation: in 1962, she handed out fortune cookies with the message ``Alice Sachs for State senate.'' Alice was also a delegate to three national nominating conventions and Commissioner of Elections for 20 years. She was a founding member of Americans for Democratic Action [ADA] and served on its national board for 50 years. In 1962, she was an initial appointee to community board 8 on the upper east side, and remained a member until her resignation 2 years ago. Alice Sachs led a distinguished career of commitment to her party and her community; all of her actions, whether campaigning or fighting for tenants' rights, were based on the concepts of honesty, integrity, and fair play. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that my colleagues rise with me in this tribute and take a moment today to remember Alice Sachs, a woman who represented everything that was noble about political involvement.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a respectful tribute to legendary actress and long time resident of the Turtle Bay section of Manhattan, Katharine Hepburn, on the occasion of her 90th birthday and the dedication of the Katharine Hepburn Garden in the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. Ms. Hepburn is most famous for film career: She has won three Academy Awards, for ``Morning Glory,'' ``Guess Who's Coming To Dinner,'' and ``The Lion In Winter,'' and eight other Oscar nominations. But among her friends and neighbors, Katharine Hepburn is renowned and cherished for her endless passion for flowers and gardening. In fact, her two passions merged in one of her most classic film lines, ``the calla lilies are in bloom again,'' from ``Stage Door.'' Katharine Hepburn first moved to Turtle Bay in 1932 when the area was still overshadowed by the Second and Third Avenue Els and the United Nations was not yet built. She began enhancing the area by transplanting flowers from her family's Connecticut home to her backyard garden. Her active involvement in the community began when she joined the newly formed Turtle Bay Association in 1957. With the Association, Ms. Hepburn fought vigorously to halt the destruction of trees and prevent the city's plans to widen Turtle Bay streets by cutting back sidewalks. In 1987, Katharine Hepburn lent her name to the successful campaign to rezone Turtle Bay's midblocks for low-rise construction limitations. Her fund raising support for neighborhood safety and beautification have been central to the Turtle Bay Association's 40-year growth as a volunteer group comprised of tenants, home owners and small business. The city of New York and Turtle Bay's residents are presenting Katharine Hepburn with a great honor as they dedicate a beautiful and serene garden in the midst of Midtown Manhattan in her name. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise with me in this tribute to Katharine Hepburn on her 90th birthday. Not only has she enriched the lives of New Yorkers, but she has touched all of us with her outstanding and heartfelt performances over the years.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I am asking my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the resolution I submit with my Republican colleagues, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox] and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. English] and my Democratic colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Kennedy]. H.R. 93 expresses the sense of the House that the Bureau of Labor Statistics alone should make any adjustments, if any are needed, to the methodology used to determine the Consumer Price Index. We argue national CPI is only useful if it is a technical, not a political, measurement. The CPI is used to determine benefits for over 40 million Social Security recipients, as well as the benefits of millions of other pensioners. It is used to determine the cost-of-living adjustments in worker wage agreements, and the IRS uses it to determine deductions and tax brackets. That is why there is no room for political posturing with the CPI. Let us stick with the facts of the matter, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics is the agency that is most qualified to determine those facts. Policy, not politics, has driven monetary policy; and policy, not politics, should drive the CPI statistics. When Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan first explained that he thought the CPI exaggerates annual inflation, some saw the opportunity to cut the deficit without making the tough decisions. But millions would stand to lose critical income. This resolution maintains the integrity of the process and the independence of an agency which, like the Federal Reserve, ought to remain independent. I am asking for your support today for this resolution.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor William Lincer, an outstanding gentleman and renowned musician, on the occasion of his 90th birthday. William Lincer, violinist and teacher, was born in Brooklyn in 1907. At the age of 5, he began to study the viola and 2 years later gave his first recital. He was a member of the Gordon String Quartet, the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, and for 30 years, the principal violist of the New York Philharmonic. In 1969, William Lincer was named professor of viola and chamber music at the Juilliard School of Music, a position from which he only recently retired. His work as a soloist and teacher has been recognized by awards from the New York Herald Tribune, the American String Teachers Association, and the New York Viola Society. It is a tribute to his skill and commitment as a teacher that many of his students hold positions in orchestras and chamber groups and teaching positions throughout the world. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in saluting William Lincer. He has made a great contribution to music in America and it is with gratitude that we honor him.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a respectful tribute to St. Stanislaus B. & M. Parish on the 125th anniversary of its founding. St. Stanislaus has a remarkable history that is closely interwoven with the development of the lower east side of Manhattan. The parish of St. Stanislaus was founded in 1872 to introduce its Polish immigrant parishioners to New York society and culture and to serve as a vital link to their homeland. Its history of frequent relocations follows the patterns of many of the Polish residents and organizations of the lower east side. Since the first parish did not have its own building, services were held at various churches throughout New York. In 1875, the parish bought four buildings surrounding 318 Henry Street; the first mass was held there on December 18 of that year. In 1878, the parish purchased an existing church building at 45 Stanton Street. It was in the basement of this building that the first Polish parish school in New York opened in 1885. The Polish immigrant community had grown so large by 1900 that the parish needed to expand. On May 3, 1901, the first mass was offered in St. Stanislaus' new 7th Street building, its current home; the parish school, which had been on hiatus, reopened in 1907 with 750 students. St. Stanislaus parish would not have grown and prospered without its dedicated parishioners and priests. Throughout the years, the parish was overseen by Monsignor Strzelecki, Rev. Feliks Burant, Monsignor Karpinski, and Father Lucius Tyrasinski. The parish will enter its third century of service to New York's Polish community under Rev. Krzysztof Wieliczko, who was installed as pastor in 1996. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise with me in this tribute to St. Stanislaus B. & M. Parish as it celebrates its 125th anniversary. I am honored to have such an important parish in my district continuing the Polish immigrants' traditions of their homeland and introducing them to the culture of their new home.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, this sense of Congress resolution addresses the needs of 85,000 to 125,000 children who will be left motherless by AIDS by the end of this decade. The tragedy is enormous, but even worse, many of these children will be forced into foster care homes at the most vulnerable moment of their lives simply because most State laws prevent parents from naming guardians for their children in advance of their death. As the Journal of the American Medical Association noted in December 1992, ``Every State should review its existing guardianship laws, many of which leave children in legal limbo at the time of a parent's death, even when a guardian has been named in the parent's will.'' Standby guardianship laws would require just such a review by closing legal gaps which have failed vulnerable children and their families and allowing parents to choose standby guardians without giving up their parental rights. Using a simple process, standby guardians can be pre- approved by the courts and take on the responsibility of caring for their charges immediately upon the death or incapacitation of the ill parent. This sense of Congress, if enacted into law, could save States and the Federal Government money by reducing the amount of time children spend in the incredibly expensive and sometimes destructive foster care system. But very importantly it provides peace of mind to desperate parents by resolving custody issues while they can have their input into the future of their children and, most importantly, it will keep children out of foster care and move them into permanent homes with their parents' input. AIDS is now the leading cause of death among women aged 15 to 44. By the end of this century, current studies estimate that as many as 125,000 children will be orphaned by AIDS. I think these numbers indicate clearly that the scope of this problem is nationwide and the need for standby guardianship laws is growing. It is now time for this issue to be addressed at a national level. This sense of Congress resolution is a start. The resolution would recommend that all States amend their custody laws to allow for standby guardianship designation. Custody issues remain the province of each individual State. Standby guardianship is a timely concept for a difficult time. Standby guardianship laws present a unique opportunity to act proactively against a growing problem in child welfare. That is why I am urging all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan sense of Congress. I hope that it will be supported. I would like to compliment the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Mrs. Kennelly] and the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Camp] for their very important work on this bill.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a respectful tribute to a gentleman from my district, Mr. Anthony Bamonte, who is this year's honoree at The Board of Directors of School Settlement Association's 37th Annual Testimonial Dinner Dance. Anthony Bamonte was born in 1940 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. As a child, he attended Williamsburg's public schools; later, his many artistic talents steered him to the Industrial Arts High School and his interest in business led him further to the New York Technical College, where he took courses in hotel and restaurant management. Mr. Bamonte has put his restaurant management knowledge to good use over the years running his family's business, Bamonte's Restaurant on Withers Street. Bamonte's, a Williamsburg landmark, was founded by Mr. Bamonte's grandparents in 1900 and has since been passed down from generation to generation. Mr. Bamonte and his sister Anita are the third generation running the family business. His three daughters, Laura, Lisa, and Nicole, are the fourth generation of Bamontes to continue the family tradition. Throughout his life, Mr. Bamonte has devoted himself to his family and his restaurant, yet has still reserved valuable time for his community. Among his various civic duties, Mr. Bamonte is a member of School Board District 14, a participant in the American Cancer Society's Culinary Classic and the host of an annual fundraiser at Bamonte's for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Academy. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise with me in this tribute to Anthony Bamonte on this special evening. I am honored to have such a great family man, businessman, and community leader in my district.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a respectful tribute to Monsignor David Cassato who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his ordination. The Monsignor has presided over Our Lady of Mount Carmel, located in the Williamsburg and Greenpoint sections of Brooklyn, for close to 12 years, while remaining a tireless advocate for his parish and the surrounding community. Monsignor Cassato's dedication to New York City's Catholic communities began at Saint Rita's in Long Island City. At Saint Rita's, Monsignor Cassato, then a pastor, spent 13 years developing a diversified youth program, a drop-in center for teenagers, a summer camp program for youngsters, a retreat program for young adults, activities for senior citizens, and regular visits to aged shut-ins in the parish. When he moved to Our Lady of Mount Carmel after 13 years of service at Saint Rita's, Monsignor Cassato continued his focus on the development of outstanding parish programs. He immediately began to revitalize the good will and enthusiasm of his parishioners and went above and beyond his credo: ``To put an upward tone to the parish, to restore a sense of happiness, joy and enthusiasm for the church and our faith.'' The Monsignor's parishioners speak fondly of him and often mention his personal touches, such as always remembering each of his parishioner's names. On Monday, April 26, 1988, Pope John Paul II made Father Cassato a Domestic Prelate of Honor ``Monsignor.'' Monsignor Cassato's commitment to the Williamsburg and Greenpoint communities does not end with his parish. He plays an active role on several community, neighborhood and senior center boards, as well as with many secular organizations. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise with me in this tribute to Monsignor David Cassato. I am honored to have such a great man and leader in my district.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, the purpose of my comments is to clarify the purpose of section 622 of H.R. 2, the Housing Opportunity and Responsibility Act of 1997. I think it is important that the record on this legislation reflect the considerable thought and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of residents, owners, and managers alike that accompanied the decision to include this provision in the bill. This is the third Congress in which I have worked to secure for residents of public housing the opportunity to own pets; last year, by a vote of almost 8 to 1, the House adopted an amendment based on a bill that my colleague from New York, Ms. Molinari, and I had introduced. I wish to thank Mr. Lazio, my colleague from New York and the chairman of the Housing Subcommittee, for his efforts to include an expanded version of that amendment in the housing reform legislation. For many years, residents of federally assisted housing designated for senior citizens and disabled persons have been allowed to own common household pets, such as dogs, cats, and birds. This has worked extremely well; even the Department of Housing and Urban Development has had to admit that the problems it forecast have never come to pass. Building on that success, section 622 will extend that privilege to residents of most other forms of federally assisted rental housing. It is not intended that this provision will in any way subject elderly or disabled persons who now own pets under current law to additional fees or requirements, nor will it change the terms of or otherwise jeopardize the continued ownership of those pets. One of the purposes of H.R. 2 is to renew American neighborhoods, or, as one hearing witness put it, to create caring, cohesive communities. Pet ownership adds much to the quality of life of both families and communities. Those persons who can demonstrate that they can be responsible pet-owning tenants should not be denied that opportunity simply because their incomes limit their housing options. At the same time, those of us who have argued for pet ownership privileges for residents of federally assisted rental housing recognize that owners and managers of that housing have an enormous responsibility to provide safe, clean, and healthy homes for their tenants and are thus rightly concerned that they have the authority to regulate the conditions of pet ownership. H.R. 2 provides that authority. Housing owners may establish pet policies appropriate to their properties. For instance, tenants wishing to keep pets may be charged a nominal fee and pet deposit. Without making the cumulative financial burden prohibitive, such a mechanism would help to defray the added expense of administering a pet policy and to cover any property damage their pets may cause. Furthermore, it is reasonable to ask pet owners to demonstrate that they can comply with the pet ownership requirements of their housing complex and also to limit the number of animals any one resident may own or keep. Integral components of responsible pet ownership policies in federally assisted rental housing include the spaying or neutering of dogs and cats and providing pets with proper nutrition and appropriate veterinary care. It is important to emphasize, however, that residents should not be required to subject their pets to an inhumane procedure, such as debarking or declawing, as a condition for ownership. In keeping with another of H.R. 2's goals; that is, to increase community control within the public housing program, owners and managers of federally assisted rental housing should find ways to delegate to the residents themselves the maximum possible amount of responsibility for implementing the pet policy in a given housing complex. H.R. 2 recognizes the importance of tenant participation; much like the resident councils provided for in section 234, pet committees would enable residents to take an active role in implementing a responsible pet ownership program and ensure fair consideration and a careful balancing of the needs of everyone in the complex: The housing manager, maintenance staff, and pet owners, and nonpet owners alike. Housing owners and managers would do well to emulate the components of the highly successful program in Massachusetts, developed to ease the introduction of pet ownership into State-assisted public housing. In addition to pet committees, these elements include reasonable tenant and management obligations. Experience offers ample evidence that no-pets-allowed policies fail to keep animals out of housing complexes; they also fail to offer any constructive avenues for addressing the problems that arise. Instead, by welcoming responsible pet owners under a system based on the Massachusetts model, the owners, managers, and tenants of federally assisted rental housing complexes will be able to implement section 622 successfully.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of H.R. 680. Mr. Speaker, we all know that one person's junk can be another person's jewel. That is why the Federal Government must, like any other well run organization, offer those goods, that it can no longer use, to people who need them. Current law limits the Federal Government's ability to give. It allows donations only to homeless people. That is an admirable start. H.R. 680, as amended, extends the giving arm of government to people who may not have lost their homes but are needy. The change will allow food banks and other organizations to better serve those people who, according to local standards, are living in poverty. In New York City, I am assured that organizations such as City Harvest, the Phoenix House, Day Top Village and local branches of the Salvation Army, where the real war on poverty is waged, will be better off with passage of this amendment. In addition, we all know that land is one of America's most precious resources. When the Federal Government finds itself with more than it needs, it has a moral responsibility to use it to help others. H.R. 680, as amended by the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Boehner], would also allow the donation of Federal surplus land to nonprofit groups such as the Habitat for Humanity, which provides homes for low-income families. People will only have to contribute a significant amount of good old-fashioned sweat equity instead of dollars to the actual building of the home in order to qualify. Of course, all local building codes must be met. These provisions preserve the GSA central role in the disposal process and have been very carefully crafted to prevent abuse. My thanks to the gentleman from California [Mr. Horn] for seriously considering the concerns of the minority and incorporating them in the manager's amendment; the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton], the author of this bill, also deserves all our thanks for his efforts to achieve this clearly needed change to help the impoverished; and also the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Boehner]. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to add that as we speak, as we are on this floor, the President and former presidents are holding a bipartisan conference on volunteerism. This legislation is a concrete tool that will help not-for-profits and private volunteer organizations really participate more in volunteer efforts by enabling them to gain surplus property, both land and other surplus property, to meet needs for the poor in our country. It is an important piece of legislation. It is creative, it does not cost taxpayers one cent, and yet it will help many, many people. I congratulate my colleagues for working on this, particularly the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton], the original sponsor, and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Boehner], for the meaningful amendment which he added. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, and the representative of a large and vibrant community of Armenian-Americans, I rise today to join my colleagues in the sad commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. First, I would like to commend the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone] and the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter], cochairs of the caucus, for all of their hard word on this issue and other issues of human rights. April 24, 1997 marks the 82nd anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian genocide. It was on that day in 1915 that over 200 Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leaders were arrested and subsequently murdered in central Turkey. This date marks the beginning of an organized campaign by the ``Young Turk'' government to eliminate the Armenians from the Ottoman Empire. Over the next 8 years, 1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of the Turks, and a half million more were deported. As the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., has written: ``When the Turkish authorities gave the orders for these deportations, they were merely giving the death warrant to a whole race. They understood this well and made no particular attempt to conceal the fact.'' As a supporter of human rights, I am appalled that the Turkish government is still refusing to acknowledge what happened and instead is attempting to rewrite history. In a sense, even more dismaying than Turkey's denial is the willingness of some officials in our own government to join in rewriting the history of the Armenian Genocide. It is imperative that we do not let political agendas get in the way of doing the right thing. Mr. Speaker, the issues surrounding the Armenian genocide should not go unresolved. I call upon the United States Government to demand complete accountability by the Turkish Government for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. To heal the wounds of the past, the Turkish government must first recognize the responsibility of its country's leaders at that time for this catastrophe. Nothing we can do or say will bring those who perished back to life, but we can imbue their memories with everlasting meaning by teaching the lessons of the Armenian genocide to future generations. The noted philosopher, George Santayana, has taught us that ``those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'' We should heed this wise principle and do all we can to ensure that the martyrdom of the Armenian people is not forgotten.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the establishment of ``Siblings Day,'' a day to honor our sisters and brothers for the many ways in which they have enriched our lives. This celebration would give us the opportunity to show our appreciation for our siblings, much the same way that Mother's Day and Father's Day are celebrated. Siblings make an important contribution to who we are. Often, when our parents are gone, our siblings are our only remaining family. And sometimes, as in the case of one of my constituents, Siblings Day will help us remember siblings who we have lost at an early age. My constituent, Claudia Evart, has been working to promote April 10 as Siblings Day. This day would mark the birthday of Claudia's sister Lisette, who died tragically in 1972 at age 19 in a car accident that also killed their father. An additional tragedy struck in 1987, when Ms. Evart's older brother, Alan, died in an accident at his home. He was 36 years old. Ms. Evart has been lobbying for the past year to create a State and national siblings day holiday to be celebrated on April 10, her sister's birthday. She is working with the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, Students Against Drunk Driving, and the Estonian House, a Manhattan- based organization that celebrates Estonian heritage. Siblings are often our first roommate or our first friend. I call on the Congress to recognize the importance of family members by recognizing the contributions made by our siblings. I applaud the work of Claudia Evart, who has created a loving tribute to her deceased siblings by her work to establish Siblings Day. Her inspired work should serve as a lesson to us all.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Polish & Slavic Center, an organization that has made invaluable contributions to Metropolitan New York's Polish-American community for a quarter of a century. I am proud to report that the PSC is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. The center plays a vital role in creating a sense of community for New York's Polish-Americans. With a membership of approximately 40,000 and growing at a rate of 400 new members monthly, the PSC is the east coast's largest Polish-American organization. The Polish & Slavic Center serves as a uniting force for the community by mobilizing social forces to gain and support Polish- Americans' rights. Through its four social service programs, the PSC aids immigrants, seniors, children, and the poor with everyday problems that can often seem insurmountable. The center's admirable cultural and educational services fulfill the PSC's mission to better the Polish-American society by improving the individual human condition. Through a monthly publication, two television programs, and a concert auditorium, PSC serves as an important source of information about Polish current events, history, and culture. Its English as a second language program is an extremely important resource for many Polish-Americans as they assimilate into the United States. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise with me in this tribute and pay honor to the Polish & Slavic Center in their celebration of 25 important years serving New York's Polish-American community. Their contributions to the community's quality of life are without limit.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a respectful tribute to the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union which is celebrating its 20th anniversary of devoted service to Metropolitan New York's Polish-American community. The Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union was founded in 1978 as the financial arm of the Polish & Slavic Center. The credit union expands the center's dedication to New York's Polish and Slavic communities by providing financial opportunities unavailable to them prior to its establishment. Over the years, the credit union has guaranteed financial security to thousands of Polish-Americans and provided immeasurable benefits to the community. The Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, which operates five branches that serve over 42,000 members, has achieved great results over the years. Not only does it hold the distinct honor of reaching the highest return on assets among the largest credit unions in the United States, its capital to assets ratio is the highest in the country. The credit union is so successful that two more branches of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union are expected to open in the near future to service the community's financial concerns. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise with me in this tribute and to pay honor to the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union as they celebrate their 20th anniversary.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, as a New Yorker, I feel strongly about a former New York Governor, Teddy Roosevelt's legacy: The National Forest System; 95 percent of America's forests have been cut down, just 5 percent remain standing--which is owned by the American people. The practice of clearcutting forests and even aged logging is destroying one of America's most beloved resources. It not only upsets the forest ecosystem by draining the soil of important nutrients. It weakens the land--creating the potential for dangerous mud slides. The poor policing of loggers is also threatening the existence of the American grizzly bear, salmon, and common song birds. Our legislation will: Prohibit clear cutting and even aged logging and other abusive practices on Federal land. Change the mission of the Forest Service by setting it up as the enforcement agency for preserving plants and animals native to forests. It actually requires the Forest Service to repair past damage either by program or by allowing the forest to heal itself. And it brings Americans into the enforcement fold by providing rewards for citizens who report violations. In America right now--Less than 6 percent of the original forests are still standing. In the lower 48 States just 1 percent remain. This legislation doesn't cost much--but it can save 100's of millions in road building subsidies. The Act of Save America's Forest will effectively shift the focus of the forest management of Federal lands 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 strong support of this pro-consumer legislation. Owning a home is the centerpiece of the American dream. It is difficult enough for working families to come up with enough money necessary to purchase and maintain a home. When that family is overcharged, it is unfair, it is anticonsumer. Mr. Speaker, it has come to light that some lenders are allowing homeowners to unknowingly continue to carry private insurance long after it is required. The lender simply looks the other way while the homeowner continues to struggle, making overpayments amounting to as much as $900 per year. They are not asking for the money; they are just taking it. People who need private mortgage insurance are often low and moderate income families who can ill afford to make these extra payments. Today, members of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services, Democrats and Republicans, are coming together on the floor to say we will not tolerate this rip-off of the American consumer. The bipartisan agreement before us today requires mandatory, full disclosure of all private mortgage insurance terms and places an automatic termination of PMI payments once a homeowner has paid back 25 percent of the original value of the home. Mr. Speaker, when anyone attacks the ability of hard-working American families to afford a home, it is not partisan concern, it is an American concern. I want to thank the bill's sponsor, the gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen], our committee chairman, the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Leach], and our ranking committee member, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Gonzalez], for working together effectively to help preserve the American dream.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My thanks to the chairman for working with the minority in drafting the manager's amendment to this bill. The Government spends over $7.5 billion annually on travel and relocation costs. I rise in support of this bill and in support of streamlining Government paperwork and saving the taxpayers millions in Government travel expenses. It is so simple. H.R. 930 just calls for the use of one travel card, one bill to pay, one bill to check. If every Government employee simply used this card for all travel related expenses, taxpayers would gain $105 million. The card comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Employees must be reimbursed within a month of their payment. H.R. 930 does allow the agency to deduct certain unpaid travel charges from paychecks, unless the employee is disputing the charges. Even those deductions will not exceed 15 percent of the traveler's wages. H.R. 930 also calls for a review of shipping and other transportation expenses before they are paid. That seems extremely reasonable. Do not we all look at our bills before we pay them? This measure alone will save $50 million a year. Simplicity saves. Complications cost. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today, the House will pass H.R. 930, the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1997 under suspension of the rules. I would like to discuss a provision of that bill which was not raised today concerning the pilot programs on travel which agencies may conduct under the bill. Mr. Speaker, one of the pilot programs which I would like to see conducted involves not only sound management practices, but family values as well. Last year, H.R. 3637, the Travel Reform and Savings Act, contained a provision which would have given discretionary authority to an agency to pay employment assistance services to a spouse of an employee relocated to another duty station by the agency. That provision was not specifically included in H.R. 930. However, there is authority under section 4 of that bill to test this worthy provision, subject to certain congressional oversight procedures. GSA's general counsel's office concurs with this reading of the legislation, and Chairman Horn indicated a positive reaction to this suggestion at a subcommittee hearing held on the bill. Authorizing employment services on behalf of a spouse of a relocated employee is one of the recommendations of an indepth report by the interagency Joint Financial Management Improvement project. As that report points out, private sector companies have already discovered that to recruit and retain the best work force and ensure that relocated employees are fully productive, some form of employment assistance for relocating spouses represents money well spent. I am persuaded that what makes sense for the private sector makes sense in most cases for the Government. We need to determine if that is the case here. As I said, section 4 of H.R. 930 authorizes GSA to approve test programs in connection with payment of employee relocation. I believe that such a test program may well show that such assistance is in the best interest of the Government. And I believe it would be cost effective in terms of improved employee performance and reliability. We need to find out. In that regard, it is important to note that Congress will have an opportunity to preview proposed test programs and to review a report of their results. We can then make a fully informed decision about the extent to which these services are in the Government's interest. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I believe we need to test this proposal and urge GSA to favorably consider such a pilot program.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Jackie Robinson is a true American hero. Fifty years ago yesterday he stood up against racism, prejudice and hate and changed this country for the better. We applaud the strength that he showed on the field and especially the courage he exerted off the field. He was a pillar of strength in the civil rights movement and we are fortunate that his legacy is continued today in the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the minority has no objection to this bill. We support it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.