Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentleman. I am urging all Members in a bipartisan way on both sides of the aisle to put politics aside and to honor and respect the sacrifice made by so many Americans on 9/11. I thank the leadership on both sides of the aisle, particularly Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentleman for his leadership and for yielding and for his hard work for 6 years. It took us 4 years in college, and it has been 6 years on this bill. The time to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act is now. It is bipartisan. It is patriotic. And it is overwhelmingly supported by Americans across this country. James Zadroga's father is with us today, as well as many hardworking men and women who worked on that pile, who selflessly risked their health and their lives to help others. And I thank the New York State AFL-CIO'S Dennis Hughes and Suzie Ballentine; the firefighters and fire officers who are here with us today, Al Hagen and Steve Cassidy; the police, Pat Lynch; the laborers, the construction workers; D.C. 37, Lee Clark, Mike McIntyre, John Feal. Many of you have received praise for your work, but many of you have said all you want is your health care. An estimated 36,000 Americans have received treatment for illnesses as a direct result of 9/11. Those who are suffering come from all of our 50 States and 428 of the 435 congressional districts nationwide were represented at 9/11. Here is a map of locations in Florida and in California where health care providers have provided medical services to 9/11 responders. Nearly every Member of this House of Representatives have people that worked there. And they are losing their health. Thousands of people lost their lives 9 years ago, but thousands and thousands more lost their health. This is not an entitlement. This is a responsibility to take care of those who took care of us when our country was attacked. Mr. Speaker, I would ask people to go to our Web site that outlines the participants from across this country and all of our congressional districts. It is now time for this Congress to do what we should have done long ago: provide proper care for those who lost their health because of 9/ 11. We have a moral obligation to help those who were harmed by the attacks on America. In the spirit of patriotism and common purpose Congress showed the world in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and for the sake of the thousands of 9/11 first responders and survivors who are suffering, I implore my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this and so many other important issues. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1631, a resolution calling for the protection of religious sites and artifacts in Turkish- occupied areas of northern Cyprus. I joined my Hellenic Caucus cochair and good friend and colleague, Representative Gus Bilirakis, in introducing this important resolution before us today. And I would like to particularly thank Chairman Berman for his work in bringing this resolution to the floor today for a vote. I am honored to represent Astoria, Queens, one of the largest and most vibrant communities of Greek and Cypriot Americans in this country. This year we marked the 36th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and continuing illegal occupation of the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus. Since the 1974 invasion, many priceless symbols of Cyprus' religious and cultural heritage have been destroyed, looted, or vandalized, and even stolen, or illegally shipped for sale abroad. Very disturbing is the way the churches have been razed, converted into barns, into barracks, into beer halls with total disrespect to their religious importance. To date, Turkey has repeatedly ignored all U.N. resolutions pertaining to Cyprus and has continued to occupy the island in complete violation of international law. As Cyprus prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, we in Congress have a responsibility to make our voices heard on our ultimate goal of a reunified and prosperous Cyprus where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can live together in peace, security, and stability. Passage of this resolution would demonstrate the United States' commitment to protecting the rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cypriot people, religious freedom on the island of Cyprus, and religious freedom for people everywhere. In the interest of time, I would like to place in the Record this report from the Library of Congress pertaining to the destruction of cultural property and religious sites in Cyprus. I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of this important resolution. [Law Library of Congress] Cyprus--Destruction of Cultural Property in the Northern Part of Cyprus and Violations of International Law Executive Summary Due to the military invasion by Turkey in July and August 1974, the Republic of Cyprus has been de facto divided into two separate areas: the southern area under the Government of Cyprus, which is recognized as the only legitimate government; and the northern area, amounting to approximately 36 percent of the territory, under the non-recognized, illegal, and unilaterally declared ``Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'' (``TRNC'). As documented, the northern part of Cyprus has experienced a vast destruction and pillage of religious sites and objects during the armed conflict and continuing occupation. In addition, a large number of religious and archaeological objects have been illegally exported and subsequently sold in art markets. The Republic of Cyprus has asserted its ownership over its religious and archaeological sites located in Cyprus through use of its domestic legislation. The Cyprus government and the Church of Cyprus claim that such religious sites constitute part of Cyprus' cultural property and are of paramount importance to the collective history and memory of the people of Cyprus as a nation, as well as to humankind. In a few instances, Cyprus, either through diplomatic channels or through legal action, has been successful in repatriating religious and archaeological objects. Protection of religious sites and other cultural property during armed conflict and occupation falls within the ambit of international humanitarian law, otherwise known as the law of war. The basic principle is that cultural property must be safeguarded and protected, subject to military necessity only when such property has been converted to a military objective. Pursuant to the major international agreement on this subject, the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property During Armed Conflict and its Protocols, as well as the legal regime on occupation, Turkey, as a state party, is required to refrain from acts of hostility and damage against cultural property located in the northern part of Cyprus; to prohibit and prevent theft, pillage, or misappropriation of cultural property; and to establish criminal jurisdiction to prosecute individuals who engage in acts of destruction, desecration, and pillage. Archaeological excavations in the occupied northern part of Cyprus are prohibited unless they are critical to the preservation of cultural property; in such a case, excavations must be carried out with the cooperation of the national competent authorities of the occupied territory. Such violations of conventional and customary international rules on the protection of cultural property may give rise to legal responsibility on the part of Turkey as the occupying power before an international court or tribunal, provided that other requirements are met A legal precedent for the responsibility of Turkey for actions against cultural property would be the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The Court, based on the ``effective control'' test, used in Loizidou v. Turkey, found Turkey responsible for deprivation of private property of Greek-Cypriots expelled from the occupied northern part of Cyprus. The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) consider the destruction of cultural property to be a war crime. The ICTY has held individuals accountable for the destruction or damage done to institutions dedicated to religious, artistic, scientific, or historic monuments. Moreover, the ICTY has reaffirmed that the rules on protection of cultural property during armed conflict have achieved the status of customary international law; thus, they are binding erga omnes, against all states, even if a state is not party to an international humanitarian law instrument. Two international Conventions governing protection of cultural property apply to the issue of illicit traffic and exportation of cultural property from the northern part of Cyprus: a) the 1970 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership; and b) the 1995 UNIDROIT (International Institute for the Unification of Private Law) Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects. A basic objective of both Conventions is to fight the illicit trade in art and cultural property. Under the 1970 Convention, which has been ratified by Cyprus and Turkey, parties are required to take steps to prevent illicit traffic through the adoption of legal and administrative measures and the adoption of an export certificate for any cultural object that is exported. Cyprus has complied with these requirements. In addition, the 1970 Convention regards as ``illicit'' any export or transfer of ownership of cultural property under compulsion that arises from the occupation of a country by a foreign power. The 1995 UNIDROIT Convention establishes uniform rules for restitution claims by individuals regarding stolen cultural objects and return claims by states regarding illicitly exported cultural objects. While Cyprus has ratified the Convention, Turkey has not. The Cyprus Government stresses that the optimum way to preserve and protect its cultural property is to find a solution to the Cyprus issue and the end of the military occupation of the northern part of Cyprus. Meanwhile, Cyprus may opt, inter alia, to utilize judicial remedies to resolve outstanding disputes pertaining to its cultural and religious property either before foreign courts, as it has already done, or international and regional courts, provided that other criteria are met. I. Introduction Following the military invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and the continuing occupation of the northern part of Cyprus by Turkey, it has been documented that extensive destruction, desecration, and pillage of religious sites and other historic monuments, as well some disputed archaeological excavations and illegal exportation of objects, have occurred in the northern part of Cyprus. The Government of Cyprus claims that the impetus behind the acts of destruction and desecration of religious sites is the obliteration of their cultural and religious symbols, which form part of the cultural and spiritual heritage of Cyprus; as such they are extremely significant not only for the Greek-Cypriots, but also for the entire population of Cyprus and for humankind in general. On the other hand, the unilaterally declared and unrecognized (with the exception of Turkey) ``state'' of the ``Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'' (``TRNC'') argues that its competent authorities are engaged in actions designed to preserve and protect religious sites, regardless of their origin and, moreover, that the excavations are taking place within the ``TRNC's'' own ``sovereign'' area. It is against this background that this report analyses the international legal framework governing the protection of cultural property in the northern part of Cyprus. The report also examines the rights and obligations of Turkey and Cyprus arising out of international agreements and especially the legal consequences of the destruction and pillage of Cyprus' religious and cultural property by ``TRNC.'' The analysis focuses on the international legal norms and standards applicable to: (a) The protection of cultural property during armed conflict; (b) Occupied territory; (c) The protection of cultural property against the illicit trade and export of artifacts; and, (d) Religious intolerance. In order to draw out the issues, the report provides a historical background, continuing to the time of the de facto partition of the island and the ensuing military occupation. Also included is a brief description of the reported destruction of cultural property that occurred in the northern part of Cyprus and an overview of Cyprus' domestic ownership laws on cultural property. In analyzing the international legal standards applicable to the protection of cultural property, this report examines three key legal issues: (a) Whether religious sites in Cyprus (including churches, chapels, monasteries, synagogues, and mosques used by the Greek Cypriot community and other minorities for religious purposes) qualify as ``cultural property'' as defined in the relevant law and thus warrant international protection; (b) Whether the northern part of Cyprus meets the legal definition of an occupied territory; and (c) Whether the destruction of religious sites in the northern part of Cyprus could give rise to international responsibility on the part of the occupying Turkish military forces in Cyprus; the sub-issue of whether ``TRNC'' bears any degree of responsibility is briefly touched upon as well. The report concludes with a short overview of courses of action available to the Republic of Cyprus to pursue its legal claims against the destruction, illicit trade, and transfer of its cultural property. II. Historical Background The Republic of Cyprus is a small nation in size and population with a very rich and ancient history and civilization. Archeological findings indicate that Cyprus was inhabited around 7,000 B.C. The island was exposed to Christianity early, with the visit of Apostles Barnabas and Peter. During the Byzantine era, Cyprus was under the administration of Byzantine emperors for approximately 800 years (395-1191 A.D).\1\ It was during this time that a great number of churches were built and decorated with mosaics and frescoes of exquisite beauty.\2\ In 1571, Cyprus became part of the Ottoman Empire and in 1878 fell under British rule. After a long period as a British colony,\3\ the Republic of Cyprus became an independent nation on August 16, 1960, with the signing of the Treaty of Alliance, Treaty of Guarantee, and the adoption of the Cyprus Constitution.\4\ Under the Treaty of Guarantee,\5\ the three guarantor powers, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, agreed to safeguard and respect the independence and sovereignty of Cyprus. Cyprus' population is composed of two communities; Greek-Cypriots, and Turkish-Cypriots. The two communities are linguistically and religiously distinct from each other. They had long inhabited the island in peaceful symbiosis, with some sporadic periods of political instability and internal strife. Prior to 1974, the Greek-Cypriot community comprised 80 percent of the population of Cyprus, the Turkish-Cypriots totaling approximately 18 percent, with the balance being comprised of a small percentage of Armenians, Maronites, and Latin.\6\ Since the 1974 military invasion of Cyprus by Turkey and the ensuing occupation of the northern 37 percent of the island, the Republic of Cyprus has been de facto divided into two separate areas, with the southern area under the government of Cyprus, which is recognized as the only legitimate government, and the northern area under the non- recognized, illegal, and unilaterally declared ``TRNC.'' The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was established in 1964 after the eruption of intercommunal violence in 1963, and is in control along the so called ``green line'' to guarantee maintenance of peace and security between the two communities.\7\ The military invasion by Turkey was precipitated when the Greek military regime, with the assistance of the Cypriot armed forces, planned and executed a coup d'etat against the government of Archbishop Makarios, the first elected President of the Republic of Cyprus. On July 20, 1974, Turkey, using the coup d'etat as grounds to allegedly protect the Turkish community, intervened militarily in Cyprus in order to ``reestablish the constitutional order.'' \8\ A series of unsuccessful peace negotiations ensued between the two communities under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) until August 14, 1974, when Turkey initiated a second military attack on Cyprus and occupied 36.02 percent of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.\9\ As a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, almost 200,000 Greek-Cypriots fled their homes in the north and either became refugees or were internally displaced, and eventually settled in the southern part of Cyprus. The Turkish-Cypriots who lived in various parts of the island prior to 1974 moved to the north.\10\ Currently, the population of Cyprus includes approximately 660,000 Greek-Cypriots who live in the south, 89,000 Turkish- Cypriots in the north, and a Turkish military force of approximately 43,000. Moreover, Turkey has brought close to 160,000 Turkish settlers to the northern part of Cyprus from mainland Turkey in an effort to alter the demographics of Cyprus. The European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe, to which Turkey and Cyprus are members, in numerous instances has found Turkey to have violated various human rights in the northern part of Cyprus, in particular the rights of individuals to their property, and the right to life, liberty, and security. The ``TRNC'' was unilaterally proclaimed in 1983 and adopted a Constitution. The United Nations Security Council, in Resolutions 541 and 550, adopted in 1983 and 1984, respectively, declared the secession invalid, null, and void. The Security Council also urged the Cyprus: Destruction of Cultural Property--April 2009 The Law Library of Congress international community not to recognize the ``TRNC.'' \11\ Thus far, no country (with the exception of Turkey) has recognized the ``TRNC'' as a separate state under international law. The United Nations, the European Union (EU),\12\ the Council of Europe,\13\ and others \14\ have repeatedly reaffirmed the status of the Republic of Cyprus as the only legitimate government. A number of national and international courts, in adjudicating legal issues that have incidentally raised the question of the status of the ``TRNC,'' have not recognized its legitimacy.\15\ On May 1, 2004, the Republic of Cyprus, as a single state, joined the EU.\16\ For the time being, the entire body (acquis communautaire) of EU law applies only to the southern part of the * * *

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, on September 22, 2010, I missed rollcall votes Nos. 532 and 533. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes No. 532, to establish Coltsville National Historical Park in the State of Connecticut and, No. 533, to authorize funding for the creation and implementation of infant mortality pilot programs in standard metropolitan statistical areas with high rates of infant mortality.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5297) will strengthen our current economic recovery, by strengthening our small businesses. This legislation is sorely needed to bolster our small firms, which have lagged their larger counterparts in recovering from the Great Recession. While the economy has made significant progress since the beginning of 2010, including eight straight months of private sector job growth, small businesses are not yet fully participating in this recovery. The legislation before us will help change that--by providing small businesses with eight separate tax cuts totaling $12 billion; promoting lending to small firms; and encouraging investment in these engines of growth. A September report from the Joint Economic Committee, which I chair, provides fresh evidence of the challenges that continue to face small businesses. While hiring at medium and large firms began to pick up in mid-2009, hiring at small firms remains flat and has continued to decline for the smallest firms--those with fewer than 50 employees. Why aren't small businesses hiring? A big part of the answer is that they simply cannot get the loans they need. The number of loans to small businesses and the value of those loans are both dropping. Loans made to small businesses, which peaked at 27.2 million in the second quarter of 2008, have fallen by over 4.8 million since then, a drop of 17.8 percent. At the same time, the total value of those loans fell by $60 billion to approximately $650 billion. I have heard time and time again from my constituents that even as the economy gains strength, creditworthy businesses still cannot get the normal business loans they need to make payrolls, pay vendors, or expand their operations. I have heard this from a wide variety of businesses--from the old fashioned 100 year old, family-owned Eneslow Shoes, to the high tech QED National--a leading provider of Staff Augmentation services to IT organizations. Sound companies doing good business tell me they just can't get the credit they need. There is a provision in this legislation that I believe will get capital flowing again to small businesses. The $30 billion Small Business Lending Fund will leverage $300 billion in loans to small businesses. Small and community banks receive capital from the Fund on terms that become more favorable as they make more loans to small businesses. The new lending fund is a big piece of this legislation--but it's just one piece. The bill also increases the loan limit for SBA 7(a) loans from $2 million to $5 million. This is especially important for high-cost areas like New York City, where $2 million just doesn't go very far for a small business. The bill extends 50 percent bonus depreciation, enabling small businesses to immediately write off half the cost of investments in new equipment this year. It promotes entrepreneurship by doubling the tax deduction for start- up expenses. And finally, 2 million self-employed individuals will be able to deduct the cost of health insurance for themselves and their families this year. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, generating innovation, growth, and jobs. Three out of four Americans work for establishments with fewer than 250 employees. It's critical that we get small businesses firing on all cylinders. And it's frustrating it hasn't happened sooner. But, I'm confident that this legislation will help our small firms turn the corner, add employees and accelerate our economic growth.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Christopher Cerf upon receiving the 2010 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. Mr. Cerf has dedicated his life to making educational resources more accessible to all children, and enriching children's educational experiences. Mr. Cerf began his career after graduating from Harvard University, when he spent eight years as a senior editor at Random House, working with such diverse authors as George Plimpton, Andy Warhol, Abbie Hoffman, Ray Bradbury, and Dr. Seuss. Mr. Cerf then took his talents to the acclaimed children's show Sesame Street where he has been a regular contributor of music and lyrics since the show's first season. He won two Grammy and three Emmy awards for his work with Sesame Street. For over forty years, Mr. Cerf has creatively been educating children using music and lyrics as educational tools. In 2000, Mr. Cerf and his company Sirius Thinking Ltd., started a new highly acclaimed children's educational daily television program, Between the Lions. Mr. Cerf's literacy series Between the Lions has appeared on PBS for nine seasons, and received two Television Critics' Award for Outstanding Children's TV Program and 10 Emmy Awards. Academic studies have shown that Between the Lions, and its companion literacy instruction resources, is hugely successful in helping children learn to read, especially those who are at a high risk of literacy failure. The literacy series has proven to have particularly strong results in phonics, vocabulary, and reading frequency. Mr. Cerf is currently working on yet another educational television series, Lomax, the Hound of Music, which aims to develop children's musical awareness. In addition to working tirelessly on his educational series, Mr. Cerf is currently a member of the board of directors of Reading Is Fundamental, First Book and the We Are Family Foundation. He is also a governor of the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy. I am deeply appreciative for Mr. Cerf s life's work in education. On behalf of the 14th District of New York, I am honored to thank Mr. Cerf and to congratulate him on receiving the prestigious Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. May it help him with his future endeavors in teaching children. I know we can expect to see more great achievements from Mr. Christopher Cerf.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, it is widely understood that one of the biggest problems facing our economy now is the fact that small businesses cannot get loans. And small business owners tell me every week from across my district they are not hiring because they cannot get loans and expand. In fact, a recent report from the Joint Economic Committee, which I chair, found that the number of small business loans peaked in the second quarter of 2008 at 27 million loans. But since then the number of loans have fallen by 18 percent. The bill before the U.S. Senate today that passed the House will address that by expanding access to needed credit for small businesses, providing tax relief, and encouraging private investments. Our economic recovery depends on small businesses, and credit-worthy small businesses need loans. This bill is not a cure-all or a silver bullet, but it is without question an important step towards restoring and restarting the great American engine of growth.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act. The bill would require the States to obtain information about the true ownership of the corporation, when they allow someone to create a corporate entity. As some have put it, this bill is a ``no-brainer.'' And it is fairly straightforward: it would require that the person creating the corporation to state the ``beneficial owner'' of the corporation and provide some form of identification. Although this is as straightforward as it sounds, the implications for law enforcement are broad reaching. Criminal organizations are infamous for using shell corporations, both foreign and domestic to open bank accounts, launder money, perpetrate fraud, and finance terrorism. And it isn't difficult for them to do. Virtually no States require people applying to create corporations to provide the identity of the corporate owner. In fact, 48 of 50 States, except for Alabama and Alaska, allow for the unfettered creation of an anonymous corporate entity. As a result, just about anyone can easily manipulate the system to fund criminal activity. Here is an example from a recent investigation in NY by the Manhattan District Attorney. The office announced investigations involving the movement of funds through banks in NY by entities controlled by the Iranian Military. In at least two cases, domestic shell companies were opened in two different States to further secret Iranian interests. Through a NY shell company, individuals working on behalf of the government of Iran were able to move funds to secret accounts held in offshore jurisdictions. Shockingly, the offshore government was able to give the Manhattan DA more information about the ownership of the NY entity than the State of NY could. Although the DA does not contend that requiring a declaration of beneficial ownership would have stopped this activity, it would have at least been a piece of evidence to go on. And if the declaration of beneficial ownership had been required but falsified, it would have been an extra tool for law enforcement to shut down the entity and prosecute the perpetrators. The bill I am introducing today will provide the kind of transparency that law enforcement needs to investigate financial crimes. However, it is narrowly drafted so that it is not overly burdensome on either States or incorporating entities. In fact, most corporations would be exempt from the bill's requirements including companies that are already regulated by federal banking regulators and companies that are over 20 employees. This bill is meant to capture beneficial ownership information from companies that are able to escape regulation and oversight through other federal entities. Senator Levin has already introduced a similar bill in the Senate, and President Obama was the lead sponsor when he was a U.S. Senator. It is supported by numerous law enforcement associations, including the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys, the National Narcotic Officers' Associations Coalition, the United States Marshals Service Association, and the Association of Former ATF Agents. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, today, I am proud to introduce this important bipartisan legislation, the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry (SAFER) Act, with my colleagues, Representatives Poe, Richardson, and Cohen. I have been working on the issue of DNA technology since 2001 when I, along with former Representative Steve Horn, held a hearing in the Government Reform Committee where we heard from a courageous rape survivor, Debbie Smith. It was for Debbie, and the thousands of rape survivors like her, that I authored ``The Debbie Smith Act'' to provide federal funding to process the unconscionable backlog of DNA evidence. This legislation passed as part of the Justice for All Act of 2004, authorizing the necessary funding to start processing the backlog through the creation of the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program. Since 2004, millions of dollars in funding have been appropriated under the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program. Efforts to eliminate the national backlog of rape evidence samples that have not been tested for DNA have been slowed or stymied by the lack of solid data on the extent and nature of the remaining backlog. While there is extensive evidence that we are making progress towards eliminating the backlog, policy makers lack a reliable estimate of the number of kits awaiting testing, or even how many kits remain at each stage of the process (in police custody, at labs awaiting processing, etc.). This legislation addresses these issues by creating an incentive grant program to provide funding to cover the upfront costs of auditing state and local jurisdictions backlogs of DNA rape evidence samples. The bill would also direct the Justice Department to create the National Rape Kit Registry, a simple database that will track the status of every rape evidence kit waiting to be processed. As Congress considers legislation to amend the Debbie Smith Act or make other changes to DNA testing policy, it is crucial that we first gather reliable, comprehensive backlog data. DNA evidence does not forget and it cannot be intimidated. By processing this evidence, we can prevent rapists from attacking more innocent victims and ensure that the survivors and their families receive justice.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the late Carl Haynes, former President of the Teamsters Local 237 City Employees Union, former Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and beloved husband and father. A lifelong advocate for working men and women, Mr. Haynes passed away in April. Carl Haynes was born Carroll Edwin Haynes in West Virginia on June 2, 1933, the second of three children. He attended West Virginia State College and married his sweetheart Janice in the campus chapel two days after graduation. The newlyweds moved to New York City to begin a long and fruitful life together. Haynes began working in the city's youth services industry in 1956 at Youth House in the Bronx. In 1960, he assumed a position as a Housing Assistant in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). In 1967, as chairman of the 600-member housing assistants' local union chapter, he mobilized his co-workers in a strike against NYCHA for better pay and working conditions. The three-day job action led to the agreement by NYCHA officials to the strikers' demands. Haynes later spoke proudly of his role in the strike, the only one in NYCHA's long history. In 1968, Haynes joined the Teamsters' Union Local 237 staff full-time as a business agent and was subsequently promoted to Assistant Director and later Director of the Housing Division. He became a Trustee in 1978, was elected Vice President in 1983, and ascended to the presidency in 1993, succeeding Barry Feinstein. For 14 years, Haynes proved a dynamic leader guided above all by a ``members first'' philosophy. After truly leaving his mark on the organization, Haynes stepped down as President in 2007 and oversaw the smooth transition of his successor, his friend and colleague Gregory Floyd. Carl Haynes continued to serve as a Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters while heading its Public Employees Division until 2009. He sat on the executive boards of the New York State AFL-CIO, the New York City Central Labor Council, and the Municipal Labor Committee, and served as national AFL-CIO Vice President and on the boards of directors of Emblem Health Care System and United Way of New York City. He was a beloved leader adored by his members and admired by all who worked with him. In memorializing Haynes, Gregory Floyd recalled his ``calm demeanor in the face of adversity and his patience at the negotiating table. When it looked like there was no hope in sight, he kept a positive outlook. . . He was a kind and giving man who dedicated his career to helping working men and women.'' Teamsters national President, Jim Hoffa, said of him, ``Under Carl's leadership, the Public Services Division grew tremendously and we are grateful for his dedicated service to our union.'' Carl Haynes is survived by his wife, Janice; a son, Jay, of San Antonio; a daughter, Liane, of Los Angeles; and three grandchildren. Madam Speaker, in recognition of his decades of service to the labor movement and to our nation, I request that my distinguished colleagues join me in paying tribute to Carl Haynes, a proven leader who dedicated his life in service to others.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Thank you very much, Chairman Pallone, and for your leadership. This week the House approved billions in new funding for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Congress has yet to fully address the impact of the event that caused the war in the first place, the 9/11 terrorist attack. Today we will vote on a bill that provides guaranteed help for the survivors of 9/11 and the brave first responders who rushed to Ground Zero to save the lives of others. I thank Congressmen Nadler and King, my colleagues in the New York delegation, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer for their dedication to the heroes and heroines and the survivors of 9/11. On 9/11, roughly 3,000 people lost their lives, but thousands and thousands lost their health because they rushed in to save others. To date, the Federal Government has identified more than 20,000 individuals who have health problems as a direct result of the attacks. Caring for those who are suffering is a national responsibility. Every single State, 428 of the 435 congressional districts have someone enrolled in the Federal World Trade Center Health Registry because they were near Ground Zero or worked at Ground Zero. The 9/11 Health and Compensation Act meets our moral responsibility to help those who were there to help us. It seems inconceivable to me that we would choose to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on wars in foreign lands and not spend this modest amount right here at home to help the warriors, the first people who were there, those who were there for us on 9/11 in the place where it all began. They were there for us; we need to be there for them. This is the veterans of the war of 9/11, those who saved the lives of others. And 9/11 was a great tragedy, but it was also a great rescue effort, one of the greatest in history. So I urge my colleagues to support the heroes, the heroines, the warriors right here at home, the first in the line of fire at Ground Zero where it all began.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the war supplemental funding bill. After years of war that have strained our military, their families, and the country, I cannot continue to support funding for the war in Afghanistan--a war marked by increasing violence and attacks on our troops and no clear definition of success. The last time this measure was before us, I voted with my colleague Rep. Barbara Lee on her amendment to prevent an escalation and limit funding to the safe and orderly withdrawal of our troops and military contractors from Afghanistan. I also voted in favor of the McGovern-Obey amendment that would require the President to provide Congress with a plan for the expeditious redeployment of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and a timeline for completion of the redeployment. But the bill before us is simply a continuation of a policy that needs to be changed--with no accountability and no debate on the merits of continuing this conflict in a country beset by corruption and seemingly endless violence. Contained in this bill is badly needed funding for Haiti, disaster relief and funds for our veterans, which I wholeheartedly support and would urge a separate up or down vote. But a vote for this bill before us today is a vote to continue this war and the time has come to bring our troops home. Reports of corruption abound in Afghanistan, and without a true partner in the Karzai government, our prospects for making real progress have grown dim. In recent days, even more troubling reports have come out of the region indicating that Pakistan intelligence may be collaborating with elements of the Taliban against the United States. With claims such as these coming to light, how can we move forward with business as usual on the war? I cannot in good conscience vote to continue funding this war at so high a cost and with no guarantee that our efforts are reaching our goals there and keeping the American people safe. That is why I vote ``no'' today.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, this week, yesterday, we approved billions for the war in Afghanistan but Congress has yet to fully address the impact of the events that caused the war in the first place, the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On 9/11, thousands of Americans were murdered and killed in the first act of the war on terror on our soil, but thousands more on that day lost their health when they ran into burning buildings to save the lives of others. Nine long years after the attack, we have yet to approve guaranteed help for the first responders that risked their lives for others. The House will soon vote on the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, a bill that provides health care and compensation to the thousands of Americans that came from almost every congressional district around this country to help others. The bill is fully paid for and meets our moral responsibility to help those who came to the aid of our Nation in one of America's darkest hours. I urge my colleagues from across the country to support this patriotic bill.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, Thursday the House took action to help nearly 2.5 million Americans with the very basic needs of putting food on the table and paying the bills by extending unemployment insurance. After weeks of Republican efforts to withhold these benefits, we are sending a lifeline to families while sending a jolt to our economy because most of the aid will be spent quickly on food, rent, and other necessities. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation, EUC, Program began to phase out at the end of May. This means individuals exhausting their 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits since that time, or exhausting any of the tiers of Federal EUC benefits, are not eligible for emergency unemployment benefits. H.R. 4213 retroactively restores those benefits and continues the EUC program through November. Those in the Minority who are opposed to helping our middle class families often claim that providing unemployment insurance discourages Americans from seeking work. This couldn't be further from the truth. The Joint Economic Committee, which I chair, has just released its 2010 Annual Report. One of the findings is that extending unemployment benefits does not discourage job seekers from looking for work. The JEC report finds that unemployment benefits actually serve to keep some workers attached to the labor force who might otherwise shift to other more costly government programs. By the end of the year, if no further action is taken, some 290,000 unemployed disabled workers will exhaust their unemployment benefits, and two-thirds of these workers will leave the labor force and move onto the Social Security Disability Insurance program. Shifting these workers from the labor market and onto the SSDI rolls would be a $24.2 billion lifetime cost. Compare that with the $721.3 million cost of extending unemployment benefits for these workers. These numbers demonstrate that extending unemployment benefits is not only morally right, it is the fiscally responsible thing to do.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, this week, once again, we commemorate the tragic 36th anniversary of the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Thirty-six years later, Turkey continues forcibly to occupy more than one-third of Cyprus with more than 43,000 troops. This amounts to almost one Turkish soldier for every two Turkish Cypriots. It is time for Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus so that the island can move forward as one nation. I am honored to represent Astoria, Queens--one of the largest and most vibrant communities of Greek and Cypriot Americans in this country. I truly enjoy participating in the life of this community and treasure the wonderful and vital Cypriot friends that I have come to know. Cyprus has long been a key partner for the United States, and our friendship rests on the bedrock of shared democratic values. As co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, I have worked diligently with my colleagues in the Caucus out of our mutual concern for the continued division and occupation of Cyprus. We have 158 members today, one of the largest caucuses in Congress. Cyprus is playing a vital role in European affairs while also strengthening relations with the United States. It has joined with us on issues important to our own security, including the fight against terrorism and other international crimes. Ending the island's tragic division will pave the way to prosperity and peace throughout the entire region. Last year, I was joined by Hellenic Caucus co-chair Representative Gus Bilirakis in urging our colleagues to sign a letter to President Obama thanking him for his vocal support of a unified Cyprus and urging the United States' continued support for a solution to the Cyprus problem that is by Cypriots, for Cypriots. To date, Turkey has repeatedly ignored all U.N. Resolutions pertaining to Cyprus and has continued to occupy the island in complete violation of international law. Turkey has continued to do so despite the fact that it has been a member of the U.N. Security Council since January 2009. Turkey has also refused to abide by the Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in numerous cases, thereby continuing to violate the basic human rights of the Cypriot people. This is an outrage. The current negotiations aim at reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined in the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, with a single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international personality. The solution must reunite the island, its people, its institutions and its economy and safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots and the withdrawal of Turkish occupation forces from Cyprus. The United States and the international community must continue to provide support to this process. The people of Cyprus deserve a unified and democratic country, and I remain hopeful that a peaceful settlement will be found so that the division of Cyprus will come to an end.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, the Joint Economic Committee, which I chair, has just issued the latest edition of our series of State-by- State snapshots of the economy. It notes that, in June, private sector employment grew in 32 States and the District of Columbia while the unemployment rate declined in 39 States and the District of Columbia. Yet the report also makes clear that our economic recovery is at a crossroads and still faces major challenges, in large part because of the staggering job losses caused by the policies of the prior administration. You can see on this chart how a steady descent into a red valley of severe job loss began in December 2007. The red is the prior administration. The last month that the former President was in office, this country lost 790,000 jobs. The journey back up, under the Obama administration, began in early 2009 and coincided with the passage of the Recovery Act. As you can see, we have been trending in the right direction and gaining jobs these past few months. It's not victory, but it certainly is movement in the right direction. But as our report notes, even if the private sector was currently creating jobs at the rate of 217,000 jobs per month, as occurred during the Clinton administration, the highest sustained rate of job creation in our Nation's history, it will still take over 3 years to recreate the 8.5 million private sector jobs lost during the Great Recession. The lingering high unemployment rates, particularly the long-term unemployment rate, suggest that targeted actions such as our recent extension of unemployment insurance benefits are sorely needed to support growth and provide a safety net for the millions of families hurt by the recession. But there is still much more that Congress can and should do, particularly to help small businesses recover. As Chairman Bernanke pointed out today, we need to find ways to provide small, credit-worthy businesses with additional lending, something that I have supported and the Democrats have supported from day one. Small businesses and establishments, these small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. labor market. Seventy-five percent of working Americans are employed at businesses with fewer than 250 employees. But a study earlier this year by the Joint Economic Committee found that, in the wake of the financial crisis, limited access to capital and credit continues; and it has a serious impact on small business hiring. The tough credit standards that banks are now imposing, even on credit-worthy small businesses, have hamstrung their ability to expand and create jobs. You can see the results of that in this chart, which the Joint Economic Committee prepared. And this chart looks at the business hiring by mid- and large businesses, and compares it with the small business hiring, which is still in decline. In most recoveries, it is small businesses that are the first to hire. But in this recovery, we see that it is the mid-sized and the large businesses that are hiring, and that small businesses are not hiring, so they do need more support and more help in this economy. One additional thing we should do is ensure that small businesses are able to compete fairly for the Federal contracts for which they are qualified. And the Federal Government contracts out roughly $435 billion every year. And under current law, Federal agencies are required to establish contracting goals with at least 23 percent of all government buying targeted to smaller firms, because they are the backbone; they hire the majority of Americans. But according to an analysis prepared by the American Small Business League of Federal data, some of the ``small businesses'' that have been awarded Federal contracts under the provision for small business contracts include some of the largest companies in America. Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Hewlett-Packard, AT&T and Rolls Royce. These are all extremely fine companies, but by no stretch of the imagination are these small companies. That's why I urge my colleagues today to join me in supporting the Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act of 2009, sponsored by my good friend and colleague, Congressman Henry Johnson. H.R. 2568 would modify the definition of small businesses in the Small Business Act to include the requirement that no publicly traded company can qualify as a small business.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, may I request additional time?

Mrs. MALONEY. Well, it would require the publication of a report; and, in short, it would require that small should actually mean small, and require fairness and transparency. So I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this important bill.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, for too long the heroes and survivors of the 9/11 attacks have struggled to receive the health care and compensation that they need and deserve. They came to Ground Zero to aid in America's recovery. Now we must aid in their recovery. After 8\1/2\ years of hard work, we are closer than ever to passing H.R. 847, the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. The bill, which would provide health care and compensation, is nearing consideration on the House floor next week. But another tragedy threatens the health of cleanup workers. The warnings from 9/11 must be heeded as crews restore the gulf after the BP oil spill. I urge my colleagues to remember and support those who aid our country in time of need. They were there for us; we must be there for them, with their health care and with support.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4684) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to strike medals in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and the establishment of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center, as amended.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert any additional material that they wish to insert on this issue.

Mrs. MALONEY. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to commend my colleague from New York (Mr. Nadler) for his leadership on this bill and on so many other issues and for working selflessly to help the survivors and the residents and to help the city recover from 9/11. This is an example of another one of his efforts to help the city, to help our country, and to help us remember the terrible events of 9/11. The monumental events in a nation's life have always warranted memorialization. The events of 9/11/2001 are no different. Those who died on that day, just going about their lives, just going to work that day, as we went to work today, they truly deserve to be honored forever as heroes and heroines. We know that we lost almost 3,000 lives on 9/11, but many thousands more lost their health. Those who came to the aid of those at the sites of the attack also deserve to be honored and remembered. And each of us in this body who lived through that day, each of us in this country who lived through that day, we each have vivid memories of our own seared in our minds, which deserve recognition as well. Thus, it is very fitting that, as we approach the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we offer a means to honor the dead, and our memories, and the victims, and the heroes, and the heroines, and the responders, and the residents, with H.R. 4684, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum Commemorative Medal Act. This bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to strike a commemorative medal in honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 next year, the price of which will include a $10 donation to support operations and maintenance of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center site, with a design which will include the inscription, and I quote, ``Always Remember.'' This medal will allow all Americans and, indeed, anyone around the world, an opportunity to remember and to honor the thousands of men, women and children who died on that horrible day. This medal also supports the mission of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, to ``Recognize the endurance of those who survived, the courage of those who risked their lives to save others, and the compassion of all who supported us during our darkest hour.'' The Memorial & Museum will demonstrate the consequences of terrorism on individual lives and its impact on communities at the local, national and international levels. The museum will attest to the triumph of human dignity over human depravity, and it will affirm an unwavering commitment to the fundamental value of human life. Mr. Speaker, those not yet born cannot understand in the same way that we do the events of that day, so we who do understand must establish a means by which generations to come may, in their own way, note and remember what our generation went through. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum Commemorative Medal Act provides this means, this opportunity. I am proud to recognize my fellow New Yorker and colleague, Jerrold Nadler, who is the chief sponsor of this bill, and I yield to him such time as he may consume.

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank my colleagues in this Chamber. I thank Americans across this country. On 9/11 many people remember the attack, but they do not remember that this was also one of the greatest rescue efforts in history. I was at the site on September 12, and they were estimating that 25,000 Americans perished. But because of the brave work of volunteers, of police and fire, of responders, many, many lives were saved. Many people on that day lost their lives, but more people lost their health. As we know in this body, this was a response not only from New York, but 432 different congressional districts sent first responders, volunteers, help. They worked at the pile, they worked at the site, and they helped America recover. These men and women were there for us. We need to be there for them. That's why this bill is so important. I urge all of my colleagues to collectively vote and support it. I congratulate Mr. Nadler and Mr. Lee for their leadership in moving this to the floor for a vote. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentleman for his statement and for his leadership. I also thank my good friend and colleague on the other side of the aisle, Christopher Lee. This has been a strong bipartisan effort, and I congratulate him on his leadership in passing this important bill. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, July 19, 2010. Hon. Barney Frank, Chairman, Financial Services Committee, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Frank: I am writing regarding H.R. 4684, a bill requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to strike medals in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and the establishment of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center. As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains jurisdiction over bills that raise revenue. H.R. 4684 contains a provision that establishes a surcharge for the sale of commemorative medals that are minted under the bill, and thus falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. However, as part of our ongoing understanding regarding commemorative medals and in order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action. This is being done with the understanding that it does not in any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the future. I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 4684, and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Record. Sincerely, Sander M. Levin, Chairman.

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentleman for his statement, and I thank my colleague Mr. Nadler for his hard work in securing the 300 cosponsors. The World Trade Center site and museum will be in the district that he is honored to represent. And he has continued to be an outstanding, forceful spokesperson, as Mr. Lee has, in support of not only the suffering of those who lost their lives, but for the men and women who lost their health and who are in dire need of health care and support. I reserve the balance of my time.