Carolyn McCarthy

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill because it is a shortsighted attempt to appease special interests at the expense of driving our country deeper into debt and shortchanging important programs. America is going through very trying times. The economy is stagnant, unemployment is up, consumer confidence is down and our Armed Forces have just fought a war with Iraq. Tax relief and stimulating the economy for Long Island have been my priorities since I came to Congress, and given the current state of the economy, are critical now more than ever. The debate surrounding an economic stimulus package comes down to simply asking the question, ``What stimulates the economy?'' There is a fine balance between giving our economy a shot in the arm, slowing the growth of the deficit, giving families and small businesses the tax relief they need and protecting our country's national security concerns. Today's proposal falls short from achieving this balance because the bulk of its stimulus is aimed at providing dividend and capital gains tax relief. This $280 billion proposal, more than half the cost of the entire bill, does not provide our economy the bang for the buck needed for future growth. In fact, I'm concerned this proposal could actually have serious impacts on other segments of the economy. For example, if we provide special tax treatment for companies that offer dividends, what happens to smaller companies who do not offer dividends, but instead use additional income to invest in their company, i.e. technology, etc.? Would they have a difficult time attracting investors? Moreover, what happens to the bond market? Municipalities rely heavily on bonds to finance school construction and other public works projects. How will they compete against companies that offer dividends with this new tax treatment? Instead of spending the bulk of a stimulus plan on a proposal that only benefits companies offering dividends, we should help the areas of our economy that could benefit most from a stimulus. For example, State and local governments are struggling as the faltering economy has caused huge fiscal problems for the States, at the same time that States need to spend more on critical investments, such as homeland security, healthcare, and education. In fact, States are facing budget deficits in the range of $60 to $85 billion for State fiscal year 2004, larger than any time in the last half-century. We can help our States by investing in infrastructure and homeland security projects that create jobs and lowers unemployment. In addition, it would cost a fraction of the $280 billion dividend proposal Republicans insist on passing today. What I find equally upsetting is the disregard for our national debt. This bill pushes our country $550 billion deeper into debt. And although Republicans claim that going deeper in debt is necessary to get out of debt, you must carefully examine the polices that claim to bring us back into balance. Unfortunately, Republicans have failed to show why we should support a dividend tax break instead of helping our States and middle-income households. If we are going into debt, it shouldn't be on the back of flawed policy. As the majority, House leadership could have allowed plenty of time to debate the merits of their proposal, but instead they choose not to allow anyone to offer amendments and limit debate to 2 hours. This balant disregard of the Democratic process is yet another example of this Republican Congress cowering to special interests and forcing another flawed policy on the American people. This take it or leave it attitude does nothing to improve the state of our ailing economy. It does, however, jeopardize what we leave behind to our children.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Nurses Week, an established recognition event created to pay tribute to the nurses who give care to millions of patients every day. National Nurses Week is celebrated every year beginning May 6 and ending May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. ``Nurses: Lifting Spirits, Touching Lives.'' is the theme for 2003. As a nurse for over thirty years, I am proud to be part of such a caring and compassionate group of professionals. And as a Member of Congress, I have the wonderful opportunity of fighting for issues and policies that affect nurses and the nursing profession. A major national issue concerning the nursing profession is the growing nursing shortage. With various new career options for healthcare professionals today, prompting nurses to gradually move away from patient care and into fields with better pay and benefits, nurses are grappling with becoming financially competitive. Of the estimated 2.5 million licensed nurses in our country, 400,000 have left the profession for other pursuits. In 2000, Long Island had an 8 percent RN vacancy rate and a 16 percent LPN vacancy rate. Nationwide, hospitals need more than 125,000 nurses to fill all the nursing positions available today. Over the past few years, I have been successful in educating my colleagues on both sides of the aisle about the importance of addressing the nursing shortage. It is vital for the health of this nation that the nursing field continues attracting experienced and educated candidates. To that end, I played a lead role in the passage of H.R. 1436, the Nurse Reinvestment Act last year. This critical piece of legislation combines my own bill to provide money for Magnet hospitals Accreditation and another bill I offered to retain and attract nurses. Magnet hospitals enjoy low turnover and top-notch work conditions. Nurses at magnet hospitals consistently report greater job satisfaction than other nurses, and patients also give these types of hospitals high ratings. Attracting more nurses to move into positions at magnet hospitals will both lower the nursing shortage and help the profession remain competitive with other health care fields. Although last year's legislation is a good start, more needs to be done to find ways to recruit more young people to the nursing profession. That is why earlier this year, I introduced H.R. 934, the Teacher's and Nurses Support Act of 2003. This bill provides loan forgiveness for teachers and nurses around the country. I want to encourage every student that nursing, in my view, is the best profession in the world. This legislation would help eliminate financial barriers to pursuing a nursing career. In closing, I urge my fellow nurses to tell friends, children and neighbors about all the positive aspects of being a nurse. We need to excite our students in high school and junior high about our career choice and how nurses are always there to help the sick get better and to make sure the healthy stay that way.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise today with deep concerns with H.R. 1350, the bill to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Prior to IDEA being passed in 1975, many children with disabilities did not receive access to education, and worse they were denied any educational services at all. As a result of court decisions and congressional action, schools were required to offer children with disabilities a free appropriate public education. Since then, Congress has acted to strengthen these laws time and time again regardless of whether it was a Republican-controlled or Democratic-controlled Congress. Today under H.R. 1350, we are taking a large step backward especially with regards to disciplining students. Current law allows a school to suspend or expel a student with disabilities if he or she brings a weapon or drugs to school, or is found by a hearing officer to be likely to injure themselves or others. Education services must be provided for up to 45 days in an alternative setting. In addition, current law requires schools to determine if the problem which caused the student to be suspended or expelled was due to his or her disability. This bill removes these important safety provisions completely. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1350 allows students of all disabilities to be removed from classrooms for any behavior for an indefinite period of time. Mr. Chairman, I am the first person to say we need to protect our children from violence in the classroom. Therefore if a student with attention deficit disorder hits another student, the student with attention deficit disorder can be expelled indefinitely. As a nurse, I can tell you that attention deficit disorder is widely misunderstood by teachers and principals throughout the country. However, it is recognized by Congress as disability under the law we are amending today and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mr. Chairman, this provision in H.R. 1350 alone cuts out the very heart of IDEA. IDEA was created to prevent this type of discrimination against disabled students. If a student's health problem is the reason for causing trouble in the classroom, the health problem must be taken into account before the child is expelled indefinitely. We should be strengthening the current law instead of weakening it. It's just common sense. As a student with disabilities, a nurse, a mother, and a Member of Congress, I am hopeful that we protect all children. With that, I urge all my colleagues to vote against this bill that takes the heart out of IDEA. We should be doing more not less for our students.

Ms. McCARTHY of New York

Ms. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have named Gotham Avenue School in the Elmont Union Free School District as School of the Month in the Fourth Congressional District for April 2003. Mr. Marshal Zucker is the Principal at Gotham Avenue School, and Dr. Maria Palandra is the Superintendent of Schools in the Elmont Union Free School District. I also acknowledge Joy Madera, a Trustee on the Elmont Union Free School District Board of Education who helped arrange the school's selection. The school has 840 students in grades Prekindergarten through 6, with 65 members on staff. The Gotham Avenue School Community is a close-knit body of parents, teachers, students, and administrators. Their goal is to ensure each child a stable early education through an enriched curriculum that keeps the children excited, and unique programs that appeal to a wide variety of younger children. The Elmont Union Free School District is a model of excellency with over 4,000 elementary school kids, which encompass over 70 spoken languages. The school was one of two schools in the district, and one of the total 24 chosen schools in New York State, to win the 2003 Business Council of New York State Pathfinder Award. The award is given for Outstanding Educational Improvement. The recognition and honor is truly extraordinary in light of the 2,900 New York State elementary schools eligible for the Pathfinder Award. Principal Zucker credits Gotham Avenue's recent success to the school district's new curriculum initiative. The school is focusing more attention on teacher planning and class curriculum mapping. Teachers try to instill in every student that every one of them has the capability of being a successful learner. Long Island students receive a better education thanks to the faculty and teachers of Gotham Avenue School and I am proud to name them school of the month for April.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. Our country's former prisoners of war are national heroes. Their service placed them in harm's way, causing their capture and imprisonment. They have suffered and sacrificed a great deal to ensure our freedom and national security. These courageous Americans who suffered through often horrific and demeaning conditions in wars, including Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War and now Operation Iraqi Freedom, have my greatest appreciation and respect. I also extend my gratitude to family members of former POWs who stood by and supported their loved ones during such excruciatingly difficult times. Today's recognition of former POWs is particularly appropriate in light of the recent rescue of Pfc. Jessica Lynch. Pfc. Lynch was captured on March 23, along with 11 other U.S. soldiers from the 507th Maintenance Company. On April 2, in a dramatic military operation, she was rescued from a hospital in Iraq, and just two days ago was reunited with her family. The heroism of Jessica Lynch and those who served our country before her signifies the high price of liberty. As we recognize the former POWs that served our nation, I also want to offer my thoughts and sympathies to the family members of those who lost a loved one or have a loved one who is missing in action from the ongoing war in Iraq as well as past military conflicts. On behalf of the people of the 4th Congressional District of New York, thank you to all former POWs for your brave service to America. To those who are still being held, we all pray for your safe rescue and that you come home soon.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I would like to straighten a few things that are being said here on the floor: Number one, this has nothing to do with guns, and it does not; number two, we are not trying to shut down gun manufacturers, and we are not; number three, this is not about gun control, and it is not. What this is basically about is trying to have, as victims, our day in court. My colleague said that we have frivolous cases in court. Yet it is funny because we always get into the case, yet we are turned back because they say, go to the legislative branch. The legislative branch is where you should be trying to change law. That is not going to happen. This is a progun House and it is a progun Senate. Now we are basically taking away every right that victims have. Let me say why we look at the gun manufacturers on their distribution: mainly because we do know that a lot of these illegal guns that get on the streets come from certain areas and are going through certain distributions to gun stores. Yet the legislature here passed a law that our ATF agents cannot even go and inspect a gun store except once a year, but only if they call them first. What we hear is also, in my opinion, a reckless attempt at providing special legal protection for the gun industry. We do not do it with other manufacturers. This is different. The gun industry should be subject to the same legal standards of conduct that govern every other industry. What makes this particular industry so special, we all know that it is the lobbyists. But let me say what we are trying to do as far as the gun manufacturers. We are asking them to make the guns safer. The technology is out there. I asked the Committee on Rules last night to have child safety locks able to be sent out with every gun that goes out on the market. It certainly would be up to the consumer whether they used that particular product on the gun or not, but we do know it would save children's lives. An attempt to improve the bill, as I said, we see unintentional shootings commonly occur with children when they find an adult-loaded handgun in a drawer or closet, and while playing with it shoot themselves, a sibling or young friend. When reading the newspapers, one sees that this happens all too frequently. No matter how careful parents are, their child is still exposed to the potential negligence of a neighbor or relative or other adult that the child visits. Instead of providing immunity to a particular industry because of the potential legal costs associated with a lawsuit, we should first focus on the merits of the lawsuit. Many negligent suits brought against gun manufacturers are based on the claim that the product they manufacture and sell does not take into consideration the foreseeable dangers associated with their product, for example, a child playing with a handgun. Although I happen to agree with these claims, I believe we could limit them by ensuring the safety of a firearm if it falls into the hands of a child. There are many things our gun manufacturers could do. There are many things that have already been done against car dealers, against barbecue pits, all in the name of safety, all for the safety of our American people. When the gun manufacturers start really taking seriously where their guns are going, when the gun manufacturers start looking at the technology that is out there to save lives, when the gun manufacturers really start listening to, hopefully, the consumers and not the NRA. And by the way, I do not think there is anybody in this Chamber, right or left, that is trying to take away the right of someone to own a gun.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Leo Toca, a highly respected and influential Vice President of JP Morgan Chase. Today he is honored by Molloy College at its annual St. Martin de Porres Minority Scholarship Dinner Dance, for being a strong community leader. As the Community Relations Program Manager for JP Morgan Chase Leo manages programs such as the Community Advisory Board, Baseball Is for Kids and In-Kind Donation Program. Leo has initiated many programs to improve the way of life in communities. He, along with other organizations, started the first childcare load program to help home-based childcare providers. Also, he was the first loan officer at Chase to cater to under-served communities while determining which mortgage producers were best for these communities. In his free time, Leo maintains his community activism in a wide variety of organizations. These include the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Long Island Housing Partnership, and the Urban League. I congratulate Leo on receiving this honor and applaud him for his dedication to our community. I thank him on behalf of the people of not only the 4th Congressional District but the rest of Nassau and Suffolk County who benefited from his hard work and commitment.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of four students from the Fourth Congressional District of New York. On April 27, the students will be honored by the Jewish War Veterans East Meadow--Levittown Post No. 709 at their annual awards ceremony. Jewish War Veterans Post No. 709 has an innovative program, Classmates Today--Neighbors Tomorrow. It encourages local high school students to become active in community service, and in return, the program enriches many generations. Classmates Today--Neighbors Tomorrow is just one example of how the Jewish War Veterans have proven their dedication to providing a variety of services to our community. This year, Post No. 709 has recognized the outstanding community service efforts of four students from my community. Ian Dorfman, of W.T. Clarke High School, and Stephan Schwartz, of East Meadow High School, are two of the four 2003 recipients of the Jean R. Tint Memorial Brotherhood award. Brandon Weinberg, of W.T. Clarke High School, and Jayme Feldheim, of East Meadow High School, are the two 2003 recipients of the Mike Pahl Music Award. All of these students are most deserving of this honor and recognition. Their dedication to our community is clear and consistent. I anticipate great contributions to Long Island from each student, given the high level of community service each student has conducted during their high school years. I know I will hear about their achievements in the years to come, but in the meantime, I wish Ian, Stephan, Brandon and Jayme good luck in the future.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Edward G. Lloyd, a well-respected leader in the not-for-profit organization community. Today he is honored by Molloy College at its annual St. Martin de Porres Minority Scholarship Dinner Dance for his leadership in the non-profit community. As the senior vice president of operations and chief financial officer of the United States Fund for UNICEF (USF), Edward is responsible for all financial accounting, human resources, and all administrative support operations for the USF. He also serves on a three-person committee charged with the strategic management of the USF. Before joining USF Edward was executive vice president and chief financial officer of the nation's largest community building organization, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Although Edward is extremely busy, he still finds time to help the community in other areas. He is a board member of the United Enterprise Fund, chairman of the Business Resource Investment Service Center (BRISC), and sits on the Board of the New York Metropolitan Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I congratulate Edward on receiving this honor and applaud his devotion to helping others. He dedicates himself to improving the lives of others and I thank him for this on behalf of the people of not only the 4th Congressional District but the best of New York who benefited from his hard work and dedication.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, in 1821, drawing inspiration from the ideals and institutions of the fledgling United States, the Greeks waged their own struggle for liberty. They declared their independence after 400 years of rule by the Ottoman Empire, therefore returning democracy to its birthplace. Today, I rise to commemorate the struggle, and later the victory, of Greek Independence. Throughout the world, and through history, Greek influence can be seen and felt. Our ideas on philosophy, politics, architecture, and the arts, stem from the Greeks. Today, Greece is a strong ally to the United States, proving to be a valued partner in NATO as well as to the whole of Europe. This is also true of Greek-Americans. Greek-Americans are extremely important to American society today. They provide our nation with scientists, artists, politicians, and in countless other areas. Today, as we celebrate Greek Independence Day, we are all Greek. ``Opa!''

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have named Oceanside High School in the Oceanside School District as School of the Month in the Fourth Congressional District for March 2003. The principal of Oceanside High School is Dorie Ciulla, the vice- principal is Robert Ledlie and the Superintendent of Schools is Herb Brown. Oceanside High School has over 1600 students in grades 9-12 and over 140 staff members. The school philosophy is ``Know Thoroughly, Think Critically, Act Ethically.'' I chose Oceanside High School because its Participation in Government program for High School Seniors stands out among the other district high schools. Oceanside's seniors are encouraged to get involved in government by learning not only about our nation's history, but by studying our country's evolving public policy and set of laws, and the importance of community service. Oceanside High School seniors can enroll in a variety of Participation in Government classes. Students with teacher or chairperson recommendations can enroll in Advanced Placement American Government, a college level course that features an in-depth curriculum covering the basic institutions of United States government. Students who enroll in Community Volunteer Service get a dual curriculum, where they spend three days per week studying the issues faced by our local, state and federal government, and two class periods a week doing volunteer work in hospitals, nursing homes, elementary schools, political offices and day care centers. Completion of the course leaves students with first hand knowledge of the problems discussed in class. Oceanside seniors have one other Participation in Government option: Public Policy and the Law. This class focuses on the political side of government, by teaching students the nature of politics, how politics relates to decision-making, and the formulation of public policy on local, state and federal levels. Students learn the process by participating in mock trials, town meetings and public hearings. The Participation in Government classes converge to hold an annual Human Relations Day. On March 19, over 50 speakers were invited to address Oceanside students on a variety of topics, ranging from violence prevention to AIDS awareness to civil liberties to poverty on Long Island. The event provided the students with in-depth discussions of particular issues that they felt were of importance. Human Relations Day is a unique and wonderful way for our students to be involved in current events. It shows that the classes in which the students are enrolled are truly successful in motivating the students to get involved in many public policy issues and matters of national concern. I am proud to name Oceanside High School the school of the month for March 2003.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, in October 2002, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention released a report entitled the National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children, which estimate there are almost 800,000 reported cases of missing children. This equates to over 11 children per 1000 in the U.S. that are missing. Worse yet are the hundreds of thousands of missing children that are not reported. While a large number of missing children are runaways, too many are missing due to abduction. One way to decrease this number is to pass H.R. 1104, the Child Abduction Prevention Act. H.R. 1104 is better known as America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response Plan, the AMBER Alert. Currently, the AMBER alert is a voluntary partnership between law- enforcement agencies and broadcasters to activate an urgent bulletin in case of child abduction. Almost 40 states have established AMBER alerts. Since the program began a little over six years ago, the AMBER alert has been credited with the recovery of 47 children. If the plan were implemented nationwide, with federal funding, the possibilities of recovering more children increase exponentially. As a parent and a grandparent, I strongly support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same, our children deserve it!

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H. Con. Res. 95 because it fails to meet the challenges confronting our country. We need a balanced approached to fiscal responsibility that treats the national budget just like a household budget. America is going through very trying times. The economy is struggling unemployment is up, consumer confidence is down and our Armed Forces are at war. H. Con. Res. 95 fails to address these concerns because it embraces an inflated and fiscally irresponsible tax cut plan totaling $1.4 trillion. These tax cuts accommodate all of President Bush's proposals, but they would not provide the stimulus we need to jumpstart our economy. However, including all of them in this budget force us to make deep cuts in heavily relied upon programs. I cannot go home and tell my constituents that I cut after-school programs, student loans, teacher quality programs, and COPS funding to make room for inflated tax cut plan that has no immediate impact on our economy. I also cannot go home and tell my constituents that I slashed $265 billion in mandatory spending, placed an increased burden upon cash- strapped States, reduced investments in highway construction, and only partially funded programs under the No Child Left Behind Act so we can make room for a back-loaded tax plan that crowds out important programs. And don't forget our ongoing war in Iraq. There is not one penny in this proposal that budgets for the war or the cost of rebuilding the economy. Some argue we can address these costs in a supplemental. However, supplementals are becoming more like 2nd budgets. If we have an idea of what something is going to cost, we should budget accordingly for it now. We should not be playing games with the numbers. This body should pass a budget that: Puts us back in balance; provides a tax stimulus that actually stimulates; secures our Homeland; offers a sensible prescription drug proposal; and sufficiently funds our military. Although I understand the need to make sacrifices if we want to jumpstart the economy, they shouldn't be made by passing bad policy. That is why I supported Democratic substitute. This budget projects a balanced budget in FY 2010, but does so with $500 billion less public debt than the committee-reported resolution. Unlike the resolution, the substitute does not cut domestic discretionary spending below the level needed to keep pace with inflation and does not contain any cuts in mandatory spending. Furthermore, the substitute provides a tax stimulus proposal that stimulates now. Another important contrast is the prescription drug provisions contained in each budget proposal. The Democratic substitute provides $528 billion in new funds over 10 years for a prescription drug benefit. The resolution, by contrast, establishes a $400 billion ``reserve fund'' for Medicare prescription drugs and Medicare modernization. Why create a reserve fund instead of budgeting for a prescription drug proposal today? Reserve funds do not solve the problems confronting this country. We need specific budget allocations for specific problems. Generally addressing problems at a later time in a reserve fund simply dances around the issue. I want to support a budget that actually stimulates while taking into consideration long-term budget implications. There is no room for political gamesmanship when people lose their retirement savings, or their jobs.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I want to stand by the words of my colleague from California. There are many of us here, especially among the New Democrats, that did vote for the tax cuts going back almost 18 months ago. I come from New York. In New York, we love tax cuts, mainly because we pay so many taxes on the island. But I have some real problems with the budget that we are looking at. We are supposed to debate this tomorrow, and I hope that we do, but I understand that many of my colleagues on the Republican side are having a real problem with the budget that they saw, and I hope they stand together, because we as a Nation are going through some very, very tough times. America, as I said, is going through some very trying times. The economy is struggling, unemployment unfortunately is up, consumer confidence is down, and our Armed Forces are gearing up to go to war. Tomorrow possibly, if they can come to an agreement, this body will debate an overall budget for this country that hopefully will address all of these concerns. And I hope it is a good debate. I hope they allow us at least to even put our budget forward. That is what this great place is about, the debates. Then we have the vote. We either win or we lose. But unfortunately around here lately, we are not even allowed to put a substitute up. I am always hopeful. The two proposals that I have seen, one from the administration and the other from the House Budget Committee, do not come close to addressing our concerns. I am going to have a very hard time going home and telling my constituents that I might be cutting after-school programs, student loans, teacher quality programs, COPS funding. COPS funding. That should be part of our homeland security. I know in New York City, they are spending an extra $5 million a week. COPS programs, that is helping my community work with my schoolchildren to make sure that the areas are safe, and to get the kids to know them so that they have someone to go to when they need it. A highway fund. We all know that when we put money into the highways, those are jobs, not only making our infrastructure better, but also it helps the mom-and-pop stores because our construction workers have to eat. Our construction workers, by the way, pay our school bills. But I have to say, when you try to make room for a back-loaded tax cut plan proposed by the administration that provides a very, very minimal stimulus, I think we have a problem. I cannot go home and tell my constituents that I slashed funding for our veterans. We are on the brink of going to war. We have young men and women overseas getting ready to protect this country, and we are showing our older veterans the compassion by cutting their funding for health care. There is something very, very wrong with that. I spent my life as a nurse before I came here. I know firsthand that our hospitals across this Nation are struggling to keep their doors open. Yet in the Republican budget we see more slashes for Medicare and Medicaid. There is something very, very wrong with that. I am one of these people that do not believe in kicking someone when they are down. If this budget passes tomorrow or Friday, we are going to be hurting an awful lot of people. Again, are we going to have a decent prescription drug plan? Out on Long Island, I have my seniors that cannot even afford to be able to buy their medications. That is wrong. No one should have to go without their medications. I look at things holistically. If you are not giving medications to the patient, they are going to end up in the hospital, and it is going to end up costing more money. Yet in the wisdom of my colleagues on the other side of the floor, they want to cut Medicare reimbursements, they want to make our hospitals have to even cut back more, which means, by the way, they are not going to be able to hire nurses to take care of the patients. We have to look at things, in my opinion, on how we would run our house. We all have to make sacrifices. We all have mortgages. We all have bills to be paid. We sit down and we look to see what has to be done. But this budget, the Republican budget that is coming out tomorrow, is totally unacceptable. I think the shame of it is that we are making these cuts so we can make room for a $1.4 trillion tax cut. I do not know. I think the American people, if anybody is watching, would kind of sit around and say, wait a minute. My mother, maybe my grandmother, maybe she needs to go to a nursing home. She needs her prescription drugs. Those are going to be slashed? I do not know. That is not the way you cut a budget. Then we have the war. We all know most likely that we will be going soon, but there is not one penny in either proposal of the budgets that I have seen for the war or even the cost of rebuilding the economy. Some argue we can address these costs in a supplemental. I understand supplementals. However, these supplementals are becoming like second budgets. If we have any kind of an idea of what something is going to cost, we should budget for it, and we should budget for it now. I know we are going to go into some debt because of the war, and that to me is good debt. It is good debt mainly because we are protecting this Nation, and we are going to be protecting other nations so that they can have democracy and freedom and freedom from terrorism. We have to look to see what our priorities are. This body, and I happen to think the Democratic budget substitute is the one that we should be looking at, it puts us back in balance, and that is what we all want. It provides a stimulus package that actually will stimulate the economy. We should have been doing this in January. We should have been stimulating the economy so that we would not have unemployment going up and up and up. Homeland security. I talk to my schools, I talk to my firemen, I talk to our police officers, I talk to my county executive. They are trying to put plans together, but there is no money there. Most of our States, as I have mentioned before, are already in debt, so they cannot even spend the money. My county is in debt, and we have worked very hard to try and get out of debt, but unfortunately sales are down, so tax revenues coming in are not there. The Democratic plan also offers a sensible prescription drug proposal. The other thing is we are going to make sure that the funds are there for our military. This can be achieved by providing a stimulus that is reasonable and targeted to the people who need it the most. The American people are looking to Congress to pass sensible policies that not only encourage investment, but also increase goods and services. Again, we have to be able to do a number of things here. We have to make sure that we are there to protect our armed services, but we also have to make sure that the country is economically sound. The Democratic proposal can do that. The Republican budget will not. Unfortunately, the choices before this body suggest policies that do more harm than good. For example, half of the costs associated with President Bush's tax cut involve an elimination of the tax on dividends. To be honest with you, I do not have a problem with that. In better times, I probably would vote for it. I happen to think that in the long term it might be good for this country. It is not good right now. It is not the best bang that we can get for our dollar. I am hoping that we might be able to take this out and address it next year when things are better. This particular provision should be included in a long-term tax reform bill, as I had said. We should debate this at a later time when we can afford it. A true stimulus plan provides immediate capital to assist an ailing economy. I believe that eliminating the tax on dividends does not provide us with the bang for the buck as we need it, as I said before. And though I understand the need to make sacrifices, and I know the American people understand what sacrifices are, if we want to jump- start the economy, it should not be done by passing bad policy. I want to support a budget that actually stimulates while taking into consideration long-term budget implications. There is no room for political gamesmanship when people lose their retirement savings or their jobs. Again, I am just going to say, what I saw on the Republican budget, large cuts to education. It cuts my veterans' benefits and health care. My hospital on Long Island for my veterans can barely keep its doors open now. It fails to protect the environment. It fails to make the adequate investment in health care. I know that we have tough decisions to make, but again, the Democratic plan covers all these issues, makes them fair, and certainly brings hopefully a little bit of sunshine down the road when we can go back into a balanced budget. I hope the American people get involved in this debate. I hope that they call their Representatives, because the pain that we are going to be feeling not just from the war, but from the cuts on educating our children, taking care of those in the hospital, taking care of those at home, taking care of our seniors, that is not where we should be making cuts.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act. As a nurse, I understand all too well the high cost of malpractice insurance and I recognize the crisis this is creating in our healthcare system, particularly in areas of high-risk procedures. I want a solution to fix this problem, but H.R. 5 is not the solution to helping this crisis. H.R. 5 will only make this crisis worse. H.R. 5 exempts HMOs, pharmaceutical companies, and the FDA from punitive damage awards. This means that HMOs will continue to make medical decisions for patients based on what's best for their bottom line and not what is best medicine for the patients they serve. Under this legislation, a pharmaceutical company manufactures a drug or the FDA approves a product that proves to be harmful or deadly, a patient's family is limited in their recourse. After last year's Congressional debate, on the need to hold HMOs accountable for their actions I am shocked that anyone who supported the Patient's Bill of Rights can vote for this legislation. In addition, by capping the punitive damages to $250,000, this bill unfairly penalizes children, the elderly, and mothers who stay at home since it is impossible to prove economic damages from lost wages. The only compensation these patients have is non-economic or punitive damages. Mr. Speaker, I am appalled at the arrogance of the Republican leadership, for prohibiting Members from offering any amendments to improve this legislation in any way shape or form. Mr. Speaker, had I been allowed to offer an amendment, I would have offered the following to improve this legislation: Reducing frivolous lawsuits.--We need to limit the amount of time during which a patient can file a medical malpractice action to no later than three years from the date of injury, or three years from the date the patient discovers the injury. And require an affidavit by a qualified specialist before any medical malpractice action may be filed. This ``Qualified Specialist'' would be a health care professional with knowledge of the relevant facts of the case, expertise in the specific area of practice, and board certification in a specialty relating to the area of practice. Reducing premiums.--We should require medical malpractice insurance companies to annually project the savings that will result from the anti-price fixing mechanisms required by the Democrat substitute. Insurance companies must also develop and implement a plan to annually dedicate at least 50 percent of those savings to reduce the insurance premiums that medical professionals pay. Solving healthcare professionals shortage.--We need to provide grants or contracts through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to geographic areas that have a shortage of one or more types of health providers as a result of dramatic increases in malpractice insurance premiums. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote against H.R. 5.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support for National Visiting Nurse Association Week. As a nurse for over thirty years, I am always proud to celebrate what I still consider the best profession in the world. Today we are here to commend a very special type of nurse, those that specialize in home health care. For more than 100 years, Visiting Nurse Associations (VNAs) have been providing home health care to the communities they serve. Beginning in the late 1800s, VNAs provided critical home-based care for the homebound, the impoverished, the frail elderly and children at-risk. Over a hundred years later, not-for-profit VNAs continue their unparalleled, selfless tradition of offering quality of life and independence to all Americans through comprehensive home health care. Today, guided by their charitable missions, VNAs care for nearly 10 million people annually. VNAs provide home health care for patients of all ages--from infants to elderly. They are the educators of disease prevention and health promotion. Physicians are confident when referring to VNAs because of their high level of quality standards and clinical excellence. Patients are extremely satisfied with the care they receive from VNAs as shown by a 99 percent customer satisfaction rating. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to show their support for Visiting Nurse Associations everywhere by voting for this wonderful resolution.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the tragic events of September 11th changed our world forever. Engaged in a war, different from any other in our nation's history, we are once again calling upon the brave members of the U.S. Armed Forces to defend democracy and freedom. At this time, during our war on terrorism, I want to commend every member of our U.S. Armed Forces. While we all desire peace, when war cannot be avoided, our U.S. Armed Forces put their lives on the line, with some paying the ultimate sacrifice. To all those who wear the uniform we honor and thank you. It is also important to thank and commend the family members of our Armed Services. Through love and support they enable our forces to embark on their difficult battle while trying to maintain their life without their loved ones next to them. The war on terrorism has just begun. On the frontlines, in America and around the world, are the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. They are protecting our rights and freedoms, and for this I thank them.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support for Title IX. Today Secretary Paige has released a report that I believe drastically weakens the purpose of Title IX. Mr. Speaker, changes to the Title IX standards as applied to athletics are not warranted or necessary. Modifications to the standards that would limit future opportunities for women in favor of expanded opportunities for men would violate the goal of gender equity. Using the results of an interest survey, as the commission report recommends, would limit women's participation opportunities, and be factually inaccurate. Mr. Speaker, what we should be doing to ensure equal opportunity is enforcing Title IX and implementing its policies at every level of education. The responsibility of the federal government is to ensure equal opportunity, not to ensure that particular sports teams are added, discontinued, or maintained. Currently, there are 2.8 million girls participating in high school sports, but there is only room for 150,000 women in college sports. This disparity is obscene. We need to do a better job at providing equal opportunities for all athletes. Mr. Speaker, enforcing Title IX is just the right thing to do and the reality is that if our colleges and universities want to benefit from federal dollars, then they must provide gender equality at their institutions. Gender equity does not end at the admissions door either, gender equity in athletics is a must. Mr. Speaker, I hope that this Congress refuses to fall into this trap of pitting sports teams against each other. We must realize it is about civil rights first and foremost.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my extreme opposition to the cloning of human beings. At no time do I think it will be acceptable for science to go down that path. As Members of Congress, we need to impose very strict penalties to prevent scientists from making the jump from doing important research to playing God. But as a nurse, I remember a debate very similar to this one, the debate over researching DNA. In the 1970s, we in the healthcare community were very excited over the research being conducted by scientists on human beings actual biological makeup. However, many others believed then that we were headed towards creating Frankenstein or Aldolphus Huxley's ``Brave New World.'' The DNA technology debate also focused on regenerative medicine based on stem cell and nuclear transfer biology. DNA involves splicing the gene for a desired protein into bacterial, yeast or other mammalian cells, which then manufacture protein. To accomplish this, scientists had to develop incredibly powerful techniques for managing the mechanisms to cellular biology. Society had to decide whether to allow their continued development and if so, how to regulate and manage these techniques. Mr. Chairman, the research continued, and millions of patients and their families have benefited. Today, it is used to produce human therapeutic proteins to treat or prevent a wider array of diseases and conditions. DNA products include: Human Insulin for diabetics; Herceptin for patients with breast cancer; Epogen for patients with kidney disease; Enbrel to hel patients with rheumatoid arthritis; and Pulmozyne that has prevented childhood deaths from cystic fibrosis. Mr. Chairman, at this time I would like to submit for the Record a list of 66 other DNA products that are approved by the FDA. These products have helped ten of millions of patients worldwide. Mr. Chairman, today's, Greenwood Amendment takes care of both of my concerns on this issue. First and foremost, if defines human somatic cell nuclear transfer with the intent to initiate a pregnancy as a criminal act subject to criminal and civil penalties. These penalties include: Imprisonment of up to 10 years; Civil penalties up to $10 million (or two times the pecuniary gain from cloning); and it provides for forfeiture of equipment, other property, and any monetary gains from cloning human beings. In addition, it requires all individuals who plan to perform human somatic cell nuclear transfer to register with the FDA. And finally it requires all research be conducted with the Institutional Review Board's oversight. The Greenwood Amendment also addresses my concern about restrictions on therapeutic cloning by allowing this important research to proceed. The goal of therapeutic cloning is to treat or cure patients with life threatening diseases by creating tailor made, genetically identical cells that the patient's body will not reject. In other words, this procedure could allow patients to be cured using their own DNA. In that process the nucleus is removed from a donated unfertilized egg and replaced with the patient's own cells, like skin, heart, or nerve cell. These types of cells are called somatic cells. These unfertilized egg cells are stored in a perti dish to become a source of stem cells that can be used to treat life-threatening medical conditions. These cells are not transplanted into a womb and no sperm is used in this procedure. The National Scientists Academy believes that therapeutic cloning or somatic cell nuclear transplant technology could lead to dramatic new treatments and cures for currently noncurable diseases and medical conditions including cancer, diabetes, parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, ALS and many others. We need to find these cures today and this research may be the key to unlock the cure. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Greenwood Amendment and urge all my colleagues to do the same.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have named Meadow Elementary in the Baldwin Union Free School District as School of the Month in the Fourth Congressional District for February 2003. Mrs. Joan M. Flatley is the Principal at Meadow School, Ms. Cora Ianuario is Assistant Principal, and Dr. Kathy Weiss is the Superintendent of Schools in the Baldwin Union Free School District. The school has 750 students in grades Kindergarten through 5. The Meadow Elementary School Community is a close-knit body of parents, teachers, students, and administrators. Their goal is to ensure each child a stable early education through an enriched curriculum that keeps the children excited, and unique programs that appeal to a wide variety of younger children. The new Character Education Program and the school's determination to create a caring environment for everyone shows the strong commitment Meadow Elementary has to developing student character. Each month Meadow students and staff focus on different character traits, and are rewarded for efforts to achieving the month's traits. The Program emphasizes traits that students should strive for, such as: responsibility, cooperation, respect, generosity, perseverance, acceptance/tolerance, honesty, compassion, fairness, and self- discipline. The Meadow School has many wonderful programs designed to ensure each child receives individual attention. The special education program is unique to the school. All students in the district, in grades Kindergarten through 5, requiring special education go to Meadow. Currently, there are 80 students in the program. Also, the English as a Second Language program helps 30 students every day conquer their fears and language barriers. Long Island students receive a better education thanks to the faculty and teachers of Meadow Elementary School and I am proud to name them school of the month for February.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember my friend Morty Haves, who recently passed away after a long and healthy life. Morty, a longtime resident of Hewlett Harbor, was well-known and respected by his family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. After serving as a flight instructor in the Air Force during World War II, Morty launched a long and successful career as a real estate broker. In 1947, he opened Morton M. Haves, Inc. in Woodmere, which later relocated to Hewlett. Over the years, Morty helped to invigorate the expanding Five Towns community, selling many of the homes in the area to new and blossoming families. Eventually, his daughter, Mary, joined him and continues to run the business today. Morty was an idealistic Democrat who served as a New York State elector for President Jimmy Carter, and treasurer of the New York State Democratic Party under Governor Hugh Carey. He was the Democratic Committee Zone Leader for Hewlett for a number of years. He was involved in his synagogue, Temple Israel of Lawrence, where he served as a board member and was eventually named an honorary board member. Morty was married to his wife, Elayne, for 56 years. They had one son, Marc, and two daughters, Mary and Laurie. He had nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. I first met Morty in 1996 when I decided to run for Congress. He proved to be a fantastic friend and close advisor. Whenever I needed help, regardless of the issue, Morty was able to lend a hand or a kind word. He was always available to point me in the right direction, and I will never forget him.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, as the Nation mourns the loss of seven brave men and women, I rise in support of H. Res. 51, a resolution expressing condolences to the families of the crew of the Columbia space shuttle, who perished this past weekend. On February 1, 2003, the country watched in horror as the space shuttle Columbia broke up over Texas. Astronauts have a special dedication to their jobs, community and fellow man. They go up into space to meet scientific challenges for all of us here on Earth, in spite of the risks. To do this, they train hard physically, mentally and emotionally--they are the consummate professionals. They are fearless men and women. Space shuttle mission STS-107 was the 28th flight of the shuttle Columbia, and the 113th shuttle mission to date. Its mission was to provide 70 international scientists access to both the environment of space, and set of seven human researchers for 16 days. The astronauts on board worked 24 hours a day in alternating shifts, to carry out important experiments in the areas of astronaut health and safety, advanced technology development and Earth and space sciences. The work the astronauts were doing included experiments to help further progress in combating prostate cancer, to develop techniques to improve efficiency of anti-cancer drugs, to strengthen construction techniques for structures in areas where earthquakes are common, testing technology to recycle water, and to improve crop yield. On February 1, 2003, we began the day awaiting the return of the Columbia shuttle. We could not wait to congratulate the crew of seven on their performances and achievements. These men and women made an excellent effort on this extremely important mission. They made America proud. We all held our breaths when we lost contact with the shuttle, and then watched in disbelief and horror when we saw the remnants of the shuttle over the skies of Texas. I support this Resolution, which reminds us all of what a difficult job astronauts have, and the sacrifices their families make. I am proud to honor the lives lost, as well as those who continue to work tirelessly and courageously, as well as their families. The prayers of the Nation are with our lost seven and their families.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Vincent Krasinski, a highly respected and influential member of the Glaziers Local Union 1087 who recently announced his retirement. In his 32 years as a member, Vincent was a leading voice for labor in Nassau and Suffolk County, and New York City. He joined the union in 1970 and quickly became a leader. First, he was elected to the LU 1087 executive board in 1979 and then being elected in 1987 as a Business Agent for LU 1087. Vincent proudly served his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970. Upon returning from his tour of duty he married Jennifer, his wife of almost 33 years. They have two wonderful children, Jennifer and Laurie, and are the proud grandparents of Vincent, Alyssia, Chloe and Casey. While serving as a member of the union's executive board, and raising a family, Vincent still found time to work on many political campaigns for labor friendly candidates. I am proud to say I am one of them. He has volunteered his time for the St. Francis Hospital Heart Center in Roslyn, New York and currently sits on Bob Gaffney's Labor Advisory Board. Vincent Krasinski is responsible for the current strength of LU 1087. He leaves behind a strong legacy and is a good example of the difference one person can make. I applaud Vincent for his dedication to our community and thank him on behalf of the people of not only for the 4th Congressional District, but the rest of Nassau and Suffolk County and New York City who benefitted from his hard work and commitment.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Carlo Carriere, a highly respected and influential member of the Glaziers local Union 1087 who recently announced his retirement. In his 32 years as a member, Carlo was a leading voice for labor. He joined the union as an apprentice in 1970 and quickly became a leader. Carlo proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, he again served his country by leading a contingent of Glaziers in rescue and clean up of the World Trade Center site. As a member of LU 1087, Carlo was elected District Council Delegate in 1973 and just three years later was elected to the Executive Board in 1976. He continued his accession in 1982 when he was elected as Vice President of the LU 1087. During his tenure as Vice President Carlo, became a Business Representative and was elected Chairman of the National Glaziers and Glass Workers Apprenticeship Program in 1990. He also served as a Trustee to the Union Funds beginning in 1986. In 1995 he was elected Business Manager of LU 1087. Just one year later, upon the full affiliation of LU 1087 with District Council 9, Carlo was appointed Assistant Secretary-Treasurer. Carlo Carriere is responsible for the current strength of LU 1087. He leaves behind a strong legacy and is a good example of the difference one person can make. I applaud Carlo for his dedication to our community, and thank him on behalf of the people of the 4th Congressional District who have benefitted from his hard work and commitment.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of November being National Adoption Month. Every year, thousands of American families are blessed by adoption. Whether through domestic or international adoption of children from foster care, the love of compassionate families embraces children of all ages and from every background. During National Adoption Month, we recognize the heartfelt commitment of these good citizens, and we renew our pledge to make adoption a more accessible and positive path for American families. Children thrive in loving families where they are nurtured, comforted, and protected. We are making important progress in placing children in foster care with adoptive families, and the overall number of children being adopted continues to rise. In the past five years, adoptions have increased dramatically, and thus far in 2002, tens of thousands of children have already been adopted. In addition, as a member of the Congressional Caucus on Adoption, I have worked to ease the financial burden on adoptive families and to ensure that more children find a caring, permanent home. But with most adoption costs ranging from $8,000 to $20,000 and even upwards of $30,000, many families can not afford this huge expense. No child should be forced to grow up without a family because of the tremendous cost of adoption. That's why I am proud that the President signed into law a bill I supported from its inception that provides for an Adoption Tax Credit for those who take this important step into parenthood. As part of the Economic Security and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, this provision will go a long way to making adoption more affordable. Mr. Speaker, every child deserves a permanent, loving home and, with so many families who want to open their hearts and their homes to these children, this measure will help remove the financial barriers that may hinder this union. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents of the fourth Congressional district of New York, I, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, do hereby commend Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, the Nassau County Department of Social Services and the Nassau County's Surrogate's Court for finalizing the adoptions of thirty-two children from foster care.