Carolyn McCarthy

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of legislation reauthorizing the Small Business Administration and its increasingly relied upon programs. I want to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Chairman Talent) for all the great work that he has done. It has been a pleasure working with him over these last few years. And certainly, I have nothing but good things to say about the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), the minority ranking leader, my colleague. Small businesses are the driving force of our economy, and access to capital is the number one concern. The SBA has filled this void by providing various loans and other technical assistance programs needed to survive in today's competitive market. This legislation also takes into account the changing face of the business community and provides record funding levels over the next 3 years for core SBA programs. For example, the 7(a) loan guarantee program, which is SBA's primary business loan program, is increased to provide $1.3 billion more in loans. On Long Island, New York, this is extremely beneficial. Last year, SBA provided over $13 million in loans and other technical assistance to 86 small businesses in my district alone. The assistance provided to these businesses not only benefit them but the surrounding communities, as well. As small businesses prosper, so do the neighborhoods in which they operate. Studies show that small businesses are the leading source of innovative ideas. That is why it is important to foster their growth and provide them with the tools and skills they need to succeed in today's business world. Of particular importance to small businesses in my district is the need to take advantage of technology's role in the business sector. That is why I support funding increases for such incentives as small business development companies that help small businesses understand the role of e-commerce to compete in a technology driven economy. In addition, I also support the Women's Business Center Program.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support on letting this motion go forward. We all know that things here in the House go extremely slow. But I happen to think that 8 months waiting so we can meet together and hash this out is too long. We have seen too many killings. We have seen too many killings in our schools, our churches. We have seen our firemen being shot. I have to believe that the American people want us to do this. What upsets me is we know the American people want us to respond. Yet, we see the NRA coming out against us constantly, even to the point where they will put a flier out asking our Members to vote this down. We had a meeting this morning in the White House, Republicans and Democrats. And I have to tell my colleagues one of the most interesting things that came out, in California, they have what we want to do as far as closing the gun show loophole. Do my colleagues know what, the gun shows are doing very, very well in California. No one has been denied their rights on buying guns. We have to remember the majority of people that go buy their guns get cleared extremely fast. Let us sit together, let the American people hear our debates. This is not like we are rushing through it. Eight months is 8 months. I have to tell my colleagues, Mother's Day of this year, the Million Mom March is going to be marching across this country because we want safety. We can handle all the other issues that work to reduce gun violence in this country, but there are more things we can do; and the bottom line is it is the easy access to guns that are killing our citizens. We can do something. The people of America are looking forward to us doing something. It is bipartisan. Republicans and Democrats should be joining together on this. This is something good for the American people. After this morning and seeing my Republican colleagues working with us, and across this country, we do not ask registration of all those that are going to be in the Million Mom March. They are Republicans. They are Democrats. They are Independents. They are going to be sticking with us. We are going to make a change in this country. We cannot wait any longer. Because each day, people are dying: our police officers, our firemen, our children, our loved ones. That is wrong. We have to make a difference. We have the moral obligation. I ask all of my colleagues on the Republican and Democratic side to vote to let us sit down and talk. That is all we are doing. This has nothing to do with the Second Amendment. This has nothing to do with the Constitution. We are not even touching those laws. All we are trying to do is say we care about everyone in this country. I as a victim and now I as a Congressperson have to say enough is enough. I cannot face any more victims that keep coming to my office and asking why we are not doing anything. This should not be politics. We should not bring politics into this whatsoever. This is doing the right thing. If it was any other subject, it would have been passed more than 8 months ago. One more month before Mother's Day, then my colleagues are going to see moms across this country making a difference.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the House Committee on Appropriations wants to eliminate the gun buyback program at the Nation's public housing authorities. This just makes no sense. Last week, a first grader killed another first grader with a handgun. Yesterday, four people in Memphis were killed in what started as a domestic dispute but ended when a gunman shot to death his wife, two firefighters, and a sheriff's deputy. The daily gun violence in this country is a national problem. It calls for a national solution. The American people know that 13 children are killed every day by gun violence. Meanwhile, the Congress has done nothing. Now the leadership has directed the House appropriations to eliminate the Department of Housing Urban Development's gun buyback program. This program has been highly successful in partnering police with housing officers to remove guns from public housing and in curbing gun violence. In fact, Memphis, the site of Wednesday's gun killings, would lose its buyback program and so would 80 public housing authorities across the Nation. The supplemental appropriations bill now has language in it that rescinds more than $700,000 from the gun buyback program. Mr. Speaker, this is crazy. When we have programs that work, we should not take them back. We have a moral obligation to reduce gun violence in this country.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is a little known fact that March is Professional Social Work Month. Why is it that at a time when healthcare and child welfare are of utmost importance, we tend to overlook the middlemen? Is it that we forget about their role in today's society, or is it that we never learned about it in the first place? I tend to think it is the latter reason. Social workers are the people who translate their education and training into commitment to making a difference in all aspects of people's lives. They are everywhere: in the courts, healthcare settings, schools, public and private agencies, congressional offices and industry, just to name a few. Often the public decries social problems that they would like solved; these are the people who work on a daily basis with individuals affected by them. As a nurse, I am deeply concerned with the social problems plaguing the nation, and I worry about what is to come for future generations. As a legislator, I work to improve current problems by addressing these issues in Congress. In doing so, I recognize the vital importance of social work as a professional field of practice. It is one thing for us to acknowledge something as being a problem, it is another to be the person trying to fix it on a personal, case-by-case basis. I admire those who take on the responsibility of helping others help themselves. It is easy to see why we overlook the importance of social workers. They work in the background, not in front of the television camera. They are not national figures, but ordinary people who make a living out of helping others. At the end of the day, one cannot measure in grand terms the effect they have had. But if we asked one of their clients, I am sure the difference they make would be obvious. They alter real lives. I encourage you to take time to acknowledge the importance of social workers in everyday life. In a country that celebrates its diversity, culture, and history, it is appropriate to proclaim March to be Professional Social Work Month, and recognize the difference that these people have made and continue to make.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. I thank my dear colleague from New York (Mr. Walsh), and I thank the gentleman from Long Island, New York (Mr. King) also. Mr. Speaker, I am going to be very brief on this. I will not even try to say that I am as knowledgeable as the two gentlemen here. But I have been to Ireland. I was there a year ago August when we were trying to put together the peace process. The one thing I know, when I came back from Ireland, I know what the people of Northern Ireland wanted, and that was peace. Anywhere we went you could tell all they wanted was peace. All of us watched over the weekend, hearing of news of what was going on. Many of us, our hearts sunk, because one moment it did not look like it was going to be put together, and the next moment things were going well. This afternoon we got word that things were not going well, that the IRA had walked away. I want to clarify that point, because I am afraid tomorrow the newspapers and the media are going to blame the IRA for everything that has gone on. I do not believe that is really what has happened. The IRA walked away from the bargaining table, but not from the peace process. The IRA and Sinn Fein are not walking away from peace, and I think all of us have to remember that. They want to continue the peace process. The IRA and Sinn Fein are committed to the Good Friday Agreement. The IRA and Sinn Fein went to the Unionist Party and the British government to keep their commitments in the Good Friday Agreement as well. By suspending the newly formed Belfast administration, Northern Secretary of State Peter Mandelson is pulling out the rug from under the peace process. I know both sides will probably argue that, but those of us that have been following it felt that he should have stood his ground and continued to work things out. The Belfast administration did not have a chance to succeed because it was held hostage by one man and his threat to resign. That is wrong. That is wrong for the people of Ireland, that is wrong for the people of Northern Ireland. The road to peace is paved by compromise, not by the demands of one country or one man. Sinn Fein and the IRA are willing to adhere to their agreement, but the British Government is changing the rules. I agree with my colleague that this is a time when Tony Blair really has to take a stance and prove to everyone that he wants to see peace in Ireland. Let us remember that the IRA and Sinn Fein have kept the peace process going. Sinn Fein and the IRA, they have kept their guns silent. I can speak from personal experience, knowing what it is like to lose a loved one, my husband, to gun violence. As a mother I can speak as someone who has seen a child maimed, so I know what the women of Ireland are feeling tonight. We must persevere. We must have President Clinton continue to work, and I agree this could be his legacy, his greatest legacy. The American people must stand together and have their voices heard. Again, here in Congress, we must continue to work to make sure that this works for all of us. We of Irish American descent over the last several years have discovered what it is to be Irish. It is a proud race. We are proud that we all belong to it. We will continue to do our job to make sure that there will be peace in Northern Ireland. God willing, it will happen sooner than later.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate African-American History Month. The contributions of African-Americans to America are too numerous and wide-sweeping to mention in a minute, so I decided to tell you about my district's Citizen of the Month, a shining example of a strong, determined, beautiful African-American woman. Hempstead Town Board Member Dorothy L. Goosby is an amazing person, embodying what it means to be well-rounded person, a community activist, a citizen legislator and a trail-blazer. Dorothy is a woman whose life reflects many ``firsts.'' On November 2, 1999, she was elected to the Town of Hempstead Town Board as only one of three Democrats to serve on the board since 1905. A major achievement topped by the fact she is the first African American woman elected to the board. To her political experience, Dorothy brings her careers as a dietician, chemistry teacher and nursing home administrator. Long been a community activist in Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead, Dorothy challenged the very town on whose board she now sits. In 1988, Dorothy and others filed a class action suit against the Town of Hempstead charging voters' bias. In 1997, a federal judge agreed and ruled that the town's voting methods was not representative of all its residents. Twelve long, hard years later, Dorothy's class action suit came to a positive close recently when, on January 24, 2000, the New York State Supreme Court ruled that the Town of Hempstead did in fact discriminate against African-Americans and that board members must be elected from council districts rather than in town-wide voting. A long-time advocate and supporter of children and youth programs, Dorothy is an adult member of the Girl Scouts, and has served on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. She is the former Vice President of Hempstead School Board; former President of Hempstead's United Parents Association and retired President of Marshall School's Parents Teachers Association. Dorothy's success and sheer determination to do the right thing is an inspiration to everyone. I hold up my friend, Dorothy Goosby, as a shining example in this bright month of African-American History Month.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Coastal Community Conservation Act and the importance of protecting America's water ways. Our children's future matters to all of us, and we have a responsibility to leave to them the same beautiful and viable environment that we enjoy today. The Coastal Community Conservation Act is a step in the right direction. The Conservation Act requires states with approved coastal zone management programs, such as New York, to develop a coastal pollution control program to manage nonpoint sources which affect water quality. A major feature of a coastal nonpoint control program is that it unites the water quality management expertise of the state water quality agencies with the land use management expertise of the coastal management agency. In order to preserve America's heritage, this unity of water and land conservationist must happen. The most promising approach is to incorporate pollution reduction and management into the conduct of activities rather than establish separate programs. To do this the following guidelines must be followed: build on existing programs; incorporate state and local government input; and plain common sense. It is vital that in our zeal to find solutions to our pollution problems that we remember the importance of coordination between the states and the federal government. We all have the same goal: protecting our natural resources. We have some of the most beautiful coastlines and natural resources in the world. The time is now to solve them. And our children and grandchildren will thank us.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, hopefully we will bring this issue up next year and work for it and get it passed. Mr. Speaker, I also want to address some of the things said earlier in this Chamber and try and set the record straight. Number one, there is an awful lot of us that do not want this to be a political issue. I personally do not think it should be a political issue. To me, it is not a Republican or a Democratic issue, it is the issue of the American people. That is why we had the clock, the Columbine clock, to remind people, because there has unfortunately been that terrible incident that woke up the American people to the gun violence that we sit here and talk about. I of all people certainly do know what it is to remember the violence in this country. In a couple of weeks, it will be the 6th year anniversary of the Long Island Railroad Massacre, where my husband was killed and a number of my neighbors were killed, and my son was injured, and an awful lot of people were injured on that. We do not want the American people to forget the pain that is left with so many victims, so we here in Congress are trying to stop future pain to our children and to American citizens. It can be taken off the table as far as a political issue. Let us all meet together at a conference. That is all we have been asking for. We are hearing this and that. I am on the conferees, and we have not met. I have to tell the Members, if the NRA amendment had passed in this House, it was more than just being imperfect, it was dangerous. If the NRA amendment had been law over the first 6 months of 1999, 17,000 people who were stopped by our current background check system would now be armed. In fact, if the 24-hour policy had been in effect, we know of cases where murderers, rapists, and kidnappers would be walking around with guns. This has nothing to do with second amendment rights, this has to do with keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. That is what we are supposed to do. But fortunately, and I will say this, Republicans and Democrats did work together, and together we prevented the NRA amendment from becoming law. I think that is important here, because when we speak to the people, the American people, and it does not matter whether they are Republicans or Democrats, they want something done. That is what this House is supposed to be doing. That is why we had the Columbine clock, to remind the American people that we still have time to do something before we leave. I know there are many of us that are willing to work through Thanksgiving, through Christmas, to make sure that our citizens are safe. We have all tried to work in a bipartisan manner. We certainly have had people on both sides of the aisle support my amendment, which would have closed the gun show loophole, made sure that criminals and especially children do not get their hands on guns. I think that is what we have to do. We should have passed safety reform in this Congress, real gun safety reform that keeps the guns out of the hands of felons. That is what we did not do in this Congress, and I am sorry for that, because each day that we have not done something we continue to lose victims across this country. We continue to see too much pain. That is not what this country is about. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens) and I thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), for letting us answer these questions.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, due to circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to vote on the Defense Appropriations Conference Report. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 494.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act. I rise today to speak as a Congresswoman from Long Island, a mother, and a nurse. I spent close to over 30 years as a nurse, and I speak from experience when I remind my colleagues health care is about people. Real health care means direct access to specialists, especially in OB/ GYN for women. Real health care means access to emergency room care. Real health care protects health care workers from retaliation from their employers when they blow the whistle on wrongdoing. Real health care saves lives by making clinical trials available to patients, not just cancer patients, but to patients that are suffering from many diseases. Real health care is a clean Norwood-Dingell bill. The reason is, the first lesson I learned in nursing school was the patient always comes first. I hope we remember that when we vote today. One other thing that I would just like to bring up very rapidly, 5 years ago, when I was an average citizen and had my health care insurance, I could not sue my HMO. Today, because I work for Congress, I am allowed to sue.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of National Techies Day and the positive impact technology had on our lives. Techies Day allows us to recognize and applaud today's technology professionals. In addition, it brings current techies and schoolchildren together in hopes of encouraging more of them to pursue careers in science or technology. The United States leads the world in technology development, but we continue to lag behind in educating and training the workforce that is prepared to fill thousands of technical jobs. With more of our day-to- day activities being done electronically, it is important we ensure a competent workforce that is prepared to meet the growing needs of this industry. These needs will be met by educating our children and preparing them for the technology field. This is essential to America's long-term economic strength as we enter the 21st century. Mr. Speaker, our children's future matters to all of us, and we have a responsibility to bring them into this new economy equipped with the tools needed to keep pace with technology innovations. Techies Day is the right direction to make this possible.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds to respond to the previous speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), my respect for the gentleman is tremendous, and this is nothing personal towards the gentleman whatsoever. It is actually towards, unfortunately, I feel, some people on the other side. There have been a lot of quotes in the newspaper, one on June 19 after we had our defeat. ``The defeat of the gun safety bill in the House is a great personal victory for me,'' from the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay). My job is to try and bring this bill forward. If we can put any pressure, certainly even on the Senate side, then that is what I have to try and do. As far as the gentleman goes, the gentleman is a gentleman and I am always privileged to work with him. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/4\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire about the time remaining?

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky). (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I offer a motion to instruct the conferees on H.R. 1501 to meet publicly, beginning this week, and every weekday until we reach a conference agreement. Stated more simply, my colleagues and I are asking that we move forward with the conference on the juvenile justice bill. The motion is not offered as a criticism. I understand that the chairman and the ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary have met in an attempt several times to reach a compromise on the gun provisions in the juvenile justice bill. The chairman and the ranking member have worked very hard on this important legislation, and we do appreciate all the efforts that they have made. However, we cannot afford to wait for the completion of behind- closed-door negotiations while the threat of gun violence hangs over the heads of our schoolchildren throughout America. Every day Congress fails to advance juvenile justice legislation is another day that we lose 13 children to gun violence. Despite the assurances of the chairman and the ranking member, a number of my colleagues and I remain concerned about the outcome of the juvenile justice bill. Since the April 20 shooting at Columbine High School mobilized the American people to pressure Congress into addressing the issues of children's access to guns, we have faced a number of roadblocks and delays. I fear the delays we have faced have been caused by the congressional leadership's reluctance to enact meaningful gun safety legislation. Our motion today is offered as an incentive to move forward and complete our legislation. Let us listen to the American people and protect our children. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer a privileged motion to instruct conferees on the bill (H.R. 1501) to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide grants to ensure increased accountability for juvenile offenders; to amend the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to provide quality prevention programs and accountability programs relating to juvenile delinquency; and for other purposes.

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren). (Ms. LOFGREN asked and was given permission to speak out of order.) Announcement of Intention To Offer Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1501, Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 1999

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones). (Mrs. JONES of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren). (Ms. LOFGREN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey).