Bob Menendez

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend Tyrone Chess for his exceptional service as pastor and founder of Holy Ghost Tabernacle Ministries in Jersey City, New Jersey. Rev. Chess was honored on November 3, 2002, at Holy Ghost Tabernacle's Ninth Annual Anniversary Banquet held at the Marriott International in Newark, New Jersey. A native of Jersey City, born there in 1956, Rev. Chess has devoted his life to the improvement of his community. Having been a pastor for nine years, Rev. Chess now serves as the social and political chairperson of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and in the past served as its second vice president. His passion for the well being of humankind led him to participate as a member and chairperson of the Human Rights Commission. Presently, he is a member of the Jersey City Board of Adjustments, and founder and CEO of the Lincoln Center Community Development, Inc. Reverend Chess began his religious education at Essex County College, and continued his studies at the American Fellowship Seminary. He recently earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology from the Adonai Temple Christian Center Bible Institute. Rev. Chess is married to Martha Chess and they are the proud parents of five children: Daarina, Thaddeus, Tyrone, Jr., Safiyah, and Zaynah. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Reverend Tyrone Chess for his many years of dedicated service as a pastor and mentor to the Jersey City community. The Reverend's selfless contributions to the community have not gone unnoticed; without a doubt, he is one of New Jersey's most outstanding religious leaders.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, September 11th, 2001, hit our New Jersey community hard. We lost neighbors and friends, mothers and fathers and children, sisters and brothers--people who left their homes that fateful day, and crossed the Hudson River, never to return. The twin towers that were once visible from our waterfront stand no more. The skyline has forever changed. But the people who were lost that day, while leaving an unspeakable void in our lives, still live on in our hearts and our minds. They are our Heroes: Everyday Heroes who were providing for their families, contributing to their communities; Everyday Heroes who lost their lives in their dedication to protect others. Everyday Heroes. The most incredible kind of heroes. American Heroes. They may not be here, but they do live on, and they will never be forgotten. We honor them by showing our patriotism; by flying our flag; by fighting terrorism wherever we find its scourge growing; by coming together as One Great People and One Great Nation; and even by finding the faith and the strength to carry on with our lives, raising our children, building our communities, and moving forward with this wonderful creation of democracy and freedom called America. Yes, September 11th hit our New Jersey community and indeed our Nation hard. But we remember. We persevere. We move forward. And we are stronger and more united than ever before. God Bless America.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCC), an organization whose efforts have contributed to the increased prosperity and achievement of Hispanics throughout the State. New Jersey's Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will be holding its 12th Annual Convention Expo and Career Fair at the Newark Airport Marriott in Newark, New Jersey, on October 11, 2002. The Hispanic market represents the fastest growing demographic sector in the United States. The SHCC has contributed to this growth by forming new partnerships in Latin America, bringing products and jobs back to New Jersey, and creating further economic development and business opportunities throughout our region. The general business community, government agencies and Hispanic entrepreneurs have all benefited from the many innovative events and networking opportunities of the SHCC. At the Career Fair, the SHCC provides participating organizations with the chance to meet college students, professionals, and inner city residents to identify them for internships, full-time jobs, and career opportunities. SHCC considers employment to be an important factor in economic development of our communities and acts as a link between employers and career seekers. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey for its contributions to the economic development and empowerment of the Hispanic community throughout New Jersey.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Maria Pestana for thirty years of service to Hudson United Bank (HUD) and communities throughout New Jersey. The Federation of Cuban Musicians is honoring Mrs. Pestana for her dedication to Hudson United Bank and the Hispanic community on Saturday, October 12, 2002, at Las Palmas Restaurant in West New York, New Jersey. In 1957, as a young adult, Mrs. Pestana arrived in the United States from Cuba, initially devoting her time to the care of her family. As her children grew, Mrs. Pestana began a career at Hudson United Bank She started at an entry-level position, but her enthusiasm and hard work quickly propelled her up the corporate ladder. Today, she is the well-regarded Executive Vice President of HUD and the General Manager of the Main Office. For over thirty years, she has been a devoted employee, not only providing outstanding customer service, but also helping HUD become a fundamental fixture of the community. Her ability to rise to the occasion and attend to the needs of her customers and colleagues has gained her much respect and admiration. Mrs. Pestana, and her husband, Francisco, have four children, Frank, Mary, Georgia and Jackie. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Maria Pestana for her outstanding leadership and countless accomplishments. She is an important and integral part of the Hispanic community, and we are proud of her dedication and hard work on behalf of all New Jerseyans.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman for yielding time to me, and I thank the ranking member. Mr. Speaker, let me say, in this great country of ours democracy can only flourish when we make all our voices heard. That is why it is important to do all we can to ensure that no vote is nullified. I want to commend the sponsors of the Help America Vote Act. Much hard work went into crafting this legislation that seeks to address the problems that plague our Nation's voting system; and when this bill was first debated on the House floor, I sought to offer an amendment to enhance the civil rights provisions of the bill, including ensuring accessibility of polling places, provision for provisional voting, and strengthening the National Voter Registration Act. I am pleased that some of these things were included in the final bill. However, I want to join my colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez), in our concerns about other provisions that were added in the conference report. While these new identification provisions may be offered to ensure that our voting system is free of error and fraud, I fear these provisions may lead to further disenfranchise many Latino voters. Under this bill, a Federal requirement for voter identification is created. This will be the first time ever such a provision exists in our Nation's law. I fear this starts a dangerous precedent. States will be required to ask a voter registration applicant or a first-time voter for a current driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number or have a new four-digit number created and assigned to this applicant. At a time that we should be encouraging people to come and register and be part of the democratic process, these new requirements add burdensome responsibilities in the process of voter registration and ultimately discourage voters. These people are citizens, and they know that you have to be a citizen to register to vote, which is why this whole other provision of checkoff, of citizenship checkoff, further delays the process and causes the possibility for registrars who may not see that checkoff take place to delay the ability of that individual to ultimately vote. Lastly, we speak from experience, through manipulation of voter laws and voter intimidation. Many parts of our community and many parts of this country, including in my home State of New Jersey, have had laws used against them to ensure that they cannot vote. So in our objection we are concerned about the implementation of laws as written, and we are raising concerns about the potential or unequal administration of the law. We have seen it happen in the past, and we hope it will not continue in the future. It is not just Hispanics, by the way. When Wisconsin looked at making changes to their voting laws, they conducted a study that found over 120,000 Wisconsin residents who did not have a driver's license or photo identification cards. Well, individuals such as these have their voices and their votes ultimately will be heard. I intend to vote for the bill because clearly there are many good provisions in it, and it provides desperately needed resources so that all of our States can update their voting systems, but we want to wave our sabers now and let it be understood that we intend to follow this process every step of the way, through the regulatory process, through what is promulgated in that regard, through its implementation to make sure that no citizen, particularly citizens of Hispanic decent, enter this democratic process with greater difficulty or with the inability to have their vote and their voice considered.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Finally, Mr. Speaker, there is another grave and gathering threat to the United States. It is the threat of economic insecurity at home that leaves us ill-poised to have the resources to prosecute the multiple wars the President has asked us to pursue. A war against Iraq could be a dangerous blow to our fragile economy at this time. It is a grave and gathering economic threat to the self- confidence and stability of American families who have already seen their retirement security squandered by corporate crimes and their children's educational savings squandered by the blows to a market at 4-year lows. But to these threats, we have heard no drumbeat, only silence. Mr. President, we stand with you in defense of the United States, but we cannot sign on to a blank check that has no clear exit strategy, that will leave us all but alone in the world community, and that will strain our ability to deal with other security challenges that we may simultaneously face. And that sets an unwise precedent that will be paid with the lives of thousands of young Americans.

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, as we debate the most important choice that any Member is called upon to make, that of war or peace, of life and death, I begin with the earnest view that in the defense of our beloved country there are no Democrats or Republicans, only patriots. Together we exhibited this idea after the attack on our homeland on September 11. I, along with others, voted to give the President unprecedented powers and resources to fight the war against terrorism, bin Laden and al Qaeda. That is the war I want to stay focused on. I have voted in the past for the use of force in the national interest and security, and I stand ready to do so again. But I am not willing to invoke that power in the passion of the moment, or at the beat of someone's drum. So I say, Mr. President, I have yet to see your evidence of the clear and present danger, the imminent threat to the United States. I listened intently to your speech at the United Nations and to that of Secretary Powell before our committee. You cited a long litany of Saddam Hussein's violations of U.N. resolutions, and these violations are real. But, Mr. President, they were real when you took office nearly 2 years ago. They were violated before you took office, and they were real before September 11. Why the rush now? Mr. President, I have heard you describe Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction, chemical and biological; and, yes, Saddam Hussein has had those weapons since you took office and before you took office. Yet you did not beat the drums of war then. Yes, Saddam wants to acquire nuclear weapons; but that has always been his goal, both before and after you became President. And yet, Mr. President, you did not beat the drums of war then. Saddam does not have nuclear weapons, and the estimates are that it may be years before he can achieve that dark reality. Who did we attack after September 11's tragedy? Was it Saddam Hussein? No, it was al Qaeda and Public Enemy Number One, bin Laden. This September, Mr. President, you challenged the United Nations to act or be irrelevant. I agreed with you in that assessment. But you cannot ask the United Nations to act and be relevant while you tell them that we, nonetheless, intend to be a Lone Ranger, regardless of their actions. The war on terrorism is working because we are working as an international team. Let us not tear that apart. The doctrine of preemption, if carried out precipitously on Iraq, without the exploration of viable alternatives, without the full support of a coalition we have built to fight terrorism, and without a serious consideration of the attendant risks, may cost America in lives, money and international cooperation, far more than the presumed benefits may justify. Like the Statue of Liberty, America's foreign policy has been a symbol, a powerful beacon that guides the world towards peace and cooperation. This is not to say that America can never act preemptively in self-defense. But it most certainly is to say that we must consider how unilateral action might affect the international system we have worked so hard to build for the last half century. It most certainly is to say that attacking Iraq without the support of the world community will create more enemies and expose the United States to more dangers. Mr. President, the drum of war has left no room for the answer to these questions: If we do not have an international alliance to disarm Iraq, what will be the damage to our alliance on the war on terrorism? If we invade Iraq alone, are we ready to lose thousands of American lives in a ground attack in urban warfare? Since you have said regime change is our goal, is it not more likely that Saddam will use weapons of mass destruction against our troops and our allies, which he withheld during the Gulf War? If he strikes our ally, Israel, what will be the consequences of the stated intention of Israel to strike back, in the rest of the Middle East? Will we fan the flames of a wider regional war and create a new crop of al Qaeda recruits? In such a regional conflict, will President Musharref in Pakistan hold on to power or will he lose it, and the nuclear weapons Pakistan has, to dangerous fundamentalists? What is our post-Saddam strategy? In a country that has separatist desires by Kurds and Shiites, how long will we stay, how many lives will be lost and how much will it cost? Are the estimates of $200 billion to prosecute this war the floor, or the ceiling? If we seek to disarm Iraq, we need an international coalition to do so. Not only should the international community be enlisted in this cause, they must be part of shedding the blood and spending the money for global security. Such a coalition ensures that America is not left alone in our fight against global terrorism. You have said that Iraq is a continuing threat. America faces many continuing threats which we have not sought to preemptively strike. The standard must be higher. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as a colleague and friend, to honor Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. for his tremendous career and his accomplishments for the People of New Jersey. He has always fought the principled battles for the progress of American society. For his efforts, Mr. Pallone was awarded the Justice for Cyprus award at the Cyprus Federation of America's annual Awards Gala on Saturday, October 5th. The Honorable Frank Pallone was officially sworn in for his seventh term in the US House of Representatives on January 3rd, 2002, winning his reelection with 68 percent of the vote. He has been a very active and dedicated Member of the House throughout his tenure. He is Vice- Chairman for the Communications of the Democratic Policy Committee, a Member of the Democratic Steering Committee, Co-Chairman of the Democratic Task Force on Health Care Reform and the House Democratic Environmental Task Force. Frank Pallone has been recognized time and again for his commitment to the advancement of many issues, including expanding health care access and affordability, protecting the integrity of Medicare and Medicaid, ensuring food safety, protecting the environment and strengthening environmental laws. For his efforts, he was recognized as Legislator of the Year in 2001 by the New Jersey Association of Broadcasters, and Outstanding Legislator of the Year in 1999 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. A native of Long Branch, New Jersey, Mr. Pallone earned an academic scholarship to Middlebury College. After he graduated cum laude, Pallone received his master's degree in international relations at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Frank Pallone and his wife, Sarah, have three children, daughters, Rose Marie and Celeste Teresa, and son, Frank Andrew. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. for his remarkable leadership in promoting peace and justice in Cyprus.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Andrew A. Athens for his outstanding leadership and contributions to the cause of justice and peace in Cyprus. For his commitment, he was awarded with the Justice for Cyprus award at the Cyprus Federation of America's annual Awards Gala on Saturday, October 5, 2002. In December 1995, Mr. Athens became the first elected World President of the World Council of Hellenes (SAE) in Thessaloniki, Greece. SAE is an historic, international movement that unites seven million Hellenes around the world and ten million Hellenes in Greece under one non- profit, non-governmental organization. Under the successful direction of Mr. Athens, SAE developed programs aimed at improving the basic health care services available to Hellenic and general populations in Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Southern Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, and created the World Youth Organization with regional youth organizations. Mr. Athens' focus of peace and justice in Cyprus has dominated his life. He founded the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC) in Chicago twenty-six years ago, is Chairman and co-founder of the board of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce, and is an Honorary Member of the Board of Directors of the American Foundation of Greek Language and Culture (AFGLC), dedicated to preserving and propagating the Greek language and tradition in the United States. Mr. Athens enjoyed a successful business career serving as founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Metron Steel Corporation. In recognition of his extensive civic and humanitarian services, Mr. Athens has been presented with a multitude of awards, including: the Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix by the Greek Government; a Limited Issue Gold Commemorative Medallion honoring Archbishop Makarios, presented by the former president of Cyprus, the late Spyros Kyprianou; the Gold Medal of St. Barnabas; the John F. Kennedy Public Servant Award; Belgium's Commander in the Order of Leopold II; Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor; Grand Cross of the Order of Merit; and Medal of the Municipality of Athens. A true hero of America, Mr. Athens served in the United States Army for five years. He held the position of U.S. Captain in the Middle East and European Theaters in World War II, and was awarded the Bronze Star for the Egypt-Libya Campaign and the Army Commendation Ribbon. Mr. Athens and his wife, Louise, have two children, Paul and Jacqueline. Today I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Andrew Athens for his exceptional leadership and many accomplishments in the cause of justice and peace in Cyprus.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Panayiotis Papanicolaou for his selfless commitment to the cause of justice and peace in Cyprus, as well as for his tremendous contributions to New Jersey's business community. For his devotion, Mr. Papanicolaou was awarded the Justice for Cyprus award at the Cyprus Federation of America's annual awards Gala on Saturday, October 5. As a result of his great talent, hard work and dedication, Mr. Papanicolaou is now principal of J.F. Contracting Corporation, a Brooklyn-based construction and engineering firm. He is also affiliated with the following organizations: The American Society of Engineers; the National Society of professional Engineers; the Civil Engineering Honor Society; the Greek Orthodox Archdiocean Council; and the Advisory Board of Queens College and Saint Basil's Academy. Mr. Papanicolaou has worked tirelessly and has achieved great distinction for his work towards peace in his native land. He is currently serving as vice president of the Cyprus Children's Fund, and, from 1995 through 1999, he served as supreme president of the Cyprus Federation of America. Born in Nicosia, Cyprus, Mr. Papanicolaou served in the National Guard of Cyprus, and attended the New Jersey Institute of Technology, NJIT, where he earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's degree in construction engineering and construction management. The Justice for Cyprus awarded has been presented to individuals, who have demonstrated steadfast dedication and unparalleled commitment to the causes of freedom and justice. Mr. Papanicolaou most unequivocally fits this profile and is most deserving of this award. Mr. Papanicolaou and his wife, Nasia, have two daughters, Elizabeth and Elena. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Panayiotis Papanicolaou for his commitment to the people and the freedom of Cyprus, and to his unremitting devotion to a just and peaceful world.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nicole Marie Totino, New Jersey's Miss Bayonne Columbus 2002. In a grand ceremony, the Bayonne Columbus Committee will crown her at a dinner dance on Saturday, September 28, 2002, at the Chandelier Restaurant in Bayonne, New Jersey. Nicole Totino graduated from Bayonne's Horace Mann School and St. Dominic Academy in Jersey City. An active participant at St. Dominic Academy, she served as President of the SDA National Honor Society, and was a member of numerous clubs, including the Math Club; Multicultural Club; Student Ambassador Club; Chess Club; Student Council; and the Outdoor Activities Club. Her hard work and determination set her apart from her peers and during her senior year she was awarded the Class Valedictorian Award, SDA Spanish Foreign Language Medal, the Edward Bloustein Distinguished Scholar Award, and the New Jersey Scholar-Athlete Award. An avid student, Nicole attended the prestigious New Jersey Governor's School for Sciences at Drew University, St. Peter's College Summer Scholar Program, the LEAD Business Program for Minorities at Duke University, and the Columbia University summer program for high school students. She volunteers her time at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, where she works at the annual Feast/Carnival. Nicole will start college this fall and aspires to study Economics, Latin American Studies, and Finance. Nicole Totino is the daughter of Nick and Edna Rodriguez-Cabrera Totino and sister of Sunilka. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Nicole Marie Totino, Miss Bayonne Columbus 2002. We are honored to have such an accomplished young woman representing our community.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant support of this important legislation. I say ``reluctant'', not because of what is in the bill, but because of what is not in the bill. This bill could have been a much better product, and it strongly underscores why the American people should think long and hard about which party should be in control of this great institution come November. It is unconscionable that we are debating this bill today only because Speaker Hastert and Majority Whip DeLay threatened to throw this entire bill in the waste can unless it excluded a non-binding, ``Sense of the Congress'' resolution stating merely that the United States should re-engage in the international effort to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that have led to global warming. Were this to continue unabated, the consequences could be so dramatic that we can barely imagine them today. The language that was forcibly removed by the Speaker and the Majority Whip already was passed by the full House. Its arbitrary removal by the anti-environmental House Republican leadership shows not only how radical things have gotten around here, but more importantly that they do not want the American people to know anything about their radical, anti-environmental agenda--certainly not with just over a month before the mid-term elections. Second, the perennial underfunding of State Department operations had become a international embarrassment due to the shortsighted cuts forced by our friends on the other side of the aisle. Now we can say that some relief is on the way, although many Americans would be embarrassed to see the awful conditions of some of our diplomatic facilities abroad. Let me remind the all too-eager hawks in the Majority and in the Administration that diplomacy is truly the first line of defense. Second, I am glad to have joined with my colleague from Alabama, Mr. Hilliard, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Asian-Pacific American Caucus, in developing language in this bill to ensure that the State Department makes progress in its recruitment and promotion of minorities to its senior-most ranks. Our language makes clear that Congress is looking for results in the recruitment and promotion of minority professionals. It provides $2 million to increase minority recruitment in the Department and requires the Department to track its results with a database. The General Accounting Office (GAO) reported in a long-term study that despite years of effort from Congress, the State Department has failed to make any significant progress in the recruitment and promotion of qualified minorities to senior management positions. For example, the State Department--along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency--actually promoted fewer minority managers in 1999 than in 1990. While having more minorities take the foreign service exam is a step in the right direction, that is but a small step, and only one among many more steps needed, to rectify the severe under-representation of qualified Hispanic Americans, African Americans and Asian-Pacific Americans in the foreign affairs agencies. All three caucuses join together to urge President Bush and Secretary of State Powell to ensure that we, at long last, get on with the business of obtaining results in minority recruitment and promotion at the State Department and the foreign affairs agencies. If the State Department is to make progress, minorities must have a seat at the table. And that means, among other things, a seat at the table at the promotion boards and the selection boards--the entities that placed officers in senior positions. We will look for results and we will continue with these efforts until we see results. Third, this bill includes the ``Iran Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act'', a bill I first introduced in 1998, and whose passage could not be more timely than today. In response to Iran's efforts to develop the Bushehr nuclear power plant in the Persian Gulf, the language I introduced requires the U.S. to withhold proportional assistance to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for programs and projects of the Agency that go toward the development of the Bushehr plant if the Secretary of State were to determine that it is inconsistent with US nonproliferation policy, helps Iran develop nuclear weapons expertise, or is a cover of acquisition of sensitive technology. We must keep a watchful eye on IAEA activities in Iran--one of the nations that President Bush singled out as part of the ``axis of evil'' that threatens our way of life. While I have no interest in cutting off all IAEA assistance to Iran, it is ludicrous for the U.S. to support--even indirectly--a plant which clearly poses a threat to the United States and to stability in the Middle East. Finally, this bill provides language I was glad to sponsor to provide the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) with a modest increase for the first time in years. This vital and cost-effective organization promotes the fundamental American values of democracy and human rights abroad. By leading many efforts in the struggle for freedom worldwide, NED enjoys strong bipartisan support as it advances our national security. From Lech Walesa in Poland to Nelson Mandela in South Africa to human rights activists in Nigeria to civil society leaders in Mexico, NED and it core institutes have assisted grassroots organizations that have helped bring about peaceful transitions to democracy. Mr. Speaker, despite the outrage committed by the majority on global warming, for the reasons I have mentioned, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dena Mallach for her outstanding service as Executive Director of the Jewish Family and Counseling Service (JFCS) of Jersey City, Bayonne, and Hoboken. Mrs. Mallach was awarded the 2002 Mary T. Norton Memorial Award on September 17, 2002, at the United Way Kick-Off, which was held at the Crowne Plaza in Secaucus, New Jersey. Mrs. Mallach has devoted her life to the care of others. Her inspiring credentials include being trained a disaster mental health worker within the Red Cross system, her work in child protective and developmentally disabled youth services, on a crisis intervention team, and over fourteen years of experience at the JFCS, where she was appointed Executive Director in September, 2000. Some of her most admirable feats have come at the darkest of times. She volunteered in the recovery efforts of countless local disasters, such as the deadly Seton Hall fire, and in numerous national emergencies, such as Hurricane George. And when her country needed her most, she worked tirelessly to help the families and colleagues of the victims of the terrorist attacks on America. In addition to personal care, she directed the opening of a branch office in Hoboken after 9/11 and brought aid and advocacy services to the distressed residents. This award is given in recognition of the deep commitment to human services exemplified by Congresswoman Mary T. Norton. It recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions to the success of programs both in their community and throughout the nation. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dena Mallach for her selfless dedication and volunteerism in her community and beyond.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Jerome Dolan for his contributions in the medical field and his outstanding service to his community. Dr. Dolan was awarded the Louis T. Scialli Memorial Award on September 17, 2002, at the United Way Kick-Off, which was held at the Crowne Plaza in Secaucus, New Jersey. Born in Jersey City, Dr. Dolan graduated from St. Peter's College in 1944. He attended NYU College of Medicine after serving in the US Navy, and later joined the U.S. Army Medical Corp as a Korean War Combat Surgeon. Upon his return home, he completed his residency in Bellevue Hospital's Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pathology Department. As an accomplished doctor, Dr. Dolan focused on the care and well being of others, and opened his own medical practice in 1955. He enjoyed a successful career in the medical field as he became Director of Ob/Gyn at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson, NJ, before becoming the Medical Director of Margaret Hague Hospital in Jersey City. Dr. Dolan is a member of the American Legion, Korean War Veterans Association, First Cavalry Division Association, Eighth Cavalry Regiment Medics 1950 Survivors Association and a member of the United Way of Hudson County Board of Directors since 1965. The Louis T. Scialli Memorial Award is given in recognition of the spirit of community in the ``gentlemen of Hudson County.'' This award also symbolizes the spirit of the United Way, ``to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another.'' Dr. Dolan and his wife Marguerite May have four children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Jerome Dolan for his many accomplishments in the medical field and his selfless contributions to our community.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lesley Moore for twenty years of service to the Hudson County community and to Catholic Community Services. Ms. Moore was awarded the 2002 Mary T. Norton Memorial Award on September 17, 2002, at the United Way Kick-Off, which was held at the Crowne Plaza in Secaucus, New Jersey. Lesley Moore has selflessly dedicated herself to a life of social service focused on the needs of others, including at-risk children and their families, the homeless, and people living with HIV. Ms. Moore's leadership has been exemplified in her work as Children and Family Services Division Director, as well as her supervision of the Children and Family Services of Catholic Community Services. She has successfully expanded the abilities of these organizations to assist those most in need, and continues to administer the following programs: home-based services; an adoption agency; juvenile justice programs; school-based counseling; youth development, and youth mentoring. Lesley Moore's hard work ethic and spirit of kindness is also found in her participation in a number of professional groups, such as: Hudson County Case Assessment Review Team; Hudson County Children's Interagency Coordinating Council, Hudson County Coalition on Domestic Violence; Hudson County Coalition of Non-Profits; Hudson County HIV/ AIDS Planning Council; Hudson County Human Services Advisory Commission; and Hudson County Youth Services Commission. This award is given in recognition of the deep commitment to human services exemplified by Congresswoman Mary T. Norton. It recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions to the success of programs, both in their community and throughout the nation. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Lesley Moore for her critical role in helping to improve the lives of families and children in Hudson County.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Adel A. Zakhary, a friend and neighbor to many, who lost his life in the World Trade Center tragedy on September 11, 2001. A memorial service took place in his honor on Saturday, September 14, 2002, at Saint George Catholic Orthodox Church in Jersey City. An immigrant from Egypt, Adel lived the American dream, making America his home with his wife, Nagat, son, George, and daughter, Mariam. He was dedicated and tireless in his work, and in providing for his family. On September 11, he went to work on the 92nd floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center, as he had done for 18 years. In one of the most unforgivable acts against humanity, over three thousand people were lost at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the fields of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001. Adel was among those individuals who were tragically lost. The horrific attacks have strengthened us in our resolve to fight evil and intolerance in pursuit of freedom, justice, and democracy. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering Adel A. Zakhary, a loving husband and father, who will never be forgotten. Let us join together not only to grieve this tremendous loss, but also to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments in his life. I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Adel.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the victims of senseless and unspeakable atrocities. The New Jersey Division of the Polish American Congress sponsored a memorial service to remember those who lost their lives during the tragic Katyn Forest Massacre sixty-two years ago, and those killed during the attack on America, September 11, 2001. The service was held at the Katyn Monument site in Jersey City, New Jersey, on September 15, 2002. After Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union maliciously invaded Poland in 1939, the Polish citizenry fought bravely against both adversaries on two fronts. Unfortunately, in the process of valiantly defending their homeland, over fifteen thousand Polish soldiers, officers, intellectual leaders, prisoners of war, and other Polish citizens were brutally murdered. Perhaps one of the most unforgettable acts committed by the Soviet Union against Poland was later uncovered with the discovery of 4,500 bodies found in a single mass grave at the Katyn forest, near Smolensk in the Soviet Union. This horrendous discovery became known as the Katyn Forest Massacre. And in an egregious attack against humanity, over three thousand Americans and citizens representing more than 80 nationalities were lost at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the fields of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001. The heinous attacks on American soil reaffirmed our commitment to Democracy in defense of a free and open society, threatened by evil, injustice, hatred, and tyranny. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the lives lost in these tragedies. We shall never forget these acts of barbarism. And we shall never forget the innocent lives lost as we strive, as a People, to create a peaceful world.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and acknowledge the many accomplishments of Rick Sanchez, whose voice will now be heard on Spanish-language radio in New York and Miami. In a historic arrangement, Mr. Sanchez will be the first host of two shows, in two media markets and in two languages. The Federation of Cuban Musicians in Exile will honor Rick Sanchez at Las Palmas Restaurant on Sunday, July 28th in West New York, New Jersey. With over 20 years of experience covering major national and international stories, Mr. Sanchez has made a significant and long- lasting contribution in broadcasting. Most notably, he covered the Contra War in Nicaragua, the uprisings in Haiti, and was one of the first reporters to broadcast live from tile scene of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. An accomplished interviewer, he has received many accolades for his work, including the Florida Broadcaster of the Year Award and a special commendation from the White House. He is also a philanthropist, having led the relief efforts to assist victims of Hurricane Andrew in South Miami Dade County. Rick Sanchez and his parents were exited from his birthplace, Havana, Cuba, when he was two years old. While attending Moorhead State University on a football scholarship, he was selected from thousands of applicants for a journalism scholarship at the University of Minnesota, awarded by CBS station WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. Following college, he was hired as a reporter at WSVN in South Florida and, at 22, he became the youngest anchor in the market when he became the station's weekend anchor. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Rick Sanchez for his ground breaking achievements in broadcasting and for paving the way for the Hispanic community.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Did the President ask this House for an extension?

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, we heard about facts. Fact: the House voted 410-9 for these deadlines. Fact: neither the President, the Secretary of Transportation, TSA nor the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has asked for an extension. Fact: the bill extends the execution of a plan for another year, but it has no deadline for deployment of explosive detection devices. Fact: technology to detect bombs exists now and is certified. No other technology is certified. Fact: alternatives exist under the law if the deadlines cannot be met, and they are the same as the bill before us. Fact: Congress delayed in a similar case in the '80s on technology to avoid collisions midair, and we had three midair collisions. Who went to those families and said, We're sorry we delayed; we waited for better technology''? Ask your constituents if after the events of September 11, would they rather save a few minutes or save lives? The answer would be, save lives. That is what this Oberstar-Menendez amendment does, and that is why you should be voting for it.

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I represent Newark International Airport where United Airlines Flight 93 departed before crashing in Pennsylvania on September 11. I also represent the families of over a hundred victims who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center. I have consoled enough families who were the victims of terrorist attacks, and I do not want there to be a reason to console anymore. I ask my colleagues, if God forbid, a plane is blown up by a device that could have been prevented by the deployment of these bomb detection devices, explosive detection devices, had TSA met its requirements or had we kept TSA's feet to the fire, who among us wants to go and console those families? Who among us wants to go and tell them that we delayed? Who among us wants to say that in expectation of some new technology that has not been approved yet, that we waited? I do not and I do not know anybody here who does, and that is why in the first round in our Select Committee on Homeland Security, my amendment was approved striking this language. The Congress charged the Transportation Security Administration with the responsibility, not the airports, TSA, to determine whether or not an extension is needed. It is the responsibility of TSA, and neither the TSA nor the administration nor the Secretary of Transportation nor the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has asked for such an extension. As a matter of fact, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in a unanimous, bipartisan vote said this should not be in the bill. The December 31 deadline that we imposed was in the Act that passed this House 410 to 9, and the deadline was necessary to ensure the security of our aviation system. As a matter of fact, Members on both sides of the aisle got up on this floor and criticized the other body's bill because it did not have the deadlines, and now, there are those who would seek to erase that. Look, if an airport like mine, one of the largest in the Nation, cannot meet the deadline, there are alternatives under the existing law, and for those airlines who say that those alternatives will cause delay, I will have them know that the Republican bill, the text bill, still insists on those alternatives even if they get the year extension. So they get the year extension for the explosive detection devices, they still have to implement alternatives, the alternatives that the airline and the industry are saying are going to cause them delays. Nothing changes. Nothing changes. What do we say to the traveling public and to those who would wish us ill? We are going to give them another year, and I would venture to say that it is not only another year. If we look at what section 409 says, it extends in my mind the deadline indefinitely because it says they must develop a plan for the modifications, and the deadline for executing the plan for that modification is a year from this December, but nowhere in the bill, nowhere in the bill does it set a deadline for deployment of the explosive detection systems. That is a travesty, and it does not ensure the traveling public, and it certainly does not belong in this bill. That is why my colleagues should vote for the Oberstar amendment.

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Chambliss) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) for the work that they have been producing for quite some time, for the vote that was taken overwhelmingly in the House, and I am glad to have not only offered it in the Select Committee to lay the foundation, but to offer some additional language that was accepted. This amendment is about the key problem with the Federal Government's performance leading up to September 11. Most important, it is about Congress acting to correct in part what went wrong. The crux of the issue of September 11, it seems to me, is the need for information sharing, both within the Federal Government and between the Federal Government and State and local authorities. The crux of this amendment is to guarantee that critical threat information will be shared. We have to get this right from the start, and I believe this certainly is. Simply moving agencies as proposed into a new Department without requiring agencies to share information is simply insufficient. We would be remiss not to guarantee, as this amendment would, that critical homeland security information sharing will occur. We learned that from Coleen Rowley, the courageous FBI whistleblower, among others, about the unacceptable failure to share information critical to the events surrounding September 11 within the Federal Government. This amendment would make sure that those failures are not repeated. Lastly, the amendment directs the President to prescribe and implement new procedures to share information on terrorist threats. Adding implement to the equation is necessary to ensure that these procedures do not end up collecting dust on the shelves of Washington's bureaucracies. This amendment requires that through those procedures, the information will be shared, and the information must be shared both across the Federal Government and down to the State and local governments and first responders. Local responders have told all of us in meetings throughout the country that they need threat information on terrorist activities along with clear guidance on what to do with it. Only with the guarantees in this amendment can we be secure in knowing that a process is in place to make sure that the secretary, police, firefighters, all first responders, get all of the critical information that they need and that they know what to do with it. Governor Ridge often says if the hometown is secure, the homeland is secure. Shared information will empower the local communities to protect themselves. And shared information will also supplement the administration's homeland security advisory system by giving those responders useful and actionable information. Lastly, this amendment recognizes that the sharing of information is more effective when it is unclassified, but it protects all of the sources and methods and the work that my colleagues have done in this regard, which is I think exceptionable and is to be commended to the House in that regard. I think that by having this amendment adopted, we can guarantee that information sharing takes place across the Federal Government and then across the landscape of our country from States, counties, and municipalities. With that when we know that information is being shared, we are secure. I urge adoption of the amendment.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on the Select Committee on Homeland Security on our side of the aisle in leading us on some of the key issues that we wanted to pursue. Mr. Chairman, in the work of securing the homeland, there are no Democrats or Republicans, there are only patriots. America has never been so powerful. Our culture, our government, our commerce, our ideals, our humanity, virtually everything we do and all that we stand for has a global reach that is unprecedented in the history of civilization. Yet, America has never been so vulnerable as it was on September 11. I will never forget that day; it will be seared in my memory forever, that I visited Ground Zero at the World Trade Center with the President and my colleagues from the tri-State area. Winston Churchill once said, ``You can always rely on America to do the right thing, once it has exhausted the alternatives.'' Let me suggest that the gravity of the challenges we face in the wake of September 11 impels us to prove Churchill wrong on his latter sentiment. As we seek to protect the American people, as we work to establish the new Department of Homeland Security, we must get this right the first time. Let us get this right for Kelly Colasanti of Hoboken, New Jersey, whose husband was killed in the attack on the World Trade Center. Let us not forget Kelly and the more than 100 constituents from my congressional district in northern New Jersey who were killed, and all of the other victims of the horrific attacks of September 11. How we project American power abroad determines our success as a global power. It defines us in the eyes of others. America now faces the awesome responsibility to protect her people from terrorism. How we project American power domestically is an entirely different matter. The establishment of this new Department will have profound implications. Let us keep that in mind as we proceed to establish a very powerful domestic security agency. Let us also refrain from questioning or impugning the motives of those who have a different view as to how we protect the American people and, yes, American workers. Let me underscore a few items. A Nation that can put a man on the moon and lead the information age can surely figure out a way to get the bomb detection technology we need in just 400 airports. Secretary Mineta testified before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 2 days ago that the TSA would meet the deadlines. He said the same before the Select Committee on Homeland Security. The Department's Inspector General testified that it was premature to say TSA would not be able to meet the deadlines. As a Congress, we need to speak with one voice that excuses and delays will not be tolerated, and that is why I will offer an amendment with the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) to make sure the traveling public keeps safe and we keep the TSA's feet to the fire. Secondly, the most glaring problem, even crisis, I would say, with government performance leading up to September 11 was an unacceptable lack of coordination and information-sharing among Federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies and between the agencies and State and local authorities, first responders, and the private sector. This bill must include mechanisms that guarantee that such coordination and information-sharing indeed will occur. The minute that this Department goes on line, the new Secretary should have, in real-time, all of the intelligence and law enforcement information that he or she needs. The Chambliss-Shays-Harman-Menendez amendment should be adopted. Finally, Governor Ridge has repeatedly said that if the hometown is secure, the homeland is secure. He is right. After September 11, we are in a new national security paradigm where Main Street is the frontline. We must fortify that frontline. We must provide our first responders the resources, training, and guidance they need to protect America's communities. Now, we were asked repeatedly to provide flexibility for the Secretary in setting up this Department. As we provide some flexibility for the 107,000 employees about to be transferred by an act of Congress to a new department, homeland security should not mean the insecurity of those employees. Yes, life in America has forever changed since September 11. Main Street is now the frontline of a new war. But American values have not changed and must not change. We continue to value liberty and freedom and justice and fairness. It is in that spirit of providing for security and preserving liberty that we will debate and offer amendments towards this goal. Together, together, I hope, if there are open minds and open hearts, we can provide for an even safer America, and we can do it in a bipartisan way.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to be joined by my Colleague from Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, to introduce the Patient Navigator, Outreach, and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2002. The existence of significant health disparities in this nation is undeniable. For years, research has told us that minorities and low- income populations are the least likely to receive the health care they need to live a long, healthy life. We've done a very good job of identifying this problem--it's high time we do something to solve it. That's why I'm very excited about the bill we are introducing today and the strong support we've already received for it. The bill is supported by the American Cancer Society, the National Association of Community Health Centers, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the National Hispanic Medical Association, the Intercultural Cancer Council and their Caucus, the National Council of La Raza, 100 Black Men of America, the National Rural Health Association, Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center, MHz Networks, Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, and Dia de la Mujer Latina, Inc. This bill addresses what I believe are the root causes of health disparities in minority and underserved communities: lack of access to health care in general--and particularly lack of access to prevention and early detection--as well as language and cultural barriers to care. The bottom line is: the only way to stay healthy is to see a doctor when you are healthy. Yes, there are a number of explanations for the higher rates of disease among minority populations, including higher rates of uninsured, reduced access to care, and lower quality of care. But all of these barriers point to the same underlying problem-- minority patients are less likely to receive early screening and detection, so their disease is found at a much later stage and they have less chance of survival. The bill we're introducing today will ensure that all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, language, or geography, will have access to prevention screening and treatment, and that they will have an advocate at their side, helping them navigate through today's complicated health care system. It does this by building upon the existing infrastructure of the Consolidated Health Center program, the Indian Health Service, the Office of Rural Health Policy, and the National Cancer Institute. It creates model programs to ensure that people are educated about the importance of prevention screening and early detection. A key component of the proposal is year-round outreach to the target community, in a language that they can understand. It funds culturally and linguistically competent providers that reach out into the community, build their trust, build relationships, and educate the public, while providing prevention screenings and follow-up treatment. And it ensures that navigators are available to help patients make their way through the health care system --whether it's translating technical medical terminology, making sense of their insurance, making appointments for referral screenings, following-up to make sure the patient keeps that appointment, or even accompanying a patient to a referral appointment. The original concept for the legislation comes from Dr. Freeman's ``navigator'' program, which he created while he was Director of Surgery at Harlem Hospital. Recently, I was fortunate to get to visit Dr. Huerta's local Cancer Preventorium, which replicates Dr. Freeman's navigator concept within a comprehensive model of prevention services. This bill will translate the work of Dr. Harold Freeman and Dr. Elmer Huerta into a legislative model for cancer and chronic disease prevention and treatment for minorities and underserved communities. The track record of these programs speaks for itself. It's very clear that these are not new ideas or new concepts--they're models that have been proven to work. And it's time that we take what's worked and use it to benefit underserved populations across the country. That's exactly what this legislation will do.