Bob Menendez

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce the Children's Lead Screening Accountability for Early-Intervention Act of 1999. This important legislation will strengthen federal mandates designed to protect our children from lead poisoning--a preventable tragedy that continues to threaten the health of our children. Childhood lead poisoning has long been considered the number one environmental health threat facing children in the United States, and despite dramatic reductions in blood lead levels over the past 20 years, lead poisoning continues to be a significant health risk for young children. CDC has estimated that about 890,000, or 4.4 percent of children between the ages of one and five have harmful levels of lead in their blood. Even at low levels, lead can have harmful effects on a child's intelligence and his, or her, ability to learn. Children can be exposed to lead from a number of sources. We are all cognizant of lead-based paint found in older homes and buildings. However, children may also be exposed to non-paint sources of lead, as well as lead dust. Poor and minority children, who typically live in older housing, are at highest risk of lead poisoning. Therefore, this health threat is of particular concern to states, like New Jersey, where more than 35 percent of homes were built prior to 1950. In 1996, New Jersey implemented a law requiring health care providers to test all children under the age of 6 for lead exposure. But during the first year of this requirement, there were actually fewer children screened than the year before, when there was no requirement at all. Between July 1997 and July 1998, 13,596 children were tested for lead poisoning. The year before that more than 17,000 tests were done. At the federal level, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has mandated that Medicaid children under 2 years of age be screened for elevated blood lead levels. However, recent General Accounting Office (GAO) reports indicate that this is not being done. For example, the GAO has found that only about 21% of Medicaid children between the ages of one and two have been screened. In the state of New Jersey, only about 39% of children enrolled in Medicaid have been screened. Based on these reviews at both the state and federal levels, it is obvious that improvements must be made to ensure that children are screened early and receive follow up treatment if lead is detected. that is why I am introducing this legislation which I believe will address some of the shortcomings that have been identified in existing requirements. The legislation will require Medicaid providers to screen children and cover treatment for children found to have elevated levels of lead in their blood. It will also require improved data reporting of children who re tested, so that we can accurately monitor the results of the program. Because more than 75%--or nearly 700,000--of the children found to have elevated blood lead levels are part of federally funded health care programs, our bill targets not only Medicaid, but also Head Start, Early Head Start and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Head Start and WIC programs would be allowed to perform screening or to mandate that parents show proof of screenings in order to enroll their children. Education, early screening and prompt follow-up care will save millions in health care costs; but, more importantly will save our greatest resource--our children.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, this week we are taking up a bill that will fund congressional salaries, fund the cleaning of the marble and the brass in the Capitol, and pay for the furniture in our offices. Apparently we have time for that, but we do not have time to take up legislation to fund more counselors and after school programs for our children. While it seems we can find the time to regulate the manufacture of toys, it seems we cannot find the time to put some modest safety regulations on guns, regulations to keep our children safe. Mr. Speaker, where are Republican priorities? Is it the guns or our children? Is it the marble and the brass, or our schools and our communities? It is time to make a choice. It is no use passing a bill to keep our Capitol marble and brass gleaming if we cannot pass a bill to keep our children safe in school. The true glory of this Capitol is what we do in this Chamber, so I ask the Republican leadership to let us take up legislation to keep our children safe today; not tomorrow, not next month, but today, before we lose another life.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, sending one's child to school should not take an act of courage. When children have died, when students have been shot sitting in class or studying at the library, when schools and communities have been torn apart, and when every American parent now worries when they send their children off to school, it is time for us to act. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not next month. Now. Today. There is a juvenile justice bill ready for us to consider that at least begins to address the school violence issue. Why will the Speaker not take up this bill? Is it because the NRA does not want him to? Is it because the far right in his party will not let him? Whatever the reason, Mr. Speaker, it is not good enough. With 13 children dying each day from guns and with that gun violence spilling into our schools, his reasons are not good enough. Let us protect our children and bring up the juvenile justice bill today. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Not another day. Not another life. But today.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize His Holiness Baba Kashmira Ji Maharaj for his commitment to equality and tolerance in India. Called a visionary with a humane touch, Baba Ji has been instrumental in facilitating the distribution of medical services to the most needy in the remote villages of Punjab. By founding the S.G.L. Charitable Hospital at Jalandhar, Baba Ji has ensured that blood donation sites and necessary cancer treatment and detection equipment are available to the area's less fortunate. Through a combination of meditation and medication, Baba Ji and the Charitable Hospital has assisted the sick, drug addicts and those suffering from depression. Now, plans have been established to create a nursing college, a dental college, and a medical college. Another issue of great significance to Baba Ji is that of gender equality. He has been instrumental in highlighting the discrimination and degradation suffered by Indian women. He has spoken passionately about the oppression created by the dowry system and has repeatedly lent his services to families unable to meet the expenses of a wedding. Baba Ji has also made essential and indispensable strides towards assisting Indian women in their quest for economic independence. He and his family have long been promoters of equal education rights for boys and girls. In 1910, Baba Ji's father and grandfather donated the necessary land and money to found an institution designed to address the educational needs of India's young women and girls. This institution has become one of the finest women's educational institutions in Asia. From assisting earthquake and flood victims to his ground breaking medical work to his efforts towards equality in India, His Holiness Baba Ji has worked tirelessly on behalf of India's disadvantaged. For his tremendous work in these areas; for his insight and leadership; and for his continued dedication to the underprivileged, I would like to thank and congratulate His Holiness Baba Ji.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael Leggiero for being named North Hudson Kiwanis Club Man of The Year. Mr. Leggiero's leadership has shaped the North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) into an agency which provides health care, housing and/or child care for over 41,000 residents of North and West Hudson County. In 1993, the NHCAC created their state-of-the-art Community Health Center which provides primary health care for thousands of underinsured and uninsured Hudson County residents. The Center provides services such as prenatal, women's, pediatric and adult care for over 400 patients a week. In 1996, Michael Leggiero led NHCAC in the critical effort to build affordable housing in Hudson County. The joint venture he spearheaded led to the construction of 49 new affordable housing units and NHCAC now has plans to begin a second development project. In their latest venture the NHCAC has collaborated with the town of West New York to create the Children First Infant and Toddler Childcare Center. This innovative child care center is located in one of West New York's housing developments. Michael Leggiero has been a recipient of many awards and citations including: the Jersey City State College Business Leadership Award, the VFW Patriotic Service Award, and citations by both the New Jersey State Assembly and State Senate. Again, I congratulate Michael Leggiero on being named North Hudson Kiwanis Club Man of The Year. Because of his leadership and tremendous service to Hudson County, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this honor.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sgt. Heriberto Carattini, a highly decorated 16-year police veteran, who is this year's American Police Hall of Fame Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. In the early morning hours of February 8, 1998, Sgt. Carattini heroically defused a dangerous situation in which a gunman had taken control of a precinct station, saving the lives of fellow officers. At about 2 a.m. Carattini arrived at Jersey City's West District station after volunteering to work a second consecutive shift. As he parked his squad car, he heard gunshots. Upon entering the lobby, Carattini saw a desk officer taking cover behind the front desk and heard the shift lieutenant yelling in pain. First, Carattini motioned the uninjured desk officer to safety, then made his way to the lieutenant, who was bleeding profusely from two bullet wounds, to the abdomen and thigh. Carattini ended the situation by shooting the gunman once in the chest. The lieutenant, who had been shot with his own gun, eventually recovered, while the gunman was charged with multiple felony counts. The recipient of more than 20 police awards, Carattini has distinguished himself as a top-flight detective. During the same month, his actions as a hostage negotiator were credited with saving seven lives. In addition, the Sergeant has been credited with over 5,000 narcotics arrests. Sergeant Heriberto Carattini is a hero every day, just by performing the duties of a police officer. But the valor he exhibited in saving the lives of his fellow police officers last February 8, deserves the national recognition he has received by being honored by the American Police Hall of Fame. I am sure the entire Congress joins me in thanking Sergeant Carattini for his exceptional service.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to start off by thanking the distinguished gentleman from Florida for bringing this motion to instruct the conferees. I think it is necessary and it is fitting and it is appropriate to do so, and I really regret that he finds himself as we find ourselves in the necessity of having to instruct conferees and that in fact conferees are finally meeting on this when they should have been meeting quite a long time ago and when in fact those conferees should have been appointed quite a while ago. Now, on the issue at hand, the fact of the matter is, is that it is in the national interest of the United States to assist the Central American countries as it relates to this disaster assistance. I am not speaking about humanitarian purposes, which in and of itself would be more than enough reason to be of assistance as a good neighbor. No, I am talking about interests that are far more significant. I would like to tell our colleagues what some of those are. The fact of the matter is, is that when you have 1 million people in Central America who in fact have no place to call home, because I walked after the hurricane on what in essence were the rooftops, now caked in mud from the landslides and the mud slides that took place after the hurricane, on the rooftops of what were people's homes, some of the greatest cultivated fields for production of food and agricultural products now caked over in mud. When you have 1 million people who have no place to call home, when you have 1 million people who have no place to be gainfully employed for their families, in essence when you have no hope, then ultimately it seems to me that what we find ourselves in is a situation in which they will seek to go to a place in which there might be some hope and that means coming northward, and that means illegal immigration, something that has been a great topic in this body. We would prefer to see those million people continue to reside in their homeland, continue to try to rebuild their homes and their lives and their countries and not come northward. So we have a national interest in terms of stemming the tide of those people coming, we have a national interest in the disease that is generated by a million people being exposed to the elements, in tuberculosis, in other diseases, not coming northward to the United States and in trying to help the people with their health consequences. We have a national interest in trying to ensure that drug trafficking does not now take a foothold in Central America, which for the most part it has not had in Central America. But if you have a million people who have no other form of employment, ultimately the drug traffickers can try to elicit them to be mules, to try to engage them in the trafficking, they can try to move into territorial areas. That is of course of great consequence. And we also have the fact that we spent billions in Central America to try to promote democracy. Finally, when we have those countries moving in the democratic movement forward, what are we going to do, have them destabilized because of a natural hurricane? And we find it offensive that the majority insists on having offsets on this issue, the $625 million, when they have no offsets on over $13 billion, 6 to $7 billion more than the President requested for Kosovo, yet for that there are no offsets. But to help our Central American neighbors in which we have all of these national interests at stake, there must be offsets. What are we telling the community in this country? What are we telling Americans of Hispanic descent? We have a two-tiered process here. It is simply unfair, unjust, unconscionable. We need to help these people now. The rainy season is coming upon us. We need this money in this supplemental. We should not be debating about offsets at a time when you care about no other offsets. It is time to move forward now and to preserve our national interests and to help our Central American neighbors because it is not only in our interest but it is also in their interest to do so.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise to strongly support the Obey substitute which supports our troops in Kosovo as Democrats unlike Republicans did in their votes last week, which gives a real pay raise to our men and women in uniform and which supports emergency assistance for Albanian refugees. But we have other real emergencies in this process, like the near-Depression conditions faced by farmers in the Midwest, like our fellow Americans in Oklahoma and Kansas and like the national interest the United States has spawned by the hurricane damage in Central America. These are real emergencies which we need to deal with responsibly. It is scandalous that 6 months after Hurricanes Georges and Mitch devastated the Caribbean and Central America the Republican leadership has failed to act. The emergency in Central America pressures are a national interest in preventing illegal immigration, preventing the spread of disease due to unhealthy conditions, preventing the spread of the narcotics trade and cementing the democracies we spent billions to promote. We have failed to address this emergent national interest. For a party seeking to stymie illegal immigration and halt the growth of the narcotics trade in the Americas, their inaction has given rise to an increase in both. It seems to me they have shown the true depth or rather the utter shallowness in upholding their responsibility as well as the contempt for the Latino community of the United States. Their actions truly reflect their priority: Politics over emergencies, rhetoric over reconstruction.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas) for yielding me this time and for his work on this bill, along with the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Boucher) and others. Mr. Chairman, our bankruptcy system should be a safety net for those in need, not a financial planning tool for the well-to-do. It is not fair for the large majority of working men and women who pay their bills and play by the rules to continue footing the bill and paying the price for those who abuse the bankruptcy system. It is just not right. This bill makes sure that those who truly need the safety net of bankruptcy get it, like those who lose their job or have a medical emergency or a sick child. This bill protects those people, but it also makes sure that those higher income people, who can still repay some of their bills, do so. In my view, that is just basic personal responsibility. Under the bill, if the debtor earns less than the median household monthly income, they can file Chapter 7, have almost all of their debts erased and be totally unaffected by the needs-based formula. If they make above the median and their monthly income is great enough to pay at least $6,000 of the unsecured debt after subtracting actual priority debts, after subtracting secured debts like their mortgage, after subtracting actual school tuition for their kids, after subtracting allowable living expenses based on IRS guidelines, then, yes, they have a Chapter 13 repayment plan. Now, that is allowing for a lot of leeway and a lot of protection before we ask someone to pay back the people they owe. Our colleagues, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), who I have a great deal of respect for, have an amendment to take the IRS living standards out of the bill and give more discretion to the judges. In my mind, that is a mistake because it is the unfettered discretion that has made the bankruptcy laws so unfair. Under our current rules, a wealthy person can be subject to one standard for living expenses while the working man or woman is subjected to another one. I believe our Bankruptcy Code should treat everyone equally. That is what the formula does. Worst of all, under our current system children are often the ones who get shortchanged because their support payments can be stayed during bankruptcy proceedings, all while their noncustodial parents continue to enjoy their current standard of living. So this bill ends that practice and puts child support at the very top priority during bankruptcy, where it should have been all along. I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill. Let us bring some fairness, some justice, some standards, some protection for our children and some sense to our Bankruptcy Code.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Eileen Thornton for her hard work and dedication to the women of New Jersey and for being presented with the Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey ``Woman of Achievement'' award. Ms. Thornton has long believed that women play a vital role in our government--that they make an important and significant difference in politics and government. In addition, she believes that women should support women for public office and various positions of governmental authority. Ms. Thornton's commitment to this philosophy has prompted her to be proactive on the national, state, and county levels as a long time supporter and promoter of women's roles in politics. Ms. Thornton has provided years of service and leadership to the WPC- NJ. Serving as President of WPC-NJ for five of its twenty-seven years, Ms. Thornton has made numerous contributions to the women's political equality movement by participating in campaigns, fundraising activities, strategy and issue development, public relations and news publicity work. She has also organized women's vote drives, emphasizing the necessity for women to exercise their voting power. In addition, Ms. Thornton has served as President of the National Women's Equity Action League and NJ WEAL, an advocacy organization for women's equality in education, sports, and economy. She is also active in the Business and Professional Women's Federation. Ms. Thornton exemplifies leadership and dedication to women and the political process. For these tremendous contributions to New Jersey and her incredible example as a public servant, I am very happy to honor Ms. Thornton for her achievements. I salute and congratulate her on these extraordinary accomplishments and for winning the WPC-NJ ``Woman of Achievement'' award.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bayonne Elks Lodge No. 434 for all of its efforts with the Elks National Youth Week. The Bayonne Elks Lodge has been committed to reaching out to our youth, shining a light on the contributions and accomplishments of young people in the community. Every year during the first week of May, selected area high school seniors are honored by the Elks Lodge for National Youth Week. This year thirty outstanding students are scheduled to be honored on Youth Day, set to take place on May 4, 1999. Pictures and biographies of the selected students can be found in local newspapers as the Elks Outstanding Students. As part of the Elks Lodge National Youth Week program, students get the opportunity to gain first hand experience of government. They are assigned positions within the city government, are sworn into these positions, and tour City Hall. This opportunity not only promotes work in government as a positive and honorable career choice, but it also opens students to the possibilities that public service has to offer. Bayonne Elks Lodge No. 434 exemplifies leadership and dedication to young people and to the Bayonne community. For these tremendous contributions to New Jersey, I am very happy to honor the Bayonne Elks Lodge for its achievements with the Elks National Youth Week program. I salute and congratulate the Bayonne Elks Lodge on these extraordinary accomplishments.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bayonne Chapter of UNICO National on their 50th Anniversary of dedicated service to the community. UNICO, an Italian-American organization, has been committed to serving the community through grassroots work and the building of partnerships with other community activist and advocacy groups while maintaining its identity as Italian-American. In order to fulfill this goal, UNICO National has supported five basic principals: maintain Unity; serve one's Neighbor; maintain Integrity of character; be motivated by Charity; and open Opportunity to the underprivileged. Since its inception in 1949, the Bayonne Chapter of UNICO National has contributed more than $300,000 to more than 200 charities, scholarship programs, youth programs, schools, senior organizations, as well as others in the community at need. Because of members' tireless efforts, the Bayonne Chapter has also been successful in facilitating a $25,000 donation for the building of a Child Care Facility at the YMCA, at $20,000 donation to the Bayonne Hospital, and a college scholarship program which has awarded more than $50,000 in scholarships to local students. The Bayonne Chapter of UNICO exemplifies leadership and dedication to both the Italian-American community and to Bayonne. For these tremendous contributions to New Jersey, I am very happy to honor the Bayonne Chapter for its achievements on its 50th Anniversary. I salute and congratulate UNICO National on these extraordinary accomplishments.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield to the distinguished majority leader for purposes of discussing next week's schedule.

Mr. MENENDEZ. I thank the majority leader. For many of us it is a real concern, the Central American farming package. While we face one emergency, we have another emergency with 1 million people to the south of our border who we are concerned about in the context of immigration and in the context of disease and the context of helping to rebuild their countries. We would certainly hope that we could in a bipartisan way work expeditiously to make sure that that emergency is equally as resolved.

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Speaker, I take this time to inquire about next week's schedule from the distinguished majority leader.

Mr. MENENDEZ. If the majority leader would answer one other question: Is it the majority leader's intention, or does he know if that supplemental will include a supplemental for Central America and for the farming community in the country?

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Speaker, if the majority leader would allow a question, could the majority leader tell us on which day next week the Kosovo supplemental will be on the floor and for what amount it will be?

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Speaker, yesterday Republicans turned the question of ethnic cleansing, NATO's future and America's role in the world into a partisan political contest. Well over 30 Republican Members switched their votes from supporting the air strikes to ending the conflict yesterday so that they could vote against President Clinton. Now, after having voted in a way that is totally inconsistent and having voted, some of them actually voted to not only not withdraw the troops in Campbell I and then not to declare war and then they voted at the end not to support the President's air campaign to end the ethnic cleansing, to end the genocide, they want to load the appropriations bill that the President proposes to try to sustain our troops in the field and take it from $6 billion to $12 billion, all of it coming from Social Security. It is inconceivable to be spending twice the amount the President asked for when you are not even willing to vote to stop the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. It is outrageous and it cannot be tolerated.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Chairman, I thank the distinguished ranking member for yielding me this time. Let me try to continue the kind words as we go along here. To the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and to the chairman of the full committee and to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on which I serve as well as to our ranking member, let me thank them for finally getting this bill to the floor. This is unfinished business from the 105th Congress. It is certainly one that is important to the people I represent and the region in which I come from. I want to thank particularly my side of the aisle for working with me as well as with the majority to make certain that East Coast residents will continue to have access to the goods that ships carry and the jobs our ports produce. When we talk about international trade, 95 percent of all of the Nation's commerce moves through ports like that of the Port of New York and New Jersey. If we are to take advantage of that trade, then we have to have ocean-going ports that can take care of the next generation of ocean-going ships. This project and the bill that encompasses the project that I am talking about will help my region fight off economic trouble and ensure healthy growth by making the port receptive for more and larger ships for years to come. It will widen, deepen and align the harbor's channels to improve navigational safety to make way for the new generation of ocean-going ships. The bill also contains important environmental considerations insofar as it contains provisions on sediment decontamination and sediment management which are enormous issues in the Port of New York and New Jersey and for that fact in other parts of the country. And it demonstrates the Federal commitment to deepening our harbors and channels which is unfortunately in direct contrast to some of the signals we have been getting within the region from the Governor of New York who has been holding us hostage on issues not related to the port's mission and the Port Authority. We believe that it is important for the 20 million consumers in the region to get products that will be cheaper. We believe for the 180,000 jobs and $20 billion of economic activity that the Port of New York and New Jersey presently enjoys and which all the projections are that will grow dramatically, we believe that in essence for all of the economic opportunity yet to come as a result of international trade that this bill, the Water Resources Development Act, is an appropriate Federal response that will inure to the benefit of the region and to our country as this port is one of the vital natural resources that we have in this country in the promotion of international trade. I want to thank again the chairman of both the full committee and the subcommittee and the ranking member of the full committee and subcommittee for making this a reality.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bayonne Family YMCA on its Seventh Annual Distinguished Service Awards Cocktail Party and this year's honoree Bayonne Police Chief Mr. Frank Pawlowski. The Bayonne Family YMCA is a nonprofit organization that has taken the lead in addressing the social needs of the community. By providing essential services such as afterschool programs, day care, temporary housing, and summer day camp, the YMCA has provided assistance to those in need or at risk. Headed by Mr. Joseph Tagliareni, Chairman of the Child Care Program annual fundraiser, and Mr. Alan Russotto, Chairman of the Souvenir Ad Journal, the Bayonne Family YMCA will be hosting its seventh annual awards dinner on April 23. Each year the YMCA highlights the accomplishments of one member of the community for his or her dedication and exemplary leadership. This year the YMCA is honoring Bayonne Police Chief Mr. Frank Pawlowski. A lifelong resident of Bayonne, Chief Pawlowski has committed himself to the betterment of the community. After serving his country in the United States Army from 1962 to 1964, Chief Pawlowski returned to Bayonne where he began his thirty-four year career with the Police Department. While rising through the ranks, Chief Pawlowski served as Commander of the Detective Bureau, Commander of the Juvenile Aid Planning and Training Bureau, Administration Division Commander, and Patrol Division Commander. Chief Pawlowski is a member of the New Jersey Police Chiefs Association, the National Police Chiefs Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and is currently Vice President of the Hudson County Police Chiefs Association. In addition, for his remarkable efforts and commendable achievements, Chief Pawlowski has received two departmental commendations for outstanding police work and two excellent police service awards. Both the Bayonne Family YMCA and this year's award dinner honoree Chief Pawlowski exemplify leadership and dedication to the Bayonne community. For these tremendous contributions to New Jersey and the incredible examples set as public servants, I am very happy to honor and congratulate the Bayonne Family YMCA and Chief Pawlowski.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Weehawken Volunteer First Aid Squad for 30 years of dedicated service to the community. The Weehawken Volunteer First Aid Squad was the first volunteer organization of its kind in Hudson County when it was organized in 1969. Over the last three decades, almost 400 volunteers have served the Squad, providing free and indispensable lifesaving ambulance and emergency medical service for Weehawken. Because of the caliber and dedication of the volunteers, the Squad has an excellent two to three minute response time in emergencies. This remarkable accomplishment has not only allowed the Squad to respond to an estimated 40,000 distress calls but has made it responsible for saving countless lives in my district. In fact, the Squad the fastest response team of any emergency medical service in the state of New Jersey. Long thought of as a strictly suburban service, the First Aid Squad showed that not only could a volunteer ambulance service operate in urban areas, but that they would prove to be an invaluable source of support to the residents of these communities. It was so successful in this endeavor that it prompted five neighboring towns to follow its lead in this important health service. On May 7, 1999, the Squad will hold its 30th Anniversary Celebration where they will highlight these tremendous accomplishments, as well as to thank those who have assisted the organization through the years. The individual who will receive an Honorary Life Membership is the Mayor of Weehawken, Mr. Richard Turner. Mayor Turner, one of the Squad's greatest supporters, has been instrumental in recruiting new members, raising funds for a new ambulance, and in ensuring the opening of the Squad's state of the art headquarters in 1986. The Weehawken First Aid Squad exemplifies leadership and professionalism. For its pioneering efforts in the field of emergency medicine and for 30 years of service to Weehawken, I am very happy to honor and salute the Weehawken First Aid Squad.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Let me just say in the 1 minute that I have, this is in the national interest of the United States. Forget about being humanitarian and helping Central Americans, which we want to do. Do we want to see a million people who have no home and no place to work and have nothing to lose? They will come north; that is their mission if they have no opportunity, no hope. Do we want to see disease spread? It will spread north. Do we want to see the drug cartels take over regions that otherwise have no other hope? They will do that. It is in the national interest of the United States to provide this funding, to have done so already. The rainy season starts. A million people who have nothing to lose. It is in the national interest of the United States to do this. But our Republican friends have proposed those provisions that are impossible to accept as offsets to the supplemental. Imagine in the Senate having domestic drug programs cut at a time that the drug cartels are even moving more forcefully forward. So I support the amendment of the gentleman, but our cause and our case is that this is an emergency. We have got a million people right to the south of us and they need help now and we are languishing with this. We need to move it and move it now.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Let's Celebrate, Inc., for its hard work and dedication to battling poverty in Hudson County. For more than 17 years, Let's Celebrate, Inc., has been instrumental in assisting individuals ``move from hunger to wholeness.'' By implementing a continuum of care through counseling, job training, emergency food assistance, adult basic education, and housing assistance, Let's Celebrate has become a vital force in stamping out poverty in my district. With more than 40 staff members, 750 volunteers, and 27 service and meal sites throughout the area, this impressive organization is responsible for aiding and encouraging countless families to move from dependency to self-sufficiency. Through innovative programs such as JobPower and Celebrate Catering, Let's Celebrate provides invaluable, hands-on training designed to help clients gain experience, develop job skills, and learn to adapt to a work environment. These efforts are so successful that Let's Celebrate secures jobs for 85 percent of its trainees. In addition, Let's Celebrate supplies emergency food assistance programs through the Emergency Food Network and The Square Meal Community Center. These soup kitchens and pantries serve more than 125,000 meals per year to our neediest citizens--600 of which are distributed through the Senior Services program. They also help distribute clothing, offer counseling, and provide referrals. Let's Celebrate's efforts exemplify leadership and dedication to eliminating poverty in Hudson County. For these tremendous contributions to New Jersey, I am very happy to honor Let's Celebrate for its achievements on its 17th Anniversary. I salute and congratulate Let's Celebrate on these extraordinary accomplishments.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable accomplishments of Mr. Joseph Cundari for his contributions to Harrison and Hudson County Community College. Through his vast knowledge of engineering and his devotion to the community in which he was raised, Mr. Cundari has dedicated his life to the betterment of Harrison, NJ. From serving as Vice President of the West Hudson Hospital Association, 1958-1962, to serving as Vice President of the Harrison Board of Education, 1991-1996, Mr. Cundari consistently gave his time, energy, and resources in order to improve his surroundings. Using his degree in civil engineering from Manhattan College, Mr. Cundari began his long career of serving his country and his community by enlisting in the United States Army. As Master Sergeant and Chief of Engineer Operations Section of the 341st Engineer Regiment, Mr. Cundari was instrumental in the construction of the Alaska Military Highway and in the reconstruction of railroad bridges devastated by WWII in France, Belgium, and Germany. After leaving the military, Mr. Cundari returned to Harrison and was named Town Engineer by the New Jersey Engineering Department and Department of Construction Inspection. From March 1946 through the present, Mr. Cundari prepared plans and specifications for all public works projects involving the construction of new water mains, sanitary and storm sewers, and street improvements. In addition to his work to improve the infrastructure of Harrison, Mr. Cundari was a leader on the issue of safety. He was proactive in formulating the police, fire alarm, and traffic signals for the town of Harrison. Since 1990, Mr. Cundari has served on the Hudson County Community College Board of Trustees. Under his leadership as Chair of the Facilities Committee, the college initiated plans for campus development in Journal Square--an integral area in my district. His expertise and work for the college have been so essential to the growth of the college that he was named the HCCC's first trustee emeritus by the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Mr. Cundari's efforts exemplify leadership and dedication to both the town of Harrison and Hudson County Community College. For these tremendous contributions to New Jersey and his example as a public servant, I am very happy to honor Mr. Cundari for his achievements. I salute and congratulate him on his extraordinary accomplishments.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for yielding me this time and I want to congratulate her on her excellent work in this regard. Mr. Speaker, in our last census the GAO estimates that 26 million Americans were counted twice, counted in the wrong district or not counted at all. Now some in Congress say that kind of census result is acceptable, but I strongly disagree. When we are talking about a constitutional guarantee, we cannot settle for 80 or 90 percent correct. Our standard has to be full and fair participation for all. The good part is, we know how to get that 100 percent accuracy through modern, scientifically proven statistical methods. Let me just say as the former mayor of the most densely populated city in America I can say that by using the limited time and resources we have to needlessly repeat a local review process, H.R. 472 actually prevents us from getting an accurate count. Why would the Republicans not want an accurate count? Maybe it is because African Americans are seven times more likely to be missed than whites or that the difference in the undercount between whites and blacks in the last census was the highest ever. Or maybe it is because 1.5 million Hispanic Americans were not counted at all. Maybe it is because people of color are denied equal representation at every level of government because of an inaccurate count. Maybe Republicans know that the Democratic agenda has far greater appeal to these Americans and they will not vote for them so let us not count them. Republicans are in the act of a raw political power play that will disenfranchise millions of Americans who are black, brown, Asian or rural and who, in fact, will not be counted by their methods. We are not just talking about numbers here. We are talking about people, though, who can least afford not to be counted. These people undercounted may be single mothers who work two shifts to put food on the table and send their children to day care and families just struggling to get by, those barely above the poverty line or new citizens who came to America fleeing oppressive regimes and are fearful of government authorities knocking on their door. The Maloney amendment gives these people a voice. H.R. 472 strips it a way. Let us count everyone regardless of their color. Let us vote for the Maloney amendment.