Bob Menendez

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, one of the most influential political, religious and cultural leaders of the Twentieth Century. In my district a service will be held at the Mahatma Gandhi Elementary School in Jersey City, which may be the first school in the United States renamed in his honor. I thank Mr. Hardyal Singh, President of the International Mahatma Gandhi Association, for putting together this important event. Politically, Mr. Gandhi was of tremendous importance in India's struggle for independence from Great Britain. After practicing law and becoming an advocate for Indian rights in South Africa, Gandhi returned to India to become a leader in the nationalist movement. Once there he perfected the use of passive resistance to gain political power. He suffered through many periods of imprisonment and through many fasts with the sole purpose of gaining independence for his people. Due in no small part to his efforts, India finally gained independence from British rule in 1947. Beyond his tremendous contributions to Indian politics, Gandhi was also a dominant religious and cultural figure. He asserted the unity of all people under one God and preached Christian and Muslim ethics along with Hindu. Gandhi also led the fight to rid the country of the caste system and defend the rights of the untouchables. Once independence was gained, Gandhi focused his energies on spreading his message of religious tolerance. His hunger strikes and prayer vigils were no longer in protest of colonial rule, but in protest of violence between Hindus and Muslims. He was on one such vigil in New Delhi when he was fatally shot by an extremist who objected to Gandhi's message of tolerance. In conclusion, I would like to say that we all owe a great debt to Mahatma Gandhi and his teachings, and I hope that by taking this day to remember his contributions and his struggles we can again benefit from his wisdom.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of James Crampton, Paul Pawchak, Jr., Edward Bergin, and John Riggs; four outstanding Jersey City police officers who are retiring from the force after 25 years of service to their community. Before being appointed to the Jersey City Police Department, Officer James Crampton proudly served our country in the Navy and served as a Patrolman in the Plainfield Police Department. Over his remarkable career, Officer Crampton earned twelve Excellent Police Service Awards, one commendation, and one POBA Valor Award. James Crampton was also recognized by Police Director Michael Moriarty for his excellent work on the Wegman Parkway homicide and was commended by Police Chief William J. Thynne for apprehending a dangerous criminal. Officer Paul Pawchak Jr. has served with distinction for over twenty five years on patrol, as a Police Academy instructor, on the Narcotics Unit and as a member of the Neighborhood Task Force Unit. His achievements include three commendations, five Excellent Police Service Awards, and one POBA Valor Award. Officer Pawchak has also earned multiple training certificates from the Department of Justice, the New Jersey State Police, and the Jersey City Police Department. Officer Edward Bergin has enjoyed great success as a police officer, but he has also been recognized for his community service. In particular, he has been commended by the Jersey City Chief of Police for his work on National Night Out and relief efforts following Hurricane Georges. Officer Bergin has also received two commendations, five Excellent Police Service Awards and one POBA Valor Award. During Detective John Riggs' successful career he has served on patrol and on the Crimes Against Property and Special Investigations Units. Many of this country's most profitable companies owe a large debt to Detective Riggs for his remarkable efforts to investigate property crime. The companies which have commended his work include Rolex Watch USA, Inc., for enforcing trademark infringements; Bell Atlantic and AT&T for breaking a stolen phone ring; and Twentieth Century Fox, Universal, Walt Disney and Parmount Pictures for the apprehension of individuals associated with motion picture theft. Detective Riggs has also distinguished himself through his work on security detail for both the President and Vice President. John Riggs has earned seventeen Excellent Police Service Awards, five commendations, and one Combat Cross. These four officers have served Jersey City and my district proudly for 25 years. I am sure I speak for the entire Congress when I say thank them for their work and wish them the best in their retirement.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Peter Anthony Berrio for his courageous service on behalf of the United States during World War II. Mr. Berrio, the oldest surviving Colombian-American WWII veteran, was honored on November 19 by the governor of Quindo, in the city of Armenia, Colombia, Peter Berrio's place of birth. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this event, but a representative of the U.S. Embassy in Colombia was there on behalf of all Americans thankful for Mr. Berrio's distinguished service. Peter Berrio moved to the United States from Colombia in 1929 and served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1946, both in the Far East and in Europe. Mr. Berrio served as a gunner, and he also served as a ``military mayor'' in Italy after the war. By the time he left the service, he had reached the rank of Sergeant and received the Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal. In 1951, Peter Berrio moved back to Colombia where he continues to live today. It is important for us to remember the sacrifices made by our elders in the fight for freedom during WWII. The war was the defining event of the 20th century. Over 400,000 of our brave soldiers died during their service in WWII and millions more willingly put their lives on the line for their country. I was both honored and touched to receive a letter from Edison Berrio, Mr. Berrio's son, about his father's accomplishments. I am proud to be able to honor Peter Berrio's brave service, and I am also proud of Edison Berrio for remembering his roots and recognizing his father's impressive legacy. Edison is President of the New York and New Jersey Chapter of the Colombia National Coalition. I am sure I speak for the entire Congress when I say we are all deeply indebted to Peter Berrio and the millions of other WWII veterans who fought so that we can enjoy the liberty, freedom, and prosperity we have as a nation today.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 12) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 11) and I ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 13) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, today's vote is set upon an unfair, false choice. This historic decision should be a moment above all political maneuvering. Instead, it is riddled with unfairness, sloppy procedure, and mean-spirited partisanship. From the 4-year, $40 million investigation which could only turn up a private, consensual affair, the airing and publishing of the tawdry Starr report and Lewinsky tapes where all of our children could hear and read every sexual detail, the failure of the President's accusers to spell out which of his words were allegedly perjurious, the unfair denial of the censure option here today, to trying to impeach the Commander in Chief with troops in harm's way, this process is a travesty. Where is their sense of fairness? Somewhere along the way, some in this House forgot that Bill Clinton is our President, not their personal enemy. The Constitution is not a license to destroy a president because one does not like him. I believe the President's actions were reprehensible and worthy of condemnation, but the clearest, most appropriate way to send a message about this President's behavior is censure. That is what our best legal scholars say, that is what the American public says. If the Republican leadership would allow us the freedom to vote our conscience, that would be the option. A censure would put an indelible scar upon the President's place in history, something we all know this President cares about deeply. It is a tough, just, and appropriate punishment. It would not absolve the President of any future indictment and prosecution of alleged perjury. Impeachment, however, should not be used as a form of super censure. Far from upholding the rule of law, a vote for impeachment under these circumstances weakens and undermines the rule of law, turning our Constitution into an unfair political tool. Former chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary Peter Rodino said to me, ``We voted to impeach Richard Nixon because of the irreparable harm he had done and threatened to do to the rights, liberties, and privileges of American citizens using the CIA, the FBI, the IRS, illegally wiretapping and auditing United States citizens. But we would not have impeached Nixon alone for lying.'' Yes, let us censure the President for his misconduct, let us send a message to our children that these actions are wrong, but let us not unfairly use the Constitution as a way to send that message. I warn my colleagues that they will reap the bitter harvest of the unfair partisan seeds they sow today. The constitutional provision for impeachment is a way to protect our government and our citizens, not another weapon in the political arsenal. Monica Lewinsky is not Watergate. Let he who has no sin in this Chamber cast the first vote.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, a few feet from where I stand is a portrait of George Washington. He reminds all of us that our Nation was founded in a fight for freedom, and that the price for freedom is eternal vigilance. Therefore, the President was right to take this action, and to take it now. Today in this hallowed hall, surrounded by reminders of that heritage, our troops are in the Gulf risking their lives to preserve freedom, to preserve our way of life, standing against a tyrant who has invaded and bombed his neighbors, murdered his own citizens, threatened world peace, and refused to comply with international law. To our brave troops, I say, we stand with you. Our hearts, our prayers, our thanks, our admiration is with you, and we will do all that is necessary to support you. But the one clear message from the Congress today to Saddam Hussein should be, we are at one with our president, the Commander in Chief, in support of this military action in order to protect the world from Iraq's chemical and biological weapons, and no domestic issue will deter or divide us in this resolve. Yesterday's actions are the result of Iraq's refusal to grant access to UNSCOM inspectors. The United States, the international community, and the President have shown great restraint in the past in dealing with Iraq. The United States has always viewed the use of force as a final option, but international aggressors like Saddam Hussein should not misinterpret that as a sign of weakness in our resolve to demand that Iraq comply with international law and destroy its weapons of mass destruction. The battles may change, the times may change, the ships may be called by different names, but the fight remains the same, the fight for liberty, peace and security; the fight we began more than 200 years ago for freedom.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I do not intend to object, but under my reservation, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter). (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to further add my voice of support. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I do not intend to object, but I want to thank the distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations for assisting us in bringing this bill to the floor today, and also the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) and the leadership of both parties for agreeing to bring this important bill to the floor by unanimous consent. The bill sends a strong message to Iran about its efforts to develop nuclear weapons, but, most importantly, the bill keeps U.S. taxpayer dollars from being spent on Iranian nuclear power reactors whose completion is supported by the IAEA and one day could help Iran develop nuclear technology to make a nuclear weapon to be aimed at the U.S. or its allies. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman). (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, as we meet here today, hundreds of thousands of American children are beginning their school days in overcrowded classrooms with poor lighting, ceilings that are literally crumbling apart, lead pluming systems and barely enough money for textbooks and basic supplies, and what we, as Democrats, want to do is to make sure those local school districts have the opportunity with federal assistance to leverage and to have their own decision-making to make a difference in those classrooms with 100,000 school teachers which they will put in classrooms. We want to make sure that in fact we end up hiring 100,000 school teachers and not spending money on things that will not reduce class size or will not improve the leaking roof over their head. Mr. Speaker, if it were up to Republicans, they just simply would not support these initiatives. Is that what we want for our kids? Republicans say stop throwing money at the problem. For God's sake, Mr. Speaker, it takes money to repair a roof, it takes money to buy a modern heating system, it takes money to hire new teachers, and schools like these can be found in urban, suburban and rural areas alike. Every child deserves a good school and a good education, and that is why we are still here fighting on a budget to make sure that happens.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Speaker, today, we are considering our fourth continuing resolution to keep the government open, because the Republican majority failed to get a budget done in time, as is exhibited by this chart, failed to give us a strong HMO Patient Protection Act for our families, failed to ensure that the budget surplus would be used to protect Social Security before all else, and failed to protect our kids from tobacco. We Democrats simply do not want my colleagues to go back home and fail our children. That is why we are still here fighting to reduce class size and modernize our aging schools. With our 100,000 teachers initiatives, Democrats are trying to ensure that local taxpayers supporting public school systems across the country get a break by guaranteeing that the new Federal dollars are used to help local school districts reach a specific goal that everyone supports, reducing class size in early grades. Under the Republican proposal, the dollars could be used for all sorts of other purposes that have nothing to do with helping our children. In essence, we Democrats want to accomplish what we did with 100,000 Cops on the Beat, local control with Federal support to hire 100,000 new teachers. This is a battle about whether we want more money for educators or more investigators, whether we want to spend more time investigating the past or more time investing in our future. Our schools, our teachers, and our children, that is what we Democrats are fighting about.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, we do not want to shut the government down, we want to keep America's schools open, and we want to make sure that America's schools can prosper well into the next century. Now this Congress has had all of this year with a balanced budget and a Federal surplus to get a budget together. It has not. So then it declares martial law on the House so that it can bring up anything at any time that it wants. Well, if that is their will, then let us bring up something that is meaningful for this country, and that is our children, 100,000 school teachers with federal assistance to help reduce class size so teachers can teach at the greatest ability of those children's levels. In terms of instead of having class sizes of 30 or more, let us reduce it to a size that can make a real meaningful difference for children, of modernizing schools, schools that are from the turn of the century and now we are ready to turn a new century. We should be able to modernize them as well. That is what Democrats are fighting about, that is why we have not yet come to an agreement. It is not about shutting the government down, it is about keeping our schools open and prepared for the next century. That is what we should be about; that is what we should be getting on to this floor.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, October 12, 1998, Columbus Day to pay special tribute to the 1998 Hudson County Columbus Day Parade and the Bayonne Columbus Day Parade Honorees. From the Hudson County Parade: Michael Ricciardone, Parade Chairperson; Guy Catrillo, General Chairman; Nick Fargo, Jr., Grand Marshal; Scott Ring, Honorary Grand Marshal; Reverend James Pagnotta, Italian Clergy of the Year; Lois Shaw, Italian Woman of the Year; Mayor Anthony Russo, Italian Man of the Year; Renee Bettinger, Italian Stateswoman of the Year; Damian Andrisano, Italian Statesman of the Year; Surrogate Donald DeLeo, Italian Diplomat of the Year; Andrew Muscarnero, Italian Educator of the Year; Peter Varsalona, Italian Veteran of the Year; Patricia Cassidy, Italian Policewoman of the Year; Frank Scarpa, Italian Policeman of the Year; Michael Pierro, Italian Fireman of the Year; Susan Loricchio, Miss Columbus; Glorio Esposito, Recipient of the Special Achievement Award; and Caroline Guarini, Recipient of the Golden Chalice Award. From the Bayonne Columbus Day Parade: Marie Sestito, Parade Chairperson; Joseph Pelliccio, President, Parade Committee; Matthew Guerra, Grand Marshal; Captain Ralph Scianni, Public Safety Officer of the Year; and Lauren Boch, Miss Columbus. I thank these men and women for their hard work and dedication. I am honored to have such outstanding individuals residing in my district. I am certain my colleagues will join me in paying tribute to them today.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the Community United for the Rehabilitation of the Addicted, Inc. (CURA) for their innumerable contributions throughout New Jersey. For years, this agency has been dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of Spanish speaking individuals who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Because of its unique treatment philosophy, the program boasts one of the highest success rates of any similar program in the country. CURA was established in 1973 in response to the poor success rate of Spanish speaking addicts in other programs. CURA offers long-term residential drug-free rehabilitation programs, outpatient drug-free rehabilitation programs, short-term residential programs for alcoholic addicts who are 18 years or older, an outreach prevention program in surrounding communities for ``high risk'' youngsters 12-17 years of age, and supplemental services which include vocational evaluation and training, high school equivalency preparation, a health examination, HIV education and prevention, recreational activities and job placement assistance. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the outstanding work of the Community United for the Rehabilitation of the Addicted. I would like to commend the CURA staff, Board of Trustees and Chairman Miguel Rivera. I encourage them to continue to serve their communities for many more years to come.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to former State Assemblyman Addison McLeon for his innumerable contributions and many years of honorable service to the community. Assemblyman McLeon has been an icon of African American politics in Jersey City, Hudson County and the State of New Jersey for many years. Addison McLeon's career exemplifies his selfless dedication to the community. Addison McLeon was Hudson County's first African American to serve in the State Assembly (1966-1970). He has served as a member of the Jersey City Board of Education, the Director of Housing for the Essex County Urban League, a member of the Jersey City Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and on the Jersey City Housing Authority. He is also a founder of the Civic Awareness Council, a citizen's action organization. It is an honor to have such an exceptional gentleman working on behalf of the residents of my home state of New Jersey. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the outstanding work of Addison McLeon who exemplifies community service at its best.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the 1998 Roberto Clemente Award Recipients of the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development (PRAHD) for their innumerable contributions to Hispanic communities throughout New Jersey. For years, this agency has been committed to improving the standard of living of Hispanic families through the administration of programs and services which address the social, economic, health, and educational status of these communities. On October 4, 1998, PRAHD is sponsoring the Annual Roberto Clemente Award, honoring five individuals for their outstanding public service and community involvement. The award recipients honored this year by PRAHD are: Outstanding Professional, Eralides Cabrera; Outstanding Community Service, Melvin Ramos; Outstanding Educator, Senovia Robles-Cruz; Outstanding Academic Student, Jose Garcia; Outstanding Corporation, Goya Foods and Special Roberto Clemente Award, Minister Robert McCoy. Founded in 1974 as a charitable organization by the Hispanic leadership of the Perth Amboy area, the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development operates a number of service programs, such as day care services, educational tutoring, emergency legal, housing, and medical assistance, drug prevention, youth and family counseling, and various senior services which serve more than 12,000 people annually. The agency is governed by an eleven-member board of directors selected from the community and administered by Executive Director Lydia Trinidad, who is also PRAHD's Chief Executive Officer. PRAHD also relies on the support and effort of community volunteers who work in all areas of agency operations. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the outstanding work of these honored individuals and the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development. I further commend their accomplishments and encourage them to continue to serve their communities for many more years to come.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues on the other side protest too much. The reason they want martial law, that they want to place martial law upon the House, is because they have not done their job. They have failed the country, and in doing so, they have failed our children. Every time I hear about their education initiatives, everything is a block grant. But why do they want to do that? Because they want to take the entitlement, the legal right that our children have in this country to receive this assistance, move it and abolish that right, and then ultimately cut it, and that is their plan. This Republican martial law allows the Congress to consider a bill naming a post office in an expedited manner, but it does not allow us to consider getting the classrooms in America in shape for the next century. What kind of priorities do they have? We Democrats have had a plan to hold HMOs accountable for their actions and to preserve the doctor-patient relationships. My Republican colleagues sided with the HMO industry and rejected real patient protection. We have a plan to keep our children from smoking. My Republican colleagues sided with big tobacco and rejected it. We have a plan to clean up the campaign finance system, and in the other House it was rejected, as well, by the majority. We have a plan to put 100,000 new teachers in our schools, and help reduce class size and let the local school district determine how they are going to use it, help them in getting that assistance, and for the taxpayers of those communities as well. Republicans side against our children and reject it. So other than spending most of this Congress and millions of dollars on one investigation after another, what have they been doing all year that they have to declare martial law? Frankly, it is hard to tell. My Republican colleagues cannot even pass a budget. With a balanced budget and a Federal surplus, they are 10 days into the budget year and they still cannot get a budget for America. American families cannot do that. They would not be able to get that way. Vote against this martial law resolution, so we can have a martial law resolution that brings America's needs onto this floor, a real martial law for the right reasons.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 put the home health care industry on a prospective payment system, and set up an interim payment system for agencies until the prospective payment system could be fully implemented. Unfortunately, those home health agencies which have historically been fiscally responsible in their administration of federal dollars have been penalized for good program management. In my state of New Jersey, the home health industry has been aggressive in its management of resources. New Jersey's annual average for visits per beneficiary served is only 39.7. The national average is 66 visits per year, and some states have numbers as high as 125 visits per beneficiary! So the message has been that it doesn't pay to be prudent with federal dollars. HCFA's regulations have not so much penalized those states which have had excessive costs as they have mandated that all states--including those states with the lowest number of beneficiary visits--bear the financial costs in an across-the-board distribution of the effort to rein in the costs for this industry. The bill we are adopting today, H.R. 4567, is a step in the right direction. However, there is a basic sense of fairness which is missed in the ``hold harmless'' provisions. It is my sincere hope that as this bill is conferenced some measure of equity is brought into the negotiations which will recognize the efforts of those states which have been in the lowest 20 percentile of costs in the home health care industry. If they are not rewarded for their prudent handling of this program, they should at the very least not be penalized.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Speaker, this Republican Congress has been a failure. We have spent a lot of time, yes, on investigations and millions of dollars on investigations, but not making a meaningful difference in people's lives. Madam Speaker, we have a balanced budget and a Federal surplus because of the Democratic deficit reduction program, yet my colleagues are 9 days overdue on a budget for America. No mayor, no Governor, no American family could do the same. My colleagues have failed families in this country in giving them protection from HMO abuses. My Republican colleagues have failed seniors by making sure that Social Security comes first in the context of the budget surplus. Madam Speaker, we Democrats do not want to let you go home and fail our children. We want to put 100,000 teachers back in the classrooms of this country to help educate our children and modernize our schools. If we have billions of dollars for tax cuts, we can have some money for the Nation's children that are going to make us competitive in the next century. Democrats will not let you leave and go home and campaign; we will stay here and work and make sure, we are going to ensure, that you do not commit the final failure, which would be failing our children.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. In view of the partisan, arbitrary and capricious limitation of time, I rise in opposition to the Republican proposal that limits time but does not limit scope. (Mr. BENTSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise against the Republican rule in the bill because it does not put Social Security first, it does not put senior citizens in this country first who work to build communities, families and to protect the country, it does not protect working families who are paying the FICA taxes for both their future security and their present security of their parents and grandparents and because it is fiscally irresponsible. On the tax bill this rule that we are considering would automatically adopt a provision to waive the budget law, and what does that law say? It requires that all tax cuts be fully paid for. The provision is intended to keep the country, the reason that law exists, is to keep the country from returning to the days of creating huge tax breaks at the expense of the deficit in terms of going back to that credit card mentality. Instead of following the path of fiscal responsibility, Mr. Speaker, Republicans have irresponsibly decided to dip into the Social Security Trust Fund for tens of billions of dollars to pay for the costs of these tax cuts even before any action has been taken to deal with Social Security's long-term solvency. Now where are my friends from the CATs, the conservative action teams? As my colleagues know, we are constantly talking about being fiscally responsible. How is it that my colleagues can begin to spend money, how is it possible to begin to spend money before the ink even dries on a projected surplus? That is clearly not fiscally responsible. And this question about a separate account; the separate account has no lock, has no guarantee, has no provisions to preserve Social Security. It is fiscally irresponsible, it does not put our seniors first, it does not put our country first, and it does not continue us on the path of fiscal stability. The fact of the matter is, if we want to put our seniors first and working families, we should reject the rule, reject the bill and adopt the Democrat proposal.