Bob Menendez

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished gentleman, Mr. Anthony Grazioso, who with more than twenty-five years of dedicated public service is retiring. He will be honored at Don Pepe's Restaurant in Newark, New Jersey on May 21, 1998. Mr. Grazioso has served as the Director of Public Affairs for the New Jersey Transit Corporation for nearly 16 years, with the Transport of New Jersey for 10 years, and as a Community Relations Representative for The Port Authority of New York/New Jersey for six years. In 1964 he accepted a temporary position as Special Assistant to former Congressman Robert A. Roe, then Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Conservation and Economic Development. Mr. Grazioso also served as Deputy Director and Public Relations Assistant for the Jersey City Department of Public Works. Mr. Grazioso graduated from Saint Peter's College in 1956 where he majored in Economics and minored in English Journalism. He has pursued studies in public relations, communications, urban affairs, community relations, public administration, political science, decision making, management effectiveness/organization, and finance/budget at the New School, New York University, the American Management Association, and the Public Relations Society of America. Community involvement has been a consistent theme in Mr. Grazioso's life. Since 1956, he has been involved in volunteer work serving on the boards of civic, community, cultural, and church organizations in Hudson County. His accomplishments in the community and at work have been praised but he has also made time for his family. It is an honor to have such an outstanding and dedicated individual in my home state of New Jersey. I am certain my colleagues will join me in recognition of this well deserved honor.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc. for their efforts to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Guyana. On Tuesday, May 26, they will be hosting their third annual commemorative flag- raising for the independence of Guyana in the Council Chambers at City Hall in Jersey City. New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc. was incorporated in 1988 and aims to preserve and promote Arya/Hindu culture in New Jersey. The history of Guyana parallels that of the United States in several ways. Similar to the U.S., Christopher Columbus was the first European to see the Guyana coast in 1498. Guyana is also a land of immigrants with citizens tracing their roots to India, Portugal, China, and Africa. Guyana is the only country on the mainland of South America with English as its official language. Guyana also shares with the United States the experience of gaining independence from the colonial interests of Europe. The Dutch, the French, and the British have each occupied Guyana at various times between 1621 and 1966. In 1992, Guyana successfully instituted free and fair elections. In closing, I would like to thank the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc. for their flag-raising ceremony and congratulate the Republic of Guyana for its 32nd year of independence

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to show my appreciation for one of our finest educators and administrators, Ms. Mary Murphy, who is moving on after sixteen years of invaluable service to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. She served fourteen years as an English teacher and Senior advisor, and three years as principal. Mary Murphy has inspired hundreds of her pupils to become outstanding students who went on to successful careers. But perhaps more importantly, she emphasized to her students the importance of being kind and considerate individuals. Ms. Murphy is compassionate, caring, funny and a good listener. These qualities allowed her to capture students' attention and become an important influence in their lives. I salute Principal Mary Murphy for being an excellent educator, leader, and role model. She will be leaving Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, but her work will always stay in her students' hearts and minds.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a project in my home state of New Jersey that deserves recognition: the St. Columba Health Center in Newark. A pressing problem in our nation's cities is the lack of affordable, accessible health care to the children of working families. Thanks to a quarter of a million dollar grant by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation of Princeton, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Nursing has expanded its Health Center at the St. Columba Neighborhood Club and School. The St. Columba Health Center serves the needs of the local Hispanic community by acting as a triage that effectively screens and treats less serious injuries and ailments, thus reducing reliance on expensive hospital services. A nurse practitioner provides on-site primary care through a collaborative practice agreement with UMDNJ pediatricians. The local University Hospital provides clinical and administrative support, as well as transportation of local patients who need complex treatments. By advancing primary pediatric and adolescent care at the St. Columba Health Center, the program hopes to expand the definition of urban child health care and serve as a model for future programs. Education plays a key role at the health Center, as its members reach out into the school and community with needed information on the treatment and prevention of many health conditions. Examples include asthma, immunizations and domestic violence. One major education component is the ``Baby Think it Over Program,`` designed to combat high teenage pregnancy rates. For one week, participating seventh- and eighth-grade girls and boys must care for a computerized baby that is programmed to cry randomly, like a real baby. Only the student is allowed to provide around-the-clock care for the doll, which accompanies them at home, school, and even the mall. During a recent visit, a past graduate of the program, Maria Rivera, told me how she received $125 in play money--about the amount of a welfare check--and asked to develop a weekly budget for the baby's medical check-ups and to purchase diapers, formula, clothing, and other baby needs. In simulating these parental responsibilities, the purpose is to make the teens keenly aware of the consequences of unwanted pregnancies. And it works. As a result of this experience, Maria expressed a more realistic perspective on pregnancy and her intentions to delay having a baby until she is married. The overall expected outcomes of the expansion of the St. Columba Health Center include better child health care models; decreased school absenteeism, emergency room and hospital admissions; and the reduction of teen pregnancies and STD rates, among many more. Thank you to the volunteers and employees of the St. Columba Health Center, Neighborhood Club and School and who make a daily difference in the surrounding community. I also commend the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for providing the vital financial support to this program and others across the nation.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring your attention to a revolutionary Department of Housing and Urban Development program--the Campus of Learners Initiative, which is now being implemented in Union City, New Jersey. The mission of the Campus of Learners is to heighten the role of local Public Housing Authorities as a catalyst for residents to become self-sufficient. The initiative is designed so that local housing authorities have the resources to develop their own creative strategic plans to provide for education, job training, and employment opportunities through computer and telecommunications technology in campus setting. I am proud to announce that the Housing Authority of Union City, New Jersey has responded to HUD's initiative by opening the Hillside Pavilion Campus of Learners Center today, a three-level state- of-the-art building. Union City was one of only 25 PHA's in the United States chosen by HUD to launch the program. This newly-formed community will serve as an example for other housing authorities wishing to provide high-tech training for their residents. On the campus, residents will learn computer skills to allow them to enter the local job market. This, of course, will greatly benefit local business owners who are in need of skilled employees. The Pavilion will also be a community center where residents can share in recreational and cultural activities. My colleagues, I urge you to promote the Campus of Learners Program and use Union City as a model in your own communities. This program will transform public housing into a place of opportunity.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate six of my constituents who, for their service to the community, have been named the recipients of ``Positive Family Image Awards'' by the Urban League of Hudson County, New Jersey. Mr. Michael Yorker, Mrs. Ella M.G. Lawrence, Mr. George Wilson, Mrs. Henrietta Robinson Booker, Mr. Rhudell Snelling and Ms. Elizabeth Henry will be honored at the Urban League's Twentieth Annual Equal Opportunity Day Dinner, being held at the Meadowlands Hilton in Secaucas, New Jersey. My colleagues, let me take a brief moment to tell you about these great people who are so vital to the Urban League and the entire community. When Mrs. Henrietta Robinson Booker arrived in Jersey City, New Jersey from Statesboro, Georgia, she stayed in the House of Friendliness, the Branch of the YWCA for Colored women, as quarters were segregated back then. From that point on, Mrs. Booker has been the voice of hope, courage and strength for those in dire need. As a prominent member of numerous organizations--the NAACP, J.C. Title I Advisory Board, Council for Companions for Senior Citizens, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army--Mrs. Booker has enriched the lives of countless citizens of Jersey City. For her presence in the community, we are blessed. Mr. Rhudell Snelling, a graduate of Lincoln High School in Jersey City has contributed to the community through his musical talents. As a member of St. John's Baptist Church, `Rhudy' was named the director of the Church's choir and became minister of music in 1960. Rhudy has also volunteered his musical abilities as a member of the NAACP and has recorded with the Eastern Choral Guild of Montclair on United Artists Labels. For the sharing of his talents to benefit others, I thank Mr. Rhudy Snelling. Elizabeth Henry is a dividend clerk at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., and will soon be working on the New York Stock Exchange. This career woman serves as a wonderful example for all single mothers as she guides, encourages, and inspires her three boys Leonty Danzie, 17 years of age, Shawn, 14, and Antonio Farthing, Jr., her foster son and nephew. For her loving dedication to her children, I applaud Mrs. Henry. Mrs. Ella M.G. Lawrence, a graudate of Seton Hall University, is a mother of five children and is retired after teaching English and being a guidance counselor in the Jersey City Public School System for thirty years. As one of the founding members of the organization, Citizens Against Rate Increases, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Model Cities program, and a lifetime member of the NAACP, Mrs. Lawrence has been a force in the community and well deserving of this award. Mr. George Wilson, a native of Sumter, South Carolina came to Jersey City in search of a better opportunity for employment. In 1968, after attending Jersey City State College and serving in the United States Army for two years, he ended that search as he was sworn in as a Jersey City Policeman. In 1989, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and in 1996 was appointed to the position of Undersheriff of Hudson County, where he serves today. He has served his community as a leader in various ways including being a founding member and past president of the Interdepartmental Minority Police Action Council, the president and a successful coach of the Bergen/Lafayette Little League, and the president of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Scholarship Committee. He is married to Naomi Motley Wilson and has four children and eight grandchildren. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude toward Mr. Michael Yorker. Mr. Yorker, a undergraduate and post graduate of Jersey City State College, has served in the Jersey City public schools system in a variety of positions over the last twenty years and is currently the acting principle of Public school 32/SSP. His community involvement includes serving as speaker for many organizational conferences such as Delta Sigma Theta, Block Associations, and various Church and youth groups. Not surprisingly, Mr. Yorker has received numerous awards for all his contributions to the community. He is married to Rene and is the proud father of five children. These six fine citizens exemplify just what the Urban League of Hudson County is all about. It is an organization committed to the needs of the community, reaching out, being proactive, and taking real initiative to improve economic and social conditions and opportunities for African Americans and other minority groups in Hudson County, New Jersey. Again, my thanks and congratulations to these six awardees and all who are a part of the Urban League of Hudson County.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, violence has become an integral part of life in Algeria--it consumes the country and it has temporarily derailed the future of what should be a vibrant Nation, politically and economically. Since 1992, as many as 80,000 people have died and thousands of others have been injured. While socio-economic development will help the people of Algeria rebuild their lives, the government must also commit itself to stopping the massacres. The recent arrests of local officials and commanders of pro-government militia groups in Algeria on charges of carrying out massacres of civilians gives cause to those of us who have called for independent rapporteur to address the situation in Algeria. In March, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus sent a letter to Secretary Albright in which we asked that the United States introduce a resolution a the U.N. Commission on Human Rights to appoint a Special Rapporteur for Algeria. Unfortunately, the United States decided against offering such a resolution. This resolution does call for such a rapporteur. The United States and the international community have attempted to reach out to Algeria, to offer assistance and guidance, but they have been largely rebuked. While the Algerian Government has made progress and increased transparency through the recent arrests, Algeria's efforts to handle this crisis have been largely ineffective. Progress will require Algeria opening up to the world. This means allowing the U.N. and other bodies to look at what is happening inside Algeria. Since the fundamentalists are accountable to no one, the onus for action, by necessity lies with the Algerian government. Only the Algerian Government can start the process which will make 1998 the last year of bloodshed and the first year in many of peace, stability and reconciliation in Algeria. I want to thank my colleagues for offering this resolution.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Elizabeth, New Jersey Portuguese Lions Club and congratulate its members for all they have done for the community. For their tireless efforts, the ``Lion Triangle Monument'' is being dedicated in their honor. The Monument will be unveiled on Saturday, April 25, at the corners of Elmora Avenue and West Grand Street in Elizabeth. Since its establishment in 1979, the Elizabeth Portuguese Lions Club has raised funds for its community-based projects, ranging from soup kitchens to the establishment of the Elizabeth Portuguese Leo Club, the youth branch of the club. Last year alone, the club raised over $15,000 for community projects. It is only fitting that the Elizabeth Portuguese Lions Club's motto, ``Our City; Our Nation; Our Neighborhood,'' will be printed on the tiled sides of the monument along with images of Elizabeth, hand- printed by Fernando Silva. The project, a truly magnificent work of art, will not only serve as a symbol for the club's continued commitment to its community, but will also bring pride and beauty to the neighborhood. I would especially like to thank the president of the club, Helena Goncalves, her board, the members of the club, as well as the prominent elected officials--Freeholder Donald Goncalves, Councilman Manny Grova Jr., and Councilman Tony Monteiro--for all their contributions to the project. Special thanks and congratulations go out to Nelson Goncalves, past Governor of the Lion's District 16-E, who has just been appointed as New Jersey State Chairman for the Lions. These selfless individuals will be on hand, along with members of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, to celebrate this gala event.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to rise today to thank and congratulate four citizens of Bayonne, New Jersey who have contributed immensely to the Bayonne Youth Center and the entire community. As it celebrates its 53rd anniversary at the HI Hat in Bayonne, The Bayonne Youth Center will honor Mrs. Susan Y. Davis, the recipient of the Sabra Jackson Award; Assemblyman Joseph V. Doria, Jr., recipient of the Humanitarian Award; Curtis Nelson, the winner of the Service Award; and Wilhelmina Wilson, who is receiving the Volunteer Service Award. Also being recognized at the dinner will be the Youth of the Month and the Art and Essay contests winners. I would like to take a moment to tell you about these four remarkable constituents. Susan Y. Davis is continually active in community service. She has served on the Bayonne Community Day Nursery Board, Midtown Community School Advisory Council, and is a member of the Bayonne Youth Center's Board of Directors. She is also active in St. Patrick's Church of Jersey City. Susan received the 1995 NAACP Community Service award. Assembly Democratic Leader Joseph V. Doria, Jr., recipient of the Humanitarian Award, has a distinguished career in public and community service. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Liberty Health Care Systems, and has served as a board member of St. Ann's Home for the Aged. Assemblyman Doria has received more than 110 awards and citations from both public and private groups, including the Deborah Hospital Foundation's Children of the World Award and the Liberty Science Center's Legislator's Award. Wilhemina Wilson, winner of the Volunteer Service Award, lives her life exemplifying the philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by promoting peace and goodwill towards all people. She is a faithful member of the Wallace Temple A.M.E. Zion Church and has received numerous awards for her outstanding church service. Wilson is a member of the Bayonne branch of the NAACP and has been a longstanding member and supporter of the Bayonne Youth Center. Curtis Nelson, who was awarded the Service Award, has always made sure to give back to his community. During his work for New Jersey Transit, he received many Service Star Awards for his exemplary service. Nelson has been leader of the Neighborhood Block Association for 25 years and was the first black Commander of the F.A. Mackenzie Post of Bayonne where he raised money for many charities. He is also a member of the Pride of Bayonne Lodge No. 461. These four extraordinary citizens who have given so much back to their community and the Bayonne Youth Center deserve our respect and admiration.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I congratulate Janet Haynes, Gail Thompson and the Matsushita Electric Corporation of America for their selection as honorees at this year's Women of Distinction Luncheon, sponsored by the Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex and Hudson Counties. This year's luncheon will take place on April 23 at the Holiday Inn/North in Newark, NJ. Janet Haynes, who will receive the Girl Scout World of People award, is a native of Jersey City. She serves as country clerk for the County of Hudson. Through her election to this post, she became the highest ranking African-American official in the history of Hudson County and the only African-American to serve as county clerk in the state of New Jersey. A former girl scout, Haynes is actively involved in volunteer work. She has served as the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the board of directors of the Hudson County Health Systems Agency and is also chairperson of the United Way of Hudson County. Gail Thompson, who will received the Girl Scout World of Today and Tomorrow award, is a registered architect who currently serves as vice- president of design and construction, for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ. Thompson, who holds a degree in architecture from the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY and a master's degree in real estate and finance form Rutgers University, Newark, has also served as assistant vice-president of facilities planning and development at the American Stock Exchange. In addition, Thompson is very involved with volunteer work. A commercial pilot and flight instructor, Thompson has been actively involved in exposing minority youth to aviation. She is the founder of a summer aviation camp for high school students. The Corporate Award is being given to Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, located in Secaucus, NJ. Matsushita has consistently made generous contributions to the Girl Scouts, and their employees have been active volunteers in many Girl Scout programs. I would like to congratulate all three of the recipients for their work with the Girl Scouts and wish them continued success in all of their endeavors.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, as we have heard from some of our colleagues, we come again this year to the House floor to commemorate and pay tribute to the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian genocide. Some ask why 83 years later we continue this exercise. The answer in my mind is rather simple. By telling the history and evoking the names of the victims, we protect them and others who would willfully erase from history their lives and the tragic events which occurred between 1915 and 1923. As with the Nazi Holocaust, the Irish Famine, and other atrocities, we have a responsibility to society to recount of the history of the Armenian genocide so that we do not forget its victims and so that we remember man's capacity to destroy others who differ in their opinions, their race, religion, or ethnicity. Genocide is the most egregious of crimes. It is not a crime of passion or revenge, but of hate. Since 1923, Turkey has denied the Armenian genocide, and there has been no justice, and no Nuremberg trials for the victims and the families of the Armenian genocide. To those who continue to resist the truth, I can only believe that they had chosen to ignore the hard evidence or to indulge, to their shame, by ignoring the facts. Like the Holocaust, denying the Armenian genocide cannot erase the tragedy, the lives that were lost, or compensate for driving people from their homeland. For the people of Armenia, the fight continues, particularly for those residing in Karabagh. I am hopeful that we will see the day when peace, stability, and prosperity are realized for the people of Karabagh, and for all Armenians. For my part, I am hopeful that, through our continued efforts in the Congress, we can improve the lives of the Armenian people, continue to speak out for the human rights observers that, in fact, we hope for that part of the world, and continue to speak out against the atrocities that are continued to be committed by the Turkish Government. Certainly, we will continue to remember those who lost their lives and continue to commemorate this somber occasion. Ralph Waldo Emerson tells us: The history of persecution is a history of endeavors to cheat nature, to make water run uphill, to twist a rope of sand. The martyr cannot be dishonored. Every lash inflicted is a tongue of fame; every prison a more illustrious abode; every burned book or house enlightens the world; every suppressed or expunged word reverberates through the earth from side to side. Hours of sanity and consideration are always arriving to communities as to individuals when truth is seen and martyrs are justified. His words ring very true to us, Mr. Speaker, as we again commemorate the Armenian genocide.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the people of Bayonne, New Jersey for the commitment they have made to honor the victims of the Holocaust. On May 4, 1998, the Inter-Faith Clergy and the Bayonne Jewish Community Council will sponsor The Holocaust Memorial Observance Program at the City Hall Council Chambers of Bayonne to acknowledge the fifty-second anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps of Europe at the end of the Second World War. We must never forget that from 1933 to 1945, more than six million Jews were tortured and killed in the Holocaust. I bring this event being held in Bayonne to the attention of my colleagues as a reminder that it has become the duty of us all, as citizens of a free and democratic society, to maintain an unwavering vigilance in order to ensure that the horrors of the Holocaust are never repeated. This responsibility is dedicated to the observance of Yom Hasboab, Holocaust Remembrance Day. By honoring the memory of those slain in the Holocaust and by emphasizing the importance of remaining vigilant against bigotry and tyranny, the people of Bayonne are doing their part to ensure that such atrocities will never again be committed.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Stanley Bergen, Jr. is now enjoying something few of us will have an opportunity to experience. Quite simply, his dreams have come true. Dr. Bergen saw his dream of a renowned public medical and dental school in New Jersey spring from modest beginnings and blossom into reality. Dr. Bergen is now retiring after being the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's first and only president. He provided the vision and leadership to make this institution a nationally recognized medical and dental research and educational facility. UMDNJ is the largest free-standing public health sciences university in the country. This institution is now comprised of four campuses, seven schools, 5,000 students, 11,000 employees and over 100 affiliated health care institutions. But UMDNJ is not only a world class medical and dental school, biomedical research organization and health care provider, but it is also an organization which has given back to the community. In 1994, UMDNJ was awarded the Association of American Medical Colleges' prestigious Outstanding Community Service Award. The school also boasts one of the largest minority student populations among the nation's medical and dental schools. UMDNJ's excellence is the reflection of a man who has insisted on excellence in everything he does. Dr. Bergen credits the support of his wife, Suzanne, and his children Stanley, Steven, Stewart, Victoria, and Amy for making his success possible. I would like to thank Dr. Bergen for his incredible contributions to the health of New Jerseyans and for inviting me to his farewell luncheon on April 16, at the Newark Club.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Minority Student Program at Rutgers School of Law- Newark for its 30th Anniversary. In celebration, Roger I. Abrams, dean of the law school, and the Minority Student Program sponsored the Annual Spring Banquet at the Hilton Gateway in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, April 18, 1998. The School of Law-Newark at Rutgers is committed to the diversity of its law school community and to the diversity of the legal profession. Since its establishment in 1968, MSP has pursued a policy of equal opportunity for those who have been historically underrepresented in law schools and in the legal profession. Over 1000 students of color and students from disadvantaged backgrounds have graduated from the law school. The law school historically has attracted students who want to make a difference in the world in which they live. These students represent every ethnic group and nationality. Graduates now make important social and political contributions to their community as judges, presidential appointees, law professors, and prominent members of the bar. It is a honor and a pleasure to be part of this celebration and to recognize the dedication and commitment of the Minority Student Program at Rutgers School of Law-Newark. I am certain that my colleagues will join me in paying tribute to this remarkable program.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, for sixteen years Let's Celebrate has helped fight hunger and homelessness in Hudson County. They have helped people ``move from hunger to wholeness,'' by providing counseling, job training, emergency food assistance, adult basic education and housing assistance. Let's Celebrate now has 74 staff members, over 600 volunteers and 29 service and meal sites throughout the area. This impressive organization has helped countless families move toward self-sufficency. The organization's innovative job program finds jobs for 85% of its trainees. Let's Celebrate trains the homeless in the food service industry through its own catering service. This invaluable, hands-on job training allows their clients to gain experience, develop job skills and learn to adapt to a work environment. In addition, through the Emergency Food Network, Let's Celebrate serves over 70,000 meals to our neediest citizens every year. These four soup kitchens and 16 food pantries also help distribute clothing. Furthermore, through the Housing Plus program, HIV positive individuals and their families receive counseling, medical attention as well as help with housing. I would like to thank Let's Celebrate for its incredible service to Hudson County and for inviting me to its 16th Anniversary Mad Hatter Ball. This amazing organization truly gives us all a reason to celebrate.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, we set goals in many of our initiatives, whether it be Goals 2000 or in the Clean Water Act. Goals do not guarantee giveaways, they generate participation. The DBE's goal is to provide opportunity to all Americans. Let us talk about what the DBE is and is not. It is not a quota. It is not a set-aside. It is not a guarantee of contracts or dollars. And if it was, I would not support it. What it is is an opportunity for all Americans to participate in building the Nation's infrastructure and future. The Roukema amendment would, in fact, eliminate opportunity for all Americans to be part of a program they pay for. It would eliminate talented and competent women, African-Americans and Hispanic Americans from simply having an opportunity to compete, to compete in the bidding process. But the Roukema amendment not only denies opportunity to all Americans, it actually promotes the interests of the privileged few. This is not the Roukema amendment, it is the general contractors' amendment. The contractors and others are willing to accept the votes of women, Hispanic Americans and African Americans in this Congress to pass this bill, but want to lock us out of the benefits. If this Congress cannot accept the simple goal of equality of opportunity for all Americans, what a sad day it will be. When my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about privilege, they are referring to the privilege that has been enjoyed by the majority for a long period of time with very few benefits to anyone in the minority. Let us promote participation, not prohibit it, by defeating this amendment.

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, when the President talks about building a bridge to the 21st Century, this is the bill that lays the infrastructure that makes that bridge a reality. This bill saves and creates well-paying American jobs by making sure we have the means to efficiently move the goods and products we produce. But transportation is not just about moving goods and people from one place to another. It is about economic opportunity, new business, expanding commerce, a cleaner environment, safety for our children, and a higher quality of life. Better infrastructure means more time with our families. How many hours do we waste sitting in traffic because our roads are inadequate. Too many, Mr. Chairman. Too many. This is the bill that does something about that. Mass transit and road improvements may not be glamorous work, but it is important work. The success of almost everything else we do depends on our transit and infrastructure. At a time when most of our major trading competitors are making large investments in new infrastructure, we cannot afford to lag behind. The solution we need is a national one. Our commerce is no longer confined or constrained to national, much less State boundaries, so our system is only as strong as its weakest link. If one State has a great system, and the next State has an outdated one, both States suffer. In the next century, we will lose crucial economic ground if we allow these gaps to remain. Close to my home, traffic on the bridges and roads that connect New York and New Jersey is reaching the breaking point. Ironically, the reason is a good one. Our ports are bringing in businesses and jobs and trade. But if we do not improve and innovate these connections, our growth will literally be held back by our inability to handle the flow of people and goods. So we are using ferries to get people back and forth, 6 million people annually. And by 2005, we will need ferry service for 8 million or more. By making that investment today, we are able to handle the growth of tomorrow. This is a cost reduction measure. It saves money. Ferries do not require the construction of costly infrastructure. They reduce single occupancy vehicle use. They are more energy-efficient. This bill was put together with creative solutions like this one in mind. Yes, it is a bill of many individual projects, but it is a national plan. The projects in the bill make up that national plan, and we deserve to be supportive of it. I want to commend the chairman and the ranking member for their vision in putting this in before the House.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, what the authors of these bills forget is that in America voting is not a dream. It is not just another government benefit or program to be means tested. It is a constitutional right. And Americans should not be subjected to a Federal Government background check when they register to vote. But that is what these bills do. It turns the ballot box into an interrogation zone where Americans are guilty until they are proven innocent. And to show they are citizens, Republicans want the Social Security Administration and the INS to run background checks and share private information on American voters. Not surprisingly, Republicans want this test to be taken out where? In California, in Texas, in Florida, in Illinois and New York, States with large minority populations, especially Americans of Hispanic descent. We know already what they tried to do in the discredited Dornan investigation. We will not permit you to do that under the name of campaign finance reform. The right to vote in this Nation should not be subject to government intrusion, and Hispanic-American voters will not forget their continuing persecution of their rights. Lastly, the founders of the union movement battled corporate- sponsored, club-wielding thugs who tried to silence them with beating and violence. Today Republicans are trying to accomplish in a law what they could not accomplish with a billy club. Democrats stand with working people and their families who still believe that a person who puts in a full workweek deserves a fair wage to support their family and to have a voice here in the Congress. We will not let you stop unions from speaking on behalf of working families in this country.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome the National Women's Political Caucus 1998 Spring National Steering Committee (NSC) meeting to Newark, New Jersey. This marks the first time New Jersey has hosted this important event. The National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC) is the only national, grassroots organization designed to help women from both political parties attain public office. Each year the Caucus trains and supports more than 50,000 women who are seeking elected or appointed government positions. As Eileen P. Thornton, former WPC-NJ president, has written, ``As we look back, it is good to reflect on how far women have come. But looking ahead, it is very important that we understand how far we still have to go to reach our goals.'' The National Women's Political Caucus has served as a catalyst for getting women into public office. We can now say that due in part to this organization's efforts we have more women in the House of Representatives than ever before. But the NWPC understands that more must be done. The organization's National Steering Committee meeting will bring women from across the country to develop strategies to elect more women to federal offices and to make NWPC endorsements. The National Women's Political Caucus National Steering Committee meeting will be held at the Newark Airport Marriott, March 26-28. 1998. I would like to thank NWPC president Anita Perez Ferguson, WPC-NJ president Paige Berry and former WPC-NJ president Eileen P. Thornton for making this event possible. The political future of the women's movement is safe in their hands.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, the issue before us today is not a question of illegal immigration, there is no threat of an impending wave of illegal Greek or Portuguese immigration to the United States. The question before us is one of fairness. It is a question of doing what is right by two countries who are our allies, our friends and our business partners. It is fair and right to extend the same rights to Greece and Portugal that we do to 25 other nations--the right to enter the U.S. freely for travel and business. Prior to the passage of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform Act, Greece and Portugal would have been admitted to the Visa Waiver Program because their visa refusal rates are below three percent. Concern about illegal immigration is misplaced and fails to recognize that the Greek and Portuguese economies are strong and unemployment rates are among the lowest in Europe--there is little incentive for people to leave their enchanting countries for ours. Moreover, immigration to the United States from those countries is no greater than U.S. immigration to Greece and Portugal. Finally, both of these communities have made enormous contributions to our country. In my district, the Portuguese American community has transformed part of New Jersey's great cities--Newark, Elizabeth, and Perth Amboy. And the Greek community's influence has been equally remarkable. We need to level the playing field and let the Portuguese and Greek people know that the United States welcomes them as tourists and business travelers, as we do their other European counterparts.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House of Representatives I would like to congratulate the Harrison School District for being awarded the Technology Literacy Challenge Grant. The Harrison Public School System understands that the Internet is not a novelty anymore. Increasingly it is an essential tool for information gathering. The grant which totals over $94,000, will be used to provide public Internet computers at Harrison High School, Harrison Community Center, and the Harrison Town Library. These funds will also pay for community Internet training programs. This program is not limited to students. When the town's technology plan is fully implemented, all of Harrison's citizens will be able to share and collect information through the Internet. No one will be excluded from this virtual community because of a lack of equipment or expertise. On May 31 Harrison Schools will be sponsoring a ``Technology Fest.'' This event will open the schools to the public to share students' technology related projects. I would like to thank District Technology Coordinator, Frank A. Cappelle, and Superintendent John Di Salvo for making these educational opportunities possible.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, Paul Iacono is a hero. He is a brilliant entertainer who sang a tribute to Frank Sinatra on his 80th birthday, starred in two Union City theater plays and is an announcer for MetroStar soccer games. He is a tribute to the youth of America because he accomplished all this and more by the age of nine. He is a bright, talented, energetic and hardworking person who has succeeded despite being diagnosed with leukemia a year ago. But Paul Iacono is a hero because he has selflessly devoted his time, talents and energy to help find a cure for leukemia. He has given the cause publicity by appearing on the Rosie O'Donnell Show and has helped raise money at events such as the New York City Marathon. And now Paul Iacono has enlisted Vice President Gore, Congressman Rothman, and me in his cause. In our meeting on March 17, we pledged to help him promote awareness of the disease and move towards the ultimate goal of finding a cure for leukemia. This remarkable young man serves as an inspiration for us all. Paul Iacono, his father, Anthony, and his mother, Michele, attended the Annual Leukemia Society of America meeting in Washington, D.C., March 14 through March 19.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, today is St. Patrick's Day, a day when we celebrate the great tenacity and spirit of the Irish. The color green reminds us of the mystical island, rolling hills and people which captivated St. Patrick. I look forward to the day when the Irish people, Catholic and Protestant alike, can revel in the great treasure that is Ireland without regard to their religious or political affinities. There is reason to be hopeful. The peace process in Ireland, despite recent setbacks, is moving forward, and the labor government has adopted a more open posture on dialogue with Sinn Fein and has expressed a willingness to reopen the investigation into the events of bloody Sunday. These are positive developments. However, they cannot and do not mitigate the Congress's concern about the pattern of human rights abuses against the Catholic population in Northern Ireland. History should not inhibit progress, but we cannot forget the repressive tactics used against the Irish people, from the potato famine to Bloody Sunday to the present day harassment and repression by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the British system on persons like Colin Duffy. Trust remains something to be won, not given. After years and years of intransigence and abuse, the Catholic minority is rightfully angry and suspicious. The history and abuse of human rights in Northern Ireland is long and treacherous. From the confinement of Roisin McAliskey during her pregnancy; the inflammatory marches of the Orange Order, which we have again this year, as Mo Mowlam visits the capital today; that, in fact, the British government will understand the enormous consequences of those marches and the manner in which they have taken place and the potential risks to peace that they generate; the use of plastic bullets; the baseless harassment and imprisonment of persons sympathetic to the Republican cause; and the countless violations of human rights stemming from Britain's emergency legislation which governs the 6 northeast counties in Ireland. The populace of Northern Ireland has suffered myriad abuses of its civil and human rights. The resolution of these long outstanding issues is necessary to begin the process of reconciliation. I intend to introduce a separate resolution which endorses the CEARTA, a document drafted in Northern Ireland and endorsed by many Irish groups in the United States. It builds on the idea that there exists a historic opportunity to build peace in Ireland and recognizes that the people living in the north are entitled to the same basic rights as those residing elsewhere in Ireland. It further calls for an end to the emergency legislation, reform of the legal system, the creation of unarmed and accountable police services, the end to all forms of discrimination, equality for the Irish language and culture, and the release of all political prisoners. At this time in the marching season, we hope that the British government will have heard the many voices here in the Congress and abroad about the consequences. We hope they change that course of events. I want to commend my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), for introducing this timely resolution. I urge its adoption.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Portuguese Instructive Social Club of Elizabeth as they celebrate their 76th anniversary. The club has demonstrated, time and again, its willingness to assist Elizabeth residents. The Club has been a vital supporter of the Amadue Correia school which currently has 300 students learning the Portuguese language, history, and culture. The club also established and supports the Dancas e Cantares Portugal (a Portuguese folk dancing group) which performs at various events throughout New Jersey and the New England area. The Portuguese Instructive Social Club will celebrate its accomplishments and anniversary with a dinner-dance at the Portuguese- American Hall on March 14.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time, and would like to say to the gentleman from California, the chairman, that I have enjoyed very much working with him as the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee and thank him for all his courtesies during the process of this markup. Mr. Chairman, a stronger, stable, prosperous Africa will be a better partner for security and peace in the fight against drug trafficking, international crime, terrorism, the spread of disease and environmental degradation. The philosophy of this bill is simple: America stands ready to help those African countries that help themselves. The bill gives greater trade benefits to those countries that undertake sustained reform. Those efforts should include, for example, eliminating trade barriers, improving fiscal policies, promoting private sector development, fostering good governance, fighting corruption, and investment and social development. And countries engaging in gross violations of human rights would not be eligible. Increased trade and investment would be good for Africa and good for American workers. Africa constitutes a market of over 660 million people, potentially one of the largest markets in the world. More people than Japan and all of the Asian nations combined. If reform spurs growth, it will create new and bigger markets for U.S. exports. Our exports to Africa already are intensive in high-wage industries such as machinery, transportation equipment, electronics and services. Exports to Africa are already much greater, 27 percent greater than our exports to all the former Soviet Union combined. Mr. Chairman, this bill can also bolster nascent African democracies, which can decrease the need for U.S. military, humanitarian and disaster relief. Let us consider the example of Mozambique. After 16 years of civil war, democratic elections were held in Mozambique in 1994 and economic stability has been restored. Inflation has been reduced from a high of 70 percent to approximately 5 percent in just 3 years. Over 780 State-owned industries have been privatized, some purchased by U.S. companies. The economic recovery has helped provide jobs for demobilized fighters and made it possible for the government to boost investment in education and health, the building blocks for the future of that nation. Mozambique's dramatic turnaround underscores what investment and trade can do, how they can help economies, governments and people recover from the trauma of war and build successful, stable, democratic societies. Increased trade and investment complements continuing assistance, and we cannot afford to let Africa fail. We must seize upon the opportunity to help Africa help itself. We have policy interests that are clear and compelling. Let us not lose, let us not lose this historic opportunity to make a difference in the annals of history. Let us not lose this opportunity now at the turn of the century. It is time for a new paradigm as it relates to Africa, and we should be taking advantage of that opportunity by the adoption of this legislation. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.