Bob Menendez

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to end an outrageous abuse of a program designed to aid our most vulnerable citizens: the aged, blind, and disabled. Reports by the General Accounting Office and the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services tell us that some families teach their children to feign mental illness or retardation so that the parents can collect SSI checks once the children are diagnosed as being unable to function in an age-appropriate manner. Parents are not required to spend these checks to assist their disabled children. These parents abuse the SSI program's flexibility in the case of a child whose condition does not match one on the published list of medical impairments considered severe enough to preclude any gainful activity. Yesterday's Washington Post reports bipartisan concern about these abuses by parents who can increase their welfare checks from $6,204 to $11,652 for a single parent with two children, when one child is enrolled in SSI. The Republican plan is to take a meat ax to all SSI checks for disabled children. This is not reform, but a mindless attack on families already under severe stress caring for seriously ill children. We must not solve this problem by eliminating the modest support we pay to parents who are poor because they stay at the bedside of a dying child. The bill I am introducing today would preserve SSI benefits for disabled children, but in the case of children who become eligible as a result of the alternative process so many are now abusing, the benefits would come in the form of vouchers for services needed by the child in connection with the disability. I urge my colleagues to join with me in enacting a humane way of eliminating abuse of the SSI program by unscrupulous parents.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mono Sen, an Indian community leader. Mr. Sen has made many positive contributions to the Indian community in the 13th Congressional District. He has dedicated himself to helping others, no matter how difficult the task. He has spent his entire career creating opportunities for hundreds of people of all races, creeds and ethnicities. Mr. Sen came to the United States in 1971 and lived in New York until June of 1974. While living in New York, he dedicated himself to helping senior citizens. He served as the management consultant at the William Hudson Center in the South Bronx and as director of Caring Community Center in New York, which provided quality services mostly to the Jewish and Italian communities. Mr. Sen has provided jobs for many Indian E.S.L. teachers in Jersey City and is responsible for the hiring of many Indians as income maintenance technicians in the Hudson County Welfare Department. In 1977, Mr. Sen fought for Federal money to help Vietnamese refugees resettle in Hudson County. Mr. Sen is a community leader in the best sense of the word. People come to him with their problems, whether they are financial or personal, and Mr. Sen tries to help them with their problems. Mr. Sen has expressed great interest in uniting the Asian-American community. He founded the United Ethnic Congress in America in 1980. The purpose of this organization was to promote the election and appointments of Asians to the U.S. Government, so that they could contribute politically. Mr. Sen also joined the American Association and began generating interest among Indians in the community in becoming involved in politics. In addition, he was one of the main speakers of the first Convention of Indians in New York. Also, in 1991, Mr. Sen spoke for almost 2 hours before the U.S. Civil Rights Commission on police abuses on behalf of 9 million Asian people. Many people in the community depend on Mr. Sen for help in such matters as seeking help from the city, county or State, as well as donate $30,000 worth of materials to the Hudson County Community College and $3,000 worth of books to the Jersey City Public Library. A great many people depend on Mr. Sen's abilities, as well as his kindness, generosity and goodwill. He makes no distinction in helping people. He has worked very hard for many years to help those in need, and has turned no one away. He has never discriminated among Jews, Hindus, Christians, or Muslims. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mono Sen for all of his hard work in the community. I am truly proud to have such an exemplary man living in my district. A birthday celebration will be held in Mr. Sen's honor on February 4, 1995, at public school No. 11. Please join me in wish Mono Sen a happy 70th birthday.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am not quite sure under your ruling that I can even refer to the Speaker in any respect, but as someone who came to the floor today to vote when the vote was called, I did not expect to speak. But as someone whose family has fled from oppression in search of freedom and democracy, I am appalled at what could happen in the greatest hall of democracy in the world. But I have seen it today. You can question the motives of a whole group of people, put their motives in question, but you cannot question the motive of an individual who is in a leadership position and determines the agenda of this House. You can pass a Congressional Accountability Act, yet you cannot call for the accountability of an individual who leads the House and seek its disclosure. This is not about an individual's book deal who may be paid by royalties and the $4 million is coming. But it is about public licenses, public airwaves. It is about our national treasures, and you are denying one of the greatest national treasures, the ability of Members to speak in this House freely.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Joseph Marini, commissioner of public affairs in Union City, NJ. Commissioner Marini has not only served the people of Union City through his position in the local government, but has been actively involved in its educational system. After many successful years as an educator, Commissioner Marini retired from his current position as assistant superintendent of schools in Union City last month. Commissioner Marini began his distinguished career in education in 1955, when he was hired as a math and science teacher in Union City. He served his students well in this capacity until 1966. From 1966 until 1982, he was employed as principal of Roosevelt School. During these years, he initiated a bilingual education program even before the State mandated it. As principal of Emerson High School from 1984-85, Commissioner Marini was instrumental in helping the school achieve middle States accreditation. When it comes to making a difference in young peoples' lives, Commissioner Marini's dedication does not end with his work within the schools. He became involved in extracurricular activities, taking the time to get to know the students on a more personal basis. From 1961- 62, Commissioner Marini was the head coach of the Union Hill High School basketball team. From 1973-74, he was the director of the Union City Recreation Program. From 1975-79, he was the supervisor of the Union City After School Daycare Program. Commissioner Marini is a member of the Union City and the New Jersey education associations. He also sits on the Union City Public Library Board. In addition, as a member of the New Jersey Urban School Superintendent Committee, he is active in lobbying for full funding for education. Commissioner Marini grew up in Union City and raised his family there. He knows the needs of the youngsters in the city and has done an excellent job of serving those needs. I am sure the residents of Union City very much appreciate the contributions he has made to the city. Providing quality education to our students has been Commissioner Marini's goal throughout his career. He has dedicated himself to creating a brighter future for our city's youngsters. He realizes that investing in the young people of today means investing in our future. He knows that the more help these young people receive, the brighter the future of our country will be. Commissioner Joseph Marini is truly an outstanding citizen. I commend him for his many positive accomplishments. Please join me in thanking him for his work and in retirement.

Mr. MENENDEZ

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that while the American people were promised an opening day of sweeping reform and openness in Congress, they instead see the use of restrictive rules to prohibit Democrats from offering amendments to the new so-called reforms. If today were truly the end of business as usual in Washington, we would be reading headlines about new progress in the fight to help Americans find and keep good jobs to provide for their families, not about $4 million book deals. Americans voted to make sure that Congress was not for sale. They voted against arrogance, the arrogance of cashing in on public office, of using the majority to require supermajority votes on certain issues, and for open rules that create the open debate we heard promised today in such glowing terms. We have been denied the chance to make real news here today. I voted for the Democratic motion, which will be offered again. I hope it will be accepted by the Republicans this time to revise the rules to include a ban on gifts from lobbyists and a limit on the income which Members may receive from the royalties on book sales. That was the opportunity for real change. Republicans blocked them.

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, paraphrasing from a newspaper editorial: Not content with their party's 15-vote majority in the House of Representatives, the Republicans want to improve their odds by changing the rules of the game. The Republicans intend to offer a bill that would require a 3/5s majority in the House to approve any bill increasing some taxes. So much for the careful deliberations of the Constitution's framers. They required a supermajority only for the most momentous decisions--approving treaties, impeaching Presidents, and expelling Members of Congress. Republicans think they got it wrong. They would add their own policy preference to that select list. If they succeed, the tactic will probably be used again. Republicans could force a 3/5s vote to cut defense spending. If Democrats regain control, they could require a 3/5s vote to cut poverty programs. So much for majority rule. So much for simple fairness. The Republican's boldness has a darker side--their recklessness. With this proposal, they defy the intent of the framers of the Constitution and upset a carefully-balanced system that has worked well for two centuries. Mr. Speaker, the article in its entirety is as follows: Running roughshod Over the Constitution Not content with his party's 15-vote majority in the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich wants to improve his odds by changing the rules of the game. The Speaker-to-be intends to offer a bill that would require a three-fifths majority in the House to approve any bill increasing taxes. So much for the careful deliberations of the Constitution's framers. They required a supermajority only for the most momentous decisions--approving treaties, impeaching presidents, and expelling members of Congress, for example, Mr. Gingrich apparently thinks they got it wrong. He would add his own policy preference to that select list. If he succeeds, the tactic will probably be used again. Republicans could force a three-fifths vote to cut defense spending, for example. If Democrats regain control, they could require a three-fifths vote to cut poverty programs. So much for majority rule. So much for simple fairness. Mr. Gingrich's boldness has a darker side--recklessness. With this proposal, he defies the intent of the framers of the Constitution, and upsets a carefully-balanced system that has worked well for two centuries. If Mr. Gingrich believes tax hikes deserve such exalted status, he should proceed in accord with the Constitution and offer a constitutional amendment. That would require approval by two-thirds of each house in Congress, and three-fourths of the states--unless tow-thirds of the states convene a constitutional convention. Apparently, Mr. Gingrich does not want to risk the scrutiny that the Founding Fathers prescribed for such momentous change. Other changes offered by Mr. Gingrich make sense. At his behest, the incoming Republican majority has voted to reduce the number of committees in the House, and cut staff. He would make each committee's jurisdiction more clear. The change is designed to prevent several committees from latching onto a single issue, as happened with health legislation earlier this year. Mr. Gingrich was right to end funding for the special caucuses, including the Black Congressional Caucus and the Caucus for Women's Issues. He has been accused of cutting these funds to undercut his political opposition, and that may be the case. Nevertheless, there is merit to his case. The caucuses are special-interest groups, and taxpayers shouldn't have to support them. The 28 caucuses that get taxpayer money have spent $35 million in the last decade, and critics say $7 million of that hasn't been accounted for. One caucus, the New York State congressional delegation, bought a Steuben glass eagle and 11 crystal apples as gifts for a retiring congressman and his staff. After losing this flight, the chairman of the black caucus, Kweisi Mfume, D-Md. pledged that his caucus will raise private money to continue its work. That's the idea.