Jim Moran

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I cannot understand why we can be so nonchalant about what happened over the weekend. It should be a red flag. After having debated an entire day and narrowly passing a bill at great contradiction with what the Senate passed 100 to nothing, deciding to give responsibility for the security of the people who fly in our Nation's airlines to the very same firms that are now responsible for that security. Apparently it was a victory for that industry, a $700 million a year industry. But look what happened over the weekend. The very firm that has already gotten fined over $1 million because they were not training their people, when the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation went to Dulles Airport, they found 87 percent of the people that had been hired by Argenbright, a British firm, I am sure they want to do the right thing, but they had hired 87 percent not U.S. citizens. It is almost impossible to do adequate background checks. A number of them will be illegal felons, and a number of them had not received any training. And yet we go back and we entrust the security of the people of the United States to these very same firms in the House bill. And then over the weekend we find this guy, this Indiana Jones character with knives, with stun guns, with mace getting on to a plane having gone through the same Argenbright security system, the same system to which the House would entrust the security of the public that wants to use our airlines. We have more flights going out of the airport at our Nation's capital, but it is not the number of flights. It is the number of passengers on those flights. And there are not a sufficient number of passengers. Our airlines are going broke because the American public understands what the majority of the House seems unprepared to accept. It is not safe to fly on airlines unless we have professional people. All we were trying to do is to have professional people, adequately trained, adequately compensated with sufficient background checks. It is the weakest link in our system. It has got to stop. The Senate bill repairs that leak. We should pass the Senate bill. Obviously, we should pass this resolution because we need security at our Nation's airports and we need it now.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2047, the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) Authorization Act of 2002. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, located in my congressional district, is the agency most involved in the growth of innovation and commercial activity in our country. Patents and trademark registrations help create new industries and high-wage jobs. This process is critical to our global competitiveness and technological leadership. The PTO is entirely supported with the fees paid by patent and trademark applicants. It receives no taxpayer funds. Since 1992, however, Congress has been withholding an increasing portion of these fees for use in other Department of Commerce agencies. More than $800 million has been withheld to date. This alarming practice is made worse by the fact that since 1992, the PTO has experienced a 75 percent increase in its workload. As a result, the PTO is in near-crisis mode and is starved for funding. The increasing delays at the PTO--now more than two years to get a patent, and getting worse--are intolerable, not just for the companies involved but for the whole economy. H.R. 2047 takes several important steps to combat these unsettling trends. This bill authorizes full funding for the Patent and Trademark Office. This bipartisan measure also directs the PTO to develop an electronic system for filing and processing of patent and trademark applications. Furthermore, H.R. 2047 requires the administration to develop a 5- year strategic plan aimed at improving the quality of issued patents and trademarks, while reducing the waiting time. In today's economic climate, we as a nation cannot afford to neglect the PTO's vital mission of fostering new technologies and protecting American inventors. It is absolutely critical that inventors get the protection they need to encourage the innovation and the creativity that makes this country prosper. Strong patents and trademarks help our economy and U.S. consumers. This bipartisan bill offers a new approach that will provide adequate resources for the PTO to handle its huge workload and enable our country to maintain its global leadership in technology and innovation. I thank Chairman Coble and Congressman Berman for their leadership on H.R. 2047 and urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Jane Temoshok for her successful completion of the NOAA/NSF Teacher at Sea program. As a resident of Alexandria, Ms. Temoshok has made everyone in the Eighth District proud of her achievement as one of two teachers nationwide to be chosen for this program. Ms. Temoshok, a science teacher at Lyles-Crouch Elementary in Alexandria, left on October 2nd from Huatutelco, Mexico flying aboard the NSF C-130, a research plane, heading for the Galapagos Islands. There she joined the EPIC Research Cruise to Arica, Chile aboard the vessel the RON BROWN. She returned to Washington, DC on October 27th. Ms. Temoshok's purpose during her voyage revolved around interviewing scientists and interpreting their research in a way that can be understood by students. From her findings she constructed lesson plans for her pupils. Ms. Temoshok continued to instruct her students during the trip via the Internet, posting daily photos, journal writings and a questions and answers forum. The NOAA/NSF Teacher at Sea program has afforded Ms. Temoshok an unparalled opportunity to provide her students with a hands on education, grounded in her unique experience. The lessons learned on the NSF C-130 and the RON BROWN will stay with Ms. Temoshok for the rest of her teaching career, acting as an inspiration from which she will always be able to draw strength and creativity.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his cogent, concise, and very substantive statement. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. I thank the gentleman for his statement. It is largely the same bill that got 380 votes in the House last time. I am going to thank the appropriate people, after I just say a few words or make a few points about the bill. Mr. Speaker, it is important to make it clear that the Library of Congress, the General Accounting Office, the Government Printing Office, the Congressional Budget Office, all largely received whatever they requested; the joint committees and leadership accounts, as well. There are a number of provisions that will enable us to be better prepared to counter this new terrorist threat. Security and the need to preserve the ability of this institution to continue to function have been our paramount concern in putting this bill together. Mr. Speaker, this does provide funds to hire an additional 79 Capitol Police officers. It will bring the total force up to 1,481 full-time equivalents, and it will fund all their benefit increases. Several long-standing problems were resolved. The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) had raised the issue of temporary workers being involved in long-term projects. These temporary workers have been working an average of 4\1/2\ years, but they were not getting health and pension benefits because they were still given that classification. That has been resolved. The gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) was concerned about the contract cafeteria employees. They have been without pay since the closure of the Ford and Longworth cafeterias, so this bill would enable them to be compensated for their lost wages. We did not want them to find other jobs; we wanted them to be available when these office buildings reopen. But these people are not getting paid a whole lot, and so they were really suffering. There is a provision here that provides $65 per month for an employee transit benefit for the employees of the legislative branch if they use public transportation. They can get $65 a month tax-free. By next year, it goes up to $100 a month. The executive branch has provided this to their employees; we felt it was the appropriate thing to do it here. We have done that. There are provisions that will help us implement a teleworking policy, telecommuting. That is something the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) has been pushing. And particularly during this period of time when the House offices were closed, we realized that we have to figure out ways to be able to continue functioning, albeit sometimes from remote locations. We will try to do that with home laptop computers, in some cases. Mr. Speaker, I think those are most of the issues. There was an issue with regard to student loans. We hope that the Committee on House Administration can provide the same kind of student loan payback incentive that the Senate has, where we may be losing some well- qualified people to the Senate, of all places, because we do not provide the same kind of incentive they do. So we would hope that the authorizing committee would take care of that. Having said all of this, let me first of all thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Taylor), the chairman. He has been very good to work with. As I say, this is a good bill. Every request that was even remotely reasonable has been met. I want to recognize Mark Murray, Liz Dawson, and certainly Ed Lombard, who has been brought into service. He is the repository of all institutional knowledge on the legislative branch appropriations bill. I remember when Vic Fazio was the Chair and I was on the committee, and Ed had been a senior pro even then, so we appreciate him. I know Liz, as the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), said, has been very much involved in all of the security functions that are going on. We thank Liz for doing that. As well, Mike Harrison of the office of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), Roger France of the office of the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Taylor), we thank them for his help. Manny Crupi and Chuck Turner, and of course Tim Aiken of my staff, they all deserve credit for their assistance. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. There is no good reason not to support it. It ought to be supported unanimously.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Ohio of the Committee on Rules for yielding me this time, as well as the gentleman from Texas, for bringing up this rule. Mr. Speaker, this is a good conference agreement. I want to express my appreciation to the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Taylor), the members of the Subcommittee on Legislative, who worked closely to craft a good bill and a good final conference agreement. It largely reflects the same legislative branch appropriations bill that got 380 votes in the House earlier this year. Our objectives have always been to provide the legislative branch with the resources and the guidance that it requires to carry out its mission, even in these most trying of circumstances. The legislative body is the Federal essence of our democratic process, and all of the components of the legislative branch are well treated in this conference agreement. It prioritizes our capital improvement program, confronting, not deferring, personnel issues, such as an aging work force and retention challenges, and I do not mean the Members, I am referring to many of the staff up here on the Hill, and funding several new technology projects that will allow us to perform our work more efficiently, to make this work more readily available to the public and to preserve it for posterity. The Library of Congress, the General Accounting Office, the Government Printing Office, and the Congressional Budget Office will largely receive what they requested. Joint committees and leadership accounts will receive what they will need. In addition, this bill includes provisions that will help us respond and be better prepared for the new terrorist threat. Let me stress that security and the need to preserve the ability of this institution to continue to function have been our paramount concerns. This agreement provides the funds to hire an additional 79 police officers, bringing the Capitol Police force to 1,481 full-time equivalents and to fund their benefit increases. Between this agreement and the funding set aside in the fundamentals, this institution should be receiving all the resources it needs to address our security needs. The bill also includes provisions that address several long-standing problems that should now be resolved. I want to recognize the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) and express my appreciation for the successful effort that he led to end the long-standing practice by the Architect of the Capitol of using temporary workers for long-term projects to get around providing them health and pension benefits. These temporary workers have been employed by the Architect on an average of 4\1/2\ years. Recognition should also be given to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for her efforts to help contract cafeteria employees who have been without pay since the closure of the Ford and the Longworth cafeterias, so that they can be compensated for their lost wages. I am also pleased to see the conference agreement set aside sufficient funds to enable all offices, be it a Member's office, a committee, or the Congressional Budget Office or the Government Printing Office, to provide their employees with a $65-per-month employee transit benefit which should increase to $100 tax free by next year. In light of the terrorist attacks on September 11, this benefit and the effort to reduce the number of parking spaces and cars around the Capitol have taken on even greater importance. On a related issue, I am pleased the House Administrative Officer will be working on a plan to help more Members, staff, committees, and legislative branch agencies access their computer systems from a remote location. In times of peace, this initiative would have been called teleworking. In times of war, and our experience with the closure of House offices, providing Members access from a remote location, be it from the General Accounting Office or their home computer, has become an essential requirement to preserve the operations of this institution. I want to be certain we are doing all we can to ensure that we can function effectively no matter what the context, and certainly we have learned from our experience when the House office buildings were shut down. Over the long term, I believe that the transit benefit, assistance on student loan repayments, and greater teleworking opportunities are good personnel policies that will also help us attract and retain employees and professional staff in all legislative branch agencies. I do want to say a word about the student loan program. It will apply to the Senate, the CBO, the GAO, but not the House of Representatives; and this inequity is unfortunate and should not have occurred. It is largely due to inaction on the part of the Committee on House Administration and will give the Senate and other legislative branch agencies yet another edge on the House in recruiting qualified employees. The lack of this student loan incentive gives an advantage to the Senate that the House does not have in recruiting qualified employees. I would hope that the Committee on House Administration will move quickly to recommend criteria and guidelines so that we can set up such a program as soon as possible. I have spoken to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) about this, and I know that he is ready, and has been ready, to work with Chairman Ney to develop the kinds of guidelines that we need to make this student loan repayment program work and provide another incentive to get top-notch staff working for us here on the House side. Unfortunately, we could not do it in time for this conference, but I trust it will be done. Similarly, the House administration needs to authorize the full transit benefit permitted under current law. With enactment of this agreement, money should no longer be an issue, though. This appropriation provides the money. We still do need authority from the Committee on House Administration. If my colleagues at the Federal executive branch, State and local governments, and the private sector can find the resources to provide their employees transit benefits, assistance repaying student loans, and teleworking options, so can we. In all, I think we have a good agreement that will go a long way toward addressing the needs and operations of the legislative branch for the balance of this fiscal year, and I urge my colleagues to not only approve the rule but to approve the conference report on the legislative branch appropriations bill.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Illinois for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I just want to rise to reflect the broad-based support that this provision has within the Congress. This is not going to cost the American taxpayer any money, but it will provide some personal security for the great many Federal employees who need long-term care insurance. This was a good idea. There were any number of Members, particularly from the Washington metropolitan area, who pushed it. It is an important benefit, and it is one that all of the Federal workers throughout the country are going to appreciate. And particularly at this time when they are working under such fear and anxiety, it is the appropriate thing to do. I know it will be much appreciated. So I strongly support this measure. I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia and the gentleman from Illinois for bringing it to the floor today.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. I thank my friend and colleague the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler) for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, the world watched in horror as the symbol of our Nation's wealth, the World Trade Center, and our Nation's military might, the Pentagon, were viciously attacked. There is an aching in our hearts as we mourn for the senseless loss of life and we share the grief of the victims' families, friends and coworkers. As the list of casualties from Pennsylvania, the World Trade Center and the Pentagon grows to over 5,000 people, it is frightening to imagine that the toll would have been higher were it not for the extraordinary courage and valor exhibited by our firefighters, police officers and emergency rescue workers. That is the reason that I so strongly support House Concurrent Resolution 243, which will allow us to honor the valor of the public safety officers who answered the call of duty on September 11. In my own congressional district, the brave and heroic men and women of the Arlington County, City of Alexandria and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Departments and Police Departments should be particularly honored. These, along with the Federal firefighters at Fort Myer and the Defense Protection Service, were the emergency personnel who first responded to the attack on the Pentagon. Every day these men and women face risks and challenges that few of us can relate to. It is our natural reaction when there is a fire to run away from it. Their professional responsibility is to run into it. On September 11, with little regard for their own safety and well-being, they responded within minutes after the attack on the Pentagon. The Arlington County Fire and Police Departments, which have primary responsibility for first response at the Pentagon, were right there on the scene along with the firefighters and Emergency Medical Service personnel from Alexandria and Fairfax Counties who were assisted by any number of other response teams from around the area and really around the country. They courageously fought the flames, rescued victims trapped inside the building, and treated and transported the injured. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my wholehearted gratitude towards these men and women on behalf of the families whose loved ones were saved because of their heroic efforts. Together with the Fire and Police Departments of New York City, they do deserve our admiration and our pride. I trust that this resolution will pass unanimously. I commend the gentleman from New York for offering it, and I appreciate the opportunity to support it.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), and I particularly want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for introducing this legislation. This would appear to be a minor, technical correction; but it makes a major change in the lives of a great many American families. I use the term ``American families'' deliberately. I challenge Members to find any group of immigrants any more committed to the United States and its values than Vietnamese refugees. The Vietnamese American families are extremely patriotic. They put many of us to shame. The fact is that their sons and daughters are being stigmatized, penalized because of their family ties. The limitations, both social and economic that are placed on them, are unfair. The right thing to do is to let them be reunited with their families. This is a good bill. I am glad it is going to pass unanimously.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as a former Member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am very happy to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 2910, introduced by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes). It has met the committee co-sponsorship requirement and is supported by the entire Virginia Congressional delegation. Norman grew up in Richmond, Virginia, served honorably in the Navy during World War II. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, became a successful businessman as president of the Pepsi- Cola Bottling Company of Petersburg where he lead what was a small business to one of the largest and most profitable in the South. Norm Sisisky served in Virginia's General Assembly representing Petersburg, Virginia. After serving five terms in the assembly, he was elected to U.S. Congress where he represented Virginia's Fourth Congressional District until his untimely death in March of this year. Norman Sisisky served as a senior member of the Committee on Armed Services and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Procurement. He was always a strong defender and advocate of the armed services, and I know he will be particularly missed in that area. He already has been. He was a member of the Subcommittee on Military Readiness and the Panel on Military Morale, Welfare and Recreation. He knew the importance of maintaining a strong military. He will always be remembered for standing behind our military families and veterans. He was also one of the most effective advocates in Congress for a strong Navy, particularly, and its ship building program at Newport News. Throughout his career in public service, he helped in a substantial way in making our military second to none. Norm Sisisky was a hard-working colleague and a dedicated public servant. I think we should also say he was, too, a very witty, urbane and engaging friend to so many of us. And in addition to his public service, we miss his friendship. He leaves a great legacy to the people of Virginia and to our entire Nation. I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes), and all of the Virginia Congressional Delegation. And it is not just confined to Virginia. We have the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) speaking. It should be said that Norm was one of the best-liked Members of this body. I urge swift passage of this bill, and I trust it will be unanimous. This is one small way of remembering Norm Sisisky. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the honorable and very distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may want to consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), Norman's next door neighbor.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, we need an airport security bill. This is not a partisan issue. I share completely the views of my colleague, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary that appropriates money. Mr. Speaker, we know what happened a few years ago in Northern Virginia. A Pakistani by the name of Mir Aimal Kasi walked up to several people sitting in line to turn in to the CIA, and brutally murdered them. Reached in with an assault weapon and killed them. It took years, but we found him. His roommate was a baggage screener at Dulles Airport. 87 percent of these people hired by Argenbright, who does the baggage screening at National Airport and Dulles Airport, are not U.S. citizens. How can we do a background check on someone who is not a U.S. citizen, and many are illegal aliens, and they are doing the passenger and baggage screening at our airports? It is not working. The airlines have looked for the bottom line, the cheapest people who will work for the least amount of money. We need to federalize and professionalize them.

Ms. MORAN of Virginia

Ms. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to shed light on atrocities occurring halfway around the world. Long before the horrific events of September 11, the Taliban regime has been perpetrating egregious human rights violations against Afghan women and girls. When the fanatically religious Taliban militia seized control of Kabul in September 1996, Afghanistan was transformed into a brutal state of gender apartheid. Under the extremist Taliban rule, women and girls are denied the most basic human rights. The Taliban religious police, known as the ``Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice,'' monitor strict conformity to Taliban edicts. Women are forbidden to work, go to school, leave their homes unless accompanied by a male relative, or speak above a whisper in public. Many women are widowed due to their husbands being killed by the Taliban militia. They are routinely raped by militia men and forced to beg for scraps of food to feed their children. Other mothers hopelessly turn to prostitution, knowing that if they are caught, they will be publicly executed. Women are ordered to wear a burqa--a large, heavy cloth which covers the body from head to toe--with only a small mesh-covered opening through which to see and breathe. Women and girls are also denied access to basic health care services. They are denied admittance to most hospitals and from being examined by male physicians while prohibiting most female doctors and nurses from working. A violation of any of these Taliban decrees results in women being brutally beaten, publicly flogged, and killed. This regime is so heinous and oppressive that it executes little girls for the crime of attending school. Girls ages 8 and older caught attending underground schools are subject to being taken to the Kabul soccer stadium and made to kneel on the ground while an executioner puts a machine gun to the back of their heads and pulls the trigger. Spectators in the stands are instructed to cheer. An elderly woman was brutally beaten with a metal cable until her leg was broken because her ankle was accidentally showing from underneath her burqa. In a village outside of Kabul, three young girls were made to watch as the Taliban militia shot their mother in front of their eyes and then stayed in their home for two days while the mother's body lay in the courtyard. The despair among women and children is so extreme, Physicians for Human Rights reports that 76 percent of women living in Taliban- controlled areas are suffering from severe depression and 16 percent of women committing suicide. The United States and the international community cannot turn its back on the plight of Afghan women and children. I was pleased by the President's recent announcement to increase humanitarian assistance to Afghan refugees, 75 percent of which are women and children. The United States must demonstrate that while we strongly oppose the Taliban regime, we support the people of Afghanistan. We must remain committed to improving the status of women and children in Afghanistan.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am joined today by a group of bipartisan colleagues to introduce legislation to establish a memorial in honor of the victims of the September 11 attack on the Pentagon. This legislation would reserve a portion of land at the Navy Annex, which is situated across from the Pentagon in Arlington, to erect a memorial for this purpose. Anyone that has visited this site knows the many personal stories and tributes left in memory of the victims of this attack. It overlooks the site of the attack on the Pentagon and has already served as a informal memorial location, marked by countless flowers, handwritten notes and candlelight vigils. This land, which is already subject to transfer to the Secretary of the Army (under section 2881 of the Military Construction Authorization Act for FY2000, P.L. 106-65), would provide an ideal location to locate a memorial to honor the victims of the Pentagon attack. Words do not sufficiently describe the pain and utter sadness we all feel as a result of this tragic event. Locally, we all know someone who was affected by this attack. The establishment of a memorial at the Navy Annex is just one small way we as a country can ensure that the spirit of these individuals lives on and that our American way of life is uplifted. These 189 victims were not only friends and neighbors, but they represent the countless American lives that have been touched by September 11. Many of them were serving their country as either soldiers or public servants. They were parents, friends and active members of our communities. They, like other victims of the tragic events of that day, represented a cross-section of America, coming from all walks of life. Despite the profound pain that our country has experienced, we have also witnessed an uplifting of the American spirit in the aftermath of this event through the outpouring of generosity and volunteer assistance. We must not forget how powerful our country is when we come together and work toward a common goal and purpose. I think this memorial should also serve as a reminder of what makes our country and its people persevere in the face of adversity. Already we have seen an outpouring of generosity and interest from members of the public in establishing the Navy Annex as an official site for such a memorial. The New York and Pennsylvania delegations are planning to establish memorials to the victims who died in those attack sites. It is only fitting that we establish a site here that will enable the general public to pay tribute to the 189 Americans who died in the September 11 attack at the Pentagon. I would note that this legislation complies with the established standards for memorials and commemorative works. It leave the process of siting, design, and construction of the memorial to the National Capital Planning Commission, the National Capitol Monuments Commission and the Fine Arts Commission. I am confident that the collective expertise of these commissions will yield an appropriate design and message for such a memorial. I look forward to working with Members of Congress and the administration to swiftly enact this legislation establishing a memorial to properly honor the victims of the September 11 attack on the Pentagon.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have never been timid about my support for the National Endowment for the Arts or my passionate belief about the importance of the arts in our culture and the role of the federal government in fostering the arts. Just as profoundly, I believe we have been blessed to have Bill Ivey at the helm of that agency at a critical time. I have thousands of civil servants among my constituents. I know the dedication they bring to their work. Billy Ivey would rank among the top of those who come into government only for a time--contributing their special backgrounds and abilities. His appointment to be Chairman of the NEA was an inspiration. Bill did not have to be converted to the idea of connecting the arts and the NEA to communities and families. He was one of its prophets. As a life-long folklorist, when Bill Ivey talks about America's Living Cultural Heritage, it's clearly not a phrase from a good wordsmith. That devotion comes from his very soul. When he says ``Living Cultural Heritage,'' you can practically see his toes growing into the ground like tree roots. He also brought another skill to the NEA, one that is as critical to success as it is often overlooked. From having run a non-profit organization for more than 25 years, Bill understood, and had met, the challenges of leading and managing a large organization. We never saw that directly on the Hill. But I have heard from my constituents who have worked for Bill at that agency that he was extraordinary. We have certainly seen the results. Most heads of agencies or programs might get to know the Chairmen and a few key Members of the Authorizing and Appropriating Committees with relevant jurisdiction. Bill Ivey tried to meet all of us, especially all of the critics of the NEA. He pounded the terrazzo and marble of our halls to meet hundreds of Members of Congress, reinforcing the agency's supporters and disarming its detractors. He gave us concise briefings on the NEA's programs and procedures, and on his vision for how the NEA could enrich our families and communities. He took back to the NEA the priorities of our constituents. He instituted many experimental programs, among them: for fostering partnerships among local community organizations, for positive alternatives for young people, and for enhancing the use of arts in education. He promoted outreach in formal and informal initiatives--and in simply making outreach a priority in everything the NEA did. In the last four years, with mostly a flat budget, the NEA increased the number of applications received, and doubled the number of grants given. Bill Ivey, and the National Endowment for the Arts under his leadership, gave Congress more than ample reason for FY 2001 to give the agency its first budget increase in eight years. Mr. Speaker, Bill Ivey is moving on to other challenges, but his accomplishments in leading the NEA can never be exceeded. Personally I will miss him. Our nation now faces a new challenge brought upon by the terrorists attacks on September 11th. I share Bill Ivey's belief that the Arts can play a critical role healing this country. Following Bill Ivey's tenure at the NEA, the Arts community is in a better position to respond to this new challenge.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, the world watched in horror as the primary symbols of our Nation's strength and prosperity were attacked. There is an aching in our hearts as we mourn for the senseless loss of life, and we share the grief of the victims' families, friends, and coworkers. As the list of casualties from the World Trade Towers, from the Pentagon, and from Pennsylvania grows to 6,500, it is frightening to imagine that the toll would have been higher, even higher, were it not for the extraordinary courage and valor exhibited by our firefighters, police officers, and emergency rescue workers. For this reason I rise today to pay homage to all emergency service personnel, but particularly to the brave and heroic men and women of the Arlington County, City of Alexandria, and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and Police Department. These, along with the Federal firefighters at Fort Myer, are the emergency service personnel who first responded to the attack on the Pentagon. If there is one thing that distinguishes firefighters from the rest of us, it is that they are trained to run toward a blaze while the rest of us run away from it. Every day, these men and women face risks and challenges that few of us can relate to. With little regard for their own safety and well-being, these firefighters responded within minutes after the attack to the Pentagon. The Arlington County Fire Department and Police Department, which have primary responsibility for first response at the Pentagon, were among the first emergency teams to arrive at the scene of the plane crash. Firefighters and emergency medical service personnel from Arlington and assisted by response teams from around the area courageously fought the flames, rescued victims trapped inside the building, and treated and transported the injured. A few days after the attack, I had the opportunity to tour the destruction site at the Pentagon. In the midst of the ruins and the lingering smoke, the firefighters were working around the clock to extinguish the blaze and continue with rescue and recovery efforts. Response teams from the entire D.C. area, including fire and rescue teams from Fort Myer, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, and many localities are to be commended for their bravery and lifesaving efforts. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my wholehearted gratitude toward these men and women who are responsible for saving so many lives. Together with the firefighters and police of New York City, they reminded all of us of what it means to exhibit courage and valor. It is with great pride and admiration that I rise today to honor these firefighters and rescue personnel for their commitment on behalf of our country. I want to particularly commend Fire Chief Ed Plaugher of the Arlington County Fire Department and Police Chief Ed Flynn for their leadership during this terrible time in our community. The fire chief and police chief of Alexandria and those of Fairfax County also were able to command their forces with the kind of courage and immediate responsiveness that reflects their professional dedication, their selflessness and unwavering dedication which is an inspiration to all Americans. Mr. Speaker, history will show that during a time of one of America's greatest tragedies, a heroic group of firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel, and volunteers from around the Washington Metropolitan area brought our community and our country immense pride and honor.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, the bill that is before us says no Federal funds can be used to implement the D.C. Health Benefits Act, an act that was passed back in 1992. Since that act was passed, 113 other local cities have implemented the same domestic partnership legislation, cities like Atlanta, Albany, Chicago, New Orleans, and New York. They did it because their constituents wanted it. D.C.'s elected city council understands its constituents, has asked them to pass this legislation. But it is not just municipal governments. Corporations like IBM, AT&T, Boeing, Citigroup, they have the same domestic partnership policy. It does not do exclusively what has been suggested. It applies to every situation where you have caring people living together, and in many cases providing for the other person. Mr. Chairman, in so many households in D.C., we have a grandmother and a mother taking care of the children. We have disabled people, and their live-in care provider would be able to purchase health insurance. We have two sisters living together, two elderly people who cannot marry for economic reasons. They should be able to purchase health insurance at their own expense. At their own expense. There is no Federal Government money involved here. Keep the bill the way it is. Defeat the Weldon amendment.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, could I ask how the Chair determined that a sufficient number had risen to ask for a recorded vote?

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time and for his leadership, and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg). This is a good bill, but I do have a problem with it. The problem is with the rule. The rule should not have made in order the Weldon amendment, because we had a better bill coming out than might pass if we include the Weldon amendment. This is a time when we need to come together as a Nation. We should not be advancing amendments that are intended to divide us. That is what the Weldon amendment would do. It would reverse a vote on the full Committee on Appropriations that took place last week, and it took place purely on the substance of the issue. In 1992, the District of Columbia passed a domestic partnership program. We have forbidden them from implementing that program for the last 9 years. All it did was say that the District employees can purchase health insurance at their own expense for a domestic partner. Who qualifies? Well, disabled people and their health care provider, two widows or widowers living together, a grandmother and mother who are jointly raising children, two relatives raising their children together, as well as domestic partners. The amendment today would continue the ban on the use of local funds to implement the Domestic Partnership Act. But no Federal funds are involved. Why are we involved? Why should we be against expanding health care coverage to widows, to children and to unmarried couples? They are using their own money. If they do not use their own money, many of them will have to be financed by the Medicaid program. Most of which is paid for by Federal funds. It just does not make sense, and I think it is mean-spirited as well. Throughout this country, in Los Angeles; in Denver; in Baltimore; in Seattle; in St. Louis; in Philadelphia; in Pittsburgh; in Austin, Texas; in Iowa City, Idaho; Tucson, Arizona all those cities have the same domestic partnership policy. Yet we are denying it to the District of Columbia to be able to use their own funds and to enable people to purchase at their own expense health insurance? Why should we be doing this kind of legislation? No Member is on the floor today proposing that they ban domestic partnership programs in their own cities, in their own jurisdiction. There are over 113 State and local governments that have this policy, at least 155 colleges and universities, more than 145 of the largest corporations in the country, at least 4,000 other private companies and not-for-profits. The Weldon amendment should be defeated, and then let us enact a good bill.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues know, I am proud to represent Washington's National Airport which tonight is closed, completely closed except for terminal A, which has been transformed into an unemployment compensation center for the more than 10,000 people who have lost their jobs at National Airport and the more than 60,000 people in the Washington area whose jobs are dependent on National Airport. The terrorists caused the loss of more than 6,000 lives. They cannot cause the loss of thousands of livelihoods. I am going to vote for this, but I have the confidence we are going to do something for the workers, too, who work day to day and breathe life into the aircraft and the airline industry. But we cannot have employees without employers. We have got to pass this bill. But it is not enough.

Mr. MORAN of Virginia

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, as of yesterday, over at the Pentagon there were 196 people still missing from the Army, the Navy, and a number of contractors. In addition to the 64 airline passengers, there were 21 from the Army, 47 Army civilians, six contractors, 33 Navy military personnel, 10 Navy civilians, and 5 Navy contractors who lost their lives at the Pentagon. But, Mr. Speaker, our people have responded in a way that makes us so proud to be Americans. The Arlington County Fire Department and Police Department were the first on the scene. They have coordinated. They have no idea how much to ask for reimbursement because it did not matter to them. They have not kept any record. Volunteers poured in so fast it would have been impossible. They did not care about checking in, they cared about doing their job. They did their job. I am so immensely proud of Arlington County, of Alexandria, of Fairfax County, of this entire Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The going got tough, the tough got going. They saved the people that could be saved. They have done a wonderful job.