Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim Mr. Miller's time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight because the White House has finally made an announcement of what many of us already knew, that Ambassador John Evans of Armenia is officially being replaced. Ambassador Evans has given exemplary service to his country, and was a well-respected ambassador in a region of strategic importance to the United States. However, as it turns out, Evans was forced to vacate his post for publicly affirming the Armenian genocide. Reports highly suggest that because Evans declared that ``the Armenian genocide was the first genocide of the 20th Century,'' he is being unjustly penalized for speaking the truth. However, by employing the proper term last year, the Ambassador was only building on previous statements by our leaders in Government, as well as the repeated declarations of numerous world-renowned scholars. Ambassador Evans did nothing more than succinctly repeat the conclusions enunciated by many before him. Mr. Speaker, it is my fear that the Government of Turkey may have played a role in this unfortunate event. I strongly believe that they have expressed concern to the White House over Evans' remarks last year. In fact, immediately following his remarks, Evans issued a correction, all too seemingly at the behest of the administration. And we must not allow a third party to interfere in U.S. diplomacy and refrain from declaring the truth in order to promote relations with Turkey. To this day, the Republic of Turkey refuses to acknowledge the fact that this massive crime against humanity took place under its control in the name of Turkish nationalism. Unfortunately some 90 years later, the U.S. State Department continues to support Turkey's denials despite all evidence to the contrary. It is simply unacceptable for this administration to penalize Evans for his comments. What he did was courageous and should be viewed as such, not punished. Ambassador Evans simply articulated the same message as that of the administration. However the only difference was his assigning a word to define the actions taken against Armenians. Ambassador Evans is in fact an expert on the subject. He has studied the history of Armenia and based on his substantial studies he was willing to go on the record and define the systematic extermination of 1\1/2\ million Armenian men, women and children as genocide. Mr. Speaker, in early March I wrote a letter to the State Department because I was outraged to see that Ambassador Evans was withdrawn from Armenia. Based on news reports the State Department recalled the Ambassador as retaliation for his statements. Over 2 months have passed since I expressed my disappointment and I have yet to receive a response from the State Department. I specifically asked Secretary Rice for an explanation as to why Ambassador Evans was removed from his post. Not only was my inquiry ignored, but other Member's inquiries have also gone unanswered. Now the White House has made an official announcement, but still has not given an explanation. Mr. Speaker, I hope that the newly-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Richard Hoagland, will not play the word games of the White House and comply with Turkey's campaign of genocide denial. Mr. Speaker, the New York Times did an editorial on May 16 this year detailing the dangers to Turkey and to the world of that country's continued denial of the Armenian genocide. I just want to read the last paragraph of that insignificant editorial. It says, ``the preponderance of serious scholarship outside Turkey accepts that more than a million Armenians perished between 1914 and 1915 in a regime-sponsored campaign. Turkey's continued refusal to countenance even a discussion of the issue stands as a major obstacle to restoring relations with neighboring Armenia and to claiming Turkey's rightful place in Europe and the west. It is time for the Turks to realize that the greater danger to them is denying history.''

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the Do-Nothing Congress of 1948 is about to be replaced as the most ineffective Congress in recent times. Today, just as in 1948, the American people are looking to Congress to tackle some very important issues: The war in Iraq, rising gas prices, rising college and health care costs, the economic uncertainty resulting from the outsourcing of high-paying American jobs, and a record deficit that continues to spiral out of control. There is so much that this Congress could be working on right now, but House Republicans refuse to address any of these concerns. In fact, it is difficult to address the concerns of the American people when Congress is never in session. I am sure the American people will be shocked to hear that this is only the 36th day the House is scheduled to hold votes this year. With only 57 scheduled voting days until adjournment, the House is now on track to meet 15 days less than the first Do-Nothing Congress of 1948. And it is no wonder the American people are so disgusted with Congress. Mr. Speaker, the House Republican majority is simply out of new ideas. Any time that a crisis hits, they throw out the same old ideas that haven't worked for them in the past and will not work for them in the future. And let me give you a case in point. This week, House Republicans say they are finally ready to address the record gas prices Americans have been forced to pay every time they go to the gas station. So what is the new idea House Republicans will bring to the floor this week? Drilling in the Alaska wilderness, the area known as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Well, that sounds familiar. That's right. You've heard it before. It's nothing new. And it will do absolutely nothing to help American consumers with the pain they now face at the pump. In fact, they wouldn't even be able to start drilling for oil out in this Alaska wilderness until a decade after Congress gives its approval. Worse yet, ANWR only holds enough oil to provide 6 months of oil to the American consumer. This is simply not an energy solution. It is the same old idea. So then why do Washington Republicans choose to ignore the problem? Could it be that they have built such a cozy relationship with the CEOs of Big Oil that they are simply unwilling to break these bonds? Let's not forget that with two oil men in the White House and a rubber-stamp Republican Congress always ready to back them up, big oil companies have seen their profits quadruple in the past 4 years. At the same time the price of gasoline has doubled and our dependence on foreign oil has increased substantially. As American families struggle to deal with falling wages and rising prices at the pump, the Republicans in this body continue to deliver billions of dollars in tax breaks to big oil companies. Mr. Speaker, it is no wonder the American people are demanding change. They want results, and they aren't getting them from this Republican majority. Unlike our Republican colleagues, House Democrats have offered some innovative and new ideas that are worth exploring. Last week, the Democratic Rural Working Group unveiled its ambitious plan to reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum and promote the production and use of clean renewable energy here at home. In other words, promote the production and use of clean renewable energy here at home so we are not so dependent on foreign oil. Our proposal, the Democratic proposal, provides tax incentives to encourage increased biofuels production, expands the ethanol and biodiesel pumps at gas stations, and increases the number of flex fuel vehicles on the road. The Democrats have also introduced legislation that would rescind the tax breaks to big oil companies. At a time when they are breaking record profits every quarter, why should the Federal Government hand out tax breaks to these companies? We shouldn't. It is simply not fair. As Americans prepare to travel this weekend for the Memorial Day holiday, they should know that Democrats are offering real solutions to high gas prices to protect the American consumer, not Big Oil. Mr. Speaker, the American people are fed up with the Republican Do- Nothing Congress and are demanding change here in Washington, something that Republicans simply cannot deliver. It is time for fresh ideas. It is time for Democrats to take control of this House so that the needs of all Americans are once again addressed on this House floor rather than just the corporate interests such as Big Oil.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the House we started the appropriations process, and that continues today, but the problem is that the Republican leadership and the President continue to ignore the fiscal crisis that they have created here in the Congress and across the country. As you know, we passed a budget this week, but at the same time the debt continues to rise and so much of the money actually being spent is going towards the war in Iraq which is not really being addressed. In fact, many times, the budget simply masks that because it does not include the funding and the cost of the war in the budget itself. So what I say today, rather than just focus on the appropriation bills and the different items back and forth, the Republican Congress should look at the overall picture. They just passed another tax cut bill, with tax cuts primarily going to large corporations, special interests, wealthy individuals, not the average American; and they continue to increase the debt. Spending is also out of control, and they are not doing anything about it. Unfortunately, over the long term this leads to a fiscal crisis. We continue to go into debt. We don't have the money available to borrow for new production, and the Republicans need to address this fiscal crisis. They are not doing it, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, let me follow up on what the gentlewoman said. I was in New Jersey in the late 1980s where I live, and we saw the beaches closed. We saw the entire tourism industry destroyed for not only that one summer in 1988 but two or three summers afterwards. I listened to what the previous speaker here on the Republican side said, and he talked about jobs. He talked about the economy. He talked about housing. That is what is at stake here. In my home State of New Jersey, people think of New Jersey as an industrial State, tourism is as big an industry in New Jersey as the petrochemical industry. We depend on that tourism economy, and we cannot have our beaches dirtied by an oil spill that would result from natural gas drilling. And don't tell me that you are going to drill for natural gas and you are not going to affect oil. There is no question that you can. The problem I see here is that the gentleman from Pennsylvania said, well, this is not a real debate because if this happens it won't matter because the President has an executive order. Well, I can't depend on the President. The President is an oil man. For all I know he could lift the executive order if this legislation goes through and you can drill for natural gas and we don't have the moratorium in effect any more. I want you all to understand that we are not just talking here pie in the sky. We have seen our beaches closed. We have seen the impact. In New Jersey, tourism is 500,000 jobs, $16.6 billion in wages, and $5.5 billion in State tax revenue. You shut that down, the way it was closed in the late 1980s in New Jersey because of a different type of pollution, and you basically shut down a significant portion of our State. We are talking about real things here. When you talk about the fact that you can drill for natural gas and you are not going to hit oil, every indication is the opposite. The American Petroleum Institute has said the opposite and the Minerals Management Service has said the opposite. And we are talking 3 miles from shore. You could actually see these rigs. We could actually have oil rigs right up to 3 miles from the shore if this legislation passes and we don't have this amendment. Pass this amendment.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. In my home State of New Jersey, tourism supports nearly 500,000 jobs and indirectly generates $16.6 billion in wages and $5.5 billion in State tax revenues. Much of that enormous economic engine is driven by our coastline which we have worked hard to protect. All it takes is one incident from an industrial drilling rig sitting in the ocean to put this entire economic engine at risk. What this amendment would do is open up OCS areas as close as 3 miles from shore to drilling. There is no buffer here, no minimum barrier. If we pass this amendment, we can see drilling rigs as close as 3 miles from our shores. And for what? This will do nothing for the price of oil. It takes up to 7 years to begin producing from an offshore lease. And I would also like to know why the oil industry is so keen on getting these areas open for drilling when they have thousands of leases already in place, both onshore and offshore that they haven't bothered to explore. Mr. Chairman, our coasts are simply too valuable to risk like this. If we had to do a balancing act, there is no way you could support this amendment. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. Vote to protect our coasts.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I am introducing this amendment with the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) to protect local communities' rights to know what toxic chemicals are being dumped in their backyards. Eighteen years ago Congress passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, which established the Toxics Release Inventory Program. This simple program does not force companies to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals they use. Rather, it requires that they disclose the types and amounts of chemicals used at a particular facility and how those substances were disposed of, recycled, or released into the environment. This critical disclosure requirement lets communities know specifically how much of which chemicals are being dumped where. For citizens concerned about their health, this information can be critical. It is also valuable to a host of other constituencies, including workers who could be affected on the job site, first responders and others who need to plan for incidents at specific facilities. Not only does the program provide this important information to those who need it, it also has been extremely successful at getting companies to voluntarily reduce their toxic releases. Since the program started, overall toxic releases are down 59 percent around the country. In fact, the chemical industry themselves thinks this is a good program. Earlier this year the Washington Post quoted Michael Walls, manager of Regulatory and Technical Affairs for the American Chemistry Council, saying, ``It's one of the most successful regulatory programs we have been involved in.'' Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, the EPA does not seem to agree. Last year they proposed a set of changes that would seriously undermine the intent of the program. First, they are proposing to eliminate reporting for more than 22,000 facilities that release up to 5,000 pounds of toxic chemicals every year. These facilities would switch to a simple form merely indicating what chemicals they have on site, not how they are released and in what quantities. Second, the EPA is proposing to eliminate the same type of detailed reporting from facilities that manage up to 500 pounds per year of persistent bioaccumulative chemicals, some of the deadliest substances used in industry today. These chemicals, which include mercury and lead, can cause serious harm even in tiny quantities. And, third, EPA is proposing to require that companies report only every other year rather than every year as the program currently requires. This final change makes the least sense of all. EPA themselves point out that data for certain chemicals can swing widely from year to year depending on the actions of one particular facility such as a large mining operation. The EPA would gut the intent of the TRI program, and I would like to remind my colleagues that this program was created in the wake of the Bhopal disaster in India, where an explosion at a Union Carbide facility more than 20 years ago killed thousands. We have the program so we know where we might have the potential for another Bhopal, but also so we know where slow, silent releases of toxic chemicals could pose serious threats to public health. So I would like to emphasize again to my colleagues that our amendment is really about protecting community right to know. It is about standing up for the principle that your constituents should be able to find out what toxic chemicals might be getting dumped in area streams, pumped out into the air, or trucked to a nearby landfill. And it is also about protecting a highly successful program, one of the few that has been consistently recognized even by industry as being effective and worthwhile. So, again, I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this amendment, and I would like to thank Chairman Taylor for being open to discuss this issue, and I hope that we can continue to work together.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, our Nation faces many pressing issues; yet the House Republican leadership prefers to send Congress home for breaks rather than working to solve any problems. Back in 1948 President Truman dubbed that Congress the ``Do Nothing Congress'' because it only met 108 days the entire year. The Republican Congress of 2006 is set to break that record, scheduled to meet for only 97 days this year, 11 fewer than the first ``Do Nothing Congress.'' Now, the budget continues to spiral out of control after finally being balanced by President Clinton back in the late 1990s; yet House Republicans approved a budget last night that makes the deficit worse and offers no plan to bring the budget back into balance. Gas prices continue to hover at or above $3 a gallon; yet House Republicans continue to do the bidding of the big oil execs rather than providing any real relief to the American consumer. House Republicans, Mr. Speaker, are presiding over the most ``Do Nothing Congress'' in our Nation's history. They simply cannot govern and it is time for a change.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere condolence to the families and friends of the passengers and crewmembers aboard Airbus Airliner A-320, which crashed last Wednesday morning off of Russia's Black Sea coast. Luckily, investigators do not suspect foul play or terrorism, stating the crash was due to stormy weather. The plane disappeared from radar screens about four miles from shore. As it was heading for what seemed like an emergency landing at the Adler Airport near the Southern Russian resort city of Sochi at 2:15 a.m., it crashed into the sea, killing all 113 people on board, including six children. No passenger was wearing a life jacket, indicating they did not have sufficient warning to prepare for such a landing. According to Armavia airline officials, 26 Russians, one Ukrainian and one Georgian were among the passengers and crewmembers. The rest were Armenian citizens. No human should suffer the type of pain that is brought about by this tragic loss of life. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims--may you find strength during these trying times.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, for over a century the Federal Government has had a strong commitment to biomedical, behavioral, and population- based research conducted at National Institutes of Health centers around the Nation. The research conducted at these facilities, which include several in my congressional district in New Jersey, is responsible for the continued development of an ever-expanding research base and has contributed to medical advances that have profoundly improved the length and quality of life for millions of Americans. Over the years, I have vigorously supported efforts to increase funding for NIH, including efforts to double NIH funding in recent years. However, I am now concerned the President and House Republicans are abandoning their commitment to NIH. Last year, they cut overall funding for medical research, and this year the House Republican budget proposal would only provide the same funding for NIH as last year. This would result in an even larger cut than last year in which all but three NIH institutes and centers would see their budgets fall for the second year in a row. Mr. Speaker, at a time when Republicans are retreating on their commitment to health research, we must remain vigilant in demanding the necessary funding to continue groundbreaking research. We must also work to ensure that those entities receiving NIH funding grants are utilizing them to the best of their ability. And I think we must explore ways to consolidate research efforts around the Nation so that we can eliminate any duplication and maximize every research dollar. In my congressional district, we are fortunate to host some of the finest research and health care institutions in the country that receive NIH grant funding. The city of New Brunswick, nicknamed the Health Care City, is home to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Johnson & Johnson, the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, among many other world-class facilities. Our State government also has committed to moving forward with the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey New Brunswick. Crucial to this continued success, however, is ensuring that we have a coherent structure in place to fully maximize our ability to secure Federal research dollars, corporate investment, and human talent. I strongly believe that merging the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the School of Public Health with Rutgers University in New Brunswick is critical to achieving this goal. Although the medical school is now part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, it shares many facilities, faculty, and research responsibilities with Rutgers. In fact, it was once called the Rutgers University Medical School. In addition, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, a national leader in cancer care and research, is comprised of faculty from the medical school and Rutgers in nearly equal numbers. Strengthening these relationships and eliminating the duplication and disorganization that results from administrative separation of health sciences at Rutgers and UMDNJ will go a long way toward increasing the scarce flow of Federal research dollars to New Jersey. By unifying our medical education institutions under one umbrella, we will not only have a better chance of competing for large medical grants and contracts, but also attract the best faculty and students from around the Nation. Furthermore, we will create a stronger platform from which new intellectual property can be generated in close proximity to the largest concentration of health care companies in the Nation. We can reinvigorate the cooperation between the medical experts at these companies and the academic leaders at our new unified medical school. With these companies already in place right in our backyard, just imagine the economic growth that we could foster by simply bridging all of our health care academic minds into one institution. Mr. Speaker, I also believe that we should explore similar consolidation plans at other research institutions in New Jersey and around the Nation to maintain our momentum in the field of medical discovery and invention. Our State government in New Jersey has to explore the possibility of integrating the other medical schools and research facilities in New Jersey with nearby institutions. Mr. Speaker, by combining the best of Rutgers and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, I am confident New Jersey will remain a national leader in medical care, education and research so that we can build a stronger State economy, and even more importantly, improve the health care of all New Jerseyans.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, last year when gas prices hit record highs after Hurricane Katrina, House Republicans called the CEOs of the oil and gas companies to a closed-door meeting for an explanation. One of the CEOs Republicans met with was ExxonMobil's chief executive, Lee Raymond, who just walked away with a $400 million retirement package. House Republicans voiced dismay as to why these CEOs did not get the message last fall. Who was the House Republican leadership trying to fool? Why would oil and gas executives worry about Republicans taking action against them? After all, House Republicans have refused repeated Democratic efforts to allow a vote on tough legislation that would empower the Federal Government to end price gouging. House Republicans also supported an energy bill last year that did little more than provide $20 million in gifts to the oil and gas companies. Madam Speaker, House Republicans have a cozy relationship with these guys, and they have had it for too long to be taken seriously. It is no wonder oil and gas CEOs did not get the Republican message.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide. As the first genocide of the 20th century, it is morally imperative that we remember this atrocity and collectively demand reaffirmation of this crime against humanity. April 24th marked the beginning of the systematic and deliberate campaign of genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Over the following 8 years, 1.5 million Armenians were tortured and murdered, and more than half a million were forced from their homeland into exile. Last week I was joined by my cochair of the Armenia Caucus and many of my colleagues in Congress on a bipartisan basis in sending yet another bipartisan congressional letter to President Bush urging him to use the word ``genocide'' in his April 24th commemorative statement. With over 178 signatures, the message in that letter is loud and clear: 90 years is too long to wait for justice to be served and proper recognition to be made. The President should have used the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide to promote the U.S. foreign policy that reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. But, instead, President Bush once again failed to honor his pledge to properly characterize the Armenian genocide in his annual remarks. Despite pleas by Members of Congress and the Armenian American community, and recognition by much of the international community, he continues to avoid any clear reference to the Armenian genocide while consistently opposing legislation marking this crime against humanity. The Bush administration continues to be influenced by the Government of Turkey by placing parts of our foreign policy in their hands. When it comes to facing the judgment of history about the Armenian genocide, Turkey, rather than acknowledging truth, has instead chosen to trample on the rights of its citizens to maintain its lies. The U.S. cannot continue to submit to Turkey's shameless threats and intimidation. Madam Speaker, the U.S. owes it to the Armenian American community, to the 1.5 million that were massacred in the genocide, and to its own history to reaffirm what is fact. As we have seen time and time again, the United States has a proud history of action and response to the Armenian genocide. During a time when hundreds of thousands were left orphaned and starving, a time when a nation was on the verge of complete extermination, the U.S. took the lead and proudly helped end these atrocities. In fact, Americans helped launch an unprecedented U.S. diplomatic, political, and humanitarian campaign to end the carnage and protect the survivors. If America is going to live up to the standards we set for ourselves and continue to lead the world in affirming human rights everywhere, we need to stand up and recognize the tragic events that began in 1915 for what they were: The systematic elimination of a people. The fact of the Armenian genocide is not in dispute. Madam Speaker, regardless of President Bush's inaction, I call on Speaker Hastert to bring the resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide to the House floor. The resolution that passed in committee last September, again on a bipartisan basis by an overwhelming majority, has over 148 cosponsors. Now is the time to allow Members to reaffirm the United States' record on the Armenian genocide. The U.S. Government needs to stop playing politics with this tragic time in history and take a firm stance for the truth. Genocide must not be tolerated.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, the countdown continues. If neither the Bush administration nor this Congress act within the next 20 days, seniors who have yet to sign up for the new prescription drug plan will be penalized with a Bush prescription drug tax that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. It is bad enough that the new prescription drug plan is so confusing and complicated that a vast majority of seniors have yet to sign up, but now, if seniors choose a drug plan after May 15, they will be penalized with a tax that will only make their prescription drug costs higher. The Bush administration refuses to extend the deadline, even though they have heard recent reports of seniors waiting on the phone as long as 30 minutes to get more information on these private drug plans. If House Republicans do not join us in extending this unfair deadline, seniors will encounter at least a 7 percent Bush prescription drug tax that they will be forced to pay every month for the rest of their lives. As we check off another day on the calendar, House Republicans now only have another 20 more days to stand up and support America's seniors. It is time Republicans do the right thing.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the outstanding achievement of the Monmouth University ``Hawks'' this year in becoming the first men's basketball team in the college's history to win a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament game. This accomplishment also gives me the opportunity to highlight Monmouth University--an educational institution that has experienced dramatic growth in recent years, enticing students from across the country and around the world to take advantage of its innovative academic programs. The Hawk's trip to the NCAA was launched on March 8 when they defeated Fairleigh Dickinson and won the college's fourth Northeast Conference Tournament and an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. The Hawk's then were assigned to play their televised, 2006 NCAA Opening Round play-in game against Hampton, which had won the Mid-East Athletic Conference tournament championship. As recounted by Ed Occhipinti, sports editor of the school paper, ``A textbook display of motion offense, backdoor cuts, accurate long- distance shooting and a stifling match-up zone defense led to a dominant 71-49 win over Hampton. The country now knew what Hawks fans have known for years: their brand of basketball is effective, even if it lacks high-flying, show-time appeal and flair.'' A few days later, the Hawks, as the No. 16 seed, faced a monumental challenge from Villanova, the Number 1 seed in the NCAA tournament's Minneapolis region. Even though the Hawks were able to cut Villanova's lead to seven points in the last four minutes of the game, it was not enough to overcome Villanova's legendary powerhouse team. While the Hawks lost by a score of 58-45, they certainly achieved new levels of national recognition and respect for their performance. CBS announcer Jim Nantz, as quoted in the school paper ``Outlook,'' stated: ``The effort of Monmouth is what makes March Madness what it is. (Coach) Dave Calloway did a tremendous job, and for the kids themselves, there was a dream. Today was a special day for Monmouth, teams like that are what give the tournament its charm.'' The players and coaching staff, under the direction of Dave Calloway, as well as the entire university community, are to be heartily congratulated for this great performance.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend and someone who has served the people of Newark and my state of New Jersey nearly his entire life--Mr. Calvin D. West. Calvin has served our state since he returned home from his time in the military more than fifty years ago. Elected to the Newark City Council in 1966, Calvin was the first African-American at-large- councilman in the city of Newark's history. His leadership and advocacy on behalf of the people of Newark and our state has been remarkable, and his more than fifty years of public service serves as an example for us all. A true champion of the civil rights movement, Calvin helped Newark through the 1967 civil disobediences. He has continued to play a crucial role in the rebuilding of Newark and in bringing together the diverse communities that make the city so great. He has advised Presidents going back to John F. Kennedy, a long succession of New Jersey governors, including his service as Executive Director of the Governor's North Jersey Office for the past five years. Throughout his time in public service he has been a dedicated and tireless advocate for children and those in need. On a personal level, Calvin's generosity and kindness has touched the lives of so many in Newark and across New Jersey. His work with the Boys & Girls Club of Newark, the Newark Preschools Council and other educational institutions and nonprofit organizations in the community has given countless young people the opportunity to be mentored by someone who understands their struggles. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call Calvin my friend and I wish him the very best as we celebrate his fifty years of public service. The people of Newark and our state can only hope that we can continue to benefit from his service, his expertise and his good will for many years to come.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are expected to bring a 2007 budget to the floor this week that they say demonstrates their priorities. Unfortunately, House Republicans once again essentially rubber-stamp the President's budget, refusing to stand up for fiscal discipline and refusing to truly address the needs of everyday Americans. The Republican budget makes harmful cuts to critical services for working families and uses these cuts to partly pay for new tax cuts, primarily benefiting America's millionaires. This budget slashes education, training and social services funding; cuts veterans health care and taxes military retirees; cuts homeland security, including port security; squeezes programs for low-wage workers and vulnerable families; slashes environmental protection and conservation funding; and cuts funding for public health programs and medical research. The wealthiest Americans are doing just fine. They don't need any more help from Washington Republicans. It is America's middle class who have lost out over the last 5 years, and they are not getting help from the Republican budget. We should reject this mean-spirited budget.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to lend my support to the Republic of Nogorno-Karabakh in its pursuit of independence and international recognition. I believe that U.S. recognition of the Republic of Nogorno-Karabakh would greatly contribute to stability and peace in the South Caucasus region. Nogorno-Karabakh is a country of proud citizens committed to the values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. We as Americans cherish and defend these same values at home and internationally. The path to freedom has not been easy for the people of Nogorno-Karabakh. Following a peaceful demand by Karabakh's legislative body to reunite the region with Armenia in 1988, Azerbaijan launched an ethnic cleansing campaign against individuals of Armenian descent in both Karabakh and Azerbaijan. As a result, thousands of ethnic Armenians were killed, while some 400,000 fled Azerbaijan to escape the killings. Mr. Speaker, on September 2, 1991, the people of Nogorno-Karabakh, consistent with their status as an oblast, or autonomous region, under the Soviet constitution, declared their independence. The declaration of independence noted Azerbaijan's policies of discrimination against the Armenian people, the need to restore friendly relations between Armenia and Azerbaijani people, and respect for the universal declaration of human rights. In response, Azerbaijan launched an all- out war against Nogorno-Karabakh. Mr. Speaker, the people of Nogorno-Karabakh have steadily progressed on the path of democracy and conducted regular elections for president and the legislature. I actually acted as an observer for the last presidential election, and those elections were praised by international observers, including the United States, as free, fair and transparent. While strengthening its democratic institutions, Nogorno-Karabakh has also successfully transitioned from a Soviet-inherited centrally planned economy to a market economy. Despite significant setbacks, it has largely restored its infrastructure and introduced reforms to encourage private enterprise and foreign investments. With its democratically elected government, capable armed forces, and an independent foreign policy, Nogorno-Karabakh clearly satisfies the international criteria for statehood. Throughout its 14-year history of independence, it has proven to be a reliable partner of the international community and has contributed meaningfully to peace and stability in the strategic south caucuses. Mr. Speaker, the United States should formally recognize the Republic of Nogorno-Karabakh, basically expand its relationship with the democratically elected Republic of Nogorno-Karabakh, and provide increased U.S. humanitarian and development assistance. It is crucial for the U.S. to unequivocally support the right of the people of Nogorno-Karabakh to decide their own future. Mr. Speaker, the Nogorno-Karabakh Republic's democratic regime is in sharp contrast to its neighbor, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has evolved since its succession from the Soviet Union into an autocratic dictatorship. Finally, Mr. Speaker, there should not be a double standard. Since its independence, the Republic of Nogorno-Karabakh has enjoyed all attributes and institutions of statehood. Currently, its de facto statehood fully satisfies the requirements of conventional and customary international laws for de jure recognition.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, last night former majority leader Tom DeLay blamed Democrats for his fall from power. He said Democrats were upset because Republicans changed the culture of Washington. Well, Republicans changed the culture around here all right. Two of Congressman DeLay's former aides, Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Rudy and Press Secretary Michael Scanlon have already pleaded guilty as part of the ongoing Jack Abramoff scandal. Then there are the revelations that the President's chief domestic adviser, Claude Allen, was forced to resign from his position at the White House after he was caught repeatedly shoplifting from Target stores in Maryland. And just last night, a deputy press secretary at the Department of Homeland Security was arrested on charges that he used the Internet to seduce what he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Fortunately, an undercover deputy sheriff detective was on the other end of the computer and Brian Doyle, a Bush political appointee, has now been arrested. Madam Speaker, the culture has changed around here, that is for sure, but certainly not for the good.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support for the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act and urge my colleagues to vote for it. This important bill takes critical steps towards ending the genocide in Darfur by authorizing the President to provide assistance to expand the African Union Mission in Sudan while also strengthening sanctions on countries that provide military assistance to Sudan. The crisis in Darfur, Sudan began in February 2003 when two rebel groups emerged to challenge the National Islamic Front government in Darfur. Since then, over 300,000 people have died and nearly 2 million have been displaced from their homes. It is unfortunate that it took the United States until July of 2004 to recognize that these events in Darfur constituted genocide and it has taken until April of 2006 for the House of Representatives to consider this bill. We have seen far too many times the consequences of ignoring genocide or failing to get involved quickly. The fact is that while we take a crucial step today, more remains to be accomplished to ensure a lasting peace in the Darfur region of Sudan. Yesterday, in the New York Times, Jan Egeland, the U.N. under- secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, stated, ``Many believe the problems are over in Darfur. They are getting worse.'' The United States government must continue to work in conjunction with the United Nations and other allies to put pressure on the Sudanese government to allow U.N. peacekeeping forces into the country. I have introduced legislation expressing disapproval of the Arab League's decision to hold its 2006 summit in Khartoum, Sudan. The world community needs to join us as one in condemning the tragedy in Darfur and pressing the Sudanese government to end it. Mr. Speaker, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act is a crucial step towards ending the violence. We need to remember, however, that we have more to do to end this humanitarian crisis. With nearly two million people displaced from their homes and hundreds of thousands dead, resolving this conflict should be a priority for Congress and the Administration. We cannot allow a tragedy of this magnitude to occur in today's world.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, more than 4 years have passed since 9/11, and Washington Republicans have failed to make the American people as safe as they should be. House Republicans continue to ignore the real security risks that we face. They allow President Bush to disregard the recommendations from the independent 9/11 Commission. After all, House Republicans stood by the Bush administration in its attempts to keep the 9/11 Commission from ever being created. A report from the commission in December gave the Bush administration failing grades in securing our Nation. From chemical plants to subways, ports and the border, the commission report showed how Washington has failed to take the proper steps needed to close security gaps. House Republicans could make homeland security a priority if they joined us this month in rejecting President Bush's 2007 budget that dramatically underfunds key homeland security programs. Unfortunately, I am concerned Republicans will once again pay lip service to these critical security needs and will, instead, once again, rubber-stamp a Bush budget that leaves us vulnerable to those who wish us harm.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to express my extreme disappointment with the Public Broadcasting System's decision to give a forum to Armenian genocide denialists following the April 17 broadcast of Andrew Goldberg's documentary, ``The Armenian Genocide.'' PBS should be commended for deciding to run Goldberg's documentary. However, the documentary should stand on its own. I am troubled by the network's decision to conduct a panel discussion immediately after the documentary that focuses on Turkey's role in the death of Armenians during and after World War I. The 25-minute panel discussion has generated an outcry because the panel will include two scholars who deny that 1.5 million Armenian civilians were killed in eastern Turkey from 1915 to 1923. I urge PBS to reconsider the inclusion of the panel discussion. Despite the Turkish Government's continued concerted effort to deny and alter history, there is no serious academic historian willing to dispute the genocide, or extermination, of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923. There are literally thousands of pages of documents in our national archive confirming the Armenian genocide. Prominent citizens of the day, including America's ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, and Britain's Lord Bryce, reported on the massacres in great detail. Morgenthau was appalled at what he would later call the ``sadistic orgies'' of rape, torture and murder. Lord Bryce, a former British Ambassador to the United States, worked to raise awareness of and money for the victims of what he called ``the most colossal crime in the history of the world.'' In October 1915, the Rockefeller Foundation contributed $30,000, a sum worth more than $.5 million today, to a relief fund for Armenia. Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that despite overwhelming documentation and eyewitness proof of the Armenian genocide, Mr. Goldberg's documentary includes denialist views to present a comprehensive perspective. This completely alleviates the need to include PBS's panel discussion. It is exceptionally inappropriate for PBS to include these two nonobjective scholars on the public airwaves so they can spread their political propaganda. And, Mr. Speaker, I would note that I would not feel any different about this issue if we were discussing Darfur, Rwanda or the Nazi Holocaust. Genocide deniers should not have a forum. The quest for fair and balanced information does not give a license to propagate false, misleading and offensive information about historical facts that relate to genocide. It is said that PBS continues to defend its decision to provide air time to Armenian genocide deniers; however, it is encouraging to see a growing number of PBS affiliates refusing to air the panel. And I want to commend each of the 25 affiliates who have already announced their intentions to air the Armenian genocide documentary without the inclusion of the panel discussion. Mr. Speaker, it is important that we urge PBS to maintain its commitment to public service, but no Member of Congress should accept PBS's decision to give credence to the denial of the deliberate murder of 1.5 million people, and I hope that PBS will reconsider its current position.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, as this calendar shows, the countdown continues to an outrageous tax congressional Republicans and the Bush administration plan to inflict on American seniors. If Washington does not act before May 15, millions of seniors who have yet to choose a prescription drug plan will face a 1 percent tax that will be added onto their drug premiums for every month that they wait to sign up. So if a senior, for example, does not choose to sign up for a plan until September, that senior would be forced to pay a 5 percent tax on top of their monthly premium every single month for the rest of their lives. President Bush has already admitted that his prescription drug plan is complicated and confusing, and yet the President refuses to give seniors more time to sign up for a drug plan without facing a penalty. If the President refuses to act, Congress must step in. Congressional Democrats want to extend the deadline until the end of the year, giving seniors 7 additional months to navigate the complexities of the plan. As we mark off another day on the calendar, Mr. Speaker, time is running out for congressional Republicans to join us in supporting this extension. America's seniors cannot afford a Bush prescription drug tax.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I am proud to join with several of my colleagues this evening in celebrating the 185th anniversary of Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire. In the years since Greek independence, Americans and Greeks have grown ever closer, bound by ties of strategic and military alliance, common values of democracy, individual freedom, human rights, and close personal friendship. Madam Speaker, while we celebrate Greek independence this evening, it is also important that we recognize that Greece continues to battle oppression from present-day Turkey in Cyprus. It is crucial our Nation work with the United Nations and the Government of Cyprus to once again unify the island. However, I am deeply concerned that our government's recent actions will actually make it more difficult to reunify Cyprus. The U.S. State Department and Secretary Rice seem much more interested in rewarding those who illegally occupied the northern third of the nation back in 1974 than actually reunifying the islands. Over the past year, our State Department decided to allow Americans to fly into the occupied north, something that has not been permitted since the illegal occupation took place back in 1974. Last year, I joined many of my colleagues from the Congressional Hellenic Caucus in sending a letter expressing our deep concern regarding the legality of U.S. citizens flying directly from Turkey to the airport in northern Cyprus. In response to that letter, the State Department responded that it was encouraging the elimination of unnecessary restrictions and barriers that isolate and impede the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community. Madam Speaker, this new policy must also be responsible for a decision earlier this year by the State Department to resume trade with the occupied north through ports that were declared closed after the invasion in 1974. In order to allow trade, the State Department is forced to ignore both Cyprus' domestic law, as well as international law that prohibits entering Cyprus through an illegal port in the north. Madam Speaker, I am deeply concerned that the State Department's new policy towards the government and the people of the occupied north will only delay reunification of the entire island. If U.S. allows direct trade through routes in the north, what incentives do the illegal occupiers of northern lands have to make any concessions to the rightful inhabitants? It is as if the State Department has completely forgotten who is responsible for the division of Cyprus in the first place. I have repeatedly encouraged Secretary Rice to take an historic look at the Cyprus problem over the past 30 years. It is important to look at this problem not only through the lens of the nonvote in 2004, but also from the perspective of three decades of illegal actions on the Turkish side. Madam Speaker, I pledge tonight to continue to speak out against a State Department that seems more comfortable punishing the victims of the Cyprus problem while rewarding the occupiers. I am hopeful that one day soon, like Greece, the island of Cyprus will be unified and free. And tonight I also applaud the determination that the Greeks showed 185 years ago to overcome the Ottoman Empire and restore democracy in the place of its birth.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening as we approach the St. Patrick's Day recess to remind this body of the continued struggle for peace and justice in the North of Ireland. For many in America of Irish ancestry, this is a time of celebration, as it should be. However, we must also recognize that the fight for freedom and equality on the island of Ireland is still being waged. Tonight I want to remember and commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Easter Uprising and the proclamation of an Irish Republic at the General Post Office in 1916. The brave men and women who took up arms against England vowed to fight for religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities for all Irish citizens. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the deaths of 10 brave men who died on a hunger strike in Long Kesh. Their courage and that of the women of Armagh inspired countless individuals and made the world take notice of the cruel and discriminatory policies of the British government in the North of Ireland. Their sacrifice proved the shortsightedness of a British policy criminalization. Madam Speaker, I had the opportunity today to meet once again with Gerry Adams, whom I admire so much, for his continued determination to educate the Members of Congress about the situation in Northern Ireland. Because of the sacrifice of so many dedicated individuals like Gerry Adams over the years, we have seen great strides on the quest for an Ireland of equals. The historic ceasefire by the IRA in 1994, followed by the Good Friday accords signed in 1998, created tremendous progression in the north. The IRA's recent decision to lay down their weapons and pursue exclusively peaceful means toward the goal of a united Ireland is yet another hopeful sign. However there still remains much to be done. The Good Friday agreement must be implemented in full. Any attempt to walk away from the institutions set forth in the agreement or substitute them with something less is a mistake. It is designed to placate extremists who want to fight progress and maintain their superiority. This simply cannot be allowed to stand. Responsible leaders on all sides and on all parties must recognize that a quality in progress is inevitable and give the people of Northern Ireland the democracy that they deserve now. Madam Speaker, I have consistently called for the full implementation of the Patten recommendations on policing because I believe true peace cannot exist without justice. This will not happen until there is a fair and impartial police service representative of all the communities in the North. A dismantling of the British war machine in towns like South Armagh and Crosmaglen need to happen now so that residents there can live in peace and without fear of violence from a government supposedly there to protect them. With a history of collusion between the RUC and loyalists paramilitaries, a full, complete and independent inquiry must also be done into if death of Pat Finucan, murdered by paramilitaries in front of his young family. Madam Speaker, 25 years ago, as Bobby Sands sat in his cell on a hunger strike, he wrote in his diary, and I quote, if they aren't able to destroy the desire for freedom, they won't break you. They won't break me, because the desire for freedom and the freedom of the Irish people is in my heart. The day will dawn when all the people of Ireland will have the desire for freedom to show. Madam Speaker, the British and Irish governments must recognize that the desire for freedom is as strong today as it ever was, and it will not be destroyed. The historic moves by the IRA and the electoral gains made by Sinn Fein are evidence of this desire. People will simply not tolerate a return to the conditions that have plagued the North for so many years.