Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call the attention of my colleagues to the late Reverend Victoriano F. Sandoval. It is with great respect that I pay tribute to Padre Sandoval, who is being honored, In Memoriam, by the Latino American Association of Monmouth County, Inc., as they celebrate their Eleventh Annual Awards Banquet. Padre Victoriano Fernandez Sandoval was born on December 24, 1933 in the town of Fuentes de los Oteros, in the Castilla Province, Spain. He studied in the Seminary of ``los Padres Agustinos'' in the Castilla Province. He was ordained as a priest on July 12, 1958. He worked as a priest for 16 years in Brazil as the Director of the College and Seminary of Braganca Paulista, Sao Paulo. Shortly thereafter, he was the Director of the Educational Faculty at Catholic University and the College of San Agustin in Goiania. In the United States he worked for 21 years at the Church of the Holy Redemption, Mount Holly, NJ and at Saint John the Baptist Church in Long Branch for 4 years. He served as the Chaplain for Hispanics at the federal prison in Fort Dix and Mid-State Correctional facility. There he ensured that all Hispanic inmates' rights were observed. He made it possible for them to celebrate Christmas with a dinner every year. His rectory door was always open for anyone in need. Additionally, Padre Sandoval served as the Spiritual Director for marriage retreats in the northeast U.S.A. He also worked with Hispanics at marital retreats in Canada, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Mexico. Lamentably, Padre Sandoval died suddenly on June 20, 2002. Mr. Speaker, it is my sincere hope that my colleagues will join me in paying tribute to Padre Victoriano Fernandez Sandoval, as the Latino American Association of Monmouth County honors him, In Memoriam, for his unfaltering dedication and commitment to the advancement of Latinos.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call the attention of my colleagues to Detective Juan H. Vasquez, a distinguished gentleman from my district, who is being honored by the Latino American Association of Monmouth County, Inc., as they celebrate their Eleventh Annual Awards Banquet. A life long resident of Long Branch, Juan was born at Monmouth Medical Center on November of 1969. In June of 1988, he graduated from Long Branch High School and in September of that same year, began undergraduate studies at Kean College (now Kean University). In January of 1993, Juan graduated from Kean College with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. In April of 1993, he started employment at the Monmouth County Division of Social Services, where he was employed as an Income Maintenance Worker until September of 1997. In October of 1997, he began his law enforcement career when he was hired by the City of Long Branch as a Police Officer. He attended the New Jersey State Police Academy in Sea Girt, NJ, and graduated from the 196th Municipal Class in January of 1998. After graduating from the Police Academy, he started working in the Patrol Division as a Patrolman. In February of 2000 he was transferred to the Criminal Division of the Detective Bureau where he holds the current title of Detective. Juan continues to live in Long Branch with his wife of 10 years, Tara, and his two children, Emelie who is 6 years old and Zachary age four. Mr. Speaker, it is my sincere hope that my colleagues will join me in honoring and recognizing, Detective Juan H. Vasquez, as the Latino American Association of Monmouth County honors him for his unwavering commitment to the Latino community as well as the Long Branch Police Department.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call the attention of my colleagues to a constituent in the 6th District of New Jersey. It is with great pleasure that I introduce my friend, the Honorable Rebecca Aaronson, Deputy Mayor of Manalapan, N.J., who is being honored by the Latino American Association of Monmouth County as they celebrate their Eleventh Annual Awards Banquet. Rebecca Aaronson was born in Laredo, Texas to Mexican parents. Her father was born in Monterrey, Mexico and her mother was born in Mexico City, D.F. She grew up in El Paso, Texas and attended the University of Texas at El Paso for one year. Rebecca met and married Richard Aaronson in 1972. She is the proud mother of two sons, Scott, 27 years old, who recently married Julie, and Glenn, 22 years old, a senior at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Rebecca returned to school and graduated from Brookdale Community College in 1997 with an Associates Degree in Humanities. She volunteered at the Women's Center of Monmouth County (now 180) in the shelter program for victims of domestic violence. She became involved with the community because she always felt that no one has the right to complain if they are not willing to do something about it. She was concerned with the over-development of her town, Manalapan, and felt that the builders, not the Planning Board, were making all of the decisions. In 2002, she was elected Mayor of Manalapan Township. Presently, she is in her second term and serves as Deputy Mayor. In 2001 she was the Democratic candidate for Monmouth County Freeholder. Presently she serves as the Vice Chair of Monmouth County Democrats. She believes that she and her colleagues have made a difference in Manalapan. Her philosophy has always been that we are all obligated to leave our mark somehow and politics has given her the opportunity to do so. She carries that philosophy to her personal life and is always seeking a way of making a difference in people's lives. Mr. Speaker, it is my sincere hope that my colleagues will join me in honoring and recognizing Deputy Mayor Rebecca Aaronson, as the Latino American Association of Monmouth County honors her for her unfaltering dedication to the Latino community.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call the attention of my colleagues to Mrs. Maria Ann Crespo-Rodriguez, who is being honored by the Latino American Association of Monmouth County, Inc., as they celebrate their Eleventh Annual Awards Banquet. Maria was born at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch and raised in Red Bank, NJ, where she attended the Red Bank Public School System, and graduated from Red Bank High School in 1974. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education/Spanish from Monmouth College, and received a Masters degree in ESL from Kean College. Maria has been teaching in the Long Branch Middle School for the last 26 years. During that time, her energy and enthusiasm have manifested themselves both in and out of the classroom, where she became involved in a number of volunteer agencies and services. She has been a board member of Hispanic Affairs and Resource Center of Monmouth County, spent 5 years as a tutor in Stay Smart University helping children in a pediatric ward, many of whom were terminally ill. She was a member of the Pearl Chaney Memorial Scholarship Fund for 10 years, as well as a member of the Long Branch School District's Puerto Rican Disaster Relief Fund, President of the S.T.P.O. of Elberon School (1997-1998), and a speaker at the National School Board Association in 1997, 2003, and 2004. As the co-founder of the B.B.I.P., which started as the Bilingual/Bicultural Intervention Program, later changed to Basic Belief in All People, she has helped hundreds of students with academic as well as behavioral problems to succeed. Maria has been awarded Teacher of the Month in the Long Branch Middle School two times, once in 1992 and again in 2003. She was District Teacher of the Month in 2003, and was nominated for the Long Branch Middle School Teacher of the Year. For her service as co-founder of BBIP and its co-moderator over the last 12 years, she served in the roles of teacher, mentor, friend, counselor and surrogate mother, she earned many justly deserved awards. She received recognition from HARC's youth organization, ``Almas Latinos''. She is the recipient of the NJ State Department of Education P.R.I.D.E. Model Program Award (BBIP), the PRIDE pin for Programs of Inclusion, and is an Equity Hall of Fame Member, NJ State Department's ``Best Practices'' award. In 1996, she was recognized as a Hall of Fame Member of the ``A+ for Kids'' Teachers Network, and presented the award on a television show on WWOR, Channel 9 by Jerry Orbach (Law and Order). She has been recognized for the program by Governor Christine Todd Whitman as well as movie actor, Edward James Olmos, and most recently was featured in an Asbury Park Press ``School Scene'' article (February 27, 2003) entitled ``School program offers students a little nudge.'' Maria resides in Tinton Falls with her husband, Carlos, and two children, Roberto and Gabriella. Mr. Speaker, it is my sincere hope that my colleagues will join me in honoring and recognizing, Mrs. Crespo-Rodriguez, as the Latino American Association of Monmouth County honors her for her dedication to the educational advancement of Latinos and her commitment to the Long Branch Public School System.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, last night Vice President Cheney was let out of his bunker for the night, and it seems all that time in an undisclosed location has confused him a bit about the facts. Last night he said he had never publicly stated that there was a connection between al Qaeda and Iraq. Does he forget his interview with Tim Russert last year in which he said just that? Does he also forget now it is a common statement in his political stump speeches where he tries to invoke fear in Americans? I think he has determined his record with Bush is so bad that the only thing he can do is strike fear in the American people. Vice President Cheney also said last night that he had never met Senator Edwards before. That is simply not true. Just turn on any news outlet today and you will see the proof, pictures of Cheney and Edwards standing side by side at a prayer breakfast last year. I suspect as the day goes on we will see more and more of these pictures. Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney and President Bush cannot lead this country if they continue to mislead the American people.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, as a sponsor of H.R. 3015, I rise today in strong support of this important piece of legislation and urge its passage in the House of Representatives. H.R. 3015, the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act, provides an avenue for addressing the illegal diversion and misuse of prescription drugs, which constitutes one of the fastest growing areas of drug abuse in our Nation today, affecting people of all areas of our Nation, all ages and all income levels. Health care practitioners and pharmacists desperately need electronic prescription drug monitoring systems to ensure that they are prescribing and dispensing schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances that are medically necessary. This bill provides the resources to States to create and operate State-based prescription drug monitoring programs, allows physicians to access this information, and allows for States to communicate with one another. If enacted into law, this bill would help physicians prevent their patients from becoming addicted to prescription medications and would help law enforcement with criminal investigations in the illicit prescription drug market. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3015 represents a work of great bipartisan effort; and I thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield), of course the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood), and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland) for their willingness to move forward with this effort. But I also want to thank our chairmen and our ranking members of the full committee as well as the subcommittee. This is an effort to alleviate the prescription drug abuse problem plaguing our Nation. In addition, I want to applaud the leadership of the American Society for Interventional Pain Physicians for working with Congress in this significant public health initiative. I have to say I have never seen a more effective lobbying effort than what they put forth to try to move this bill.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, over the weekend a former Republican Congressman accused Republican leaders here in the House of trying to bribe him in order to gain his support for legislation he did not support. This is not the first time House Republicans attempted to bribe Members of their caucus to vote a certain way, nor will it probably be the last. This weekend on ``Meet the Press,'' former Republican Congressman Tom Coburn said the Republican leadership offered him a bribe to vote in favor of a transportation bill. Coburn told moderator Tim Russert that he did not want to support a Republican transportation bill because it was not paid for. So what did the Republican leadership do? I am quoting former Congressman Tom Coburn when he says, ``I was then offered a bribe by the committee to vote for the bill. I could have $15 million to spend wherever I wanted to.'' Coburn continues, ``I don't believe that's the kind of government we want. That's what we're seeing in Congress now with some of the ethical problems that are there.'' Mr. Coburn, I could not agree with you more. Unfortunately, the abuses of power have happened on the Republican Party's watch, and we will not see a change unless Democrats return to power both here in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to welcome the installation of Rabbi Michael Pont as the new leader of the Temple Beth Ahm in Aberdeen, New Jersey. Rabbi Pont has served his previous community with a great deal of capability and we are delighted to have him join our district. Prior to joining the Aberdeen community, Rabbi Pont served on the Greensboro Jewish Federation Board of Trustees, Blumenthal Jewish Home Board, and Family Life Council Board. Rabbi Pont was also a participant of the March of the Living Seminar to Poland and Israel, Greensboro Jewish Federation Mission to Moldova, Greensboro Jewish Federation young Leadership Program. Rabbi Pont served as the Assistant Rabbi at the Beth David Synagogue in Greensboro, NC. Among his many accomplishments, Rabbi Pont directed the religious school, oversaw programming for families and youth, led worship, and served as pastor. Rabbi Pont has taught several educational courses to youth, young adults, and adults including classes on Jewish holidays, Jewish values, Shabbat, and kashrut. While in Greensboro, Rabbi Pont initiated educational and cultural programs for families of the entire Jewish community, and also initiated a community service project in which Jewish Family Services would assist new immigrants. Rabbi Pont studied at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, CA and the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem, Israel for his Rabbinical Ordination. He received his Masters Degree in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, and his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Rabbi Pont is currently a member of the Rabbinical Assembly and MERCAZ USA. Mr. Speaker, I am proud and honored to welcome a man of Rabbi Michael Pont's experience and dedication to our community. Once again, I ask that you join me in congratulating Rabbi Michael Pont, and extend him good wishes and the best of luck in his new position.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the work and tireless efforts of Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. In the time that I have known Commissioner Campbell, I have found him to be a man of great integrity, courage, and dedication towards everything he does. This weekend, Mr. Campbell will be the recipient of the ``Big Kahuna'' award from the Surfers' Environmental Alliance. As New Jersey's Environmental Commissioner, I can say with great certainty, that through his work, Bradley Campbell is a truly deserving recipient of such an award. In surfing circles a Kahuna is recognized as a respected elder of the sport, and a mentor to young surfers. Past recipients of the award have included surf shop owners, surf team managers, athletes or leaders in various environmental initiatives that have championed the sport. All these individuals have two things in common--they have had a great love and respect for the sport of surfing, and they have--in their own ways--encouraged and preserved the sport for everyone to enjoy. Commissioner Campbell is truly an advocate for the sport of surfing as well as various environmental causes that are significant to surfers, as well as all individuals who care about the preservation of our beaches and the well being of our environment. Through his position as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, he has strengthened New Jersey's environmental laws and greatly improved the quality of our state's natural resources. Prior to assuming his position as Commissioner, Brad had a distinguished record of service, which included serving as the Associate Director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), and later, being appointed by President Clinton as the Regional Administrator (Mid-Atlantic Region) of the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Speaker, once again I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Commissioner Campbell on his award, and I would like to extend my gratitude for all his years of hard work and genuine commitment.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 854, the Belarus Democracy Act of 2003. This important piece of legislation will take significant steps toward the democratization of Belarus and offer support for those living in the country and seeking a democratic process in fundamental areas such as elections, media and human rights. If passed, this bill will ensure that a fair and free electoral process will exist in the former Soviet state. In addition, this bill will work toward the development of a media that is non-state controlled and independent. Furthermore, this bill will establish training programs and methods of international exchange for the individuals that will advance the development of a democratic and civil society. By placing specific economic sanctions on Belarus, the United States will send a clear message that major democratic reforms must take place in order for the country to become an independent state that is integrated into Europe. I am in full support of H.R. 854, and I urge my fellow colleagues to vote in favor of this vital piece of legislation, which will go very far in assisting the democratization process in Belarus.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my support for H. Con. Res. 304, a resolution honoring the tradition and practice of Falun Gong. As a cosponsor of this resolution, I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this important piece of legislation. H. Con. Res. 304 calls on the Chinese Government to stop interfering with the religious and political rights of individuals in the United States to practice Falun Gong. The Chinese Government has gone so far as to spread falsehoods about Falun Gong and to harass, detain, abuse and imprison Falun Gong practitioners. The practitioners are simply exercising their legitimate right to freedom of religion and expression, and the actions of the Chinese Government conflict with international standards of freedom and human rights and must end immediately. I have an admiration for the practitioners and adherents of Falun Gong and I am invested in the movement both in the United States and abroad. I remain committed to the task of making Falun Gong safe to practice in any country in the world. The members of Falun Gong are opposed by a Chinese government that unjustly views them as dissenters. This view is entirely without merit. In reality, Falun Gong is an inherently peaceful, apolitical movement that stresses nonviolence and meditation. Since Falun Gong was outlawed in 1999, hundreds of nonviolent practitioners have been arrested, tortured, libeled, and detained without charge or proof of any wrongdoing. Sadly, the unwarranted and unprovoked aggression against Falun Gong has not ceased, nor is it limited to China. There have been unprovoked attacks in the United States and Falun Gong members have been subjected to a humiliating and denigrating blacklist. One incident that I found particularly offensive took place in June 2003. Falun Gong members were attacked and beaten while holding a nonviolent protest in New York City. In an effort to end the discrimination that confronts Falun Gong practitioners, I wrote a letter to the Manhattan District Attorney, Robert Morgenthau, requesting an investigation of this case. I hope that justice prevails in this case. With passage of H. Con. Res. 304, we can send a strong signal condemning China's human rights abuses and we can take one step closer to ensuring Falun Gong members the freedom of religion and assembly guaranteed to them by law.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise an exemplary individual, and a good friend, Mayor William Rosenblatt. I have known Mayor Rosenblatt for quite some time now, and, in this time, I have always been impressed by his commitment to his community, as well as his sense of obligation towards the preservation of our beaches. This weekend, he will be a deserving recipient of the `Big Kahuna' award, presented by the Surfers' Environmental Alliance (SEA). As he receives this fitting tribute, I would like to take a moment and laud Mayor Rosenblatt for all that he has done for the beaches of New Jersey. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Rosenblatt attended Montclair University, and after he received his masters degree from Rutgers University, he completed his post doctorate training at the Mind Body Institute at Harvard University. Previously he has served as the director of behavioral medicine at Monmouth Medical Center and an adjunct faculty member at Monmouth University, Rutgers University, and Kean University--just to name a few. Mayor Rosenblatt has been surfing for 42 years, mostly in New Jersey. His commitment and love for the sport is exhibited in his membership to organizations such as Clean Ocean Action and Surfers Medical Association. In addition, he is the proud co-founder of the Jersey Shore chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, and he sits on the National Board of Directors for the organization. As the Mayor of Loch Arbour for the last 7 years, William Rosenblatt has served proudly and has done a tremendous job. Time and time again, Mayor Rosenblatt has let his actions serve as an example for the rest of the community. By serving as beach captain for the Loch Arbour/Allenhurst Beach sweeps, and writing a surfing column in the Asbury Park Press for the last 3 years, few can deny this individual's obvious passion for the sport of surfing and adoration for our beaches. The Surfers' Environmental Alliance, identifies a `kahuna' as a ``respected elder of the sport, a mentor to young surfers.'' This is a fitting description of Mayor William Rosenblattt, who is not only a mentor to young surfers, but also a highly regarded and respected leader in his community, as well as the sport of surfing. Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate my friend in receiving this honor and would like to commend the SEA for their work, and for recognizing the contributions of Mayor Rosenblatt.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our ranking member for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I oppose this constitutional amendment because it would write discrimination against gays and lesbians into our Nation's Constitution. This amendment not only prevents gays and lesbians from marrying; it also restricts civil unions. Over the last couple of years, polls in New Jersey have shown the majority of the State's residents strongly support civil unions. This amendment is nothing more than red meat for the conservative right 1 month before an election. They know it is not going anywhere. The Senate could not even get a simple majority to bring an amendment to the floor. Here in the House, the majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), recently admitted that he did not believe the amendment would pass. Yet here we are today spending 2\1/2\ hours debating an amendment that we all know is going nowhere. There was a lot of talk on the Republican side today about the Founding Fathers. Well, since our Nation's infancy, family law has been left to the States. It was our Founding Fathers' belief that issues of intense local concern should be debated and resolved at the local level. We should keep it that way and defeat this amendment.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I introduced a resolution today in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Union Carbide Corporation gas leak that took place in Bhopal, India, in December 2004. This 1984 Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster is widely regarded as the worst peacetime environmental catastrophe in world history, and this important resolution expresses the commitment of the United States Congress to work with the Government of India and others to ensure that Union Carbide provides environmental and medical rehabilitation in Bhopal and is held responsible for its actions. On the night of December 2, 1984, 27 tons of poisonous gas including methyl isocyanate leaked from a storage tank at the Union Carbide Corporation's pesticide plant in Bhopal and quickly spread to the surrounding residential areas. Official estimates indicate a death toll of 3,000 lives in the aftermath of the disaster, with unofficial estimates putting the toll much higher at 8,000. To date, the death toll has climbed to more than 20,000 lives. Although it is now 20 years since the disaster, approximately 10-30 people continue to die every month in Bhopal from toxic exposure and 150,000 people continue to suffer long-term health consequences from the disaster. The effects of the toxic gases also appear to be harming the next generation, as more overwhelming evidence is surfacing that points to higher incidence of health effects and birth-defects among children born to gas-affected people. A host of international organizations and independent investigators have concluded that Union Carbide's inadequate technology, double standards in safety and emergency-preparedness compounded by a reckless cost-cutting drive at the plant were the principal causes of the disaster. Based on these investigations and other evidence, the authorities in India brought criminal charges against Union Carbide, its Indian subsidiary as well as local managers in 1987 for criminal negligence and reckless indifference leading to death. In 1989, Union Carbide negotiated a settlement of $470 million with the Indian government that was based on inaccurate statistics about the scale and magnitude of the disaster in addition to being widely condemned by the media and responsible jurists in India as insufficient, even when compared to compensation awards provided for under Indian law. The Supreme Court of India in its judicial review of the settlement in October 1991 held that the criminal charges could not be overturned or dismissed based on the civil settlement and directed that the criminal prosecution against Union Carbide and the Indian accused must proceed in the courts of India. When Union Carbide was served with a summons in the criminal case by the Bhopal District Court in 1992, and a notice to appear for trial was published in the Washington Post, Union Carbide's spokesmen responded with a public statement that the company was not subject to the jurisdiction of India's courts in disregard of universally accepted international law regarding criminal jurisdiction acknowledged by both the United States and India. Based on its refusal to appear to face criminal charges against it, the Bhopal District Court issued non- bailable arrest warrants for Union Carbide, ordered that its remaining properties in India be attached to secure its appearance and declared that the company was a ``proclaimed absconder'' or fugitive from justice. Union Carbide has recently become a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Corporation, which made the decision to acquire the company with full knowledge, according to its own public statements, of the criminal charges pending against it and Union Carbide's status as an absconder or fugitive from justice. Despite repeated public requests and protests around the world, Dow Chemical has refused to make its new subsidiary appear before the Bhopal District Court to face the criminal charges pending against it for the disaster. Like Union Carbide before it, Dow Chemical has, to date, continued to refuse to release all scientific research on the leaked gas, claiming that this information constitutes a commercial ``trade secret''. Like Union Carbide before it, Dow Chemical has also continued to refuse to release all of its own medical research on the toxicology of the leaked chemicals and gases to date. The lack of information on the gas has not only hindered the study of the long- term health and medical effects of exposure, but has left doctors with few options besides symptomatic treatment of the hundreds of thousands of gas-affected individuals and children. The devastating health effects of the gas, the birth defects of their children and inability to work because of illness have forced many Bhopali families in desperate need of medical help into insurmountable debt. Since 1999, at least three independent environmental surveys, including one conducted by state authorities in India, have shown that the former Union Carbide plant has badly polluted the soil and groundwater aquifer beneath it resulting in severe contamination of the drinking water supply of as many as 20,000 people living in residential colonies near the plant. One study found the presence of a large number of highly toxic pollutants in drinking water samples tested by the University of Exeter in the U.K. that were matched with chemicals found in soil samples from the Bhopal plant, including one carcinogenic chemical whose presence in the drinking water exceeded by 1,705 times the maximum limit allowed by the World Health Organization. Another environmental survey was able to trace chemicals from the former Union Carbide plant in the breast milk of mothers living in the residential areas in the vicinity of the badly polluted site, which continues to leach pollutants into the groundwater aquifer to date. The land for the plant was leased from the State of Madhya Pradesh in India which stipulated that, upon termination, the land would be returned to the State in the condition that it was first leased and suitable for the use prescribed by the zoning regulations. The State discovered that clean-up of the site until 1998 had been insufficient leaving thousands of metric tons of toxic wastes, chemical by-products, effluents, and other hazardous materials both above-ground on the premises of the factory and below ground in burial pits and landfills, all of which posed a grave threat to the surrounding population. At least 10 residential areas in the vicinity of the former Union Carbide plant were found to have severely polluted drinking water according to these environmental studies and no substantive effort has been undertaken for environmental remediation of the area leaving water that has high levels of mercury, dichlorobenzenes, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and other pollutants, toxins, and heavy metals. Soil samples from the area have found abnormal amounts of lead, nickel, copper, chromium, hexachlorocyclohexane, and chlorobenzenes. Tainted water and the generally toxic living environments have lead to premature cancer, deformities, chromosomal aberrations, and other disorders for Bhopali children. There is a ``polluter pays'' principle enshrined in the domestic laws of both India and the United States as well as both domestic and international law which states that the polluter rather than the public agencies or taxpayers should be held responsible for its environmental pollution in its entirety. International trade and ethical practices compel Dow Chemical to treat this matter very seriously and ensure that equitable treatment be afforded to the victims and their progeny. Mr. Speaker, India is the largest democratic country in the world and enjoys a close and mutual friendship with the United States based on common values and common interests, and as a result, our countries should come together to recognize the gravity of the Bhopal disaster and the ongoing environmental problems in Bhopal caused by Union Carbide's policies and practices. I encourage my colleagues in the U.S. Congress to support this resolution and commit to working together with the Indian government, Dow Chemical Corporation, and the victims to ensure that Union Carbide provides complete medical, social, and economic rehabilitation to the victims of the disaster. In addition, we should work together to ensure that Union Carbide undertakes a complete environmental remediation that restores the badly polluted plant site affected by this disaster to a habitable condition and fully remediates the drinking water supply of affected residential communities. Lastly, we need to ensure that Union Carbide appears before the Bhopal District Court for prosecution on the criminal charges pending against it there, in accordance with principles of international law regarding criminal jurisdiction accepted by the world community including India and the United States.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), for yielding me this time and for her role in bringing this resolution up on the suspension list today. It is with distinct honor and pleasure that I stand before this Chamber today to speak in support of House Resolution 778. Count Basie was born in my district and spent the first 20 years or so of his life in my district, and I would like to kind of recount some of the events that occurred in my district during those early years. This bill recognizes and celebrates the incredible contribution that William ``Count'' Basie has made to jazz and swing music. Furthermore, it is only fitting we acknowledge his pivotal role this year, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth. He was born, as was stated previously by my colleagues, on August 21, 1904, in his parents' home on Mechanic Streets in Red Bank, New Jersey, which has been in my district the entire time I have been in Congress, and even prior to the time I represented the area. And Count Basie is highly regarded in our area, as well as obviously nationally, as one of the best and most influential musicians and composers of the last century. The city of Red Bank, where he was born, gave the young William Basie his first exposure to music and the title of one of the most famous tunes associated with his band, ``The Kid From Red Bank''; and it is evidence the city of Red Bank has had on his early musical development. As a child, Basie would do chores at the Palace Theater in Red Bank so that he could get in free. One day when the Palace's house piano player was unable to travel from New York, Basie offered to fill in for him, but the manager declined the offer. Basie simply waited until the picture had started, then snuck into the pit and accompanied the film anyway on the piano. He was invited back to play the evening show. Years later, Basie would trace his lifelong interest in the organ to his experiences at the Lyric Theater, another theater in Red Bank, New Jersey, where he would listen to the organ played by Henry La Ross. Many are surprised to learn that William Basie's first love was not the piano, but rather the drums. However, his aspiration went towards a different direction when he met Sonny Greer, a young talented drummer from nearby Long Branch, New Jersey, which is actually my hometown. The young men quickly realized where their true respective talents really laid, and the drums and piano duo went on to win first place in an Asbury Park piano competition, one of the first of many honors bestowed upon Basie throughout his career. Asbury Park is also in my district, Mr. Speaker, and some of my colleagues know that Asbury Park was made famous also by Bruce Springstein, another one of our constituents. Count Basie was awarded with a total of nine Grammys throughout his career, including the Grammy Trustees Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1981. In addition, he was the recipient of an American Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment of the Arts in 1983, and in 1996, he was bestowed the honor of a Commemorative Stamp by the United States Postal Office. And I assure Members myself and many others in my district have lots of those stamps. Today, the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey stands as a testament to the life, career and accomplishments of this innovative and ingenious musician. In 1984, the historic theater, which first opened its doors in 1926, was renamed to honor Count Basie. Much of the theater has been preserved and remains true to its original appearance. The theater is now owned and operated by Count Basie Theater, Inc., a nonprofit corporation formed solely to operate the theater for the benefit of the community, and one cannot help but think this is exactly how the ``Kid from Red Bank'' would have liked it. Mr. Speaker, once again I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution and pay tribute to the life and career of an individual who revolutionized the face of jazz music and to this day stands as a model for all those who have followed him.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, President Bush brags about how consistent he has been in his policy on Iraq. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the President has been consistently wrong. President Bush was wrong about weapons of mass destruction. He was wrong about any connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. He was wrong about not working to bring in our allies to join us in the war against Iraq. He was wrong about sending our troops into battle without the protective gear that they needed. He was wrong when he declared ``mission accomplished,'' and wrong again when he challenged terrorists to ``bring it on.'' Finally, He was wrong when he did not plan for the aftermath of the fall of Baghdad. Mr. Speaker, President Bush has certainly been consistent about Iraq, but he has been consistently wrong.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, if the gentleman would yield further, if I could interrupt, the one thing I thought was so significant and maybe was not played up enough, there was a majority of the House of Representatives that voted ``no'' on that bill, 218, a clear majority. There was absolutely no reason to leave that board open, because a majority had voted ``no.'' So they basically spent, as the gentleman said, 2 or 3 hours persuading the people that voted ``no'' to switch their vote.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) and also the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel) for their comments because they are clearly right on point in talking about why this Medicare premium is going to increase so much in the next year and that this is directly the result of President Bush's policy and Republicans in this House's policy with the Medicare bill, the so- called Medicare prescription drug bill that the Republicans passed last year. Sometimes I do not know whether to laugh or to cry. To laugh because the hoax that is being played by the Republicans and the Bush administration is so ridiculous, or to cry because of the fact of what the consequences are to America's seniors. And we have to understand, and I know all of us do, that this is something that is really going to hurt seniors. They cannot afford a 17.4 percent increase. These are seniors living on fixed income. The Social Security COLA this year, I do not know what it is, 2 percent, 3 percent, something like that.

Mr. PALLONE. Yes, Mr. Speaker. This Medicare Part B premium is five times the 17.4 percent increase, at least, of what their Social Security COLA would go up to.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, I have to be honest, one of my concerns is, I mean we know that 99 percent of seniors pay the Part B premium because it pays for the doctor bills, but I would not be surprised if we start seeing a significant portion of them that do not even sign up for Part B because they cannot afford the premium. I mean that is my fear. And the other thing I wanted to follow up on, though, because I think it says so much about what is going on here and shows how the Bush administration and Republicans have caused this premium. We have got to understand that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) said when President Bush spoke, he tried to give the impression that this was just some natural phenomena, or maybe even worse, it was caused by the Democrats. This is directly the result of the Bush administration and the Republican Policy Committee, because when they passed that so-called Medicare prescription drug bill, what did they do? Essentially what they are doing is two things: one, giving more money to the insurance companies, particularly to the HMOs, and essentially trying to get Medicare privatized, to get seniors out of traditional Medicare, and this premium increase is a direct result of all that extra money that is going to pay for the HMOs or the other managed care agencies getting this increased money. The other thing is it is the result of the fact that the Republicans are borrowing from the Social Security and the Medicare trust funds to pay for the deficit that has been the result, again, of their policies. They did all these tax cuts primarily for corporate interests and for wealthy Americans. They had to borrow from the trust funds, including the Medicare trust fund, to pay for those tax cuts, and created a deficit; and that is another significant reason why this premium is going up. So when the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel) talked about the GAO study, which was in the New York Times, today the New York Times had a article on this GAO study, and it is just incredible, because what it found is that Medicare is spending $650 to $750 more per year for each beneficiary in these private plans, these managed care plans. Even though we are spending all this extra money, which is causing the part B premium to go up so much, we are finding that it is costing the government more. I just want to read this. It was just amazing to me. The New York Times today, the front page: Federal investigators said Monday that the Bush administration had improperly allowed, once again breaking the law, some private health plans to limit Medicare patients' choice of providers, including doctors, nursing homes and home care agencies. Investigators from the GAO also found that the private plans had increased out-of-pocket costs for the elderly and had not saved money for the government, contrary to predictions by Medicare officials. They have been saying all along the reason we are giving this extra money to the HMOs and the managed care providers, in this case the preferred provider organizations, is because the beneficiaries are going to save money out of pocket. Now this finds out that that is not true. So what do we have? We are giving the managed care companies more money. We are causing the part B premium to go up. As a result, the seniors are paying more out of money. And the Bush administration is doing all this illegally because they are limiting seniors their choice of doctors, nursing homes, and home care agencies. The only person that benefits is the insurance companies and the HMOs. I guess, as the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) said, the Republicans benefit, because they get campaign contributions and other things from the insurance companies. But there is nobody that benefits here. Even with all this going on, McClellan, the administrator of Medicare, insisted that private plans were an attractive option that would save money and improve coverage for beneficiaries. That was his response to the GAO report. Incredible. I just do not know where it ends. It is sickening.

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, if the gentleman will yield further, I just want to say two things in response. One is I think we have to keep repeating that this is the policy of the Bush administration and the Republicans in Congress. They have forced this 17.4 percent increase, because of their giving the money back to the insurance companies, the extra money to the HMOs and managed care, and because they are borrowing from the trust fund. But I want to say I have had a couple of seniors contact me over the last few weeks, because they point out that the costs are even higher. One of the things not mentioned here, and I forgot exactly how much it was, but the Medicare bill actually has an increase in the deductible too. Does it go to $150 instead of $100? I do not know exactly the amount. But this is the first time in the whole history of the part B program that the deductible is going to increase. So if you add that, and, remember, everybody is going to pay that, because when you go on January 1 and buy your first prescription or your first series of prescriptions, instead of $100, I do not know what it is going up to, it is going up beyond $100. I do not know if it is $150 or whatever at some point. So that is going to be an extra amount of money out of pocket. Then if you look at what the GAO study says today in terms of the money for these HMOs, what they did is they waived the out-of-pocket limits. So in other words, what this GAO study is saying today, it is costing the senior more if they have joined these PPOs, a form of managed care, because they are going to pay more out of pocket. Think about it: premiums going up, deductibles going up, out-of-pocket expenses going up, because they have waived the requirements.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and achievements of an exemplary individual, Colonel Perry (Buddy) L. Bridges. Upon his retirement as the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) and Fort Monmouth, he left behind a distinguished career, one through which he provided an invaluable service to his country. Perry L. Bridges first entered the military in May of 1977, and throughout his 27 years of service, he held critical responsibilities through his work with the Army, Department of Defense, international organizations and foreign governments. His commitment to his work earned him the respect of all his colleagues and anyone who was fortunate enough to know him. Today, I would like to take a moment to look back and pay homage to a decorated career. Colonel Bridges' outstanding career has included several high-ranking and significant command assignments. He served as Brigade Commander of the 1st Signal Brigade and he also served exceptionally as Battalion Commander of HHD, 56th Signal Battalion, 106th Signal Brigade. From June 1999 to May of 2000, Colonel Bridges performed magnificently as the Commander of the Signal Regiment's Academy and Director of the Signal Regiment's School of Leadership and Professional Development; leading an academy of over 1000 students, instructors, and staff personnel who were responsible for 17 leader and professional development courses. Through his tenure as Chief of Staff at the Communications- Electronics Command and Fort Monmouth, Colonel Bridges directed and coordinated a functional staff of 600 personnel and the resources of CECOM consisting of 10,000 military and civilian employees and an annual budget of approximately $2.2 billion. Colonel Bridges developed and implemented changes in training and organization that dramatically enhanced and strengthened Fort Monmouth's force protection system so that our enemies will find it more difficult and more costly to interfere with Fort Monmouth's efforts to maintain peace and stability. As Chief of Staff at the Communications-Electronics Command, Colonel Bridges brought with him a stellar history of service and remarkable leadership ability, integrity and unsurpassed dedication to soldiers, civil servants, the Army and his country. His distinguished military career truly reflects great credit upon himself, the United States Army Material Command, the United States Army and our entire Nation. A career as notable as this, should not go unrecognized. Colonel Bridges has received numerous awards of recognition throughout his career, which include a Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Achievement Medal, just to name a few. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Colonel Bridges on a storied career and thank him for his vital service to this country. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, how can we expect President Bush and his administration to win the war in Iraq if they continue to deny the realities our troops and the Iraqi people face on the ground? Last week provides several examples of a Bush administration in disarray: Cabinet officials contradicting each other on a daily basis and a President who continues to live in denial. Not only is the President in denial, but his hand-picked Iraqi Prime Minister appeared to be reading off the exact same page when he visited Washington last week. During a press conference in the Rose Garden President Bush claimed that ``these have been months of steady progress.'' And in this House chamber last week Prime Minister Allawi echoed the President, reminding my colleagues ``not to forget the progress we are making in Iraq.'' President Bush and Prime Minister Allawi can say we are making progress in Iraq, but the facts simply do not support their claims. Attacks against Iraqis and U.S. military personnel over the last couple of weeks are dramatically higher than they were in the weeks after the handover of power to the interim Iraqi government. Today on average 70 attacks occur on a daily basis, compared to 40 to 50 in July. Over the past 2 weeks these attacks have killed more than 250 Iraqis and 29 U.S. military personnel. How in the world is that progress, Madam Speaker? President Bush also ignores the real dangers surrounding the scheduled Iraqi elections in January. At his press conference last week, the President said the elections are still possible based on the situation on the ground. His reason is ``because the Prime Minister told me they are.'' Well, neither the President nor the Prime Minister could provide any evidence to support their steadfast belief that the January elections must proceed despite the realities on the ground. That same day, Iraq's most powerful Shiite leader threatened to withdraw his support for the elections. And UN Secretary General Annan also voiced concern that elections may need to be delayed due to security concerns on the ground. Madam Speaker, even President Bush's cabinet is providing contradictory information regarding the January elections. Last week at a Senate hearing, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld raised the possibility that some areas of Iraq might be excluded from voting in January. Secretary Rumsfeld said, ``Let's say you tried to have an election and you could have it in three-quarters or four-fifths of the country, but in some places you couldn't because the violence was too great. Well, so be it. Nothing's perfect in life.'' That is what Rumsfeld said. Image that. How could Secretary Rumsfeld conclude that the Iraqi people would consider such an election legitimate if a significant portion of the Iraqi people were not allowed to participate? Fortunately, there has one member of the President's Cabinet that is not afraid to put aside the President's talking points and speak the truth. This weekend, Secretary of State Powell refuted the President's claims that progress is being made in Iraq. Not only did Secretary Powell say the insurgency in Iraq is getting worse, he also supported Senator Kerry's contentions that the U.S. occupation of Iraq has increased anti-American sentiment in Muslim countries. Secretary Powell also refuted Secretary Rumsfeld's outrageous statements about the January election. What Powell said is, ``For the elections to have complete credibility and stand the test of international scrutiny, I think what we have to do is to give all the people of Iraq an opportunity to participate.'' Now, I obviously agree with what Secretary Powell says, but it is no wonder the situation in Iraq is so tenable. We have a President who either refuses to believe there is a problem in Iraq or does not think it is a problem to mislead the American people about how serious the situation currently is. We also have an administration that never seems to be on the same page. One cabinet official is saying one thing while another one is saying just the opposite. So, Madam Speaker, this is no way to lead a war, clearly. It is a flawed rationale for the war to begin with, in failing to have a plan once Baghdad fell, and President Bush's record essentially has not been good. It has been a failure. He failed to provide the troops with the equipment they needed, and he also failed to implement his reconstruction plans in Iraq, and he has left, essentially, Iraq in chaos. I do not think the world can afford another four years of this failed leadership on behalf of the Bush administration.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, today the New York Times uncovered two classified reports prepared for President Bush in the months leading up to the war in Iraq. These documents warned the President that ``an American-led invasion of Iraq would result in a deeply divided Iraqi society prone to violent internal conflict.'' Officials told the Times that a second report warns of a possible insurgency, saying the rogue elements from Saddam Hussein's government could work with existing terrorist groups or act independently to wage guerrilla warfare. Sounds exactly like the situation our U.S. troops face today in Iraq. Unfortunately, President Bush and his administration did not listen to these warnings. Vice President Cheney said we would be greeted with flowers, and President Bush egged insurgents on by telling them to ``bring it on.'' Today's report is just another example of the President's failed policies in Iraq. He had a flawed rationale for going to war. He did not have a plan to win the peace. He failed to implement his reconstruction plans for Iraq, leaving the country in chaos. And now we learn that he ignored intelligence estimates that warned of problems after the fall of Baghdad. The world cannot afford another 4 years of this failed leadership.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring attention to recent statements made by high-ranking government officials in Azerbaijan that threaten the security of Armenia as well as the efforts towards a peaceful settlement over the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. This issue, if not compellingly addressed by the administration, has the potential to undermine U.S. interests and American values in the strategically important Caucasus region. I refer to the recent remarks made by officials in the government of President Aliyev calling into question the very existence of Armenia. For example, as reported by Radio Free Europe, the Azerbaijani Defense Minister spokesman called for Azerbaijan's takeover of the entire territory of Armenia and removal of the entire Armenian population from the Caucasus. He went so far as to say, ``Within the next 25 years there will exist no state of Armenia in the south Caucasus.'' Given Azerbaijan's history of aggression against Armenians, these remarks cannot be dismissed as mere rhetoric. Furthermore, Azerbaijan recently blocked key NATO exercises in the country, due to their opposition towards having Armenian officers taking part in the exercises. In fact, in June 2003, Armenia served as the host country for similar exercises, to which Azerbaijani military forces were invited, yet refused to participate. This year, Armenia was one of several dozen countries due to participate, yet the initiative was blocked by Azerbaijan, which is continuing its efforts to undermine the prospects for peace in the Caucasus region. Azerbaijan's threats again Armenia's survival reinforce our commitment to maintaining parity in U.S. military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. This arrangement means even more today than when it was first put in place, particularly in light of Baku's increasingly aggressive posture towards Armenia. Any tilt in military spending towards Azerbaijan could, in our view, destabilize the region by emboldening the new Azerbaijani leadership to continue their threats to impose a military solution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. Just last week, the Republic of Armenia celebrated Independence Day marking 13 years of freedom from Soviet rule. We have seen considerable economic growth in the country. Despite the continuing illegal blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan, a recent Wall Street Journal study found that Armenia remains the most economically free nation in the region. Today, Armenia is steadfast in its support of the U.S., as exhibited by their recent announcement of plans to send a unit of deminers, doctors and 50 trucks, including staff and drivers, to assist the Coalition forces in Iraq. It is critical to note that Armenia is today, as it has always been, committed to the peace process and the terms agreed to in the Key West summit. Since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabagh and Azerbaijan conflict, Armenia has been committed to finding a peaceful resolution. Moreover, I cannot stress enough the crucial role that the U.S. plays in the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabagh to help the people of this region find a lasting and equitable peace. These threats by Azerbaijan undermine these efforts and seriously complicate our diplomacy in the region. A failure on our part to forcefully and publicly confront the Azerbaijan government over these destabilizing threats would, in our view, send extremely dangerous signals to Azerbaijan. So, Mr. Speaker, I hope that the United States takes action to condemn these remarks by the Azerbaijani government, and that we here in this Chamber do everything we can to ensure that all parties involved in this conflict make a genuine commitment towards peace and stability in the region.