Bill Pascrell

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important subject we are talking about. To set aside sampling and the science is to guess at what the population is. Let me repeat. In Paterson, New Jersey, in 1995, with two other communities throughout the United States, $30 million was spent by this Congress, the gentlemen here, the ladies here, to absolutely do sampling and test other methodologies. Are you going to have us conclude, after the science has been supported by the National Academy of Sciences, that what the results were in those three tests are to be put aside so we can really go to the methodology that has been chosen by the other side, to guess? You cannot count every nose in a census. You know it and everybody else on this side of the aisle knows it. We need to come together on this issue. It is critical. There are too many people out there who do not respond to the census questionnaire as it is. What you are going to do is establish even more questions and more anxiety. Do you want to have wasted $30 million? That is not including what we are spending right now to go through dress rehearsals. This is wrong. We need to accept the science, we need to understand that it was acceptable in 1995 where we prepared for the sampling, where we prepared for the testing and methodology. It was not done helter- skelter. Stop the guessing and support sampling.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, we will vote on a motion to recommit with specific instructions to strike section 425. This section puts the interest of an industry over the interest of our citizens. Today we won a victory on children's sleepwear fire safety standards. We demonstrated Congress' bipartisan commitment to ensuring that our children are safer from fires. Now we must continue that commitment by allowing the Consumer Product Safety Commission to proceed on upholstered flammability standards. In a letter to the Committee on Rules, the Consumer Product Safety Commission called this language an obstacle to their work. They said, and I quote: The proposal creates additional costs to an ongoing project and adds considerable delay and redundancy with no additional benefits to the American public. This is only intended to interfere and disrupt the orderly process already developed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to consider a serious hazard facing American consumers. That is not stated by any Congressperson. That is stated by the CPSC. Unfortunately, if this VA-HUD appropriations bill passes with section 425, the $16 billion upholstery manufacturing industry will receive an early Christmas present. That is what this is all about. While the industry is laughing its way to the bank, thousands of Americans will be in jeopardy and will continue to be in jeopardy. They will be burned because the industry spent thousands of dollars lobbying against a national upholstery flammability standard. Thirty-seven hundred people a year are killed by house fires. Seventeen hundred youngsters are injured due to residential fires, most of which are starting when upholstery furniture catches fire. This bill blocks the progress that has been made by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The provision not only delays the project, but it is totally redundant and provides no further benefit to the American public. While we wait, over 25,000 men, women, and children will have died as a result of burning furniture if we wait a year or 18 months. The Consumer Product Safety Commission calculates that an upholstery flammability standard will have an annual net savings of $300 million. Amendment No. 31 Offered By Mr. Riggs

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, the people of the 8th District of New Jersey join all Americans in pausing to think about their lives, cut short by a madman, J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson. They represented family, dedication, hope; and the Chestnut and Gibson families should know that we here will not forget. You can count on this Congress. Second, this house of the people should not be turned into a barricaded camp in the name of providing more security to the Congress. I feel secure. And democracy is, also. We shall be vigilant. Recently, Mr. Speaker, I had a group of students come here. They wanted to go, four or five of them, to a place, a remote place in this building where usually people do not go. So I took them down to the bowels of the Capitol. We stopped for a moment, and I said, ``Do you know where we are? This is where part of the War of 1812 was fought. And at the time it was being fought here, they were trying to burn down the White House down the street.'' They could not believe that, because we take a lot of those things for granted, do we not? When they came out of the building, they turned and looked at it differently than they looked at it when they went into this building. Mr. Speaker, from now on, I will bring those groups to where Mr. Chestnut and his friend and our honored person John Gibson fell. Democracy is secure because of them. Democracy is better because of them. Yet these things happened outside of a war. God bless them, God bless their families, God bless America.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, a question was asked a few seconds about whose side are we on. The average CEO from an HMO makes $6 million a year. It goes up to $20 million a year. You are asking us whose side we are on? A woman in my district recently summed up the problems with our current managed care system in a conversation with me. She asked if there was a way she could get into Medicare early because she thought she could receive better care under her Medicare than under her current health insurance program. All across my State of New Jersey, patients are being denied their basic rights, and I think that is what this argument and debate is all about. New Jerseyans who benefit from some of the strongest patient protections in the country would lose under the original bill. Benefits and services such as bone marrow transplants, diabetic supplies, mammogram and prostrate screenings and minimum maternity stays would all be in jeopardy for thousands of patients in our State. Let us do the right thing today.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I hold up an ad that was in The Hill today, which cost $3,885 for the record. It is a part of the democracy we live in. I will not name the firm, but the firm writes this: ``This firm is committed to helping China develop sustainable economic growth.'' And I find that to be very, very laudable. But what about us in this country? That is what this is all about. And to answer the last speaker who spoke eloquently here, we are all for freedom. The question is, what does that freedom mean? We have seen what has happened to the textile industry in this Nation over the last 30 years. If that was not bad enough, China is currently the third largest source of U.S. textile and apparel imports. Chinese textile and apparel exports to the United States are limited by U.S. quotas established under a bilateral agreement with China. The most current agreement was reached in February of 1997. The U.S. Customs Service, that is us, has found evidence that China has attempted to circumvent the U.S. textile quotas by transshipping Chinese products through other countries to the United States using false country-of-origin labels. This is a very common problem. I ask the opposition to this resolution to respond to this illegal trafficking of goods into this country. We talk about the sliding Asian economy. As it gets worse, there will be a propensity to produce more cheap goods to flood our markets. That is what this is all about. We cannot have normal relationships with the Chinese government. Our fight is not with the Chinese people. God, they have been treated horribly. Our argument is with the Chinese government. Instead of thinking about what kind of message will we send them if we put sanctions, if we do this or that, my question is, when are they going to start sending us messages that are not confusing messages, that speak to this very one-sided ad in The Hill newspaper this morning? When are they going to begin following the law of the land and of the world? When are they going to be treating their workers as human beings? When are they going to stop trading nuclear weaponry equipment to countries that are our enemies? That is a very serious question. We believe in freedom in America, and we cannot wish it through a trade agreement that is not reciprocal.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, I want to commend both the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stokes) for putting together a very reasonable piece of legislation. However, I have one concern which I want to bring to the floor. The $16 billion upholstery manufacture industry will receive an early Christmas present this year, Mr. Chairman. The industry is laughing its way to the bank. Thousands of Americans might die in house fires. They will be burnt to death because the industry spent thousands of dollars lobbying against a national upholstery flammability standard. This absolves the industry from responsibility and preventing their products from literally going up in smoke. Thirty-seven hundred people a year are killed by house fires. One thousand of them are children, twice as likely to die in a fire than adults. An additional 1,700 youngsters are injured due to residential fires. This bill blocks the progress that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has made in the development of an upholstered furniture flammability standard. This provision not only delays the project but is totally redundant, provides no further benefit to the American public. Upholstered furniture fires are the number one fire hazard in this country, yet we are still waiting for flammability standards, and while we wait over 25,000 men, women and children have died as a result of burning furniture. The Consumer Product Safety Commission calculates that an upholstery flammability standards will have an annual net savings of $300 million. This $300 million will go directly to American taxpayers because their local fire departments will not be called to extinguish as many residential fires. Prevention of fires is not just a noteworthy goal. Flammability standards are attainable, they are cost effective, and they make sense. We already require institutions such as hospitals and prisons to purchase flame-retardant furniture. Are we saying that we are more interested in protecting prisoners from upholstery fires than our children?

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, when I looked at the government's response to this particular case in July of 1998, where lawyers for the Department of State and the Treasury advised the court that the government would file motions to quash each of the writs of attachment, we must rise against the injustice. In April of 1995, Alisa Flatow, who was then a student at Brandeis University, from my district of West Orange, New Jersey took a semester off to study at Jerusalem Seminary. She was driving on a bus, riding on a bus in the Gaza strip when a militant suicide bomber drove a van loaded with explosives into the side of the crowded vehicle. Sadly, Alisa and eight other innocent people were killed by this act of terrorism. Alisa was a woman of great character, both in life and in death. And those who received her organs can attest to the kind of generous woman she was. Her heart was transplanted to a 56-year-old man who had been waiting more than a year for one. Her liver was donated to a 23-year- old man. Her lungs, her pancreas, her kidneys to four different patients. Her corneas were donated to an eye bank. We will not forget Alisa Flatow or the struggle and trauma her family have gone through as a result of this heinous act. State-sponsored terrorism cannot be tolerated. Not just in words we speak, but in action. That is what the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) was talking about. It simply requires that the Secretary of the Treasury help victims locate assets of the Nation that sponsored the terrorist act, whomever they are. It entitles victims to seize property so that they can be liquidated in order to pay any judgments issued by a U.S. court, and we have a judgment here, do we not? We have a judgment. The measure is a good first step we took in 1996. We need to build upon it so we can wage a real war on terrorism, not just of words. In 1997, we passed another law that allowed victims of terrorism or their families to sue for punitive damages, another step, another action taken; not just words. We heard the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) speak about the rule that Iran must pay $247.5 million. Frankly, I would say to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) I am not interested on this side of the aisle in kowtowing and boot licking those people who we think some day will be our friends while they tolerate acts of terrorism and do not do anything about it. Frankly, I am not interested in that. I am interested in now, to send a clear message to the administration, to the courts, to our friends and those who are not our friends, that we mean business. These are our citizens. These are our brothers and sisters. These are our relatives we are talking about here. This amendment, whatever form it takes, and it will take form, will allow the Flatows to seize Iranian property, as the courts have decided. Those nations who sponsor terrorism must know that if they are found guilty in a U.S. court, their assets will be liquidated in order to serve justice. Mr. Chairman, let justice be served today.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, it is a travesty when this Congress puts the interests of an industry over the interests of our citizens. I am ashamed that this is what is happening today. This rule not only subjects fire retardant standards for children's sleepwear to a point of order, but includes a special interest provision by the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker) which would delay flammability standards for upholstered furniture. Mr. Speaker, this provision is not a good faith compromise. This is a provision which was drafted by the special interests, with no input from the Consumer Product Safety Commission or the National Association of State Fire Marshals. Yet, the staff of the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker) felt they could tell other staffs that the fire marshals had accepted this compromise. Untrue. This is a serious problem here, just another example of misrepresenting this issue. We cannot put the upholstered furniture industry's interest above the public interest. I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this rule and demand that the Consumer Product Safety Commission be allowed to continue their work on flammability standards and children's sleepwear. Say ``no'' to the $16 billion upholstery furniture industry. Say ``yes'' to saving lives and preventing fires.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a momentous milestone for the West Orange First Aid Squad in West Orange, New Jersey. This July the squad will celebrate its 35th Anniversary in service to the public of West Orange. In the late 1950s to early 1960s the Department of Civil Defense- Disaster Control (CD-DC) in West Orange began a series of residence training programs which focused on ``Home Preparedness,'' fire safety, home protection, and elementary first aid. These sessions were very well attended. At every town function, the CD-DC would have the local boy Scout troop set up a first aid tent to care for minor injuries. For serious injuries, the fire department had an ambulance located at Fire Station #4 on Pleasant Valley Way. The personnel were not properly trained, and the equipment was lacking, but they did the best they could with what was available. At this time, at a monthly CD-DC meeting a police auxiliary officer proposed creating a first aid unit. Information was gathered from the NJ Safety Council, and various township officials were contacted, resulting in the decisions that an emergency first aid unit should be created. After some debate, it was decided that it would be a separate volunteer organization. Volunteers were sought and a training program was started. Commissioner Edward Roos decided that the volunteers would be able to use the ambulance at station #4 if they passed their training. The early 1960s saw all of the volunteers passing the first aid course. They were given a uniform of white coveralls with a special insignia. When it was realized that women too were taking the course, and a decision was reached that the squad would be an all-male operation, the women created an auxiliary called the Gold Cross which was responsible for raising money for the squad. In 1963, the squad was officially recognized by the township as a separate volunteer medical unit and was granted a charter for ``Primary Medical Emergency Medical Service.'' In the 1970s the number of volunteers grew and the squad was moved to a larger location at 25 Mount Pleasant Place, where it is still located today. Today, the West Orange First Aid Squad continues to provide free emergency medical care to the Township of West Orange. It is one of the few squads in New Jersey to offer an in-house, 24-hour volunteer crew. Its volunteers go through an extensive training program, and work with the fire department in life threatening emergencies. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, and the Township of West Orange, as we congratulate the West Orange First Aid Squad on its 35th anniversary and wish it the best of luck in providing service to its community in the years to come.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a momentous milestone for the Saint Frances' Residence. On June 28, 1998, the residence will officially mark their 100th year of service to my hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. During the latter half of the Nineteenth Century, the City of Paterson experienced a prolonged period of industrial growth. In particular, the silk industry was expanding so rapidly that Paterson was soon known as ``The Silk City.'' Many of those working in the mills were young single women, away from home for the first time. These young women had come to Paterson to help support their families. Still others were recent immigrants with no roots in the United States. Out of concern for the well-being of these women, the Very Reverend William NcNulty, Pastor of the St. John's Roman Catholic Parish, requested that the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth provide them with a stable ``home for working girls.'' Under the first Superior/Administrator, Sister Mary Louis Healy, the Saint Frances' Residence opened on January 1, 1897. Although its original mission was to provide a safe haven for working women, the residence also placed emphasis on providing lodging and training for ill or unemployed female domestics. The Residence was an instant success, causing it to expand from its original location at 393 Main Street to a nearby property on Jackson Street. The expansion continued during the early 1900s. As Paterson's needs evolved, the role of the Residence changed. By 1933, Saint Frances had become a modernized ``home for business women,'' complete with electricity and a ``restful summer house.'' At one time, as many as 72 women lived in the residence, most of whom were gainfully employed. Breakfast and dinner were provided by the residence and a packed lunch was provided. By the 1950s, St. Frances' began to take in more financially secure mature women. It continues to serve the City of Paterson as a home for the aged to this day. The Residence also remains an important asset to the community during times of crisis, providing housing for those who have been the victims of natural disasters. The most famous instance of St. Frances' generosity occurred in 1956 when it provided shelter for the passengers of the doomed ocean-liner ``Andrea Doria.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, and the City of Paterson as we congratulate the St. Frances Residence on its first 100 years and wish current Superior/Administrator Sister Joyce Vincent the best of luck as the Residence begins its second century of service.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, Traumatic Brain Injury, known as TBI, is the number one killer and cause of disability among young people in the United States. It claims more victims than breast cancer, prostate cancer and AIDS combined, yet it receives little attention from Congress, the media and the medical community. It is time that Congress demonstrate it's commitment to head injury patients and expand our efforts to treat and cure brain injuries. Each year, more than 2 million Americans are involved in an incident which results in head injury. Approximately 100,000 victims die and 500,000 will require hospitalization. Traumatic brain injury can strike anyone and leave devastating results. Trauma to the head can result in significant impairment to an individual's physical, psychosocial and cognitive functional abilities. TBI affects the victim's whole family both emotionally and economically and often results in immense medical and rehabilitative expenses. The direct and indirect costs of TBI are $25 billion per year. In 1996, Congress passed the Traumatic Brain Injury Act which authorized the NIH to expand research studies and establish innovative programs regarding traumatic brain injury. We must now provide the NIH with sufficient funding so that exciting new research, such as regeneration, can reach the clinical stage and give victims and their families new hope. I urge my colleagues to support NIH brain injury funding so that we can help save Americans from the devastation of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I call to your attention the 25th anniversary of Father Joe Orlandi's ordination into the priesthood. Joe Orlandi was born in Subiaco, Italy on December 8, 1947, the child of Augusto and Teresa Orlandi. He studied at the Pontificio College Leoniano in Rome. On July 25, 1970 at the invitation of the diocese of Paterson, Joe continued his theological studies at the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, New Jersey. In 1971 while still completing his studies, Joe was assigned to our Lady of Pompeii Church in my hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. All who met him there found him to be a caring friend and a trusted spiritual advisor. In 1973, following the completion of his theological studies, Joe was ordained a priest in Paterson by Bishop Lawrence B. Casey. His first assignment was Mt. Carmel Parish in Boonton. It wasn't too long before his parishioners at Mt. Carmel grew to know and love Father Joe, and many families invited him into their homes for traditional Italian meals and warm conservation. Father Joe was the determining factor in several parishioners tour to Rome in 1975. That same year, Father Joe was appointed associate pastor of St. Brendan Church in Clifton. His extraordinary leadership qualities were soon recognized and in 1978 he was appointed co-pastor of St. Brendan. As moderator of the Youth Group, Father Joe had a positive impact upon many young people whose successful adult lives today reflect his advice and guidance. Father Joe gives selflessly of his time and energy. He is a Boy Scout Moderator, Teacher of Religious Education in St. Brendan School, bingo chairman, as well as director of the Diocese of Paterson Engagement Encounter weekends. Deeply grateful to his adopted country, Father Joe joined the United States Army Reserve as a Chaplain in 1980, counseling countless soldiers and their families, during times of peace and times of heightened tensions. Father Joe continues to minister to the spiritual needs of the men and women who serve in our nation's Army Reserve. On June 15, 1990, our dynamic Priest brought a new spirit to the nationally recognized historic parish of St. Michael, Paterson. Father Joe has been an ever-watchful guardian of the public good, never failing to speak out in the interests of the larger community he serves. Many a newcomer to our shores and many a senior citizen can also thank Father Joe for freely sharing with them his extensive knowledge and expertise in immigration and social security matters. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, his parishioners, and the State of New Jersey in recognizing Father Joe Orlandi's exceptional contributions to our society on this 25th anniversary of his ordination.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. PASCRELL. I yield to the gentleman from Connecticut.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, we are back to the beginning if we listened to the last two speakers. As in the beginning, we here in this House are divided into two groups, one group that says there is too much money in campaigns and another group that says there is never enough money in campaigns. And the more that you have, the more free speech that you have. The gentleman from California (Mr. Doolittle) explicitly and implicitly stated just a few moments ago what this debate is all about. And that is, what he is really after is an unlimited number of dollars in campaigns. That is the crux of the debate. Regardless of the amendments, regardless of substitutions, that is the crux of the debate. The issue of campaign finance reform is not the same as base closings. In base closings, we had a need for an independent commission that could break the impasse that existed, because no one wanted to vote to close a base in their own State. There is no comparison between the subjects that we discuss today and the subjects that were discussed in past Congresses, none whatsoever. With campaign finance reform, we are not voting to close a base and put anyone out of business, no. Passing campaign finance reform is an entirely different subject. The only reason to pass and create a commission is to avoid making a hard-choice decision ourselves. The people did not send us here to put the hard decision on someone else's shoulders, Mr. Chairman. That is not why I came. They sent us here to make the decisions in this House. By voting on the freshman bill or Shays-Meehan, we have the opportunity to vote for real reform. We should not pass our responsibilities off to others. Mind you, we are going to select the folks that are serving on this commission. No sitting Member can be a member of the commission and that group out there is going to make the decision for us to live by in our raising dollars so that we can be elected and reelected. The people of this country created a commission already. It is called the Congress. And the Congress is up for election every 2 years, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. PASCRELL. In the debate that we are having here on this floor, the two major bills that we are discussing and, according to the Speaker of this House, the bill that we are discussing as a base bill deals with soft money. That is money that comes into the campaign in the last 3 or 4 weeks which if you have not received and collected enough hard money, you cannot win that election in the last 3 or 4 weeks unless you are way ahead. He knows it and I know it. We are talking about soft money that we do not know how much is really spent in a campaign, and that is true with Democrats and Republicans. This is not a partisan issue.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, I for one agree with the gentleman from Connecticut, that there should be caps on how much is spent. Under the present Supreme Court decision, that cannot happen. I would say the average congressional campaign, if that is what we are talking about here, we can look at how much is being spent in hard money across the United States of America. I would be willing to discuss that with the gentleman.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to a remarkable man, Samuel Spina, the Mayor of the Township of West Orange, New Jersey. Sam and I have worked together for many years. His colleagues and I agree that he has always been considered to be one of the most dedicated and conscientious public servants in our great state. Born and raised in West Orange, Sam attended local schools and received his degree from Seton Hall University. Following graduation, Sam served our country in the United States Marine Corps. After completing his service commitment, he returned to marry his high school sweetheart, the former Joan Coen. Settling in West Orange, they raised seven children, and have more recently been blessed with six grandchildren. Mayor Spina began his distinguished career in public service in 1970 when he was elected to the West Orange Township Council, receiving more votes than any other candidate in that open election. In May 1978, Sam was elected Mayor for the first time. In 1982, Sam became the first candidate for Mayor to run unopposed in the history of West Orange. Clearly his talents and keen insight into public policy were not lost on the electorate. After being elected to an unprecedented fifth term in 1994, he continues to serve in that position to this day. The citizens' appreciation of Sam's service and the recognition from his peers have been unparalleled. He was elected to serve as the President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors in April 1988. Mayor Spina took the office to which he was elected seriously, making a concerted effort to educate the people of the Garden State on the fundamentals of local government. In 1991, he was elected Chairman of the Essex County Conference of Mayors. In addition to his respected political career, Sam has been extremely active in the West Orange community. Known throughout Essex County as a man who gives freely of his time, he frequently can be seen at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. He is also dedicated to recognizing and promoting the interests of our seniors and disabled citizens, often organizing activities devoted expressly to them. Mayor Spina is also a valued member of the World Wildlife Fund, Common Cause, the West Orange Animal Welfare League, and GASP. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, the citizens of West Orange, and Sam's friends and family as we recognize Mayor Samuel Spina's valuable contribution to the community.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the momentous occasion of the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Stephen and Emily Baran. Stephen Baran and the former Emily Sarzensky will have been married 50 years on May 30, 1998. Their wedding took place on May 30, 1948 at the Holy Rosary Church in Passaic, New Jersey. Stephen and Emily have been residents of the city of Clifton for 43 years, and both are active parishioners of Saint Philip the Apostle Church on Valley Road in Clifton. Stephen worked for Athenia Steel before his retirement. A United States Army veteran of World War II, he is a member of the local American Legion. Emily has been, and continues to be, a dedicated homemaker. They have two daughters, Nancy Felipe and Christine Beauvais, and are the proud grandparents of Stephanie Beauvais, Thomas Felipe, and Michael Felipe. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, Stephen and Emily's family and friends, and the cities of Clifton and Passaic in recognizing the momentous occasion that is the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Stephan and Emily Baran.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call your attention to the many accomplishments of Dr. Samuel Krantzow, who is being honored at the breakfast celebrating the occasion of the 70th Anniversary for Congregation Ahavas Israel. Dr. Krantzow is a life long resident of Passaic, New Jersey and a graduate of their fine school system. After giving 3 years of service to the Army Air Force during World War II, he went to school and received his degree in optometry from the Pennsylvania State College of Optometry. In 1951, after starting his practice in his hometown of Passaic, he married the former Estelle Wechsler. They have two lovely daughters, Caryl, who lives in Columbia, Maryland, and Debra who resides in Houston, Texas. Pamela and Rachel, their two granddaughters, are the light of Samuel and Estelle's eyes. During his many years of optometrical practice, Dr. Krantzow served as President of the Bergen Passaic Optometric Society, as President of the N.J. Optometric Association, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Omni Eye Services of Northern New Jersey. In addition to serving on the Governor's Advisory Committee where he was instrumental in setting up the vision portion of the Medicaid Program for the Garden State, Dr. Krantzow sat on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Vision Service Plan. He also served for six years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bergen Passaic Health Systems Agency. Apart from his distinguished medical associations, Dr. Krantzow is a past-chancellor of Passaic Lodge, Knights of Pythias. Being active in the local Jewish community constitutes a large part of Dr. Krantzow's schedule. From 1989-1990, he served as President of the Ahavas Israel Congregation. Dr. Krantzow was called to serve again in June 1994 as co-President of his congregation, and from 1996 until 1997, he held the position on his own. Currently, Dr. Krantzow serves as co-chairman of the Chevra Kadisha of Congregation Ahavas Israel. Believing he should give something back to his community, he has been Staff Optometrist at the Daughters of Miriam Center for the Aged in Clifton and is a delegate to the Jewish Memorial Chapel. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, the Congregation of Ahavas Israel, Dr. Krantzow's family and friends, and the City of Passaic in recognizing and honoring the accomplishments of Dr. Samuel Krantzow.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to introduce you to a remarkable man who has been very important to me, not only as a great friend but also as a mentor, Father Joseph A. O'Hare. Tonight, Father O'Hare will be honored with the 1998 Brien McMahon Award by the Fordham Club of Washington, DC. Born in New York City on February 12, 1931, Father O'Hare attended Regis High School in Manhattan. Following graduation, he entered the Jesuit Order in 1948. Much of his early spiritual training took place in the Philippines, where he attended Berchmann College in Cebu City. After completing this intensive program, Joseph O'Hare was ordained a priest in 1961 in the Fordham University Church. In addition to the Bachelor's and Master's degrees that Father O'Hare earned from Berchmann College, he also holds licentiate degrees in philosophy and theology from Woodstock College, and a doctorate in Philosophy from Fordham. His excellent educational background prepared him for a career as the longest serving President in the 157 year history of Fordham University. He served on the faculty of the College of Arts and Science at Ateneo de Manila Universidad in the Philippine capital from 1955 to 1958 and again from 1967 to 1972. Since joining Fordham University, he has served as Chairman of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and Chair of the Associations of Catholic Colleges and Universities. He was named President of Fordham University, my alma mater, on July 1, 1984. Father O'Hare's enviable efforts in his chosen career have been matched by a sincere civic commitment. Beginning in March 1986, he served on the Mayor Koch's Committee on Appointments. He was also a member of the Charter Revision Commission of the City of New York from 1986 to 1988. Soon after, Father O'Hare was appointed Chairman of the Campaign Finance Board. This Board, one of the first of its kind in the nation, was created to oversee a landmark voluntary city-wide campaign finance law. During Father O'Hare's tenure, the Campaign Finance Board has been hailed in a New York Times Editorial as a model for other cities. In recognition of his unique talents, he was reappointed by Mayor Rudolph Guiliani in 1994. In light of these accomplishments, it is little wonder that Father O'Hare is this year's recipient of the Brien McMahon Award. This award, presented annually by the Fordham Club of Washington, D.C., has a distinguished history. Prior recipients include Eunice Kennedy and Sargent Shriver. Adding Father O'Hare's name to this impressive list can only increase the prestige of this honor. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, thousands of Fordham alumni, and the Fordham Club of Washington, D.C. as Father O'Hare is honored with the Brien McMahon award this evening.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention Anthony Fiorello of Wayne, New Jersey who is being honored this evening by the Borough of West Paterson for his service as Municipal Court Judge. Tony was born on May 11, 1940. A resident of Passaic County, he graduated from Passaic Valley High School in 1958 whereupon he entered Seton Hall University as an undergraduate student in Political Science. Tony graduated in 1962 with a B.A. in Political Science and in the top 10 percent of his class with a 3.3 G.P.A. At Seton Hall, Tony was involved in many campus activities including President of the TKE fraternity, varsity-lettered athlete in fencing (selected to E.C.A.C. Championship tournament, Deputy Brigade Commander--ROTC Brigade, and Distinguished Military Student. He also received the University Cross and Crescent Award for Outstanding Achievement in Academic, Moral, and Extracurricular Accomplishments. In 1962 Tony entered Seton Hall's School of Law where he was selected as a Centennial Scholar. He was a Charter Member and Secretary of the PAD, a professional legal fraternity and co-authored a study on election laws in states comprising the Third Circuit. During this time, he also served a clerkship for the City Attorney, City of Paterson. In February 1966, Tony was called to active service during the Vietnam War and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant. He was promoted to Captain in 1967 and served as Assistant Inspector General, U.S.A.T.C., Fort Knox, Kentucky where he later served as a member of the U.S.A.T.C. General Staff. Tony was decorated with the U.S. Army Commendation Medal and the National Defense Medal. Tony has a wealth of legal experience, with a career spanning 32 years. A trial attorney, he has served many local municipalities as their attorney including the Borough of Wanaque--where he still serves, the Township of Wayne, the Boroughs of Totowa and Haledon, and the Cities of Passaic and Garfield (Board of Education). Tony also served as the Municipal Court Judge for the Borough of West Paterson, from 1995 to 1998. Additionally, he has been appointed by the New Jersey Superior Court as guardian for incompetents and minors, and as a fiscal agent for corporations involved in litigation. An active member of the community, Tony has given much of his time to many local civic and religious organizations. He is a member of the Wayne Elks, President of the Wayne Jaycees, and a member and coach at the Wayne P.A.L. Tony is also Director for many groups including Citizens Against Drug Abuse and the Greater Wayne Chamber of Commerce, and is Chairperson of the North Jersey Country Club> He is President of the Holy Cross Home School Association as well as the Paterson Diocesan Federation of Home School Associations. Tony has also served as a presenter for the New Jersey Catholic Conference in dialogue with federal and state legislators on issues of importance to New Jersey Bishops. Tony was married on February 20, 1965 to the former Isabell Gallagher. They have three children--Jackilyn Fiorello Carpinteri, age 31, Kathleen Fiorello, age 29, and Brian Fiorello age 26. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, Tony's family and friends, and the Borough of West Paterson in recognizing the many outstanding and invaluable contributions Anthony Fiorello has made throughout the years to our community.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Chairman, the current Congress can be broken into two groups: Those who think there is too much money in politics, and those who think there is not enough. I am of the former belief. During the 1996 election cycle, candidates running for Federal office spent over $1.6 billion to get elected. Whether we want to admit it or not, the fact is that our campaign finance system is jeopardizing our credibility. We should not fool ourselves into believing that the problem is only the illegal activities that occur during the campaigns. Soft money is unregulated and is not subject to any of the contribution limits. Democrats and Republicans combined to raise more than $260 million in soft money, a 206 percent increase, in 1992. If this trend is allowed to continue, we can expect the soft money figure to reach almost $1 billion in the year 2000. It is the abuse of soft money that has so badly tainted our system. It is soft money abuses that are the source of the investigations of the 1996 campaign.