Jack Quinn

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. I thank the gentleman from Arizona for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in support of the amendment to S. 1402. On April 13, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), and 21 members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs introduced the Veterans and Dependents Millennium Education Act, H.R. 4268, which was the culmination of over 16 months of effort. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take some time now to be specific about what is in this bill and how it helps almost immediately close to a half a million of our veterans and their families. This excellent bipartisan bill improves the veterans' readjustment and military recruitment aspects of the Montgomery GI Bill. In fact, I believe it builds on the wisdom and foresight of the revered individual and our friend, Sonny Montgomery, who is with us this morning for whom Congress named the all-volunteer force Educational Assistance Program back in 1987. S. 1402, as amended, then will help hundreds of thousands of veterans, service members and their families; and it will do so right now. For over 300,000 veteran-students now using the Montgomery GI Bill and young Americans contemplating service in our all-volunteer force, effective October 1 of this year, the bill increases the basic Montgomery GI Bill benefit from $536 per month, as was mentioned, to $600 per month. On October 1, 2002, it increases this basic benefit to $720 per month. Each of these improvements have proportional increases for part-time students and for those who enlist for only 2 years. Currently, the Montgomery GI Bill provides $19,296 in benefits over 4 years. Over the next 4 years, our bill increases this amount to $23,760, an increase of over $4,400. This bill will be welcome news for 137,000 active-duty service members who either previously turned down an opportunity to convert from the post-Vietnam era Veterans Educational Assistance Program, which has come to be known as VEAP, to the Montgomery GI Bill or who had a zero balance in their VEAP account previously. For a $2,700 buy- in, these individuals will receive full Montgomery GI Bill benefits. We have also structured in the bill the buy-in so service members who retire as of April 1 of this year and later will also be eligible. We will help about 48,000 survivors and dependents of veterans who died or are permanently disabled as the result of military service. We will increase their monthly benefits to go to college from $485 per month to $600 per month effective this October and to $720 per month 2 years in the future. We will also help about 360 veteran-students attending Ohio University and hundreds of veterans at other colleges around the country. These are colleges that take an extended term break between Thanksgiving and New Year's, for example. This measure would allow veteran-students to be paid for the 40-day term interval just as student-veterans with a 30-day interval or less. Lastly, we will help about 25,000 service members who are discharged from the military each year who need a civilian license or certification to enter, maintain, or advance their vocation or profession. They will be able to use their Montgomery GI Bill benefits to pay for these examinations, which sometimes average to be $150 each or more. All told, about a half a million, 519,000 veterans, survivors and service members will benefit from this measure during the first year of its enactment. Mr. Speaker, the spending associated with the bill is budget neutral over 5 years. We have identified offsets by eliminating sunset dates on certain provisions, including veterans home loan fees, liquidation sales on defaulted home loans, authority for VA to access IRS data for determining eligibility for veterans' pension benefits and limitations on pensions for some veterans in nursing homes who are eligible for Medicaid coverage instead. Forty-two veterans, military service and higher education organizations have supported and endorsed the bill. In closing, this morning's bill is only the first step. Indeed, we had lengthy discussions at the full committee during the markup that it is not all that we want to do, but it is what we can do right now and make a difference. We look forward to continuing our work with veterans, military, and higher education associations in the partnership for veterans' education to find ways to continue to improve Montgomery GI Bill benefits. Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues this afternoon to support S. 1402, as amended. I also want to close by thanking the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) who have served together on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs now for almost 19 years for their enduring commitment on veterans issues. Today's bill we see is an excellent example of their strong bipartisan leadership on behalf of our Nation's service members and veterans.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4489, the Immigration and Naturalization Service Data Management Improvement Act. As you all know, we have been grasping for a solution to the Section 110 problem for several years now. And now, through months of hard work and negotiations, I am pleased to lend my full support to this bipartisan solution to this vexing problem. This legislation will amend Section 110 of the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act in two ways. First, this bill will create a database to integrate and centralize the information that is already collected about aliens entering and leaving the United States. This solution will impose no new information collection requirements. Second, the bill establishes a task force that will issue findings and recommendations on enhancing data collection. The task force will also study and make recommendations on how to improve congestion at border points and facilitate border crossings. This task force will be made up of representatives of the public sector including agencies with interests in trade, tourism, transportation, immigration, law enforcement, national security and the environment. The task force will also include private sector representatives from affected industries. Section 110, as written in the 1996 Immigration Reform law, would have had a devastating impact on the economies of border communities. By requiring a record of every person entering and leaving the US, border crossings would have been effectively shut down. The lengthy delays that are already experienced at border crossings would have been increased to a near stand still. This legislation today, accomplishes the laudable goal for section 110, without effecting border traffic. Tracking aliens in the United States is something we need to facilitate. This bill will do that. I am thrilled that we have come to this important compromise. I would like to take a moment to thank Chairman Smith, for his willingness to sit down and spend the hours and days that it took to reach this solution. I would also like to thank Congressmen Upton, LaFalce, McHugh, Houghton, Reynolds and all of the other members and staff who spent so much time and effort to reach this compromise. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) for yielding me this time. I also want to associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), my ranking member on our Subcommittee on Benefits of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. As I rise in support of H.R. 3293, as we have said, a bill that will create a place honoring those Vietnam veterans who died as a result of the war but, through some technicality, are ineligible to be placed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial here in Washington, D.C. Mr. Speaker, this is a very straightforward bill. In no way will it affect the current Memorial, which has become a place for Americans to solemnly remember those veterans who gave their lives in Vietnam. It requires a small plaque to be honored and placed somewhere on the 13 acres. I want to add my support to the bill and urge all our colleagues to do the same.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I am in support of H.R. 4386, to provide financial assistance to women for the treatment of breast and cervical cancer. Breast and cervical cancer together claim the lives of approximately 50,000 women each year. As Americans we must continue to address this crisis which today constitutes the number one cause of death among women aged 40-45. In 1990 we took a critical step in fighting this battle by passing the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act. This act authorized a screening program for low-income, uninsured or underinsured women. This was an important step since detection is the first step in fighting breast and cervical cancer. Indeed, more widespread use of regular screening mammography has been a major contributor to recent improvements in the breast cancer survival rate. Providing financial assistance for screening and testing for women in financial need has been a major accomplishment in the fight against breast and cervical cancer. If detected early, breast cancer can be treated effectively with surgery that preserves the breast, followed by radiation therapy. However, screening and early detection are meaningless without following through with cancer treatment. For many women however, the costs of treatment are prohibitive and merely knowing that their cancer has been detected is inadequate when they are unable to seek treatment. The time has come for us to comprehensively confront these cancers and provide women with the power to conquer these odds. I urge the support of this bill critical to protecting women's health.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 492, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of America's teachers. As a former high school English teacher, I am very familiar with the ability of teachers to have an impact on the lives of children. Teachers are some of the first role models many children have. They give us the tools to become well-rounded adults and upstanding citizens. Teachers are exceptional people who bring their love of learning and share their enthusiasm to work to share with their students everyday. Tirelessly, they impart their knowledge of any variety of subjects, from grammar to music to algebra. Inspired by the flicker of understanding in their students' eyes, they rely on the gratitude of their students and their families rather than on monetary rewards as their compensation. Indeed, our teachers are our Nation's greatest resource. They build the foundation of knowledge in our future generations, which will one day not only rule the world, but fundamentally change it for the better. Teachers fundamentally mold the character of our Nation's future leaders. We should all take the time to stop and remember the important influence that our teachers had upon our lives. In fact, we should all make an effort to go back and thank our teachers, or even just a single teacher who may have had a special impact on our educational experience in order to say ``thank you.'' This is the greatest way that we can recognize our teachers and repay our gratitude for all that they shared with us.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to take a personal prerogative of the House and ask the indulgence of my colleagues. I want to join other Quinn clan members from Buffalo and Hamburg and Blasdell, New York in honoring and wishing my parents, Jack and Norma Quinn, happy 50th anniversary this Saturday, May 6. I have to be clear that I represent only five sons, five great daughter-in-laws, 13 grandchildren, and one great granddaughter, but I have a chance to do it here that they might not have. We offer congratulations of course and thanks. Mr. Speaker, if I could quote the Chaplain this morning who said, ``that we are a reflection of Your love in this world.'' I think I would want our parents to know that we, too, are a reflection of their love in this world. We congratulate them on 50 years of wedded bliss and thank them for all the sacrifices they made for us.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to pay tribute and officially recognize a very special Golden Anniversary occurring in my Congressional District this weekend. In fact, this very well may be the speech I am most proud to give, because today I rise to honor my parents, Jack and Norma Quinn. On May 6, 1950, Jack Quinn married Norma Ide at the Holy Family Church in South Buffalo. My father then went to work with the South Buffalo Railroad, where he spent over 32 years. Never one to shy away from hard work, he then took a new job with the Erie County Library System, where he spent an additional 16 years. For the pass 44 years, Jack and Norma Quinn have made their home on East Frontier in the Village of Blasdell. While Jack worked at the Railroad and later with the Library system, Norma maintained part-time work, but focused intently on her role as a full-time Mother. Mr. Speaker, believe me, it must not have been easy raising the five Quinn boys. As a community, we pause to honor and recognize those couples whose dedication, commitment and love for each other has carried them through fifty years of marriage. These couples serve as a positive example to our entire community that strong marriages based on love, mutual respect, and caring devotion will stand the test of time. Throughout these past fifty years, their steadfast commitment to one another, strength, and devotion to our family has never faltered. To commemorate this momentous occasion, our family will have a small, private ceremony where our parents will renew their vows. Mr. Speaker, today I join with my four brothers, Kevin, Jeff, Tom and Mike, our wives and children, and our entire Quinn Family in special recognition and loving tribute to my parents on this Golden Anniversary. I thank them for their example of commitment to God, family, and to one another.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4055, the IDEA Full Funding Act. Since the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act became law in 1975, the federal government has not lived up to its promise of providing 40 percent of the extra cost for state and local governments to educate these children. I am proud to have participated in the effort over the past four years to increase IDEA funding by $2.6 billion, or 115 percent. These important increases have only brought the federal contribution to 12.6 percent of the average per pupil expenditure to educate children with disabilities. We must do better. This legislation will authorize increases in special education spending by $2 billion a year until we reach the federal commitment of 40 percent by the year 2010. As a former schoolteacher in Orchard Park, New York, I am acutely aware of the burdens placed upon local school systems to educate special needs students. We owe it to these children to live up to our financial commitment. If the federal government lives up to its commitment to fund IDEA, the state and local school districts are then free to spend their money on classroom modernization, technology initiatives, hiring more teachers and buying new textbooks for students. This legislation ensures that special education students are given the proper resources, while at the same time, releases funding to help all students. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4055, the IDEA Full Funding Act.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to pay tribute to my longtime friend and colleague, Sister Edmunette Paczesny, who this evening will be formally recognized and honored for her 25 years of service as president of Hilbert College. I've had the true pleasure of working closely with Sister Edmunette as a Councilman and Supervisor for the Town of Hamburg where Hilbert is located, and during these past 8 years as a Member of this Honorable Body. Throughout the past 25 years, Sister Edmunette's tenure as president has been distinguished through the expansion from a 2-year to a 4-year institution. She has seen the college grow, with the completion of Franciscan Hall. A year ago, she added an economic crime investigation degree program, which is one of only two such degree programs nationwide. Sister Edmunette's long-standing affiliation with Hilbert began in 1962, when she served as an instructor in psychology and philosophy and later served as Academic Dean. In addition to her outstanding commitment to Hilbert, Sister Edmunette has been widely recognized for her tireless efforts and dedicated service to our community. She has received the Liberty Bell Award for the Erie County Bar Association, the Community Service Award from the Southtowns Coalition of Community Service, and was recently named the 1999 Citizen of the Year by the Hamburg Independent Citizens Club. For the past 44 years, Sister Edmunette has maintained an active membership with the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. In addition to her religious service, Sister Edmunette is a member and past secretary of the Western New York Consortium of Higher Education and the Rotary Club of Hamburg/Sunrise, a member of the Mirror Board of Mercy/Our Lady of Victory hospitals and on the board of directors of Hopevale, Inc. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to join the faculty, staff, and administration of Hilbert College, the countless students who have studied at Hilbert, and indeed, all of Western New York in tribute to Sister Edmunette Paczesny. Best wishes to her in her next quarter century at Hilbert.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Martinez/ Traficant amendment to increase the minimum wage by $1.00 over two years. I have been a proponent of increasing the minimum wage since elected to Congress. I feel strongly that we need to give the working poor an increase in their wages. Our country is in the midst of the longest period of economic growth in our history and yet the disparity between rich and poor has never been greater. An increase of a dollar over two years is a highly effective way in which we can bridge the gap of the economic disparity in our country. Over time, as the value of purchasing power of the minimum wage has been eroded by inflation, it has become impossible to expect workers to live a dignified life when they are employed at or below the minimum wage. That is why it needs to be raised now and why it needs to be raised by a dollar over the next two years. This increase would simply catch up the wage to inflation since the last time the minimum was raised. There are over 12 million people working for or close to the minimum wage. Some studies have indicated that of these 12 million Americans who earn between $5.15 and $6.15, 15 percent are African-American, 60 percent are women; and nearly two-fifths are the only earner in their families. Increasing the minimum wage to $6.15 an hour will not eliminate jobs or put people out of work. There is little or no evidence that illustrates job loss or the loss of opportunity since the last increase in the minimum wage. It is imperative that the wage is increased by $1.00 over two years. Some have argued that a $1.00 an hour increase over 3 years is suffice for the working poor. Unfortunately, a minimum wage of $6.15 an hour would not lift a minimum wage earner out of poverty. Therefore, we in Congress owe it to the working poor to give them a raise over the shortest period of time--2 years. A wage increase spread over 3 years would cost a full time minimum wage earner $1000. $1,000 may not seem like a lot of money to most people here but for minimum wage earners in Buffalo, New York and throughout the country that $1,000 a year may mean 6 months of rent payments, groceries on the table, or presents under the tree.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today on the floor of this House in recognition of Mr. Thomas Gilmartin from my district, as the 2000 St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshall. A prominent Irish-American in Western New York, Tom's community service includes work with the Knights of Columbus, the Irish-American Cultural Association, the Gaelic-American Athletic Association, the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, and the Irish Parade Committee. In fact, he has been involved with the parade committee for over twelve years. In recognition of that dedicated service and his commitment to our Proud Irish-American Heritage, Tom will serve as the Grand Marshall of the 2000 St. Patrick's Day Parade in the City of Buffalo. Recently, I selected the Buffalo St. Patrick's Day Parade as one of New York's local legacies. This program's chief purpose is to document distinctive examples of a cultural heritage in each of the nation's fifty states, which will then serve as a record of life in America at the end of the Twentieth Century. Our parade is a fitting example of that cultural tradition, and Tom Gilmartin will make a fine Grand Marshall during this important event. Tom and his wife, Mary (Steffan) are lifelong residents of Western New York, and attend Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul R.C. Church in Hamburg. The Gilmartins have four children and one grandchild. In addition to his outstanding community service, Tom served the Town of Hamburg as Superintendent for Buildings and Grounds for over 20 years, where I had the privilege of working with him as Town Supervisor. Prior to his service to the Town of Hamburg, Tom served the Village of Blasdell in the Department of Public Works. I am proud to call him my friend. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to join with the entire Gilmartin Family, the United Irish American Association, and indeed, all of Western New York in tribute to Mr. Thomas Gilmartin, a proud Irishman and Grand Marshall of our great parade.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) for yielding time to our side. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the resolution. Certainly as we are hearing from other speakers on both sides of the aisle, I join in that support. However, Mr. Speaker, I would like to just put a different angle on this for all of our Members who are listening and will come over shortly to vote. As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits of our Committee on Veterans' Affairs, we are always talking about forgotten veterans, and we have heard this war be referred to as the forgotten war. I would like to suggest to all of our Members that when we have to fight budget numbers, when we have to talk about funding things in this institution of ours, that we take the opportunity to make sure that this forgotten war is not forgotten; that all of our veterans are not forgotten. We take the opportunity to fight for every single penny we can for our veterans who have served this country. So this resolution, Mr. Speaker, is absolutely the right thing to do, to ask our members to continue in that vein, to fight with us for proper funding.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bill to award a Congressional gold medal to Cardinal John O'Connor. We are gathering here today to honor a man who has been described as being the spine of the Catholic community throughout the United States. Cardinal John O'Connor has held the most influential post in the U.S. Catholic Church and has led the congregation of St. Patrick's Cathedral since 1984 with unwavering faith and a sense of leading a good Catholic life devoted to service. His life of service formally began when he was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1945. His service continued to not only include the Church and to God but also to his country as he served in the Chaplain Corps of the U.S. Navy, including assignments in Okinawa and Vietnam. Cardinal O'Connor was able to revitalize the bishops' sense of urgency about the premier civil right issues of our time. He has indeed left an imprint on New York City and Catholics nationwide as a ``prophetic voice'' which has constantly challenged people's views-- regardless of how upsetting they might be, even to politicians. The Cardinal has been an icon for and has diligently served the American Catholic community particularly due to his strong bond with Pope John Paul II. He consistently served to participate in and better the Catholic school system and gave children the opportunity to be taught in the traditional Catholic system. The Cardinal also sought to strengthen the ties between Catholics and Jews. Once, in Jerusalem he went so far as to apologize for the Church's history of anti-Semitism and was a chief advocate in persuading the Vatican to recognize Israel. Today, we as a nation gather to celebrate the work Cardinal O'Connor has devoted his life to: charity, service to our community, acceptance of others and living a good life in the eyes of God. We would be lucky to be able to follow his example as selflessly as he has led his life. Cardinal O'Connor has left a deep impression on America and he will continue to inspire to follow in his footsteps.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Archer) and his committee for the hard work they have done on this issue and others. Mr. Speaker, as we have heard today, our Tax Code unfairly punishes married couples by forcing them into a higher tax bracket and therefore causing them to pay more taxes than if they had filed separately. We have already heard that this marriage penalty forces over 25 million families to pay an average of between $1,400 and $1,500 a year in taxes more. This is simply unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, what we have before us today is simply an issue of fairness. It is unconscionable that our Tax Code punishes couples for choosing to get married and to have a family. Today we have an opportunity to eliminate the marriage penalty, and in my mind it is simply the right thing to do and we need to do it now.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I want to join Chairman Stump and Ranking Member Evans in acknowledging and saying thank you to Ms. Jill Cochran, long-time Democratic staff director for the Subcommittee on Benefits, who will retire next month following 25 years of dedicated service to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Jill's contributions to the enactment of legislation such as the Montgomery GI bill, on which she worked with our distinguished former chairman for 7 years, vocational rehabilitation, veterans employment and training, homeless veterans, and transition assistance issues--just to name a few--I believe, are unsurpassed. Jill personifies unselfish public service in her commitment to America's sons and Daughters who have served our Nation. We'll miss her compassion, her great spirit of cooperation, her expertise, and most of all--her exceptional leadership. Jill, our kindest wishes and godspeed.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, before the first session of he 106th Congress adjourns, I want to pay tribute to Mr. Suresh Kwatra, a dedicated 25- year career employee of the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, who died unexpectedly on June 21, 1999. Mr. Kwatra was indeed an inspiring individual. He was an accounting graduate of Delhi University. He immigrated to the United States from his native India in 1969 and served in the United States Army during the Vietnam conflict, shortly after gaining his American citizenship. Mr. Kwatra began his career with the former Veterans Administration in 1974. He served as a veterans benefits counselor, strategic planner with VA's national cemetery system, and statistician and analyst in the Office of VA's Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning. Because of his exceptional initiative and professionalism, the Congressional Veterans' Claims and Adjudication Commission selected Mr. Kwatra to be an analyst and project manager. In my role as chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I have read his insightful analysis in the commission's report. Mr. Speaker, Suresh Kwatra came to America, served proudly and honorably in our military, and then committed his life to serving fellow veterans for a quarter of a century. To Suresh's former co- workers, members of his church and community, his wife of 25 years Shoba, and sons Sameer and Naveen, I say that Suresh Kwatra was more than an inspiring individual, indeed he was an American hero.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to submit for the Record a proclamation, which I offer with the distinguished members of the New York Congressional Delegation: Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan; Senator Charles E. Schumer; Congressman John LaFalce; Congressman Amo Houghton and Congressman Thomas Reynolds on the occasion of the retirement of John J. Ingham from his numerous years of government service with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I am not going to take all 5 minutes. I just want to rise in support of the work my good friend the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) has done and others have spoken to and want to say how pleased I am to offer this amendment. I also want to mention the fact, as others have and will, that I am a firm believer that just throwing more money at many problems does not solve them. I know the background of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) is in education. I happened to have been a middle school teacher for 10 years before I came to work here in the Congress and know that there are some problems we will never fix no matter how much money we throw at them or throw toward them or with them. This is one, though, that works. This is one where I think we are appreciative of the work that the chairman and the ranking member of the full committee and the chairman and the ranking member also of the subcommittee. We appreciate that increase of 7.7 up to 8.3. We are suggesting another modest increase that will not solve all the problems, will not be a panacea, and there will still be some problems. But I want to point out, Mr. Speaker, that there are some problems in this country in some schools where when and if we can get some additional funding it will make a difference. I am convinced that this is one of those areas where that will work. I am convinced that when we approach this in a bipartisan way, we will have success. We are willing to work with the committee and the appropriators to make sure that that kind of money is made available. I urge all of my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Upton, for yielding me the time, and I rise in strong support of this motion to instruct conferees. Section 110 of the 1996 Immigration Reform Act mandated the implementation of an entry-exit control system at our land borders. While this sounds like a good idea in theory, I believe that this provision was inserted with little or no examination of the possible consequences. This year the Senate included common sense language that would repeal section 110 in its version of the fiscal year 2000 Commerce, Justice State Appropriations bill. This motion would instruct the House conferees to accept the Senate language. I am very concerned that section 110, if implemented, would cause massive delays and gridlock at the US-Canadian border, causing massive disruptions of tourism, commerce and traffic in Western New York and throughout the United States. Some studies have shown that implementation of section 110 would cause such massive delays that border crossings would be reduced by 50 percent or more. Border delays of an hour could be increased to upwards of 17 hours. Ladies and gentleman, I submit to you this would have a devastating impact on the US economy, as Canada is our largest trading partner. While I am sensitive to the concerns of the proponents of section 110, who believe that this provision is necessary to stem the tide of illegal immigrants and illegal drugs into the United States, I do not believe that section 100 would be a solution to either of these problems. Section 110 would have serious adverse impact on the United States economy and specifically, the economy of the Western New York and Northern border regions. I urge my colleagues to support this motion which is vital to the well-being of my congressional district.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I would like to thank the distinguished Chairman of the Transportation Committee, Mr. Shuster, for his diligent work on this issue. He, along with Subcommittee Chairman Petri and Ranking Members Oberstar and Rahall, have done a magnificent job in crafting a bill that will comprehensively improve truck and bus safety. The Motor Carrier Safety Act is not just a ``quick fix'' to the problem of truck related accidents and deaths on our nation's highways. This legislation creates a new National Motor Carrier Administration that is directed to consider the assignment and maintenance of safety as its highest priority. H.R. 2679 makes reforms and closes loopholes in federal motor carrier safety programs and in the Commercial Driver's License program. And one section of the Manager's Amendment addresses another serious highway safety concern involving the presence of Mexican trucks operating illegally on our nation's highways. The Department of Transportation's Inspector General recently reported that 68 Mexican motor carriers have been found operating illegally in 24 different states. These trucks have been found as far north as my home state of New York--obviously well beyond the designated commercial zones. The presence of these trucks on our highways poses a serious threat to the safety of American travelers because they do not have to abide by our safety regulations. This legislation makes all illegally operating foreign carriers liable for a civil penalty and disqualification. I am proud to have co-authored this section with my colleague and good friend from Illinois, Mr. Lipinski. I feel we have adequately addressed the safety concerns of our highway users and I thank Chairman Shuster for including the language in the Manager's Amendment.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I want to commend my fellow colleagues for their work in passing H.R. 764, the Child Abuse Prevention Act. This bill is a step in the right direction toward achieving our ultimate goal of eliminating child abuse. Mr. Chairman, there are a few provisions currently being debated in the conference committee negotiations on H.R. 1501, the juvenile justice bill, that will help prevent child abuse and neglect. The first provision is the Parenting as Prevention Program. This program would provide parenting support and education centers to promote early brain development, child development and education. The second provision that deserves our complete support is the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant, of which 25% is specifically reserved for prevention activities. This grant program would ensure that adequate resources are available for efforts aimed at preventing juvenile delinquency, including programs that prevent child abuse and neglect. Numerous studies have concluded that there is a direct link between child abuse and a later onset of criminal activity as a juvenile. In fact, in one of the most detailed studies on this issue, the National Institute of Justice concluded that being abused or neglected as a child increased the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 59%. Therefore, we must invest in programs that help to reduce child abuse. In my home state of New York, a fifteen year study of a nursing home visitation program reported that state-verified cases of child abuse and neglect were reduced by 79% among program participants. Furthermore, youths whose mothers participated in the program were 55% less likely to be arrested. Mr. Chairman, as we debate juvenile crime, our primary focus should be on child abuse. I urge all of my colleagues to support these provisions that are put forth in the juvenile justice bill.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment today, and I want to thank my colleagues for the work they have done on this. I also wanted to begin by thanking the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), the chairman of the subcommittee, for the tremendous job under difficult circumstances that he has done with the overall bill. I am a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Mr. Chairman, and a Member who has a VA Medical Center in his district in Buffalo, New York, and also a Member who has together with other northeastern Members here sat down and talked with the Secretary of the VA some 2 or 3 months ago. The simple fact is that veterans are suffering, and while the VERA proposal was put together to provide more equitable funding for our veterans and their health care around the country, the opposite has occurred. It clearly has not done what it set out to do. Mr. Chairman, I think all of us in this chamber are more pro veteran than anybody else, and this should not become a question of regionalism, it should not become a question of geographics; it should be a fairness question, and my colleagues, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) and others who offered the amendment are talking about fairness. It is a fairness question. We are not trying to pit geographic regions against each other. This strikes at the heart of fairness, and I rise in support of it. I believe we need to cake care of all of our country's veterans, and this is the way to do it, and we will support the amendment, and I ask my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment. As a member of the Veterans, Affairs Committee and as a member who has a VA medical center in his district I have seen first hand the effects that this VERA model has had on veterans in the Northeast. Mr. Chairman, the simple fact is, our veterans are suffering. Due to this VERA plan VA hospitals are unable to provide quality healthcare to our veterans because the funds are not there for them to provide the care. I have witnessed first hand the effects of this VERA plan. Veterans in my district have expressed to me how they are denied appointments and have to wait in long lines before a doctor at the VA will see them. These VA medical centers are understaffed and underfunded, again, a direct result of the VERA system. VERA was established to provide more equitable funding for veterans healthcare around the country. It clearly has not done that. Mr. Chairman, our veterans in the Northeast need help--the VERA system as it exists today is unfair. I am not against veterans in the sunbelt or the Southwest. I am pro-veteran, I would hope that my colleagues who are from those areas just mentioned would see the need for a fairer VERA system. We need to take care of all of our country's veterans. They deserve it.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of Mr. Ehlers' amendment to increase funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operations budget by $390,000. It is imperative that the 13 National Ocean Services (NOS) water level gauging stations upgrade their computer networks to Y2K compliance. Sturgeon Point--the gauging station in my district--is essential. It predicts floods in times of high water and aids navigation in times of low water on Lake Erie. Without Sturgeon Point, and the other 12 stations, much industry and recreation could be paralyzed in Buffalo and all of the Great Lakes region. The $390,000 provided to the National Ocean Service by the amendment meets the estimated cost of upgrading the additional 13 stations. When the new technology comes on line, NOAA estimates that operational expenses should fall to approximately half of the current level. Using those estimates, the system upgrades should pay for themselves in just over five years. Mr. Chairman, if there was ever a summer that we could see the need for these stations, it is this one. With water levels falling from drought and the threat of despair we can see that these stations can aid us in getting through the heat of the summer and thaw of the spring.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Dr. Myroslaw M. Hreshchyshyn, a medical scientist, a professor of gynecologic oncology and obstretics at the University of Buffalo Medical School, and a leader in the Ukrainian-American community in Western New York. I would like to read into the Record an article which appeared in the Buffalo News honoring the life of Dr. Hreshchyshyn. ``Dr. Myroslaw M. Hreshchyshyn, 71, a medical scientist and professor of gynecologic oncology and obstetrics at the University at Buffalo Medical School, died Monday (May 24, 1999) in Lviv, Ukraine, while working on a gynecology and obstetrics textbook to be published there. He introduced the use of chemotherapy in gynecological oncology in the United States in the 1960s and at the time of his death was continuing an investigation he began in the late 1980s on diagnosing osteoporosis. Born in Kovel (Volya), Ukraine, he finished his doctorate at J.W. Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, 1951. He served as an intern in Yonkers, did his residency at Cumberland Hospital, Brooklyn, and was a clinic fellow in gynecologic cancer at Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn. He moved to Buffalo in 1957 after becoming a fellow in chemotherapy at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He joined the UB Medical School faculty in 1970 and served as chairman of department of gynecology and obstetrics from 1982 to 1996. He also headed the gynecology and obstetrics departments at Children's Hospital, Buffalo General Hospital, Millard Fillmore Hospital and Erie County Medical Center until 1996. He oversaw the Reproductive Endocrinology Center, which is run by UB Medical School and Children's Hospital. He was a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, founding chairman of the Gynecologic Oncology Group from 1971 to 1975 and president of the Buffalo Gynecologic and Obstetric Society from 1977 to 1978. Hreshchyshyn helped initiate the USAID American International Health Alliance Medical Partnerships Program, which exchanges medical personnel and information between two hospitals in Lviv and Millard Fillmore Hospital. He also was one of the investigators in the $10 million National Institutes of Health-funded Women's Health Initiative at UB. He was a member of more than 20 professional associations and societies and contributed much to civic and educational organizations, especially in the Ukrainian-American community. He and Lidia Warecha were married in 1958. In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, Yuri of South Buffalo and Adrian of Scottsdale, Ariz.; three daughters, Marta Hreshchyshyn of Eagle River, Alaska, Nadia McQuiggen of Amherst and Kusia Hreshchyshyn of Oakland, Calif.; and four grandchildren.'' Mr. Speaker, today I would like to join with the Ukrainian-American community, and indeed, all of Western New York to honor Dr. Myroslaw M. Hreshchyshyn. To that end, I would like to convey to the Hreshchyshyn family my deepest sympathies, and ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join with me in a moment of silence.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today also in support of H.R. 2280, the bipartisan Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 1999. The bill provides a cost of living adjustment for disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and other related benefits. The adjustment is computed using the same percentage increase as given to all other Social Security recipients. In addition, the bill makes a number of needed improvements to programs serving veterans, some of which we want to highlight briefly today during the time we have on the floor. With respect to burial needs of veterans, in addition to directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish four badly needed new national cemeteries, the bill would require the Secretary to contract for an independent, comprehensive assessment of VA national cemeteries, including the number of cemeteries that will be needed through the year 2020. The bill would also authorize the American Battle Monuments Commission to borrow money from the Department of Treasury in order to begin construction of the monument that the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) just spoke about. It is time to remind the American people as well as all the veterans who served the country that they have raised over $57 million already for this effort. Mr. Speaker, to me World War II veterans and their generation, as Tom Brokaw has said, is, in fact, the greatest generation. One of the greatest forms of thanks America can give to those veterans would be to build their memorial and to build it now. In other areas, H.R. 2280 would permanently extend the Home Loan Program to former members of the Selected Reserve and aggressively authorize appropriations to the Department of Labor for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. More specifically here, Mr. Speaker, we remind all Americans and Members of the House that of all the homeless people in this country, fully one-third, almost 33 percent of those homeless people on our streets, are veterans of wars for our country. H.R. 2280 aims to help many of our almost 300,000 homeless veterans find jobs by authorizing a 5-year increase in the Labor Department funding for this competitively bid, nationwide community-based employment program. It would double the current authorization for all such programs to $10 million in fiscal year 2000, and increase that amount by $5 million per year, until it finally tops out at $30 million in fiscal year 2004. I know of no group that wants to break the cycle of homelessness more than those who have worn the uniform of our country. Finally, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2280 would make improvements to the retirement and survivor annuity programs at the Court of Appeals for veterans claims. This is where our veterans see their claims and their questions about their benefits adjudicated. Our intent here is to encourage staggered retirements since five of the remaining six original appointees will be eligible for retirement within one 11 month period beginning in 2004, and we would like to try to make personnel policy affecting the judges of this court more consistent with those of other Federal judges. These provisions passed the House, of course, last year, but because the Senate did not concur and act, they did not become law. Mr. Speaker, I believe and others believe that this is a very timely bill and benefits many veterans. H.R. 2280 is the result of a lot of hard work in a bipartisan fashion, for which I thank the members of the full committee, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), but I also want to specifically thank the members of our subcommittee. First of all, the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), the ranking member of the subcommittee, as well as the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), and the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), all members of the subcommittee and hard workers when it comes to our job. I appreciate and recognize those unique contributions of all of our Members and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2280.