Jack Quinn

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a matter of life and death that most of us seldom hear anything about. Prostate cancer, which accounts for nearly one-fourth of all newly diagnosed cancer cases each year, is a disease that gets ignored in the national debate on health care. Unfortunately, the same stigma that used to be associated with breast cancer is still associated with prostate cancer. Men are afraid to discuss the disease with their families and with their doctors, and are often even afraid to acknowledge the disease in their own minds. For this reason, prostate cancer has never received the attention it demands. Although over 41,000 men in this country die from prostate cancer each year, prostate cancer research receives only 3.6 percent of the Federal dollars allocated for cancer research. Just because many men are reluctant to call attention to this disease does not mean that they should be condemned to die. The United States currently spends less than $8 in research for every patient with prostate cancer. This Nation has an obligation to dedicate the same resources to prostate cancer research that it dedicates to other, more well-known diseases. Looking the other way will not make the problem disappear. Between 1973 and 1993, the incidence of prostate cancer increased by 175.9 percent. As the baby boom generation turns 50 years old, the incidence of prostate cancer is projected to increase even further. Unless the Federal Government makes the commitment now to devote the necessary resources to battling this disease, the toll on Americans will continue to grow. Too many men have died because they made the mistake of ignoring the devastating effect of prostate cancer. Please join me in preventing the Federal Government from making the same mistake.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, after a momentous moment like today, when we have had an opportunity to vote in a bipartisan way for very important legislation for the people across this country, we are reminded that we can only act as a body with the same fairness, conviction, and determination that we exhibit as individual Members of the body. Today probably, as we know, one of our Members will leave the body. Her last day of service here in the House will be today, and it might very well be her last vote that we all just cast with each other. I would like to ask the Members on both sides of the aisle to join me in saying farewell and good luck to one of ours as she leaves the House of Representatives today. We wish good luck to the gentlewoman from New York, Ms. Susan Molinari.

Mr. QUINN. I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Joseph Coppola. This past May, Dr. Coppola was honored by Canisius College for his exceptional service to both the college and our community. A member of the Canisius graduating class of 1940, Dr. Coppola has established himself a true leader in the accounting profession. He has served the college both as an educator and as an active alumna, and is a devoted husband, father of 10, and grandfather of 30. In recognition of that commitment, Canisius College has conferred upon Dr. Joseph R. Coppola the prestigious LaSalle Medal. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join with Dr. Coppola's family in expressing my enthusiastic commendation for this high honor, and would ask that the following article noting this tremendous achievement be submitted into the Congressional Record: The Conferral of the LaSalle Medal The integrity and success of Canisius-educated accountants have earned the college a national reputation for the quality of its accounting program. No one has had a greater impact in that program than Dr. Joseph R. Coppola '40. Joe Coppola had earned a B.B.A. in accounting from Canisius and an M.B.A. from the prestigious Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (1941) by the time America entered World War II. Thus it was not in the boardroom but on the field of battle that he first answered the call to leadership. He served in both the Army and Air Force, winning six battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation before returning stateside. Dr. Coppola returned to Alma Mater to join the faculty in 1946. His affirmity for the subject he taught, combined with humor and an unaffected concern for his students, brought accounting principles and practices to life for those who took his classes, including many who went on to distinguished careers in business, industry, and education. Dr. Coppola earned a Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa in 1967. While teaching, raising a family, and pursuing that degree, he also worked with public accounting firms, private industry, and government agencies to open new employment opportunities for Canisius accounting graduates. He took on weighty administrative responsibilities during his Canisius years as well, serving as chairman of the Accounting Department, as moderator of the college's Accounting Society, as director of the Senior Accounting Internship Program, and as coordinator of the IRS Work Co-Op Program. In each of these capacities he helped lay the foundation for the exceptional accounting program that continues to thrive at Canisius--one reason he is known as ``Papa Joe'' in that department. Dr. Coppola also provided lasting financial support to future generations of accounting students by establishing the Dr. Joseph R. Coppola Scholarship Award in 1988--a fund that provides five annual scholarships. In 1982 he created the Dr. Joseph R. Coppola Award, given to recognize an exceptional Canisius accounting graduate. Dr. Coppola's devotion to Canisius College has always extended beyond academic matters. Over the years, he and his wife, Angie, their children and grandchildren have been faithful participants in many college events. Thus, in another important way, the Coppolas have illustrated for our students the beauty of a lasting marriage, the joy of a loving family, and the strength of a profound religious faith. Today we add to his many accolades the highest honor the college can accord and alumnus for service. For the impact of his teaching on the lives of hundreds of our students and for his role in developing one of the finest accounting programs in the nation, we are proud to present the LaSalle Medal to Joseph R. Coppola, Ph.D., '40, professor emeritus of accounting.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my concern over the recent cuts that we have allowed to be made to the National Endowments for the Arts. This program has a certain undeniable value that few other federally funded programs do. Art and artistically gifted people are often the cornerstones of communities, from campside storytelling to local movie theaters to large metropolitan galleries housing treasured symbols of our national and world culture. The cuts that have been made to the NEA will have a longlasting effect on us all, even if we don't take advantage of their direct benefits. I have been and will continue to be a strong supporter of the arts and other cultural resources. The pictures that hand along the tunnel wall leading from House Office Buildings to the Capitol is something that most of us pass on a regular basis. Some of these efforts might have been submitted by young people from your own constituencies. It is my belief that most of us would have trouble denying these bright and eager minds the opportunity to express themselves and stymie their developments as mature and confident individuals which comes about through their self expression. It might also be difficult to travel back to your districts and see vacant theaters and the galleries where once entire communities found common ground and were exposed to the artistic genius that their region has helped produce. The cost of this program equates to less than two hundredths of 1 percent of the Federal budget, costing American taxpayers just 69 cents per year. There is room in our balanced budget for these programs. I personally voted against the block grant amendment submitted by my colleague Vernon Elhers because I thought that it did not fully deal with the issue as soundly as I would have liked. The bottom line Mr. Chairman is that we must foster artistic expression with our youth.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee for his courtesies today. Mr. Chairman, as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits, I am very concerned about the gradual decline in the overall appearance at our Arlington National Cemetery. The cemetery staff does a marvelous job, Mr. Chairman, of trying to keep the Nation's premier veterans' cemetery up to the standards of a National shrine that it is, but relatively flat budgets and a growing workload make that more and more difficult every year. For instance, in 1992, Arlington employed a staff of 140 and interred 4,352. Five years later in 1997, the cemetery interred 5,400 with a staff of only 117. We know construction funds are also lagging, and these are the funds that are needed to replace an aging infrastructure such as old buildings and roads and to open new areas for burial. In 1992, Arlington received $4.8 million; this year's budget requests only $2.4 million, and clearly, Mr. Chairman, if this continues, our standards will not be met.

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

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I believe that they can probably absorb several millions of dollars worth of improvements, but the budget pressures that we are under, and others have worked so hard, I was going to offer an amendment to add $250,000 to the cemetery's budget. I appreciate the gentleman's leadership and respect the hard work of the subcommittee. So I would merely request that during the conference with the other body the gentleman from California seek to add that $250,000 to the operations and maintenance accounts so that we can maintain Arlington in the manner reflecting the deeds of those who are buried there.

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to commend Interior Chairman Regula for all of his hard work regarding H.R. 2107, fiscal year 1998 Interior Appropriations Act. Specifically, I wish to thank the chairman for his efforts regarding funding for the low-income weatherization program. Low-income weatherization funding is a proenvironment, money saving program to help low-income families protect themselves from extreme seasonal conditions. Funding for energy saving programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program [LIHEAP] and weatherization are under attack. Weatherization funds save money and make LIHEAP funds go further. They help update old inefficient heating and cooling systems, insulate drafty homes, and yield annual energy savings of about 18 percent. When these funds are slashed, hard-working low-income families are left to face the cold winters and the sweltering summer heat without assistance. Mr. Speaker, these funds are particularly important to the elderly who cannot tolerate extreme temperature changes. I know that the city of Buffalo received $1 million in weatherization funding last year, which allows the city to help an average of 450 houses per year increase energy efficiency in their homes. Sadly, there is a 2-year waiting list consisting of between 1,200 and 1,500 homes that are in need of weatherization assistance. We cannot afford to cut funding that is in such need by so many low-income American families. Thanks to Chairman Regula's efforts, an additional $3 million has been added to the weatherization funding contained in the fiscal year 1998 Interior Appropriations Act. Therefore, I am withdrawing the Sanders-Quinn amendment for compromise low-income weatherization funding from consideration.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful to talk about something that is not quite as partisan this morning. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits I rise this morning to talk to our colleagues about the devastating effect of landmines. Throughout the world hundreds of innocent civilians are maimed and killed each week by landmines, and I wonder if our colleagues know that at the current time there are over 110 million landmines buried in the earth. We also know that landmines have wounded almost 300 UN and NATO troops in Bosnia alone. It is obvious that these weapons extract a terrible toll on all humanity. Fortunately the United States has an opportunity to ban these menacing weapons. Later this year over 95 countries from around the world will meet in Ottawa, Canada to sign a treaty banning these landmines forever. In the United States we believe all of us have the greatest economic, military, and moral influence of any Nation on Earth, and it is imperative we make a commitment to get rid of these landmines. That is why the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Evans] and I, along with over 160 of our colleagues from both sides of the aisle, have asked the President to join that Ottawa treaty. Our legislation has the backing of the Catholic church's Conference of Bishops, the Vietnam Veterans Foundation, and Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf. We ask our colleagues to join us in this important matter.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, last Friday while most of western New York State and Buffalo, NY, and indeed across the country were enjoying Independence Day festivities, a 33-year-old Buffalo firefighter, Michael Sequin, reported to duty at engine 33. Unfortunately, firefighter Michael Sequin died at the scene of a house fire that evening believed to be started by illegal fireworks. Mr. Speaker, at services today firefighter Sequin was referred to by Captain Scott Barry this way: ``If you had a kid and you wanted him to grow up to be a person everybody loved and respected, it would be Mike Sequin.'' Firefighter Sequin's tragic death serves as a reminder to all of us of the dangerous risk firefighters, police officers, and all public safety officers face every day. I ask all the Members of the House to join me, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce] in sending our condolences, sympathies, and grateful thanks to firefighter Sequin's family, friends, and fellow fire fighters in western New York and all across the country.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2018, a bill that provides a temporary Medicaid waiver for the Better Health Plan in New York. This is a bill that I strongly support, Mr. Speaker, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same. Thousands of Medicaid patients in New York are anxiously waiting to see if the doors to their health care office will remain open tomorrow morning, due to the 75/25 Medicaid enrollment provision. According to this provision, 25 percent of a health plan's patients must be enrolled from the private sector. If a health plan cannot meet this goal, they must start disenrolling patients. The Better Health Plan, in Amherst, NY is in danger of having to disenroll more than 36,000 Medicaid recipients, since their 75/25 waiver expired on June 30 of this year. This bill will grant the Better Health Plan an extended waiver of the 75/25 provision until December 31, 1998, thereby aiding low income New York residents. I remain committed to ensuring quality care for New York Medicaid patients, which can be done by other means than a 75/25 provision. However, we cannot and should not sit here and order health care providers to close their doors on more than 40,000 patients. Quick action is needed to ensure that the quality care that Medicaid patients are now receiving from health plans will continue. The future of Medicaid recipients hangs in the balance at this time while the very real threat of termination of care and services to these lower income residents is dependent upon this vote. Please don't let these people down, support H.R. 2018.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of Mr. Buyer and Mr. Kennedy's amendment to the Fiscal Year 1998 Defense Authorization Act, which would require the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to improve their research into Persian Gulf war illnesses and their treatment of suffering Persian Gulf war veterans. Our veterans, who have so bravely served our country in the Persian Gulf war, have been suffering for far too long. They have been waiting patiently for answers and we are letting them down. As the chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits, I have been holding hearings to look into the often frustrating claims process for Persian Gulf war veterans. What I have detected is that there are far too many delays in the system. By working with the VA, claims processing has now been centralized which is expected to improve the chances of our veterans' receiving the proper benefits. The lack of coordination of the various research programs conducted by the Government is presenting another obstacle. As Federal Representatives, I believe that it is our responsibility to insure that all research programs fit together to solve this issue of undiagnosed illnesses. The Buyer-Kennedy amendment is a surefire way to bring us one step closer to resolving this problem by taking care of our ailing veterans. The bottom line is that our veterans are sick and their families are suffering--they are due the health care they have earned. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the amendment.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor the Rev. Dr. Bennett W. Smith, Sr., Pastor of St. John Baptist Church on his twenty-five years of dedicated and outstanding service to our community. In addition to his duties with the St. John Baptist Church in Buffalo, Pastor Smith serves as president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., upon being elected to that high honor in August 1994. As president, Pastor Smith provides leadership and guidance to its 3 million members. As Pastor, Bennett Smith leads the St. John Baptist Church, a 2,700 member congregation, and has emerged as world-renowned evangelist and author. Pastor Smith has truly served our Western New York community through many charitable endeavors, including the construction of McCarley Gardens, housing for low-income families; the St. John Baptist Church Education wing; and a full-time Christian day school. Further, Pastor Smith's Leadership has brought to our community the Board of Christian Education, Senior Citizens Fellowship, Junior and Senior Youth Fellowship, Youth Church, Prison Outreach Ministry, Singles Ministry, a radio-television broadcast, and Project Gift, an after-school program for youth with special needs. He has also served in numerous local and national organizations for the betterment of mankind, including a national board member and local chairman of the Virginia-Michigan Housing Development Fund, the Sheehan Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, Buffalo Metropolitan Ministries, the Council of Churches, and the NAACP and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. In recognition of that commitment to our community, Rev. Dr. Smith has received the Buffalo News Citizen of the Year award, and the prestigious Grammy Award for his famous sermon, ``Watch them Dogs.'' He has also had the high honor of serving as an official election observer in the first free election in South Africa, and has published the widely acclaimed Handbook on Tithing. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to bring Rev. Dr. Smith's superlative achievements to the attention of my colleagues in the House, and ask that they join me in expressing our heartfelt appreciation and enthusiastic congratulations to Pastor Bennett Walker Smith, Sr., as he celebrates his 25th year of outstanding service in Western New York and throughout the world.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing H.R. 1877, a bill to improve the opportunities for veterans to obtain part-time employment while using their VA education benefits. The cost of a college education continues to grow faster than the general rate of inflation. This means that in times of tight Federal budgets, it is difficult for us to provide the increases necessary for VA education benefits to keep pace with inflation. Clearly, a veteran, especially a married veteran, cannot go to school without an additional source of income. For most, that means a part-time job. But, for many veteran students, part-time jobs are difficult to find or do not fit well with class schedules. For example, veterans attending school at a large university located in small towns find part-time jobs nonexistent. Under current law, work study positions are limited to colleges, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Defense. These positions involve veteran-related work and are compensated at the minimum wage level. H.R. 1877 will expand the types of organizations which may apply for approval of work study positions. Federal agencies, schools, and community service organizations will be able to avail themselves of a dedicated, drug-free and proven work force at no cost through this bill. For example, a community-based nonprofit whose mission is to provide services to homeless veterans would be eligible to apply for positions to be filled by work study participants. As a result, veteran students will find it easier to get part-time jobs and homeless veterans will see an improvement in the quality of their lives. Mr. Speaker, this bill provides opportunities for people who want to work and improves services to veterans at almost no additional cost to the Government. This is the type of program that rewards energetic young veterans who need assistance in finishing their education and is good for America. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 1877.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to join others and associate myself with the remarks of the previous speakers in favor of H.R. 437, a bill reported by the Committee on Resources that would reauthorize the National Sea Grant College Program. Mr. Chairman, it is interesting that we have heard from speakers this morning from Texas and Alabama and Indiana and California and Michigan; now I rise from New York to talk about this program. Sea Grant is an outstanding research and public outreach program that seeks useful answers to many of the nagging problems that affect the Nation's oceanic and Great Lakes coastline. The program is a model for what all Federal research and outreach programs should be. This one, of course, is characterized by peer- reviewed competitive awarding of research grants, strong focus on research that will solve the real coastal problems that people are dealing with, a strong commitment to translating and extending the results of research to potential users, a shared funding with State, local, and private resources, and finally an emphasis on results that will benefit the lives of our citizens, communities, and businesses. Along the Great Lakes shores, as my colleague just pointed out, the New York Sea Grant is playing a key role in helping individuals, water and power authorities, Government agencies, and marine business cope with the spread of zebra mussels and other exotics that impact the Lakes' shoreline and ecosystem. Sea Grant specialists in nearby Brockport, New York, the district of the gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce] operate NOAA's Zebra Mussel Information Clearinghouse, which has helped thousands across the State, Nation and the globe to address virtually every aspect of this exotic pest. Sea Grant specialists continue to assist the watersheds through their public education programs. And lastly, Sea Grant has been an accessible and an impartial source of policy and engineering information on the issue of Great Lakes water levels as well as erosion. I am also proud to say that the Sea Grant field office, located at the State University of New York at Buffalo, has played a key role in the University's faculty and administration to develop an excellent Great Lakes program that focuses faculty attention and resources on pressing Great Lakes issues and reaches out educationally to all audiences in the greater Buffalo area on the same issues. H.R. 437 will allow Sea Grant to continue its excellent efforts, and it also takes steps to improve the program. The Committee on Resources has appropriately succeeded in streamlining aspects of the program and has removed previously authorized aspects of the same program that were not warranted to be continued. I ask all our Members, not only from this area, to make sure that they understand the program is a good program. It enjoys bipartisan support from all sections of the country. All Federal programs, I believe, should reflect the track record of success, low cost, and effectiveness that this program, the Sea Grant program, has exemplified. I ask all my Great Lakes colleagues, as well as Members of the House, to support H.R. 437 as reported by the Committee on Resources, and I commend the committee members on both sides for the great work that they have done.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for a short period of time here, 4 or 5 minutes, to inform my colleagues in the House about a veterans' congressional jobs program that has come to my attention and we have initiated in my district office. This is information for our colleagues here in Congress and for their staff members, and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs here in the House. Back in January and February, Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity to meet with staff over at the VA and talk about the existing programs. We talked about financing and the budget that is coming up. I also know that most of us as Federal Representatives here in the Congress are committed to improving veterans' employment opportunities, and I think that the Members here will be very interested that the VA is offering a jobs program for service-connected disabled veterans. This is an existing program that I believe is a win-win-win situation, Mr. Speaker. I think it is one of the VA's best kept secrets, not purposefully; but I think that, if Members know about it and if they are informed about it, they are going to be very excited about it for the district offices and serving our constituents and helping the employment picture for veterans back home in their districts. That is why it was important for me to come to the floor today and to speak to our colleagues and our Members. This program is referred to as the Chapter 31 Program. The purpose of the VA's vocational rehabilitation program is to assist service-disabled veterans find and maintain suitable employment. The trainee receives a stipend from the VA. In other words, there is no additional cost to us in our district offices. I mentioned before that I think it is a win-win-win situation because it has helped the effectiveness of my office. It has helped us with our constituent service. It is also a win then for the individual veteran who has an opportunity to experience this on-the-job training, and I believe it is a win for the community at large. The VA has done an excellent job in finding a candidate to work in my congressional office back in our district. We selected a trainee, Mr. Mark Dunford, who has a bachelor's degree in history, and he is completing his prelaw work at Canisius College in Buffalo. He has agreed to take on all our constituent work relating to veterans. When we have constituents call our offices that want some help with either hospital veterans benefits or problems with some benefits they are receiving for a previously expired husband or wife, this is the kind of individual that will take that constituent work and get it done. He is doing an outstanding job, Mr. Dunford is. His experience and skills acquired in the military are an asset to our office. But when he is assisting in constituent work, when he is monitoring the needs that people in my district and all of our districts have with regard to veterans affairs, he is one of those take-charge people who gets it done. This on-the-job training program is an excellent way for disabled veterans to gain the work experience that they need. I think, finally, that it is an opportunity for those of us who are Members of Congress here to lead by example. It is an opportunity to take this congressional job training experience another step and allow our veterans to have that experience so they can get meaningful employment either in our offices or in other places around the community. In a time of limited resources, Mr. Speaker, it is also an opportunity for us to provide this job at no additional costs to our congressional payrolls. I think it is a win-win-win situation, as I said, for everybody involved. I came to the floor today to make our Members aware of this program. As I mentioned, it is called the Chapter 31 Program. Later this week I will be sending a dear colleague letter to all of our Members here in the House suggesting that they look into the program. They can very easily give my staff a call in my office so we can put them in touch with the right people in the VA who, to tell you the truth, handle everything for us. It is a great program. It is one that our constituents should know about. It is one that will help us run our offices more effectively and more efficiently. Finally, it is the right thing to do for some veterans back in our districts. I would suggest that with the dear colleague letter that goes out from our office later this week, if anybody needs any attention from us or any help, we stand ready to do that, as does the VA. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the time this afternoon to make my office available.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 130th year of the celebration of Juneteenth. Juneteenth is the traditional celebration of the anniversary of emancipation. And, just as those former slaves vowed on June 19, 1865, to never forget the day slavery was officially abolished, we too must never forget slavery and the brave men and women who endured its horrible monstrosities. On June 14 and 15, 75,000 western New Yorkers upheld the vow to never forget the abolishment of slavery and those who endured it. The celebration of Juneteenth has also developed into a forum for the proud display of African-American culture and history. This grand history lesson not only helps us look back, but it helps us all look forward. We should now be looking forward to and working towards an era of unprecedented peace and reconciliation. House Joint Resolution 56, introduced by Mr. Watts, is an excellent opportunity for this Congress and this Nation to take a step in that direction. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to join with the tens of thousands of western New Yorkers, and millions of Americans across the Nation in recognition of the Juneteenth and this historic celebration of the end of slavery in America.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, as the only New York State Representative on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and as the chairman of the Veterans' Subcommittee on Benefits, I rise today in support of House Joint Resolution 54, the flag desecration amendment. It is our Nation's flag that serves as constant reminder of those who have bravely fought for the United States of America, so that we may never forget the principles of freedom, independence, and democracy which it so proudly represents. I am a proud cosponsor of House Joint Resolution 54. I am honored to join with my colleagues in making sure that our most treasured symbol, and the millions of veterans that fought under that symbol, are not forgotten. The American people have spoken on this issue. A national pole conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide in 1996 reveals that 81 percent of Americans said they would vote for an amendment to protect their flag. In fact, an overwhelming majority of Americans have asked that we pass this amendment and send it back to the States for ratification. Military personnel will attest that the very sight of Old Glory gives them a renewed sense of purpose and hope. For some, the flag symbolizes comradery, spirit, and the preservation of our Nation's values. I truly believe that America's values should be reflected in our laws. While teaching our children to pledge allegiance to our flag we must also send the message that it is wrong to allow America's greatest symbol to be desecrated with impunity. Not only do I urge my fellow colleagues to join me in support of the flag desecration amendment, I encourage them to display the red, white, and blue prominently, let it serve as a proud reminder of the freedom it symbolizes for our country.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Jeffrey Meilman. For almost 70 years, Variety Clubs International and their thousands of members worldwide have led the fight to aid sick and handicapped children. Variety Clubs legendary fundraising efforts have helped build hospitals, schools, and playgrounds bringing countless untold joy to young people and their families. Each year Variety Clubs holds an International Convention to share new ideas and give special recognition to those individuals who have merited distinguished achievement. This year, one of my constituents, Dr. Jeffrey Meilman, was honored with Variety's Sir James Carreras Award. This prestigious honor recognizes those physicians whose dedication and skills in pediatric medicine is truly exceptional. Dr. Meilman has provided plastic surgery to countless children throughout the world, many times at his own expense. The result is that through the skillful hands and extraordinary care provided by Dr. Meilman, children in the United States, China, Poland, and throughout the Third World have had the opportunity for their physical health and emotional well being to be restored. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to bring Dr. Meilman's superlative achievements to the attention of my colleagues in the House, and ask that they join me in expressing our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Jeffrey Meilman and Variety Clubs International. May they continue to work together to utilize their God-given talents to save the lives of so many of our children.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my colleague, Mr. Owens' amendment to H.R. 1385. I have always been a strong supporter of the Summer Youth Employment Program and believe that it should not be eliminated. The Employment, Training and Literacy Enhancement Act of 1997 does not include a provision which would continue the excellent work achieved by the many at-risk youths who take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the Summer Youth Employment Program. Summer Youth Employment provides millions of low-income youth their first vital lesson in the work ethic. Young people are reached at a critical time in their lives, helping them stay in school and graduate. In many ways, SYEP has proven to be an anticrime program by affording youths the opportunity to become productive citizens and staying off the streets of depressed areas. This program has faced significant reductions in resources over the years. And if we do not make the program a top priority, I am afraid that it will simply be forgotten through H.R. 1385 in its current form. I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote for Mr. Owens' amendment which would preserve this very important program.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the horrifying loss of a very important public servant. The Congress has always felt that our veterans are special people, and that those who serve them are special too. Today, it is my sad duty to inform the Congress that one of these special servants of America's veterans has fallen victim to what appears to be an act of mindless violence. On Friday, May 9, 1997, Mr. William Reese was shot at the Finn's Point National Cemetery in Salem, NJ, where he had worked as a caretaker for 18 years. Mr. Reese was a dedicated husband to his wife, Rebecca, and a loving father of his son, Troy. As a caretaker in a national veterans cemetery, Mr. Reese was one of the hundreds of unsung heroes who make our national cemeteries places of honor, beauty, and solace. As chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits, I am sure I speak for all the Members of Congress in wishing the Reese family every comfort in this trying time and our hope that they find some small consolation in the dedication William Reese has shown to his veterans.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of the amendment today. Our amendment adds $38 million to the supplemental food program for nutritionally at-risk pregnant women, infants, and children under the age of 5. We propose to take unused dollars from a NASA wind tunnel project to offset the cost of the additional dollars. Mr. Chairman, we appreciate the interest from Members on both sides of the aisle. If we do not include these funds, 180,000 women, infants, and children will be removed from the program. Because of an increased need, food price inflation, along with an underestimated caseload for fiscal year 1997, a serious reduction of women, infants, and children served through the WIC Program this year is inescapable. The WIC participation for 1996 fiscal year exceeded the initial projection by 100,000 women, infants, and children. Innocent children are facing unique and challenging circumstances at this time. We should be there to help them. For instance, the flooding in North Dakota has caused 3,000 additional caseloads with the WIC Program. There has been some controversy surrounding our request for these additional funds, there is no question. However, if we cannot continue to serve these people who need our help, who are experiencing temporary difficulty with maintaining a healthful diet at their most critical time of growth and development, if we cannot do this, we are essentially cutting the program. WIC is a well-managed program that would put these additional dollars, I believe and others believe, to efficient use. In fact, it includes the most successful cost-containment system of any Federal health-related program. We all know, and it has been justified, it has been talked about, that for every dollar WIC spends on prenatal care, we save $3.50 spent on Medicaid. WIC is one Federal program that I believe and others do that is truly deserving, and it delivers what it promises to the American taxpayer. Medical evidence shows that the WIC Program reduces low birthweight, infant mortality, and child anemia. This amendment is proof that we can do what we want when we work from both sides of the aisle.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Gerald Baldelli, on the occasion of his retirement. Jerry served the Frontier Central School District with distinction in several capacities from 1961 to 1996, including teacher, coach, mathematics department chairman, director of community education, middle school principal, high school principal, and assistant superintendent for personnel service. As a teacher and former supervisor of the Town of Hamburg, I witnessed first hand Jerry's commitment to our community, and his professionalism, and integrity. In addition to his work with Frontier Schools, Jerry has served as president of the Erie County Interscholastic Conference, president of the Erie County High School Principals' Association, president of the Western New York Association of School Personnel Administrators, and as chairman of New York State Public High School Athletic Association. In recognition of that commitment to education, Jerry was honored as the 1966 Hamburg Junior Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Educator, the 1988 New York State Athletic Administrators' Association ``Outstanding Commitment to Interscholastic Athletics in New York State'' award recipient, and as the 1996 Town of Hamburg Service Youth Award winner. Further, Jerry has played an important and active role in our community through his work with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to join with Jerry's wife, Marie; his children, Gerald, Carla, Mark, and Elizabeth; the Frontier Central School District; and our Hamburg community to pay tribute to Mr. Gerald R. Baldelli. With retirement comes many new opportunities. May he meet every opportunity with the same enthusiasm and vigor in which he demonstrated throughout his brilliant career; and may those opportunities be as fruitful as those in his past. Thank you, Jerry, for your tireless effort and personal commitment to our western New York community. As you enter retirement, I wish you nothing but the best.