Jack Quinn

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. C. Stuart Hunt for his outstanding service, tireless dedication and fruitful endeavors for Western New York. Mr. Hunt served on the Board of Directors of Buffalo Place Inc. from 1991 through 2004. Buffalo Place enjoyed phenomenal growth during his tenure as Chairman from 1994 to 1998. During that time, Buffalo Place Inc. went from a $1.8 million organization to a $3.2 million organization. Beginning in 1997, under Mr. Hunt's leadership and direction, a strong emphasis was placed on increasing funding for special event production in Downtown Buffalo. The success of the Thursday at the Square concert series positively impacted the Downtown economy, representing $4.4 million annually. Under Mr. Hunt's leadership, an annual weekend music festival on Buffalo's waterfront was conceived, Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor. In addition, the Cars Sharing Main Street initiative became one of the top three priorities on the federal legislative agenda for Western New York. In 1997, under Mr. Hunt's guidance, the Americorps Ranger Escort Program was launched and received federal funding until 2003 when it was eliminated. This important initiative continues today as the Buffalo Place Ranger Program. He also was involved in the Park N' Go Shuttle Program, converting major streets from one-way to two-way traffic and providing both on-street and off-street parking. In his professional life, Mr. Hunt serves as Chairman of Hunt Commercial Real Estate, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hunt Real Estate, the largest commercial/residential real estate organization in Upstate New York. With the purchase of the Brisbane Building in 1984, Stuart began a tireless restoration of this beautiful property. The building holds a special place in his heart, as his father, Charles Stanley Hunt, was a tenant in the Brisbane Building for almost 50 years. I'm proud that my district office is located at this historic site also. Mr. Hunt's career spanned more than half a century. He is a consummate professional and gentleman. His work ethic and professionalism place him at the top of the list of the most well respected professional civic leaders of our time. His commitment to Downtown Buffalo has never wavered and future generations will benefit from and enjoy the fruits of his labor. Mr. Hunt's college career was interrupted when he answered the call to serve his country. Mr. Hunt is a veteran of World War II and a 1947 graduate of Colgate University. In addition to a successful civic and professional career, Stuart has enjoyed a wonderfully fulfilling personal life. On December 27, 1946, C. Stuart Hunt married the beautiful Jane Helfrich. They have enjoyed a full and rich life and were blessed with three sons and one daughter. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Hunt touched the lives of so many Western New Yorkers and while he vacates his seat on the Board of Directors of Buffalo Place Inc., he will always remain a role model and mentor to the staff of Buffalo Place Inc. C. Stuart Hunt leaves a unique and indelible mark on Downtown Buffalo, as he will never be forgotten. Thank you, Stuart, for your strong leadership, diligent effort and personal commitment to our community. Thanks also for your friendship.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I am here to report to the House and to the general public the results of last evening's sixth annual benefit basketball game between Members of Congress and the lobbying community here in Washington. I am here also to report that the outcome was a 58- 41 victory for the Members of Congress. I would like to mention the players, our bipartisan team of Jeff Flake, Vito Fossella, Harold Ford, Kenny Hulshof, Devin Nunes, Todd Platts, Tim Ryan, John Shimkus, and Todd Tiahrt. In the past 6 years I am also happy to report that the House Members have a 5-1 record after last night's game, but to report after 6 years that the game has raised over $150,000 for charities here in Washington, D.C., particularly the Hortons Kids charity that services inner city young children. Special thanks also, Mr. Speaker, to Mr. Paul Miller and others at the American League of Lobbyists, who worked tirelessly during the year to put the game together. As we go forward in the next year, hopefully we can do bigger and better things.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to inform the House of Representatives that last Thursday, September 9, 2004, I was unavoidably detained and missed the following roll call votes: Rollcall No. 434 on Agreeing to the Obey Amendment. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye.'' Rollcall No. 435 on Agreeing to the Hayworth Amendment. Had I been present I would have voted ``no.'' Rollcall No. 436 on Agreeing to the Kildee Amendment. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye.'' Rollcall No. 437 on agreeing to the Stark Amendment. Had I been present I would have voted ``no.'' Rollcall No. 438 on agreeing to the Paul Amendment. Had I been present I would have voted ``no.'' Rollcall No. 439 on agreeing to the Hayworth Amendment number six. Had I been present I would have voted ``no.'' Rollcall No. 440 on the question of final passage of H.R. 5006. Had I been present I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is National POW/MIA recognition day. This annual day of recognition honors those brave soldiers who served valiantly to protect our liberties but remain unaccounted for. America remains vigilant in its effort to see that each one of these nearly 93,000 brave soldiers are identified, accounted for, and returned to their families. Recently, I met with representatives from the Department of Defense Prisoner of War--Missing Personnel office and was pleased to learn of the Department's steadfast dedication to see to it that each one of these POW/MIA cases is resolved. America owes an enormous debt of gratitude to those who have answered the call to defend our freedoms and there is no better way to honor that debt than to remain committed to bringing closure to the suffering for each of their families. We will never forget the sacrifices that thousands of American Soldiers have made throughout the world in the name of liberty and freedom, and we must do everything we can to help bring the POW/MIA soldiers home. To date, the Department of Defense lists 1,854 Americans as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. There are 1,415 in Vietnam, 377 in Laos, 55 in Cambodia and 7 in PRC (People's Republic of China) territorial waters. I display the POW/MIA flag outside my office as a constant reminder to those who visit, that there are heroes who have not yet made it home. I encourage my colleagues to join me tomorrow in honoring these brave soldiers by renewing our resolve to close these cases and end the suffering caused by the uncertainty of their fate.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the outstanding efforts that a group of local heroes played in keeping America safe from the type of terrorist threats that are occurring here in the United States as well as overseas. While the public may not always hear about the close calls or the work done behind the scenes by our federal agents, it is with great pride that we publicly recognize the FBI agents and Task Force Personnel in Buffalo, New York for their work investigating and bringing to successful prosecution the terrorist cell known as the Lackawanna Six. In the spring of 2001, six men from Lackawanna, NY were recruited to a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan. The camp was directed by al- Qaida and included speeches given personally by Osama bin Laden. The Six admitted to attending the al-Qaida training camp to learn terrorists' tactics. With the work of the Buffalo FBI and Task Force Personnel, the Lackawanna Six were successfully prosecuted and sentenced, with each member receiving prison terms of between seven and ten years. While we will thankfully never know what harm they intended to bring to American innocents, we all feel safer knowing that they are behind bars. The contributions of these Buffalo agents were crucial in protecting Americans from the terrors like the ones experienced on September 11th. As we have seen with the recent attacks in Bali and Madrid, terrorism is a new type of threat that makes securing the homeland a constant struggle. Our enemies in the war on terror are not always clear, and we rely on the men and women in the FBI and other Federal agencies as vital parts in the internal battle against future terror attacks. And while their specific contributions cannot always be officially recognized, I would also like to express my thanks for the professional contributions to the Lackawanna investigation of our intelligence agencies. I thank them all for their work protecting America. Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to say that these individuals, and many others throughout the world, are doing the hard and often unrecognized work that is required to keep our homeland safe. I also know that these fine agents and specialists serve as role models for others throughout the United States. Protecting our citizens and our freedoms is vitally important to our future security, and these men and women have proven with their actions that they are up to the task. For their outstanding work throughout the investigation, I would like to individually recognize the following people: Charlene M. Abbatoy, Gary Adams, Jackie Adams, Kevin R. Adams, Peter J. Ahearn, Timothy A. Aldrich, Glenn D. Barnes, Donald M. Becker, Jr., Paul Bellitto, Stanley J. Borgia, Jeanne Brennan, David M. Britten, Ellen K. Brody, David Budz, Sarah Burcham, Diane J. Buzy, Thomas Camizzi, Lisa Marie Cammarano, Catherine D. Campbell, Briad L. Cid, Carol L. Cid, Migdalia Claudio, Jennifer Cornell, Robert M. Cornell, Mary Jayne Coyne, Timothy B. Crino, John P. Culhane, Jr., Paul W. Culligan, Scott W. Cullins, Maureen P. Dempsey, Bonnie Dietrich, Thomas V. Doktor, Jacqueline Dougher, Vanita L. Evans, Marcello Falconetti, William Martin Fallon, Steven Forrest, George W. Gast, Karen A. Gibson, Thomas S. Ginter, Andrew J. Goralski, Robert John Gross, Matthew F. Hall, Steven L. Halter, Brian J. Haynes, Laura Heldwein, Edward John Herbst, June Ellen Hillman, Wendy L. Horth, Holly Lynn Hubert, Michael P. Hubert, Brent S. Isaacson, Robert S. Jae, James A. Jancewicz, Kenneth A. Jensen, Jr., Randy F. Jones, Karen Anne Jordan, Joseph T. Kelley, Lisa Marie Kelly, Lafesa Killian, Judith A. King, Mary Ann Klubeck, Ronald Kolodziejczak, Robert H. Kosakowski, Anne M. Kowalske, Erwin W. Langeman, Jr., Adrienne J. Leary, Michael Liwicki, Lavonda Patrice Locke, Eric R. Marburger, Rose Marie Mariano, Richard G. Martinez, Joel G. Mercer, Cynthia L. Mickell, Cheryl A. Molnar, Linda Ann Moore, Paul Mark Moskal, Steven J. Naum, Edward J. Needham, Nancy Dawn Nolf, Robert C. Nowocren, William V. O'Connor, Mark Onorato, J. Peter Orchard, Cheryl A. Pace, Raymond Palmowski, Jr., Michele M. Pellicano, Stephano V. Pellicano, Thomas J. Pierce, Paula H. Pinella, Glen A. Powell, Darryl J. Radt, Kathleen A. Redding, Christine E. Rejewski, Thomas R. Richards, Julius C. Richardson, Dawn M. Ringler, Lawrence Robinson, Jr., MaryAnn Rogers, Mark Rosenberg, Barbara Ann Rummell, Frank J. Runles, Jerome Scherzinger, Darin Schultz, Gary J. Sheppard, Brian J. Shields, Linda J. Skinner, Sharrell Gene Slone, Carol Ann Spiess, Thomas F. Stadtmiller, Daniel Patrick Taylor, Michael T. Thurston, David J. Todtenhagen, Karen L. Tricoli, Ida M. Tripolic, Julie A. Trotsky, Michael S. Trzewieczynski, Robert W. Utz, Thomas C. Utz, Mary Beth R. Vanlew, Richard C. Vega, Wayne D. Vossler, Larry Wack, Ailiene W. Walsh, David Washington, Paul D. Wright, Christina M. Wrobel, Maryann Wyman, Gerald A. Zasowski, Steven P. Zatko, II, Tina Zarko, Jennifer R. Zienlowski, Mark P. Thompson, Robert J. Wick, Jr., Debbra C. Allwell, Colleen M. Balkin, Jodie L. Bracken, Kevin Chchak, Christopher R. Cronin, Jason S. Ficken, Daniel P. Funk, Michael S. Leary, Aldis A. Lemesis, Debora L. Oberhofer, Michael J. Preisser, James P. Quinn, Jean M. Sterns, Joseph Testani, Thomas C. Utz, Timothy R. Weir, Albert W. Zenner, Mark Concordia, Zachary Dunbar, Steve Filipowicz, John David Salome, Matt Siuda, Jeffry Wagner, Kim Bagho, Frank Christiano, Felix Cwynar, Mike Dailey, Glen Diemer, James Domres, Mark Driess, Reggie Gostomski, James J. Higgins, William Hochul, John Humphrey, Lawrence D. Krug, Thomas Michalski, Scott Patronik, Patrick Rinow, Mary Ann Rogers, Sharrell Gene Slone, Paul Sojda, Mike Szrama, Mark Urbanski and Michelle Elise McPartlan.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Slaughter amendment, my good friend and neighbor from Buffalo, New York, to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts by $10 million and to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities by $3.5 million. The NEA enhances our communities both culturally and economically. Educational programs supported by the NEA introduce our next generation to the possibilities of creativity, self-expression, and imagination. Just last weekend in my district in Buffalo, New York, we held the Allentown Arts Festival, a renowned art event where art vendors come to display their goods and sell their works on the streets of Buffalo, and I am proud to say tens of thousands of people from all across the country attended. The NEA has implemented a new program called Shakespeare in American Communities, a major nationwide touring theater initiative that brings Shakespeare to over 100 different communities throughout the country. One million school children will experience live theater in small and mid- sized towns, underserved urban areas, and even some of our military communities. The NEA is providing a teachers' toolkit that is being distributed free of charge to over 25,000 high school teachers. The kit includes a video, a CD, contest materials, and fact sheets on Shakespeare and Elizabethan theater. As a former schoolteacher myself, I recognize that providing these educational materials will provide a greater cultural learning experience to all the Nation's children. Another important program funded through the NEA is Operation Homecoming, a writing workshop for returning soldiers to help them deal with their feelings about war, death, hardship, and survival while being overseas and away from their loved ones and their families. This program will help establish a rich historical record by filling in the blanks with personal accounts that the media sometimes lack. The first Operation Homecoming workshop, as a matter of fact, took place in my home State of New York, Fort Drum, home of the 10th Mountain Division. Forty-five soldiers met with accomplished novelists to learn firsthand about the hard work, dedication, and effort that is required to write. They plan to use this instruction as a way to capture events for themselves and also as a form of therapy to manage their feelings in the most positive manner. It is my hope that we will consider the Slaughter amendment as a way to enhance our already cultural richness in this country by supporting excellence in the arts, providing leadership in arts education, and bringing the arts to all Americans. I yield back the balance of my time as I ask our Members to support the Slaughter amendment.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues this morning, mostly in leadership positions, who have come to the floor this morning, Charlie, to talk about your wisdom and fairness and work ethnic; and I want to associate myself with their remarks, of course. But I am one of those dozens of the Speaker pro tempores. Charlie has made us all look good, both on C-SPAN and back home for our constituents, and for our colleagues here in the Chamber. I was in the chair one day and some rule question came up. After I answered it, my mother called me on the phone and said, ``How did you know all of those rules so quickly?'' I said, ``It was easy, Charlie Johnson was there.'' She said, ``Who is he?'' I said, ``Well, he is the guy that does the trick. He talks into the microphone so you hear him, but so nobody else hears him, and he explains the rules.'' Charlie, on behalf of all of the Speaker pro tempores, some with a little more experience than others, who you have made look good across the country and in front of our colleagues, I want to thank you for knowing those rules, for sharing those rules, and for keeping this place a place of order when we are in the chair trying to keep order. I guess the trick for you then and your staff is to be heard, but not to be heard when you do your job best. And I would submit to my colleagues here in the Chamber that we all can take a lesson from this gentleman as he leaves us. When we do our business, we should try to be heard, and maybe not be heard so loud during those times of emotion, during those times of debate, during those times of political arguments, to be heard, of course, but to not be heard. And Charlie, for that service to us as that group of people that chair these sessions, and on behalf of all our constituents across the country, I want to say thanks for a job well done. We appreciate it. We will always remember you.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4193. Over the past decade, few areas of the country have faced the economic and fiscal challenges that my Western New York district has experienced. When a section of the City of Buffalo received a Renewal Community designation by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, I saw the possibility of an economic revival in my district. When an area is designated as a Renewal Community, businesses located there become qualified to receive certain tax incentives such as zero- percent capital gains rate on qualified community assets held for five years; work opportunity credits; commercial revitalization deductions; additional Section 179 expensing and the Renewal Community Employment Credit that credits employers $1500 for each employee who both lives and works in the renewal area. Because of these significant financial and tax incentives designed for low-income areas, the City of Buffalo has seen many improvements to the local economy. However, like many of the other Renewal Communities across the country, the standards HUD uses to designate renewal communities need to be modified and improved. The original bill authorizing Renewal Communities, The Community Tax Reform Act of 2000, directs HUD to use poverty, unemployment and population levels based on 1990 census tract data to determine if a tract qualifies for a renewal community designation. To date, HUD has designated 40 Renewal Communities areas across the country using this outdated standard. Section 1 of H.R. 4193 makes a simple change to these designation requirements by allowing HUD to enlarge a Renewal Community by adding census tracts using 2000 census tract data. Given the enormous advantages for cities like Buffalo, it just makes sense for areas that continue to face decline to be eligible to use the most current census data available. This bill will provide for the expansion for Renewal Communities across the country so areas like Buffalo and Jamestown, N.Y. can finally realize economic success. Mr. Speaker, thank you for bringing H.R. 4193 to the floor, and I urge all my colleagues to support this common sense, bipartisan legislation.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I want to join the others associating myself with the remarks of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) in thanking the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) for actually trying to hit a moving target these last months. That is not an easy thing to do here in Washington. But this bill, as important as it is, and those remarks and numbers that the gentleman from Ohio just offered could not be truer in Buffalo and western New York. Mr. Chairman, when I came here I followed a great public works Member, Henry Nowak, who understood the importance not only in western New York but all across the country of public works projects. He taught me that a public works project and the things that we do or are trying to do in this bill is a double win. It is almost like chopping your own firewood. You chop the firewood, and you are warmed. You are also, when you use the firewood, warmed. These public works kinds of projects are a double win. We as country, as a nation, get the projects; and we also get jobs that go with those projects. At a time when our country talks about losing jobs more and more, this is the jobs bill of this session of Congress. It is not the number that we wanted. It is not high enough. A little give and take in compromise here I believe will get us to where we want to be for this part of the Congress, and I am hopeful that we renew ourselves next year to get to this kind of planning that is necessary all across the country. When we talk to our local and State representatives, they know they need 5 and 6 years to plan some of these important projects. It gets the money out. I do want to say a word, if I might, Mr. Chairman, about the railroad situation. As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads and my partner, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown), we know that we are not going to have a discussion about the rail issues in this bill today. We had some plans in the manager's amendment to talk about the R-RIF program, a renewed loan program to get loan money out to railroads to better put themselves in a position for the railroad business of the country. We also talked about the short lines and some infrastructure money for them. No word is going to be mentioned here today in the bill on the floor about Amtrak. These are all important projects for all of us in the House and across the country. I am hopeful, as the gentlewoman from Florida and I continue our work on the Subcommittee on Railroads this year, to work with both sides of the aisle and our counterparts in the Senate to get a bill where we can talk about rail infrastructure and railroad needs. Certainly we have spoken at all of our hearings about a backup to our airline industry. We have talked about the need for rail to take congestion off the roads and away from the airports. Whether it is passenger or freight, the railroad system in this country desperately needs some help. We, although silent on it here today and tomorrow in this discussion, fully expect to be engaged in every bit of the process. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank both sides of the aisle for their help. We look forward to our continued work as probably the most bipartisan committee in the House of Representatives to get the job done.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker. I am honored to rise today to officially recognize and pay tribute to Violet Brosart, an outstanding community leader. Violet Brosart is a resident of Lackawanna, New York and is currently serving as the President of the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of New York. The American Legion Auxiliary is the largest women's patriotic service organization in the world. Its primary goals are to serve veterans and their families, to promote patriotism and Americanism, and to serve our children and communities. President Brosart is a 36 year member of Hamburg Unit #527 in Erie County. She has served as its president and remains an active member. She has also been active in her community, becoming involved in Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, Youth Baseball, the Empire State Ballet Company, and the Hamburg Little Theater. She also worked for 10 years as a child day care provider. Mrs. Brosart is the mother of four and grandmother of ten. She also has one great grandchild. Each year the Department President chooses a project of particular interest to her and raises money for that cause. This year President Brosart has chosen the Alzheimer's Association as her special project. More than 14 million Americans will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease within the next 50 years unless a cure or prevention is found. Alzheimer's disease affects not just the patient, but the family as well. Often children and grandchildren find themselves becoming the caregivers to those who once gave care to them. Money raised for this special project will be distributed to all seven areas of the Alzheimer's Coalition in New York State, based on need. The money will be used to support programs in the following areas: early diagnosis, effective treatment, essential support networks, and caregiver training. In addition to these areas of concern the Alzheimer's Coalition is working in conjunction with the VA facilities to aid veterans that have Alzheimer's. By embracing this project, President Brosart and the American Legion Auxiliary can ``Help for Today'' and ``Hope for Tomorrow:'' To date, over $15,500 has been raised, with a goal of $40,000 by August 1, 2004. Traveling throughout the 62 Counties in New York State, President Brosart emphasizes the American Legion Auxiliary's strong commitment to our country and to our veterans. Her patriotic spirit is evident in all of her speeches and presentations. The members of the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of New York are very proud of President Brosart and her deep commitment to the veterans of our nation.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, all good things must come to an end, and it is with both sadness and great respect that we acknowledge the end of Van Miller's remarkable career as the announcer for the Buffalo Bills. At 76 years of age, Mr. Miller has been the most devoted and longest- tenured broadcaster in the history of the National Football League. He began his distinguished career with the Bills on July 30, 1960, commenting for an exhibition game against the Boston Patriots. For the following 37 years, Mr. Miller lent his voice to the Buffalo Bills and their loyal fans, creating a steadfast following with the phenomenon known as Vandemonium. As the play-by-play announcer for the Bills, Mr. Miller articulated their decades of both triumphs and defeats, displaying his love for the game and the team through good times and bad. He is renowned not only for his professionalism in the booth, but also for his enthusiastic announcing. The excitement of the fans matched his own exhilaration at watching his favorite team play. The lead commentator for Super Bowl XXV between the Bills and the New York Giants, Mr. Miller was the voice of professionalism in announcing the Giants' victory over his beloved Bills. Though a devastating moment for the team, Mr. Miller made the call with poise and calm, ably performing his announcing duties while displaying the utmost respect for both teams. It is this dedication to his job and team that explains why Buffalo may be the only city in the world where football fans turn down the volume on their televisions and turn up their radios when a Bills game is on. Van Miller is more than a voice, however. As beloved as he is for his football commentary, his friendly presence and genuine care for the team and fans touches the entire Buffalo community. When Bills fans tuned in to Mr. Miller, they felt as though they were listening to a good friend. As John Murphy says of his colleague, ``It's like Van's a member of every fan's family.'' His name and voice have become intertwined with the world of Buffalo Bills football, and it is no surprise that Mr. Miller was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1999. In fact, after his 752nd and final Bills broadcast, Mr. Miller's equipment was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Ohio, commemorating both the field of play-by- play broadcasting and the man who left an invaluable and indelible mark upon it. We will surely miss his presence on the field and on the air this coming season, but we know his contributions to Buffalo will continue for years to come.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to officially recognize and pay tribute to my dear friend and close advisor, Helen G. Jacob. A buck sergeant during World War II in both the U.S. and European theater, Helen has been a shining example of advocacy and commitment to America's veterans, both in western New York and throughout the Nation. When I was elected to Congress and received my assignment on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I turned to local veterans leaders and organizations for advice and counsel. One of my first calls was to Helen Jacob. She has served as an integral part of my Veterans' Advisory Committee since its inception and is a wealth of knowledge on a host of veterans issues. Her many awards, honors and citations are too numerable to mention, but if you will permit me, I would like to highlight just a few. In 1996, the Buffalo VA medical center opened its Women's Ambulatory Care unit, a new unit in the hospital to address the growing needs of our female veterans. Helen was instrumental in this project. When we dedicated that wing, we recognized those tremendous efforts and named it accordingly. I would invite every Member to visit the Helen G. Jacob Women's Wellness Center in Buffalo, New York. She has won the Legionnaire of New York State Award, the Found Woman Award, the Golden Rule Award, the Prime Time Award and the Susan B. Anthony Award. Simply put, Helen Jacob could not be more deserving of the high distinction of this national award. Helen's community service is not limited to veterans. She serves on countless boards and organizations that help people in my district every day. Her lifetime efforts to strengthen her country and community have set an example we all should follow. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to count Helen Jacob among my friends, and am pleased and honored to bring to the attention of this honorable body her outstanding service and this well-deserved award.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to officially recognize and pay tribute to Violet Brosart. Violet Brosart is a resident of Lackawanna, New York and is currently serving as the President of the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of New York. The American Legion Auxiliary is the largest women's patriotic service organization in the world. Its primary goals are to serve veterans and their families, to promote patriotism and Americanism, and to serve our children and communities. President Brosart is a 36-year member of Hamburg Unit #527 in Erie County. She has served as its president and remains an active member. She has also been active in her community, becoming involved in Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, Youth Baseball, the Empire State Ballet Company, and the Hamburg Little Theater. She also worked for 10 years as a child day care provider. Mrs. Brosart is the mother of 4 and grandmother of 10. She also has one great grandchild. Each year the Department president chooses a project of particular interest to her and raises money for that cause. This year President Brosart has chosen the Alzheimer's Association as her special project. More than 14 million Americans will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease within the next 50 years unless a cure or prevention is found. Alzheimer's disease affects not just the patient, but the family as well. Often children and grandchildren find themselves becoming the caregivers to those who once gave care to them. Money raised for this special project will be distributed to all seven areas of the Alzheimer's Coalition in New York State, based on need. The money will be used to support programs in the following areas: early diagnosis, effective treatment, essential support networks, and caregiver training. In addition to these areas of concern, the Alzheimer's Coalition is working in conjunction with the VA facilities to aid veterans that have Alzheimer's. By embracing this project, President Brosart and the American Legion Auxiliary can ``Help for Today'' and ``Hope for Tomorrow.'' To date, over $15,500 has been raised, with a goal of $40,000 by August 1, 2004. Traveling throughout the 62 counties in New York State, President Brosart emphasizes the American Legion Auxiliary's strong commitment to our country and to our veterans. Her patriotic spirit is evident in all of her speeches and presentations. The members of the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of New York, are very proud of President Brosart and her deep commitment to the veterans of our Nation.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1829, the Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2003. As a Member from the northeastern part of our country and a district with a large labor union constituency, I can tell my colleagues that it is not too often that the business community and the union community come together and work on an issue. Mr. Chairman, the business and labor communities have been working on this issue now for over 8 years to try to reform the program. H.R. 1829 balances the need to rehabilitate inmates while at the same time protecting our workers and our jobs. Opponents of the bill will tell us that the intent of business and labor is to put FPI out of business. This is not the case at all, and this legislation does not attempt to do that. I would ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in opposing any amendments that allow FPI to expand its competitive advantage over businesses and unions by giving them unfettered access to the commercial marketplace. Let me just close by saying, Mr. Chairman, this is a broad-based and bipartisan bill. This type of agreement shows that it is the right approach and that we should act today, not delay any longer. If the business community and the union community can work together so closely on this issue brought before us today, we should be able to do the same thing as Members of the House. I say support 1829, support it now. Delay no longer. We should act today.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, this evening in my hometown of Hamburg, NY representatives of all facets of the community will gather to conduct a ``Town Meeting'' to discuss the progress and future of Character First in Hamburg. Character First in Hamburg is made up of numerous community leaders, who over the past two years, have put into place activities in support of good character throughout the town with a mission to create a culture of character in Hamburg. I had hoped to participate as a keynote speaker for this community update where, along with defensive back and special teams player Coy Wire of the Buffalo Bills and Character First President Suzanne McKenney, concerned residents will hear the results of two years of Character First and highlights of the culture of character gaining momentum in the community. Suzanne McKenney has been tireless in her extensive efforts over the last two years to bring Character initiatives to the business community, civic community, education community, faith community, government community and media community. Working with a well established Board of Directors and Committee Chairs there is a true emphasis upon creating a culture of character in Hamburg. Coy Wire is an outstanding example to the Hamburg community. His Coy Wire Foundation has been established to promote education and character building with initiatives that encourage spiritual awareness. Coy has shown by example the positive and uplifting impact of an individuals emphasis on character. Tonight's Town Meeting theme, Crusade 4 Character, underscores the assembled community's belief that the concept of good character has gained widespread support throughout the town. There literally are signs of character everywhere in the Town of Hamburg. My good friend and restaurateur Mike DiPaolo has initiated character recognition awards for his employees at Illo DiPaolo's restaurant; Our local community newspaper The Sun has shared these employees' stories and other examples of character with the community. Places of worship throughout Hamburg have promoted character traits on bulletin boards, bulletins and newsletters. Character displays have been placed throughout school buildings and there have been dedicated efforts by students and teachers to recognize good character traits. There has been local government support by resolution in the Town of Hamburg and the Villages of Blasdell and Hamburg. The Hamburg Town Board has initiated character recognition at public meetings and last but not least the Civic Community has generated volunteers to assist in the coordination of character initiatives throughout the community. These are but a few of the many community wide efforts to encourage residents of Hamburg to embrace good character. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to join with the founders and supporters of Character First as they examine their past and look toward the future. I would encourage my colleagues to raise the awareness of good character in their community. Our nation will only grow stronger when individual citizens embrace character within their own lives.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is National POW/MIA recognition day. This annual day of recognition honors those brave soldiers who served valiantly to protect our liberties but remain unaccounted for. America remains vigilant in its effort to see each one of these nearly 93,000 brave soldiers are identified, accounted for, and returned to their families. Recently, I met with representatives from the Department of Defense Prisoner of War--Missing Personnel office and was pleased to learn of their steadfast dedication to see to it that each one of these POW/MIA cases are resolved. America owes an enormous debt of gratitude to those who have answered to the call to defend our freedoms and there is no better way to honor that debt than to remain committed to bringing closure to the suffering for each of their families. We will never forget the sacrifices that thousands of American soldiers have made throughout the world in the name of liberty and freedom, and we must do everything we can to help bring the POW/MIA soldiers home. I display the POW/MIA flag outside my office as a constant reminder to those who visit, that there are heroes who have not yet made it home. I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring these brave soldiers by renewing our resolve to close these cases and end the suffering caused by the uncertainty of their fate.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I am here to report on our fifth annual Congressional basketball game last night, a hard fought contest against the American League of Lobbyists. I am happy to report that the Members in the House were winners for the third time in a row. We have won four out of five games. The score was 49 to 48 in overtime. Mr. Speaker, some would call these lobbyists enlightened to allow a win in overtime by one point by the Members of the House. However, Mr. Speaker, I want to report that the game last night broke all records and raised over $40,000 for Horton's Kids, bringing the grand total to over $120,000 over the 5 years of the tournament. I want to thank the American League of Lobbyists and Mr. Paul Miller, who put an awful lot of time into the event, George Washington University for our use of their facilities. Our Congressional pages attended last evening as well. I want to thank all the Members who might be a little bit sore getting to the floor this morning, but thank them for their efforts for a great cause.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to strike the last word.

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I want to begin this discussion by commending subcommittee Chairman Istook for his diligence for bringing this bill to the floor today. He and his committee have done their level best with obviously limited resources that he was given to meet tremendous transportation needs and infrastructure needs throughout the country. We need to build roads; there is no question about that. We need to repair bridges. We need to expand the capacity of our airports, but I do not believe that we can forget about our other major mode of transportation and that is passenger rail service. Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, there is not enough money to go around. In order to provide safe, efficient, and reliable passenger rail service, Amtrak president David Gunn has said the company needs $1.8 billion next fiscal year. This bill appropriates only half of that. In my opinion, this will simply continue to do what we have done before, and I said it earlier this afternoon, we will provide Amtrak with just enough money to make sure that it fails. In this case, Mr. Chairman, I think with even worse results. Our railroad subcommittee and the full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure earlier this year passed an authorization of $2 billion. Following that, I organized and sent a letter with over 220 signatures to the appropriators asking for this same amount of money. That bill coupled with our bonding proposal to develop high-speed rail corridors would create the type of passenger rail network that this country needs and has to have. My amendment this afternoon would raise the level of funding for Amtrak to $1.7 billion and forgive them the $100 million loan that they received from the Department of Transportation 2 years ago. It would provide Amtrak with the necessary capital and funding to make those improvements along this popular northeast corridor that we have talked about today as well as track and bridge repairs throughout its entire system, not just the northeast corridor. The Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee just yesterday passed their version of this bill and included $1.3 billion for Amtrak. While this is a step in the right direction, I believe even more needs to be done. Mr. Chairman, I am a firm believer that a national passenger rail system has to be in place. I intend to work with the gentleman from Oklahoma (Chairman Istook) and the full committee chairman, the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young), to increase the funding for Amtrak in the conference negotiations with the Senate. Mr. Chairman, if these numbers hold that we see today, I will predict disastrous consequences for passenger rail service next year as we know it. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to ask a hypothetical question of Members on my side of the aisle that next August when the meeting is held in New York City I want to know who is going to answer the questions when there is no Amtrak service provided to get to the city and from the city and around the city. Point of Order

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I am not going to belabor the point here or take extended amounts of time, but I feel compelled to rise and respond to my friend from Colorado in this amendment because in just two speakers, after the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), I will be offering an amendment to increase the aid for Amtrak. While we have an opportunity to discuss this, I would like to point out that when we talk about money for rail passenger systems in this country, many of us do not consider that to be pork, no matter what kind of money we have brought back, to what kind of district, for what kind of rail transportation, we do not consider that pork. When people depend on that to get to work, to get to where they need to be, how much money over any number of years is not considered pork to many of us? So I need to disagree with the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) a little bit. I think we have given Amtrak, I have said this so many times, just enough money each year to make certain it fails, so that friends like the gentleman and others want to know why it does not work, because we have not funded it properly. The new president, David Gunn, has made significant changes at Amtrak. He has talked with us on the Subcommittee on Railroads. He has talked with the chairman of the subcommittee for Appropriations, and I think it would be in our best interest not to take money away but to give Mr. Gunn and others the tools they need to get the job done correctly. So I respectfully will oppose the gentleman's amendment, and in a few short minutes offer an amendment to increase the funding.

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) for his remarks, and I deeply appreciate the position of the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook). I realize that this is not the place for this discussion, not only where the discussion should take place but the decision made.

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

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to pay tribute and officially recognize the Fortieth Anniversary of The Challenger Newspaper in Buffalo, New York, which I am proud to say is part of the Twenty-seventh Congressional District of the State of New York. On April 11, 1963, the first edition of The Challenger was published, serving primarily Buffalo's African-American community. That same year, the Civil Rights Movement reached a critical, historic moment. During The Challenger's inaugural year, Freedom Fighter Medgar Evers was murdered, the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed by White Supremacists, killing four innocent children, and the legendary Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his momentous ``I have a Dream'' speech at the March on Washington. Founded by Mr. Calvin Kimbrough, the late Mr. John Moore and the Honorable Arthur O. Eve, The Challenger went on to become ``the voice'' of Buffalo's Black community. These trailblazers fought to provide Buffalo's African-American community with the ability to determine for itself how they would be portrayed in the media. The Challenger continues to serve our community by asking the tough questions, challenging the establishment, providing world news as it relates to the Black Community, promoting African and African-American culture and history, and ensuring that the positive contributions of African- Americans, too often ignored by others, are appropriately reported and celebrated. Indeed, The Challenger has become a Buffalo institution, no less important than our historic neighborhoods, parks, buildings, and other treasures. Forty years later, the proud tradition of The Challenger continues under the exceptional leadership of Ms. Al-Nisa Banks. She has served as Editor and Publisher for twenty-four years, and has guided The Challenger to its current position as one of our nation's finest newspapers through her visionary leadership and commitment to our community. As Members of Congress, we pause to honor and recognize those brave individuals and institutions who helped our nation find its way during some of our darkest moments. The Challenger stands proudly amongst that group as a champion of justice and a light toward a better way, and we are forever in its debt. Mr. Speaker, today I join with The Challenger Staff, the City of Buffalo, and indeed, our entire Western New York community in special recognition and celebration of The Challenger on this historic Anniversary. We all wish them continued success and prosperity.

Mr. QUINN

Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1472.