Steven Rothman

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Hooley for putting together this tribute to our friend, the late Walter Capps. First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to Lois and Walter's children. We can only imagine how you are feeling. You have our thoughts and our prayers. Walter Capps lived a very rich and vigorous life, serving his community in many different ways. As a young man in Omaha, Nebraska, he learned the value of a hard day's work with Union Pacific Railroad by delivering newspapers and by painting houses. As a professor of religious studies at the University of California Santa Barbara, he emerged as a national leader in the study of peace and conflict, veterans affairs, and America's democracy. While at the University of California Santa Barbara, he also developed one of the first college curriculums on the history, experience and ramifications of the Vietnam War. He was active with his community, service organizations in the Santa Barbara area and in his own Lutheran church. Walter epitomized the kind of person we all want to be, not only as Members of Congress, but as human beings. In a time when petty partisanship engulfs this body so often, too often, and prevents the Congress, many times, from doing the people's work, it was such a gift to be able to look over and see Walter Capps, a man who exuded humility and compassion and grace. He refused to subscribe to the lowest common denominator of discourse. He spoke from the heart, always challenging us to see the big picture and to work for a world where harmony, reconciliation and thoughtfulness were to be more common than anger, conflict, and ignorance. While campaigning to represent the people of the 22nd Congressional District of California, Walter Capps often spoke of the broken bond of trust between the people of the United States and their government. He believed that Americans deserved a government as good as the people it served, and that idealism has a place in Washington, DC. In the memory of Walter Capps, I challenge each and every Member of this great House, and every Member of the United States Senate, to seize this sense of idealism and to begin to work for a Nation that Walter would have been proud of, a place where social divisions melt away into a national community, where we come together to solve our problems in a constructive, thoughtful, and compassionate manner. I remember first meeting Walter in our freshman orientation sessions. I am 5 feet 8\1/2\ inches, and Walter was tall, but he was a giant, as the gentlewoman from New York, Mrs. Carolyn Maloney, said, in other ways. When you met him, you knew that here was just a great person, a great man; smart, smarter than all of us, but he was so kind. He was so humble. He really was a beautiful human being. You were almost in awe of him when you spoke with him, because he was so smart, he was so well-read, he was so knowledgeable, but he was tolerant of all of us, short people, smaller people, and I do not just mean in height. He had great intelligence, humility, gentleness, grace, maturity, and eyes that bespoke a great love of life. It was a tremendous honor to serve this Nation with Walter Capps, and to have gotten to know him and work with him, however briefly. I will miss him. I think I will always miss him, and his loss is a wound that will never heal. It is my hope and prayer that this House will carry on his legacy, and will always remember and live up to his expectations and grand vision of the potential of the United States of America and the potential of the human race.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, today unfortunately the radical Republicans in Congress are continuing their all-out attack on the public school system. They want it to wither on the vine because, just like with Medicare, extremists in the Republican Party in Congress do not believe in public school education. Public school education is the key that unlocks the door to the American dream for more than 90 percent of America's children, including my own 2 kids. We cannot allow the radical Republicans in Congress to destroy America's public school system. Besides, what would be next? Are we going to give people vouchers to buy books if they do not believe in the public library? Are we going to give people vouchers to buy their own swing set if they find the local town park inconvenient? No, because America is still a country that believes in the common good and the American dream. Let us fix our public schools, let us encourage charter public schools to create competition in our public schools, but let us not pillage the public school system in America. That will not be good for America.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, this morning I wish to join with my colleagues in mourning the loss of our friend, Congressman Walter Capps. First of all, allow me to extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife Lois, and his children. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of loss. Walter Capps lived a rich and vigorous life, serving his community in several different capacities. As a young man in Omaha, NE, he learned the value of a hard day's work with Union Pacific Railroad and by delivering newspapers and painting houses. As a professor of religious studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, he emerged as a national leader in the study of peace and conflict studies, veterans affairs, and American democracy. And while at UCSB, he also developed one of the first college curriculums on the history, experience, and ramifications of the Vietnam war. Furthermore, he was very active with community service organizations in the Santa Barbara area and in his own Lutheran church. Walter epitomized the type of individual we all strive to be, not only as Members of Congress, but as human beings. In a time where petty partisan wrangling has engulfed this body and prevented us from doing the people's work, Walter Capps exuded a sense of humility, compassion, empathy, and inner peace that we all should endeavor to attain. Refusing to subscribe to the lowest common denominator of discourse, he spoke from the heart, challenging all of us to see the big picture and work for a world where harmony, reconciliation, and scholarship are more common than conflict, ignorance, and economic disparity. While campaigning to represent the people of the 22d Congressional District of California, Walter Capps often spoke of the broken bond of trust between the people of the United States and their government. He believed that Americans deserve a government as good as the people it serves and that idealism has a place in Washington, DC. Therefore, in the memory of Walter Capps, I challenge each and every Member of this House and every Member of the U.S. Senate to seize this idealism and begin to work for a nation that Walter would have been proud of: a place where social divisions melt away into a national community coming together to solve its problems in a constructive, thoughtful, and compassionate manner. It was a great honor to serve this Nation with Walter Capps and to have gotten to know him and work with him however briefly. His loss is a wound that will not heal swiftly. It is my hope and prayer that this House will carry on his legacy and always remember and live up to his expectations and grand vision of the potential of the Federal Government and of humanity.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute a man who devoted his life to serving his community. Michael W. McLaughlin served as a firefighter for almost 12 years in the towns of Edgewater and Fort Lee before joining the Ridgefield volunteer fire department where he served as the department's chief secretary. He was also a member of the U.S. Disaster Response Team and the East Bergen Mutual Aid. He was recently honored at the 16th annual National Firefighters Memorial Service on October 5, 1997. Michael McLaughlin zealously embraced the idea of community service by devoting so much of his time to his neighbors and families. He was a member of just about every committee in the fire department and he was always ready to help his fellow firefighters in any way possible. It was his unique concern and compassion for others that set the life of Michael McLaughlin apart. And it is from the concern and compassion for others where we must look for guidance and direction in our own lives. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in saluting this fallen American hero.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today and join my colleagues in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We have all heard the figures: Last year, 182,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, 46,000 died of it, and currently 2.6 million women are living with it. These staggeringly high numbers are one of the reasons why some of the first bills I put my name on as a cosponsor when I came to Congress last January were breast cancer related. One bill would guarantee a minimum hospital stay of 48 hours for a woman having a mastectomy. Another would require health insurance companies that provide coverage for mastectomies to cover reconstructive breast surgery that results from a mastectomy. Still another would require insurance plans to cover annual mammograms for women ages 40 and above who choose to have the test. These are important bills, and I hope they will move quickly through their respective committees and that the leadership will bring them to the floor so we can pass them and have them signed into law. However, as helpful as these bills may be, I wish that they were unnecessary. I wish we did not need to worry how to best treat the disease, or to create guidelines for hospital stays and insurance coverage. I wish that someday, someday very soon, breast cancer will be a thing of the past. The medical community has made huge advances in detecting and treating cancerous tumors, and I applaud their accomplishments. Thanks to numerous studies, no one will dispute that early detection is a key component to surviving this devastating illness. In addition, Congress helped with the passage of the Balanced Budget Act which provided Federal funding for annual screening mammograms for women over the age of 39. With newer forms of treatment available, early detection almost ensures survival. Even with all that has been done, however, we still know very little about how to prevent breast cancer. More research needs to be done. Since at least two-thirds of breast cancer occurs in women with no known risk factors, we must work to find why these women acquired the disease. To do this we must continue to support researchers so they are able to find a cure. Women who battle breast cancer are heroes. They survive and endure pain and treatment that no person should have to suffer. However, we need them to continue to be heroes in other aspects of life. We need them to continue to be mothers, wives, and daughters, teachers, workers, and full contributors to society. Some 2.6 million women have breast cancer. This number is unacceptably high, and will always be until it reaches zero. Let's continue to work together until breast cancer is a crisis of the past.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 465, I was unavoidably detained in New Jersey attending funeral services for Florence Rothman. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, On rollcall vote No. 467, I was unavoidably detained in New Jersey attending funeral services for Florence Rothman. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 466, I was unavoidably detained in New Jersey attending funeral services for Florence Rothman. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 468, I was unavoidably detained in New Jersey attending funeral services for Florence Rothman. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere best wishes and congratulations to the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, MO, as the school formally dedicates its new building, Anheuser-Busch Hall. This state-of-the-art facility will provide plenty of much-needed space and provide the students and faculty with all of today's modern technology to make for a productive learning environment. This environment will enable Washington University students to continue to excel and will allow the distinguished faculty to continue to provide an excellent education for the lawyers of the 21st century. As a graduate of Washington University's School of Law, it is exciting to see this new five-story structure open, complete with its 350,000 volume law library. Mudd Hall, the old site of the law school and the building in which I spent many days and nights studying, taking classes, and working, holds special memories for me and many others. However, I am sure that Anheuser-Busch Hall will only enhance the law school's ability to provide a high quality education for our future leaders. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating the university and school of law, all its students, faculty, and benefactors, and wish them the best in Anheuser-Busch Hall.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I believe that promises made should be promises kept, and that is why I am proud to support this historic bipartisan balanced budget agreement. Among the most important provisions in this bill, the basic concepts of my Lifetime Learning Affordability Act are very much prominent. For the first time we will be giving American families up to $2,000 in tax relief for their children's college tuition and allowing them to save in IRA-like savings accounts for their own lifetime of learning. It also increases the Pell grants to a historic high and restores the tax deduction on the interest on student loans. Seven months ago, when I took office, I promised the people of the Ninth Congressional District of New Jersey that I would fight for a balanced budget. I promised to help bring about a smarter, more effective, more cost-efficient government that invested in our people, that kept our Nation's historic commitment to seniors, our children and the environment. This balanced budget agreement delivers for the hard-working men and women of Bergen and Hudson Counties, NJ, and that is why I am proud to support this historic balanced budget agreement. Promises that were made have now been promises kept.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1596, the Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 1997. I come to the floor today to speak not only as a Member of Congress but as a former county surrogate court judge. I am very concerned about the bankruptcy system in the United States, not that it does not work but that with the sheer number of cases being filed, Americans cannot be assured of speedy bankruptcy filings. As the gentlewoman from California said, that means that individuals and businesses who are owed money by individuals and companies that take advantage of our bankruptcy laws, they will not receive their just compensation in a timely enough fashion. So as Members of Congress, as legislators, it is our responsibility to equip the judiciary with the tools they need to ensure fair and speedy bankruptcy trials for Americans. In 1996 there were over a million bankruptcy filings in the United States. This was an increase of 27 percent over 1995 and more than triple the number filed since 1984. In my home State of New Jersey there were more than 34,000 filings in 1996, up almost 23 percent from the previous year. While this number continues to rise, one thing has not changed. Since 1992, no new bankruptcy judges have been added. New Jersey's 34,000 bankruptcy cases were handled by only eight bankruptcy judges. It is, therefore, unreasonable to think that eight judges can adequately handle 34,000 cases, and that turns out to be the fact. This number is too high. We cannot expect cases of this number to be heard expeditiously as well as thoroughly and fairly and creditors to be paid promptly if the number of judges does not increase. It is unfair for all of the parties involved. We will be increasing with H.R. 1596 the number of new bankruptcy judges by 6 percent over 1992, even though the caseload went up 30 percent. I think that this is a good start, Mr. Speaker. H.R. 1596 puts into action the Judicial Conference's recent recommendation to add 7 permanent and 11 temporary judgeships nationwide, and I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 1596.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, last July 17, 230 people died when TWA flight 800 exploded 9 miles off the coast of Long Island. This was and continues to be a national tragedy. For almost 1 year, the families of those who perished have had to deal with more than the pain of losing a loved one. They endured sitting for hours after the crash, waiting for the final passenger list that would confirm their worst fears. They waited anxiously for any indication that someone might have survived the fiery crash. To this day they continue to wait for an explanation for the disaster. Until questions begin to be answered, it is impossible to complete the healing process. This tragedy is made all the worse by an outdated law that prevents survivors from suing in State court, in front of a jury, for damages like pain and suffering and loss of companionship that are traditionally available under the tort law system. Had the plane crashed seconds earlier--when the plane was only 2 miles off of New York's coast--this would not be an issue. However, at 9 miles out, the 1920 ``Death on the High Seas Act'' governs. This outdated law dictates that lawsuits arising from aviation accidents that occur more than 3 miles off of the United States shoreline be brought in Admiralty Court and limits recovery of damages for * * * survivors to lost income only. While this may have been an appropriate law 77 years ago, in 1997 it is nothing short of outrageous today. A constituent of mine, Carol Ziemkiewicz, lost her daughter, Jill, on that flight. Jill's lifelong dream of becoming a flight attendant became a reality when she completed her training at TWA and began her work on TWA domestic flights. After only 1\1/2\ months Jill was assigned to her first international flight. She would be going to Paris, where she was eager to visit the Garden of Versailles. An hour before TWA flight 800 left to take Jill to Paris, she called her mother and summed up her anticipation--her last words to her were ``I'm psyched.'' Jill was only 23 years old. Her life, along with everyone else on the plane, was ended too early. But the 230 people who died in that crash were not the only victims on that fateful night. Those victims left behind families, friends, and loved ones; people who continue to live but whose lives will never be the same because of this tragedy. I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 2005. H.R. 2005 will help to ensure that Carol Ziemkiewicz and the hundreds of other surviving family members like her know that the lives of their loved ones had value-- that what happened to them was a tragedy and we all must do what we can to ease their pain and suffering. They have been through enough. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2005.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, now is the time to give a tax cut to working and middle-income Americans. But there is good news and bad news in America today. The good news is that in the last 4 years, the Democrats, under President Clinton, have brought down the deficit, reduced the size of government, and we are on course to balance the Federal budget. It is time to give American families some of their hard-earned money back. But the bad news today is that the Republicans want to give most of the tax cuts to the very wealthiest of Americans. Under the Republican plan, almost 70 percent of the tax cuts would go to the top 20 percent of income earners in America. Working and middle-class Americans need and deserve the tax cuts more. There is a difference between the Democrat tax cut plan and the Republican tax cut plan. I have put forward a bill called the Lifetime Learning Affordability Act, which would actually give parents tax deductible IRA-like savings accounts so hardworking Americans could provide for their children's college education in a cheaper and safer way. Mr. Speaker, it is time we invest in working and middle-class Americans with a tax cut for them, not the rich.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McDade]. Mr. Speaker, I have a FUSRAP site in my district in Maywood, NJ, and I am very concerned about the committee's proposal to transfer responsibility for this program from the Department of Energy to the Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Speaker, cleanup of this site has been in progress for 13 years, and it should be completed in another 4. I want to be able to assure the residents of Maywood that these actions will not jeopardize or slow down the cleanup of this site. Mr. Speaker, I would be grateful if the gentleman from Pennsylvania could assure me that this transfer of responsibility from the DOE to the Army Corps will not stop or slow down the progress which is being made at the Maywood site and that existing contracts and agreements will be honored.

Mr. ROTHMAN. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 695.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my voice to those of my colleagues who have today so eloquently spoken in support of House Concurrent Resolution 81. For Cyprus, this proud island nation, the cause of peace, the cause of freedom, the pursuit of unity is more than sloganeering. For the people of Cyprus and the Cypriot Americans I am proud and honored to represent in Congress, when we talk about freedom, we talk about an important element of that nation's identity that was robbed from them in 1974. For the people of Cyprus and the Cypriot Americans in my district, when we talk about justice, we talk about an ideal unseen since the de facto partition of that island nation in 1974. For the people of Cyprus and all those in America who believe in and cherish the value of peace, when we talk about Cyprus, we talk of an island where peace has been absent for 23 years. And that has been, in my estimation, 23 years too long. So today I stand here as a Member of Congress, as a member of the House Committee on International Relations, as a cosponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 81 to say that I believe strongly in the following: I believe in freedom for Cyprus, I believe in a united Cyprus, and I believe that we must support the efforts of the parties to negotiate and secure a long-lasting and genuine peace for Cyprus. As my colleagues know, in 1974 Cyprus was invaded by Turkey. It was an illegal invasion, illegal and against all international norms recognized then or now. And most important, we must recognize that this invasion cannot stand, just as we took that same position with regard to the invasion of Kuwait. Some might argue that freedom for Cyprus might not be in the national interest of the United States. I wholeheartedly and emphatically disagree. Part of our makeup, part of our national history is founded on the simple belief that we are a people who believe in justice. Mr. Speaker, the little nation of Cyprus has a big dream, to be free. It is a dream I support, it is a dream I will continue to fight for, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 81.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Greek-Cypriot people and express my support for the unified Cyprus. For too long, Greek-Cypriots have been living in a divided nation. It is my firm belief that the time has come for a reversal of the unlawful territorial gains made by Turkish forces in 1974, and for a unified Cyprus to once again assume its rightful place among nations. I am optimistic that a unified Cyprus will begin to emerge in the coming months, especially given the Clinton administration's new commitment to this troubled part of the world. I believe the appointment of Mr. Richard Holbrooke as our Nation's special envoy for Cyprus marks the beginning of this long-awaited transformation. Greek-Cypriots have always been the majority in Cyprus. Unfortunately, the tragic events of July 20, 1974 created a divided Cyprus. When Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960, Turkish- Cypriots aggressively sought to dominate the newly independent state of Cyprus. While Cyprus' 1960 constitution provided for power-sharing between the Greek and Turkish-Cypriot communities, the Turkish-Cypriot community, which constituted 18% of the island's population, gained veto powers over legislation and became entitled to a disproportionate share of governmental posts. Mr. Speaker, on July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus and declared victory by securing 37% of the island's territory. This unilateral military action led to the flight of thousands of refugees from their ancestral homeland. To this day, over 35,000 Turkish troops remain on Cyprus. That is 35,000 too many troops. That is 35,000 too many war- makers. What we need on the island of Cyprus is not more troops, not more armed forces from the Republic of Turkey, but peace-makers, people who are willing to secure a genuine peace, restoring unity to the proud people of Cyprus. Mr. Speaker, my final remarks concern the solemn memory of the 1,619 Greek-Cypriots, who to this day, remain unaccounted for after Turkey's 1974 invasion. Among these individuals were five Americans, who like the others, share a fate unknown and whose loss pains their respective families to this day. So as the reconciliation process moves forward, I for one, strongly believe that officials from the Republic of Turkey must account for the missing. They must work hard to bring to a close the tragedy born out of their decision to invade Cyprus in 1974. On behalf of my Greek and Cypriot-American constituents, it is a solemn honor to join with them on this day and stand in solidarity with their cause.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Chairman, today I rise to express my concerns that the Appropriations Committee failed to grant the President's request for increased funding for Superfund cleanup in the VA/HUD independent agencies appropriations bill. The proposed increase of $650 million was agreed to as part of the balanced budget resolution. It would enable communities across our country to expedite the cleanup of hundreds of hazardous waste sites, which are threatening the health of our residents. In my district alone, there are 9 Superfund sites and roughly 1,000 known contaminated sites. A suburban area as densely populated as northern New Jersey cannot handle any further delays in cleanup. While we are already doing all we can to live with, and clean up, the contamination in our region, we cannot afford to delay cleanup any longer. As a result of the committee's failure to appropriate this additional funding, the EPA estimates that 120 cleanups around the country will be delayed indefinitely. The President had proposed initiating cleanup at 200 sites in fiscal year 1998, and to complete the cleanup of 500 sites by the year 2000. Unfortunately, the committee's failure to fully fund the President's budget request will mean that work will begin at only 80 sites next year, even though the other sites are ready to be remediated. One of the sites on the President's priority list for cleanup is the Industrial Latex Corp. site in Wallington, NJ. This site, which is highly contaminated with PCB's and other hazardous materials, is located in a densely populated residential area in my district. Local children have used the site as an ill-advised playground, and numerous fires have occurred over the years at the site. The first phase of the project, demolishing the buildings and removing buried drums and vats, was competed in November 1995. And the design for the second phase of the cleanup, treatment of the contaminated soil, is also complete. The contract for final cleanup of this site is ready to go out to bid. However, if we fail to fulfill the budget agreement's requirement to provide additional funds for Superfund cleanup, the residents in Wallington, and in hundreds of other communities across the country, will continue to be threatened. I strongly urge all of my colleagues to work to include this increased funding when the bill goes to conference committee. It is critical that we help the millions of Americans living near these hazardous sites to improve their quality of life and improve their surrounding environment. These sites need to be cleaned up as quickly as possible to remove the serious health risks facing these residents.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, today is the day that we from Bergen and Hudson Counties in New Jersey are putting forth a plan to solve the education crisis we face as a Nation. Yesterday's headlines could not have been more timely nor more accurate in describing the hardship our families are experiencing in affording their children's college education and the importance of a college education itself. The New York Times put it best: ``Rising college costs imperil the Nation.'' A report commissioned by a private company said that at the current rate, tuition will double by the year 2015, effectively shutting off higher education to half of those who are qualified and wish to pursue one. This report only echoes what I have been hearing around my district for the last 6 months from parents, students, teachers, and college administrators in Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey. Lisa Kelly, an employment counselor at Hackensack High School, came to a college finance workshop I hosted because she has a young boy 3 years old, and she is scared, scared about how she is going to afford college for him, and scared about the next 15 years and about her ability to save money for his education. But her son is fortunate because Mrs. Kelly is starting to save for college right now. I met with students in Wallington, New Jersey, like Conrad Sopeelnikov, who finished number one in his class in high school, is a star football player, and has already spoken with Yale's football coach about that school. But that conversation will be in vain if Conrad is not given scholarships and financial aid. I met with students in North Bergen, New Jersey, like Dana Maurici, who had dreamed of going to Seton Hall University, close to home, but she did not even apply because her family could not afford 4 years of tuition. As she told me in her own words, she said it would be like, here is a bite of candy, but you cannot finish it. Then there was Judy Hyde, the PTA President of Hudson County, New Jersey, who understands that an education is not just for young people. She organized a parents summit for me in Kearny, New Jersey, where parents told me that in addition to saving for their children's college education, they, the parents, also need help to save for their own retraining and for advanced degrees. Mr. Speaker, these parents and students understand, as do I, that everyone in America deserves an equal opportunity for a higher education. They know that we rise or sink as a nation together, and that if anyone is left behind, if any child is denied an equal opportunity to learn, then we have failed. We have failed them, we have failed their parents, and we have failed our country. We have failed the ideal of America to provide every American with the equal opportunity to achieve and earn the American dream. That is why I have produced the Lifetime Learning Affordability Act. This bill would allow working and middle-class parents the ability to set up IRA-like savings accounts for each of their children. They, their parents, their grandparents, their aunts and uncles, could set up tax-deductible accounts up to $4,000 per year until the account has achieved $100,000 in it. That money could then be only withdrawn to pay for tuition and specific education-related expenses. Here is the unique aspect of my Lifetime Learning Affordability Act. After the student reaches the age of 22 and is earning a living, he or she can then put additional monies into that account, up to $2,000 a year, so if he or she is ever laid off of their job, wants to learn new skills or just wants to go back to school later in life, there will be a nest egg for that person, that older student, to go back to school and to use for that purpose. To make sure these accounts are not abused as tax shelters for the very rich, there will be a significant penalty for the early withdrawal of those monies, or if the money is spent on something other than education. Yet even with this tax deductible IRA account of mine, we know that not every family can afford to save for college and not every family can take advantage of a tax deduction. That is why the bill also calls for increasing the Pell grants, not only in the number of Pell grants we issue but in the amount we give to each student. A modest increase such as the one we propose in our bill will help 75,000 low income students in New Jersey alone get a head start on life. The bill also restores the much-needed tax deduction for interest on student loans. We, as a nation, Mr. Speaker, must understand that investing in education is the best investment we can make as a country and the best investment we can make as individual families. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Lifetime Learning Affordability Act so that we can unlock the doors of opportunity for every American, the lifetime of opportunities that a college education provides. I urge my colleagues to support me in this adventure.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to assume the time of the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Dicks].

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, what would my colleagues think of someone who stood by watching while a neighbor's house was burning down? What if that person refused to call the fire department for help unless he or she got something in return? We would not think much of that person. Yet that is exactly what the Republican majority in Congress is doing with the flood victims in North Dakota as well as the victims in 35 other States. The President of the United States and many of us in Congress have been trying to pass a $5.5 billion disaster relief bill for these families. But the Republican majority, much like they did with the government shutdown last year, is putting extremist ideology and partisan political maneuvering ahead of the relief for these needy people. Instead of giving these families the needed relief that they so very much deserve, they are holding the disaster relief bill hostage by trying to attach highly partisan legislative riders that have nothing to do with disaster relief. They know that these highly partisan extremist Republican riders would never pass the Congress if voted on separately. So what did they do? In very cynical judgment, the Republican leadership decided to tack these partisan riders onto a disaster relief bill, saying in their own political calculus, well, maybe we will embarrass the President of the United States into vetoing this, or maybe he will be so embarrassed he will not veto it and then we will get these partisan goodies for us, the Republican party. They underestimated President Clinton who said loudly and clearly that he would not be put in the position of having the Republican majority hold these victims hostage and let them get away with it. The Republican majority would have to put forth a clean disaster relief bill. Otherwise, he would not sign it. If they want a debate on these other partisan issues, fine, let us debate them in the Congress. If they are right, we will pass them. If they deserve support, we will support them. Last week, the Republican Senate majority leader is reported to have said that he would happily provide more trailers for these disaster victims to stay in while they, the Republicans, try to wear down the President to get their legislative goodies. If such reports are true and those remarks were in fact uttered, they are morally reprehensible. Such a position is unfair to these needy American families. Thousands of American citizens are homeless. They just lost all of their worldly possessions and are sleeping in shelters. They await Federal disaster relief funds to finance the rebuilding of their homes and their cities and helping each other in times of need. Is that not the essence of what it means to be an American, being part of the American community? If the Republicans really believe that their highly partisan political riders are worthy of support, they should remove them from the disaster relief bill and have the Congress take them up separately once the disaster bill, the clean disaster relief bill, has been passed by the House tomorrow. Then we will take up whatever riders they want. I urge my colleagues and my friends on the other side of the aisle to tell their leadership, the leadership of the Republican party, to stop playing politics with the lives of these thousands and thousands of disaster victims. Put forth a clean disaster relief bill. We will pass it in Congress. Our President will sign it. And let us help these people. Then we will take up your political stuff.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Joyce Baynes from Teaneck--a woman from my district who represents all that we aspire to be. Her life story was told in a newspaper from my district, The Bergen Record, in its weekly ``Inspirations'' column. Ms. Baynes did not quit when her husband died 2 days after her third child was born. She did not quit when she only had one salary and some survivor benefits to feed four hungry mouths. She did not quit when one of her children was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome. She persevered. She did all the things that a mother should do. And she did all the things a father should do. She is an example which we all should follow. Her success and that of her children is humbling to all. Instead of using the challenges she faced as excuses for failure, Ms. Baynes used them as motivations to excel. She is unique and worthy of our mention on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today. I submit the news article for the Record so that my colleagues, present and future, can draw inspiration from her. The article follows: [From the Bergen (NJ) Record, Apr. 27, 1997] Hardship Only Deepens a Mom's Love (By Caroline Brewer) March 6, 1978, found Joyce Baynes reveling in one of the happiest days of her life. Her third son, Marcus, had just been born. Two days later, she was writhing in the pain and sadness of one of the worst days of her life. Her 31-year-old husband, Walter Jay Baynes, had just died of systemic lupus disease. The awesome collision of a son's birth and a husband's death left Joyce Baynes crushed. It was the end of the world she knew and loved and had hoped to spend the rest of her days delighting in. ``I felt totally helpless. Everything became just a fog,'' she recalled. But with four mouths to feed on one salary and survivors' benefits, Baynes didn't have the luxury of disappearing into the fog. So she created a new world in the two-parent-flush suburb of Teaneck, a world centered on devotion to her sons. Nearly 20 years later, Baynes basks in the light of three well-rounded young men--one a graduate of Dartmouth, one a junior at Princeton, and one a freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She's sure their father would have been proud. After all, Walter had degrees in physics and medicine from Dartmouth and Harvard and worked as an ophthalmologist and emergency room doctor. Baynes herself has math degrees from Swarthmore and Harvard. A longtime educator, she joined Teaneck schools in 1988 as mathematics supervisor and in 1995 was promoted to assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. She managed to juggle career and parenthood only by staying organized. ``I shopped on the weekends and cooked enough meals on Sundays to last the whole week,'' said Baynes, who is 50. ``If you're going to try to beat all these odds, you have to plan.'' Her plan was to keep sons Jeffrey, Jason, and Marcus busy. They were taught piano and played midget league baseball and basketball. They also sang in the choir of Christ Episcopal Church in Teaneck and were acolytes. Despite Baynes' own hectic schedule, she was in the bleachers for all of the boys' sporting events, and, like a lot of fathers, coached them on their performance. ``Arch it up! Bend your legs!'' the tall, curly-haired mom would cry out during basketball games, to her sons' embarrassment. Baynes' consistent presence made an impression. ``I remember one time I was supposed to play in a baseball game, and she got dizzy [from exhuastion] and had to go to the hospital. I wasn't going to go to the game, but she told me to go. Then, she came, too!'' said Jason, now 21. ``I see how a lot of parents put their jobs first. But not my mom. Sometimes I'd call her and she'd be in an important meeting and she'd come to the phone,'' he added. When she did come to the phone, Jeffrey, always a worry- wart, was struck by how she never seemed stressed. ``She could have a paper due Tuesday, a board meeting Wednesday, and be dealing with seven employees,'' he said. ``But she would seem very calm and have a plan for how she's going to handle each thing.'' Looking like a force of calm in the midst of a storm was just one way Baynes mothered by modeling the behavior she expected from her children. ``They didn't hear me cursing or lying or see me smoking. They also saw that the rules I set up for myself, I followed,'' Baynes explained. ``I remember Jason asking me how it is that [they] never had a desire to smoke or do drugs. It was just kind of our existence that we never had those desires,'' she elaborated. Baynes' sons didn't have those desires, but they don't pretend to be angels. Jeffrey battles selfishness. Jason believes he's kin to Mario Andretti; one night two years ago, he was caught speeding down a highway at 100 mph. Marcus had a long bout of immaturity, but now says his mother's integrity is so powerful, it haunts him hundreds of miles away at Cambridge, Mass. ``She's turned us into such honest people. I have some people say, `Your mom's at home, you can do whatever you want.' But I won't. The respect for her is so great,'' Marcus said. When Marcus turned 5, doctors confirmed that he had a mild case of Tourette's syndrome, which causes facial and vocal tics, jerking, and, in some people, involuntary uttering of obscenities. Marcus displayed compulsive behavior, such as rewinding taped songs dozens of times to catch the lyrics. But he never cursed. Baynes believes that's because she didn't. The Tourette's did boost Marcus' already high energy level, which in turn made the job of raising the three boys that much more difficult. They argued, wrestled, and banged holes in the walls. Jason would scream and holler when it was time to go to bed. During their younger years, Baynes couldn't even take a bathroom break until her sons were in bed. By day's end, she was drained. ``I used to just think I had bright kids, but when I reflected on all that I did, I realized I did play a big part in this,'' she laughed. A big part, indeed. Even though the boys were intelligent, the eventual Teaneck High graduates weren't always motivated. Though Jeffrey was a fixture on the honor roll, Marcus and Jason didn't really focus on academics until their sophomore years. It was not any lecture from their mother, but her years of setting high standards, that eventually brought them around. After graduation, Jeffrey, the oldest, tallest, and most reserved son, walked in his father's shoes to Dartmouth. He graduated in 1993 with a degree in math and works at the agricultural firm of American Cyanamid in Parsippany. He's also pursuing a master's degree. Jason, the middle son, whose face and personality are most like his father's, is a junior at Princeton. Like Walter, the self-assured Jason plans to be a doctor, specializing in the study of the brain. Marcus, the youngest son, who with his mother's love and patience mastered his academics as well as his Tourette's, is winding up his freshman year at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As for Joyce Baynes, the struggle is not over. Her income was too high for the boys to qualify for full scholarships to college. So she footed the $20,000-a-year bill for Jeffrey's stay at Dartmouth and still shells out more than $20,000 a year for schooling for Jason and Marcus. Yet no one in the Baynes quartet would trade the creature comforts they've sacrificed, or even a new dad, for the new world that was forced on them when fate took an unexpected and agonizing turn. ``It would have been nice to have remarried,'' Baynes said, ``but after three or four years of dating and nothing working or feeling right, I felt I had built such a relationship with the boys that it would have been hard to bring in someone new.'' Jason, a toddler when his father died, always felt secure with just his mom. ``I didn't even know people had two parents until maybe I was 9. I thought my life was great with just one parent,'' he said with the deep, throaty laugh the Baynes' boys share. Marcus, too, likes his family as it is. He, most of all, used to pine for a father figure. ``Sometimes I would get jealous when I'd see commercials and TV shows with kids playing with their father. We never got to do that. ``But,'' Marcus concluded, ``I've lived a happy life. When people say a child needs a father and a mother, it depends on who you have. Not every child has a mother as wonderful as Joyce Baynes.''

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share some facts about a disease that is very close to my heart--as it is to thousands of other Americans--autism. My nephew, Jack, the son of my twin brother, is afflicted with this disease and his illness has educated our entire family about how little is known, and how much still needs to be learned, about autism. I want to tell my colleagues a few things about autism that will not be learned from watching the movie ``Rain Man.'' Autism is not rare. It affects 400,000 people in the United States. One in 500 children born today will be autistic. Though 5 percent will make strides with early intervention, 95 percent of those affected will never marry, have a meaningful job, or live on their own. More than half will never learn to speak. Autism affects more people than multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and childhood cancer combined, yet autism still receives less than 5 percent of the research funding of these other diseases. Autism costs America over $20 billion dollars each year, yet just last year the NIH spent only $31 per child on autism research, significantly less than what is spent on other diseases which affect fewer individuals. Until very recently, there was no hope for people with autism. For 30 years, psychiatrists mistakenly thought of autism as an emotional problem, the fault of bad parenting. As a result of this tragic mistake, parents did not organize, no medical research was funded, no scientists were encouraged to enter the field, no progress was made and another generation of autistic children was lost. But while the world ignored people with autism, science marched on, largely through the support Congress has given to the National Institutes of Health. The strides that science has made in neurology, immunology, and genetics are unbelievable. We have gone from penicillin to gene therapy in the span of a single lifetime. We live in a world of miracles and wonders. In an age when important discoveries are being made in other diseases every day, we cannot let another generation of children slip away. I have recently met with the parents and professionals of a group called CURE AUTISM NOW, and they have let me know that there is hope for people with autism. The top neurologists and geneticists in the country say that autism will yield to medical research, there will be prevention, treatments, and maybe even a cure. It is only a question of time, energy, money, and will. Sick children are at a special disadvantage in this world. They cannot raise money for research, they do not vote, they have no political access. Their voices are small and soft. This is even more so for autistic children, many of whom have no voice at all and whose parents are distracted and depleted by the challenges of caring for them, fighting for insurance coverage, fighting the State for services, and fighting exhaustion, disillusionment and despair. It is, therefore, no surprise that pediatric illnesses are funded at a level far below diseases that affect adults. Recently, the parents of autistic children have visited me and many other Members and their staffs to inform us about autism and the deficiency in current spending. We hope that Congress will support strong report language encouraging the NIH to redouble its efforts in the fight against autism. In particular, I encourage my colleagues to support Centers of Excellence for Autism modeled after the very successful center program for Alzheimers. I know that every disease is worthy and every parent's pain is deep. Human suffering is not a competitive sport to be ranked or rated. But in autism we have been so behind for so long, and there is so much progress to be made at this critical moment. I ask all of my colleagues to give us a helping hand, and find a cure for autism.