José Serrano

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. I object.

Mr. SERRANO. I object.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer amendment No. 1 printed in the report of the Committee on Rules.

Mr. SERRANO. I object.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. I thank the gentleman. Today, I rise in support of H.R. 1687, legislation to bring well- deserved recognition to Congressman Ralph Regula, who was first elected to Congress in 1972. Congressman Regula retired in January of this year after serving in Congress for 18 consecutive terms. He had a wealth of experience on the House Appropriations Committee, serving as chairman of both the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee and the Interior Subcommittee. When I assumed the chairmanship of the House Financial Services Appropriations Committee in this Congress, Congressman Regula was the ranking member, and he was a mentor and a partner. I learned a lot about how to be an effective chairman from Congressman Regula by watching him in action and talking to him as my ranking member. As a Member from an urban district, New York City, I also learned a lot about him and about farming. And I must tell you, I learned something that may sound funny to some folks, but I learned the difference between jelly and jam, and he was an expert on the subject. What I most treasure is his friendship because Congressman Regula was a true and generous friend to me. The designation of this Federal building and courthouse in Canton, Ohio, as the Ralph Regula Federal Building and United States Courthouse is an appropriate honor for this man who has devoted his life to public service. He served in the Navy, was a lawyer, a member of the Ohio State Board of Education, the Ohio House of Representatives, and the Ohio State Senate before joining Congress and beginning his many years of distinguished and dedicated service on behalf of his constituents of the 16th Congressional District of Ohio. We are doing something really good today; we are honoring a man who deserved this. And let me just conclude by saying this: I imagine when we leave here--when the day comes that I leave here--you want to be remembered for your work, but I think more than that you want to be remembered by your colleagues as how you treated them and how you interacted with them. Ralph Regula was a gentleman. Ralph Regula was a colleague. Ralph Regula never had anything nasty to say about anyone. And as I said before, coming from a community where I came from and coming from a community where he would tell me about driving his pickup truck and going out to his farm, it was two different worlds, and yet I learned to admire him, to love him, and to respect him. And so today I wanted to join this celebration to say thank you to him. And I know, Mr. Speaker, it's somewhere outside the rules of the House to speak to a TV audience or to people in the gallery, so I won't do that, but I suspect that Congressman Regula is watching us today and needs to know that we care about him, that we care a lot, and that this is an honor, one of many, that he truly deserves.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to the Fifty-Second National Puerto Rican Day Parade, which will be held on June 14th, 2009, in New York City. A bright and star-studded event, this parade proudly recognizes the heritage of Puerto Rican people here in the United States, and year upon year has proven to be one of our nation's largest outdoor festivities. This year I am especially pleased to take part in the day because the parade itself is dedicated to the City of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, a vibrant and beautiful community which also happens to be my place of birth. The National Puerto Rican Day Parade is the successor to the New York Puerto Rican Day Parade, which held its inaugural celebration on Sunday, April 12th, 1958, in ``El Barrio,'' Manhattan. The impact of the first Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York was both immediate and resounding. It galvanized thousands of New York Puerto Ricans in a very public, very proud demonstration of their emergence in the City as an important and growing ethnic group. For the next 38 years, the New York Puerto Rican Day Parade grew into a staple of New York's cultural life. In 1995, the overwhelming success of the parade prompted organizers to increase its size and transform it into the national and, indeed, international, affair that it is today. This magnificent New York institution now includes participation from delegates representing over thirty states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and attracts well over 3 million parade goers every year. In addition, the parade reaches millions more through television broadcasts and via satellite to viewers the world over. The great success that the parade enjoys each year is brought about in large measure by the continued and tireless efforts of a few dedicated individuals. They are women and men of able leadership and strong conviction, who believe, as I do, in the limitless potential of people of Puerto Rican descent. Leading this effort is the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization designed to foster self-awareness and pride among Puerto Ricans in this country, and in so doing, likewise address issues of economic development, education, cultural recognition, and social advancement. The Parade's march up New York's Fifth Avenue, while certainly the most visible aspect of the celebration, is hardly the only event associated with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc.'s activities. Each year more than 10,000 people attend a variety of award ceremonies, banquets and cultural events that strengthen the special relationship shared by Puerto Ricans and the City of New York. Over the years, the two have developed a symbiotic relationship. Puerto Ricans have helped transform New York into a dynamic, bilingual city that continues to welcome newcomers from all over the globe. The City of New York, which is a place of opportunity, has enabled Puerto Ricans to flourish economically, culturally and politically. Madam Speaker, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade captures the spirit of the special relationship between Puerto Ricans and New York City. It celebrates the many ways that we enrich the traditions of this country, and sends a clear signal to all who witness it, that the Puerto Rican community--both in New York and nationally--represents an exquisite tapestry of individuals. As a Puerto Rican and a New Yorker, and as someone who participates in this parade annually, I can attest that the reverberations of this day are both vast and glorious. They can be seen on the faces and heard in the streets, as millions come together to joyously proclaim their heritage. And so it is, Madam Speaker, that with a full and proud heart, I stand before you and my colleagues in Congress to pay tribute to the sights and sounds and wonder that is the National Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Just for clarification to the gentlewoman (Mrs. Emerson), the D.C. School Vouchers Program will remain in effect. It has been funded this year for $14 million. It remains in effect until June of 2010. It will then be up to the authorizing committee to speak to our committee as to what they want to do. It will also be up to the D.C. Government to tell us if they wish to continue the program. The program stays in effect until next June, and I think that will give us ample time to find out how everyone feels about the continuation of the program. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank Chairman Obey for yielding time so I can comment on the Financial Services and General Government portion of this bill. I'd also like to thank him for the hard work he has put into bringing this bill to the floor. The Financial Services and General Government section of this bill provides important funding to ensure that the Federal Government is more responsive to the needs of the people, and increases resources to ensure the agencies under this section have increased resources to perform important oversight roles over the operation of our banks and of Wall Street. The bill provides $22.7 billion in discretionary appropriations for programs within the Department of the Treasury, the Executive Office of the President, the Federal Judiciary, the District of Columbia, the General Services Administration, the Small Business Administration, and several smaller agencies. This bill directs funding to programs in these agencies where we believe money will be well spent and will benefit, for example, disadvantaged communities and small businesses. The bill also directs funding toward agencies that have important roles in our efforts to promote economic recovery. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included nearly $6.9 billion for agencies in the Financial Services bill, including the Treasury Department, the General Services Administration, and the Small Business Administration. The bill we are considering today will provide these agencies with funding to enable them to fully implement important recovery activities, such as support to small businesses and making our Federal buildings and vehicles more energy efficient. I also want to highlight briefly four important themes in the Financial Services bill--financial sector oversight, consumer protection, small business development, and election administration improvements. With respect to financial sector oversight, the bill provides funding increases over last year's level and the previous administration's requests for Treasury's Departmental Offices, information systems, and Inspector General. While this bill doesn't directly fund the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, it funds the Office of the Secretary and other executive leadership offices at Treasury that have central responsibility in making policy decisions on TARP. These funds will help ensure that the remaining TARP money will be distributed in an open and fair manner. Mr. Speaker, I also want the House to know that we have increased the budget for the Securities and Exchange Commission. This bill includes a $37 million increase over the FY 2008 level, and is above the funding recommendations of both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. This is just a down payment toward restoring the ability of the SEC to vigorously oversee the financial markets, enforce securities law, and protect investors. If I might take a moment to look ahead, this subcommittee will be taking a hard look at those agencies that failed in their duty to protect our economy. Although they are under new leadership now, we will have important questions for them in how they conducted themselves, and what resources and changes are needed to ensure such a crisis does not occur again in the future. Regarding consumer protection, the Consumer Product Safety Commission would receive $25.4 million above the FY 2008 level. These extra funds will be used to continue the effort we started in the last Congress to restore the Commission's ability to keep unsafe products, including unsafe imported products, out of the marketplace. Money is also available in the bill for the Commission to improve the safety of pools and spas to prevent tragedies involving child drowning. Consumer protection is also important with respect to financial products such as mortgages and consumer loans. My subcommittee held a hearing last year that examined the problems relating to the subprime mortgage market and what the Treasury Department and the Federal Trade Commission could do to address this situation. Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which will receive $107 million in this bill, or $78.4 million above the previous administration's request, helps to expand the availability of credit, capital and financial services to underserved communities throughout the nation, including those particularly hard hit by the credit crisis. The Federal Trade Commission will also receive increased funding for investigation and enforcement in the financial services area, including subprime lending investigations. This bill also does a great deal to support small businesses by including $612 million for the Small Business Administration. This includes $110 million for Small Business Development Centers, which is $13 million over the FY 2008 level. We also provide $22.5 million for microloans and technical assistance to the smallest companies. In addition, the bill funds SBA programs that target disadvantaged and low-income communities and entrepreneurs, including the HUBZone program, the PRIME program, and the 7(j) program. The fourth important theme is improving election administration. The Election Assistance Commission is a small agency that works on issues that are extraordinarily essential to the Nation and to voters' confidence that their votes are counted accurately. This bill includes $100 million for payments to States to help them meet the requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as well as additional funding for research and testing of voting systems. This funding will help ensure that elections are fair, accessible, and accurate. Mr. Speaker, the Financial Services section of this bill also includes a number of policy provisions that will address some ongoing congressional concerns. It includes, for example, a moratorium on new competitive sourcing-- also known as A-76--activities. The provision halts the previous administration's controversial and detrimental Federal workforce program so that the new Administration can consider and implement its own workforce policies. The bill also contains a provision to prohibit funds from being used in support of the IRS private debt collection program. Under this very misguided and wasteful program, the IRS allows private contractors to collect unpaid taxes and to keep up to 24 percent of the tax revenue they bring in. This program should be terminated, and the prohibition on funds will help ensure that the IRS better redirects their resources elsewhere. The Financial Services section also includes provisions to liberalize travel to Cuba for Americans who have family members living in that nation. There is no reason to place any restrictions on those who simply wish to visit their families that are still in Cuba. In addition, the bill contains provisions to facilitate trade with Cuba relating to agricultural and medical product sales. This section of the bill also encourages our Federal Government to address an important Federal worker benefit issue that has already been successfully dealt with by about 10,000 private sector employers, including more than half of the Fortune 500 companies. We have included report language that clearly states that, ``OPM should consider taking steps to extend health care benefits to Federal employees' domestic partners.'' It is past time for our Federal Government to take a lead in providing this important employee benefit. Mr. Speaker, the Financial Services provisions of this bill include many important funding and policy choices that will improve the services our government agencies provide to our constituents as they pay taxes, purchase products, vote in elections, and start small businesses. I urge a yes vote on this bill.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, as our nation celebrates Black History Month and its theme ``The Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas,'' it is with great pleasure that I rise to honor Dr. Neville A. Parker, Ph.D., an African-American who has devoted himself to the advancement of science and to broadening the participation of under- represented minorities in the fields of mathematics, technology and engineering. Dr. Parker enjoys a distinguished career in international transportation and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to professionals in developing countries. Dr. Parker's academic training in engineering began in 1965, when he received a B.E. in Civil Engineering from the City University of New York. He later received an M.E. in Transportation Engineering and a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Cornell University in 1966 and 1971, respectively. Dr. Parker is a Registered Professional Engineer in both the United States and the United Republic of Tanzania. After receiving his Ph.D., Dr. Parker began his illustrious professional career by teaching Civil Engineering at Howard University. He remained in this post until 1979, the last three years of which he spent at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania as a Senior Fulbright Scholar. Dr. Parker's talents and leadership were immediately recognized, and soon after arriving he became the Head of the Department of Civil Engineering. Dr. Parker's work on engineering capacity building in Tanzania and East and South Africa began with the delivery of a keynote address at the Sixth Pan-African Conference in 1974. Over the subsequent twelve years, Dr. Parker founded and coordinated several highly regarded professional associations, and authored policy documents, studies, and proposals that drew much needed funding to Africa and transformed the field. In 1989, Dr. Parker returned to the City College of New York as the Herbert G. Kayser Professor of Civil Engineering and the Director of the City University of New York (CUNY) Institute for Transportation Systems. In this capacity, Dr. Parker set the bar for innovative work with professionals in developing countries through the implementation of training programs and collaborations. From 1987 to 1998, Dr. Parker served as Chief Coordinator for the International Road Federation's annual Executive Conferences on Road Asset Management, attracting over three hundred executive level transportation professionals from more than sixty countries across the globe. Dr. Parker is widely published in international journals and is the co-author of a foundational textbook on highway engineering challenges in Africa. His multiple leadership roles in national and international professional associations are a testament to the respect that so many of Dr. Parker's peers have for him. Notwithstanding a demanding travel and research schedule, Dr. Parker has retained a steadfast commitment to the education of CUNY students. His transportation infrastructure management courses and supervision of Masters projects and doctoral dissertations are creating a new generation of scholars and practitioners that, following in Dr. Parker's footsteps, will make their own unique contributions for the betterment of our society. Throughout his professional career, Dr. Parker has worked tirelessly to increase minority participation in the sciences. He was Project Director of the Research Careers for Minority Scholars program at City College from 1989-1997 and is the current Director of the New York City Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program. Dr. Parker has admirably extended his expertise, resources, and commitment to a myriad of efforts to improve his local Harlem community. A vital member of the Manhattan Borough President Office's Go Green East Harlem Steering Committee, Dr. Parker is currently developing a simulation model to evaluate the public health impacts of transportation, particularly truck and bus operations, in a larger effort to improve air quality. He previously served as the Co-Chair of the Transportation and Economic Development Committee for the Empowerment Zone application, and is recognized for his research on public empowerment in transportation decision-making processes. Well-respected among his peers, Dr. Parker has received numerous awards including: the Black Engineer of the Year-Outstanding Educator Award (1994); the Giant in Science Award (1996); and the Outstanding Achievement in Education Award (2003). He was recognized in 2006 as one of the top 25 African Americans in education, science and medicine by New York's Who's Who. Madam Speaker, Dr. Parker is a role model and an inspiration to us all. His passion for the progress of science and his commitment to expanding opportunities in this field to under-represented communities is commendable. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Neville A. Parker.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, in recognition of Black History Month 2009, I rise to honor a woman of great stature in our community, Mrs. Angela E. Randall. For nearly sixty years Mrs. Randall has called the South Bronx home; most of that time, thirty-seven years to be precise, she spent in the service of young people. Thousands knew her growing up as a caregiver, a mentor, an educator, and a role model. She has touched the lives of so many that if we knew nothing else about her besides her deep and lasting commitment to our children, it would be enough to know that this is a woman of exceptional character. But we are fortunate to know much more about her than that: a community activist in the truest and noblest sense, Angela Randall has spent a lifetime trying to make this community strong from the ground up, and for that she deserves to be commended. Angela E. Randall was born in 1928 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She received a Bachelor's Degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge and a Master's Degree from Teacher's College at Columbia University. Academically gifted and not content to stop there, Mrs. Randall further advanced her education at the New School for Social Research and later at Lehman College, where she studied Social Organization and Management. Then in 1968, after working as an Assistant Actuary at Teacher's Retirement System, Mrs. Randall took a position for which she is perhaps best known in the South Bronx: Program Director of the Hunts Point Multi-Service Center, Inc., directing the robust Family Day Care Program. She was the first person to hold this position, and it was there that over the next thirty-seven years Mrs. Randall provided quality, affordable day care to thousands of children in the Bronx, as well as created jobs for hundreds of women in the community by training them to become licensed caregivers. Mrs. Randall's work with children and mothers is but one aspect of an exceptionally active, well-rounded life. She has belonged to the same place of worship for over a half century, St. Anselm's Catholic Church in the Bronx. There she serves as a Eucharistic Minister and Lecturer, and is also a member of the Parish Council. In addition, Mrs. Randall is Chairperson of the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center Auxiliary Board, which she joined in 1976, and acts as Secretary of the Lincoln Hospital Community Advisory Board. She belongs to a number of professional associations including: the Bronx Chapter of the NAACP, the National Council of Negro Women, and is a past Vice President of the Downtown Bronx Democratic Club. Moreover, she has also been the recipient of numerous awards over the years. In 1972 she received the First Puerto Rican Conference Award in recognition of her work with youth, day care, housing and seniors; in 1984 she received the New York State Outstanding Achievement Award from the Bronx Life Members Guild; in 1992 an apartment building on Trinity Avenue in the Bronx was named in her honor the Angela Randall Apartments; and in 2003 she was named Woman of the Year by Lincoln Hospital, just to name a few. Madam Speaker, Angela Randall owns a full and deeply impactful life. Her compassion and love for young people is known by many, and her influence stretches further than can be measured. For example, how many children did she help to raise and nurture over the past three decades? How many young minds did she help to enrich at a critical stage of development? And more: where are these young people now as a result of her efforts? How many have gone on to become fathers and mothers, find gainful employment, or otherwise assume positions of leadership and responsibility? Angela Randall is someone whose reach has long exceeded her grasp, and because we know her to be a person of integrity, empathy, and faith, we also know that all those whose lives she has touched have been warmed by her spirit, and benefited from her wisdom. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing a model citizen, and a living testament to selfless devotion to others, Mrs. Angela E. Randall.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. With the indulgence of the Members, I know we all want to leave and catch a plane or train, but I have been fortunate during the 2 years that I have been chairman of this committee to have Dale Oak as the committee clerk. And I want to wish him all the best and tell the Members that those individuals who work 24/7 into late at night are people like Dale Oak who make us look good and who serve the American people although their name and their work sometimes is not seen on a daily basis. And so I thank you, Dale, for your service to our country.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert F. Nolan, a man who has made service to our community his pride and his life's work. In his capacity as an advisor to three Bronx Borough presidents during some of the most turbulent times our city has ever witnessed, time and again Bob was confronted with singular challenges that would have reduced a lesser figure to despair and resignation. Instead Bob rose to the occasion, time and time again. He took part in some of the most momentous decisions that could confront a public official, and he did so with poise, clarity of purpose, and unusual dedication. Bob has been one of the truest and finest examples of a public servant who never gave up on the Bronx, but instead continued to serve through the hardest of times. He committed himself at a young age to improving his beloved community, and has had the endurance and strength of character to spend a lifetime in pursuit of this goal. While many have come and gone, Bob has never left the Bronx--and the Bronx cannot possibly forget that fact. Born in Westchester Square Hospital, Bob Nolan was educated at Our Lady of Solace School in Morris Park and then Fordham University. A community and political activist since the early 1970s, he began his career as an instructor at Borough of Manhattan Community College. Later, he moved on to the mayor's office of economic development, where he was in charge of the business action center. In January 1979, Bob joined the office of the Bronx Borough president as director of economic development. He quickly set in motion the plan which led to the creation of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation in 1980. The 1980s were a critical period for the Bronx. The previous two decades saw the quality of life in the Bronx dramatically diminish. A widespread deterioration was underway, as the city suffered the aftermath of a painful fiscal collapse. Some neighborhoods felt the hurt more than others, but few felt it worse than the South Bronx. This was the climate in which Bob began his journey to restore our borough's greatness. This was no easy task. At the time, private and public disinvestment had taken a huge toll on many Bronx neighborhoods. But these circumstances neither deterred nor discouraged Bob. Perhaps his work is best judged by the vitality we have witnessed in our borough in recent years. Across the board, the Bronx has undergone a remarkable transformation--and credit should rightly be given to the sound fiscal and public investment policies first championed by Bob and his colleagues at the very dawn of our borough's resurgence. His thoughtful planning and careful stewardship helped pave the way for innumerable capital projects and a wholesale restoration of confidence in the borough on the part of the city's business community. Bob helped demonstrate that the Bronx was once again a fertile place for investment. In the 1990s, Bob was appointed budget director for the borough, a position he held until the day he retired--November 14, 2008. His role as budget director required Bob to recommend capital projects to the borough president and help shape budgets and establish spending priorities that furthered past efforts and blazed new paths toward economic revival. We will undoubtedly continue to see the fruits of Bob's labor for many years to come. Looking back at this extraordinary life of service, what is unique about Bob Nolan's story is the completeness of it. Three decades ago, Bob set out to make the Bronx a better place, working tirelessly from within the halls of government. These many years later, he retires with that goal now very much in his sights. He has had many different responsibilities over the years, but the same motivating factor: a love for his borough and its people. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Mr. Robert F. Nolan, a man who loves his hometown fiercely and whose whole life is a unique testament to civic duty.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to once again pay tribute to Francesc de Paula Soler, a gifted and world-renowned musician. Mr. Soler grew up in Spain and comes from a Catalan family of well- known artists. He began studying the guitar at the age of 6 and was completely immersed in it by age 11, earning the highest honors in the prestigious Conservatorio Superior de Musica in Barcelona, Spain. Mr. Soler received rigorous training from legendary guitarists Andres Segovia, known as the ``Father of Classical Guitar'', and Narciso Yepes. Mr. Soler has become a legend in his own right due to his unique skills in conveying emotions through the strings of his guitar. Mr. Soler has performed in music halls and auditoriums throughout the United States and Europe for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Some of the venues include the Library of Congress, the Levine School of Music and the Acheson Auditorium at the United States Department of State. Commonly known as the ``Poet of the Guitar,'' Mr. Soler has received numerous awards and recognitions, including: Honorary Citizen of Dallas, Honorary Citizen of Corpus Christi, Golden Key of the Corpus Christi City, Medal of the U.S. Military Academy and the Plaque of the Catalan Catholic Church Council. In commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month and the positive contributions of Hispanic-Americans throughout our nation's history, Mr. Soler will once again grace the Library of Congress with his music. I encourage all of my colleagues to attend Mr. Soler's concert on October 15, 2008 and enjoy his uplifting music. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Francesc de Paula Soler for his contributions to the world of music.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule that would allow the Norton bill and in strong opposition to the amendment that treats the District of Columbia as a colony. I have said many times that Congress needs to stop imposing its will on the residents of the District of Columbia. As chairman of the subcommittee that overseas the District, I have made noninterference in District affairs a priority of my oversight. D.C. does not need a second mayor and does not need a second city council, although there are Members here today who seem interested in serving for both. The amendment to Delegate Norton's bill is particularly offensive. Under the cover of forcing D.C. to comply with the Supreme Court ruling, it instead guts D.C.'s ability to protect its citizens from unnecessary violence. I sincerely believe that supporters of this amendment are seeking to impose on D.C. that which they would never impose on their own communities simply because D.C. is under their control and they're not accountable to D.C. residents. What the heck, it's the District of Columbia; use it as a testing ground for anything you can't do back home. One of the most unpleasant features of our current democracy is the fact that many millions of U.S. citizens in the District, Puerto Rico, and other territories do not have fair and equal representation here in Congress but instead are left to the subject of the whims of a Congress elected by citizens. D.C. is a jurisdiction that does not need constant congressional meddling in local affairs. Their gun laws are no exception. They know best how to keep their citizens and residents like us safe from the threat of deadly gun violence. The Supreme Court asked them to modify their laws to comply with the Constitution. The District is doing so in a responsible manner. In fact, today they are meeting to consider amendments to bring their firearm laws in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling. The underlying Norton bill would ensure that they continue to do so. Unfortunately, this amendment would tie the hands of city officials to impose even the most basic reasonable safety measures and goes far beyond what the Supreme Court has required. It would, for instance, prohibit gun registration, prohibit any ban on purchasing in another State and bringing the gun to D.C., remove a clip limit--now, are you ready for this one--prohibit the D.C. Government from discouraging gun purchase and ownership. In other words, you can tell people not to drink and drive; you can tell them to practice safe sex; you can tell them not to drop out of school; but you can't tell them that it's not a good idea to buy a gun. This is, my friends, congressional colonialism at its worst. Our rule is not to override and interfere with local compliance with Supreme Court rulings. The citizens and residents of D.C. deserve our respect. This amendment fails that basic test.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to try something innovative. I want to discuss the bill before us and not this other discussion we had on drilling. While I understand the importance of it, we were discussing a bill, for those Americans who were watching who might have forgotten by now, on putting national parks on the backs of quarters. And I want to congratulate both Mr. Castle and Mrs. Maloney and the committee for including the Territories. As the gentleman from Delaware stated, he alluded to the Speaker and the fact that I have great concern about the involvement of the Territories and the recognition. When the original quarters program came about, I was dismayed at the fact that the territories and the District of Columbia were not included. Last year in an appropriations bill, we expanded the program to include D.C. and the Territories. What you have done today is you have picked up on that and now have started a new era, I believe, where the Territories and the District of Columbia will become part of every discussion we have here from postage stamps to coins to, in many other areas, fairness across the board. When that first quarter comes out, both the one for the national parks and the one for the regular quarters program with Puerto Rico on it, since Puerto Rico is of great concern to me, having been born there before moving to New York, many people throughout the country will actually ask, Why is Puerto Rico on the back of a quarter in the United States? And that will start a proper discussion as to the fact that we not only include in the American family the 50 States, but we include the District of Columbia and the Territories. That in the Territories are American citizens, American citizens who served this country at wartime and peacetime, and who, in fact, at any moment can participate in all parts of American society but are always forgotten. So something as symbolic and perhaps to some people as unimportant as making sure that when these quarters come out with national parks, they include Puerto Rico and the Territories, is very important.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Rafael Angel Rivera Collazo for his contributions to photojournalism. Mr. Rivera, a native of Puerto Rico, displayed a passion for photography early in life. Coming from a humble background, Mr. Rivera sold newspapers during high school and cleaned shoes to help support his family. It was during this time that Mr. Rivera met Mr. Millo Seijo, a well-known photographer, and his son, Mr. Bey Seijo. These individuals introduced Mr. Rivera to the world of photography. Soon after, local newspapers such as ``El Mundo'' and ``El Imparcial'' published Mr. Rivera's first photographs as a collaborator. Mr. Rivera's increasing involvement in photography was temporarily halted when he voluntarily joined the United States Army in 1966. He was eventually sent to Vietnam in 1967, where he served with distinction in the Ninth Infantry Division, and earned various recognitions, including two Purple Hearts. Well respected among his peers, Mr. Rivera has displayed as much valor and courage in photojournalism as he once did in combat. His 1980 photograph capturing a store owner and an assailant under fire earned him the widely acclaimed international award for photography from the Agencia E.F.E. of Spain, becoming the first Puerto Rican to do so. This award was presented to Mr. Rivera by King Juan Carlos I an Queen Sofia of Spain. His photograph was also shown at the ``Expo 92'' in Seville. Mr. Rivera's latest photographic accomplishment is ``Motin en el Capitolio,'' where he captures commotion in the Rotunda of the Puerto Rican Capitol. Mr. Rivera won an award from the Photojournalist Association of Puerto Rico for this photograph. He has also received numerous awards from other organizations; such as the Madin Rodriguez Award sponsored by he Puerto Rican House of Representatives and the Cultural Institute of Puerto Rico; and recognitions from the Puerto Rican Senate, the Rotary Club and the Lions Club. In 2006, he was selected by the Governor of Puerto Rico's Office of Veteran Affairs as one of the most accomplished and outstanding Puerto Rican veterans. Mr. Rivera has also been actively involved with the community I represent in Congress. He has served as ambassador to the Bronx Puerto Rican Parade and provided press coverage to the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City for the past 18 years. His vivid photographs bring our communities together by capturing the rich Puerto Rican culture in New York. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to honor Mr. Rivera, who currently resides in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. His service to our Nation is commendable. His contribution to photojournalism is invaluable. Mr. Rafael Angel Rivera epitomizes professional excellence and is an inspiration to us all.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to the 51st Anniversary of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, which will be held on June 8th, 2008, in New York City. A luminous and star-studded event, this parade proudly recognizes the heritage of Puerto Ricans in the United States, and year after year has proven to be one of our Nation's largest outdoor festivities. The National Puerto Rican Day Parade is the successor to the New York Puerto Rican Day Parade, which held its inaugural celebration on Sunday, April 12th, 1958, in ``El Barrio,'' Manhattan. The impact of the first Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York was both immediate and resounding. It galvanized thousands of New York Puerto Ricans in a very public, very proud demonstration of their emergence in the City as an important and growing ethnic group. For the next 38 years, the New York Puerto Rican Day Parade grew into a staple of New York's cultural life. In 1995, the overwhelming success of the parade prompted organizers to increase its size and transform it into the national and, indeed, international, affair that it is today. This magnificent New York institution now includes participation from delegates representing over thirty States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and attracts well over 3 million parade goers ever year. In addition, the parade reaches millions more through television broadcasts on network affiliates, Spanish-language stations, and via satellite to viewers the world over. The great success that the parade enjoys each year is brought about, in large measure, by the continued and tireless efforts of a choice few individuals--women and men of able leadership and strong conviction, who believe, as I do, in the limitless potential of people of Puerto Rican descent. Leading this effort is the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization designed to foster self-awareness and pride among Puerto Ricans in this country, and in so doing, likewise address issues of economic development, education, cultural recognition, and social advancement. The Parade's march up New York's Fifth Avenue, while certainly the most visible aspect of the celebration, is hardly the only event associated with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc.'s activities. Each year more than 10,000 people attend a variety of award ceremonies, banquets and cultural events that strengthen the special relationship shared by Puerto Ricans and the City of New York. Over the years, the two have developed a symbiotic relationship. Puerto Ricans have shared a vibrant and beautiful culture that has helped to transform New York into a dynamic, bilingual city. Meanwhile, the City of New York has enabled Puerto Ricans to flourish economically, culturally and politically. Each year the parade honors several individuals who have made tremendous contributions not only to the Puerto Rican community but the Nation as a whole. This year's honorees include Dennis Rivera, SEIU Healthcare Chair and former SEIU 1199 President, who will serve as the parade's Grand Marshall; Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award; and local merchant, songwriter, performer and community leader Mike Amadeo and Assemblywoman Noemi Rivera who will serve as honorary Godfather and Godmother of the Parade respectively. Parade organizers will also pay tribute to the town of Lajas, located in the southwest corner of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade captures the spirit of this special relationship. It celebrates the myriad ways that Puerto Ricans enrich the traditions of this country, and sends a clear signal to all who witness it, that the Puerto Rican community, both in New York and nationally, represents an exquisite tapestry of individuals. As a Puerto Rican and a New Yorker, and someone who participates in this parade annually, I can attest that the reverberations of this day are both vast and glorious. They can be seen on the faces and heard in the streets, as millions come together to joyously proclaim their heritage. And so it is, Madam Speaker, that with a full and proud heart, I stand before you and my colleagues in Congress to pay tribute to the sights, sounds and wonder that is the National Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. I thank the gentlewoman from California. I want to thank both the chairmen and the ranking members of both the subcommittee and the committee for bringing this resolution in such a timely fashion to the floor. Last week, on May 13, I joined Alan Kessler, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service, Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Jr., and A.J. Lambert, Frank Sinatra's granddaughter, at a formal ceremony in New York City's Gotham Hall, where the Postal Service issued the Frank Sinatra commemorative stamp. Immediately thereafter, 120 million stamps honoring this great icon in American culture, who was both an entertainer and a humanitarian, went on sale nationwide. I am pleased that today the House of Representatives, through its recognition of that special day of the stamp issuance as Frank Sinatra Day, is giving another well-deserved honor to this man who contributed so much to our Nation and our culture. It has been 10 years since the death of Frank Sinatra, talented singer, actor and caring person, and Sinatra's music continues to speak to each of us today in a way that is both personal and emotional. My colleagues, of course, know of my personal love for Mr. Sinatra's music. At this age, I carry close to 2,000 songs on my iPod from Sinatra alone. I was introduced to the English language by listening to Frank Sinatra records when my father came back from World War II. At that time, I remember my father saying something profound. He said, ``You know, the English language takes a bad rap. People say that it is not a romantic language.'' He said this to me in Spanish. ``But,'' he said, ``if you listen to the way this man sings the English language, you will recognize that it is indeed a romantic language if sung properly.'' Through the years, I used those records at the beginning of my time in New York City to learn to enunciate and to imitate the way he used the English language, because when he sang it was perfect. In fact, in Germany, in Japan, and other countries, businessmen use Frank Sinatra records to learn how to pronounce the English language. Maybe that is the reason why I am the only New Yorker who says ``Tuesday'' instead of ``Toosday,'' because Mr. Sinatra would have never tolerated ``Toosday.'' Personally, for me as a fan, I know the big difference between those songs that everybody recognizes from Mr. Sinatra like ``New York, New York'' and ``My Way,'' and those other bittersweet melodies that he made famous that you only listen to sometimes at 3 o'clock in the morning. That was Sinatra the singer. Then there was another side very briefly to Mr. Sinatra. At a time when certain entertainers were not allowed to stay in certain hotels in this country, it was Mr. Sinatra who said, If they can play, I want them in my band. I don't care what they look like, I don't care what their religion is, I don't know what their color is, I don't care. If they can play and they have talent, I want them in my band. It was because of that that Las Vegas began to integrate for the first time due to that work. This was the other side of Frank Sinatra. And lastly, the one you will see on TV this month, Sinatra, the actor, the one that could either give you the happy-go-lucky Pal Joey, or the very daring Man With a Golden Arm, talking about drug addiction at a time when that was not a subject. This was the whole of Frank Sinatra, and we as Americans honor him this week with a commemorative stamp. I commend all of us to buy that stamp, and just think of this as I close. Our gossip notes, our water bills, and, yes, our love letters will carry the smile of Frank Sinatra for a time to come.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. The least important thing I can think of, the least important, is that the American public doesn't think too well of Congress right now, and going into a secret session is not going to help that. But that is the least important thing. It almost sounds like we need a secret session prior to the secret session to tell the membership what we are allowed to do and say after the secret session. Some of us who oppose many of the things that have happened since September 11 have already drawn conclusions as to what we think is happening or not happening. I am not privy to all the intelligence and I don't think anyone is, and there are some folks in our government and some agencies historically that I don't trust. So I will never really know what the truth is. But I have a sense of what the truth may be and what the danger is of what we are doing in this country at this point. So my concern is, at what point does what I feel and know become part of what is discussed at this session, and therefore if I keep discussing it in public I have now violated the secret session that I wasn't supposed to violate? I heard before that some things will be discussed at the secret session that are not classified. So if I discuss them later, am I in violation of House rules? In other words, what I am suggesting, Mr. Leader, is that to tell the membership that we are having a secret session and have someone like me who has been here 18 years say what is that, without preparation for this extreme type of behavior, is to put the membership at risk. At risk. We don't want to walk into this blindly, and I am walking into it blindly if I decide to attend. I don't know what I am allowed to say and do, and I say a lot of things about our behavior. So I would hope if we are going to do this, we actually, and this is not a very popular notion, take some extra time in private to tell us. I know what happens when a general comes to me and tells me something that is going on in Iraq. I know I can't say that, because it was a classified meeting. I know that. But this is going to be debate. How is that debate going to be different from some things we say tomorrow in open debate? And if I forget, and I am not trying to be funny here, and mention some of that debate in this debate, what violation am I in? My last point: With all due respect, if the gentleman has secret information that speaks to the safety of my beloved country, our country, why didn't the gentleman take that information to the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, where it belongs? Why bring it to the whole House and put us all in that situation, when indeed we have an Intelligence Committee, we have a ranking member, we have a full committee? I as a Member would be totally comfortable with the gentleman bringing that information. I assure you that if I ever learn anything that I believe can hurt our country, I will bring it to the Intelligence Committee right away. I will not call for a secret session that puts us at risk, that makes the American people think that we don't want to discuss in public some things, and that may in fact strike fear into Members to vote for a bill that we probably should not vote for. Madam Speaker, I withdraw my reservation.

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, I reserve the right to object.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Samuel J. Daniel, M.D., for his contributions to medicine and his dedication to the improvement of our communities. As our Nation celebrates Black History Month and the many contributions African Americans have made to our Nation, it is an honor for me to pay tribute to Dr. Daniel. Dr. Daniel, a native of Antigua, is the president and CEO of North General Hospital, the only not-for-profit, private teaching hospital located in central Harlem. Dr. Daniel has made important contributions in the treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C, an area in which he was a principal investigator in several clinical trials studying this disease. In 2005, Dr. Daniel coauthored the book Hepatitis C: The Black Person's Guide. Well respected among his peers, Dr. Daniel has been frequently cited for professional excellence. In a 2000 issue of New York Magazine, Dr. Daniel was recognized as one of ``The Best Doctors in New York.'' One year later, Network Journal and Black Enterprise Magazine recognized him as one of the Nation's leading physicians. However, Dr. Daniel is equally committed to the improvement of our communities as he is to the improvement of our health. In 2004, he received the Leon Bogues Award for commitment to social reform from the Black and Hispanic Legislative Caucus. In 2006, he received the Roy Wilkins Outstanding Leadership Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Furthermore, Dr. Daniel holds many distinguished membership positions on the boards of nonprofit organizations, including the Primary Care Development Corporation, the Greater New York Hospital Association, and the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes, among others. Despite his many commitments and public service activities, Dr. Daniel also maintains an active and successful practice in gastroenterology in the Harlem community. Madam Speaker, thanks to Dr. Daniel's hard work and dedication to the progress of medicine and his commitment to the improvement of our communities, underserved populations have been able to receive the quality medical care they deserve. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Dr. Daniel.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Iran Barkley, a towering local hero who defied the odds to reach the pinnacle of professional boxing excellence. Throughout his career, in times of triumph and heartbreak, Iran Barkley showed resilience and indomitable courage in pursuit of greatness. His gritty determination and willingness to stand toe-to-toe in the ring endeared him to fans worldwide, and often disproved critics who believed they were the last word on the outer limits of a fighter's ability. Born in the South Bronx on May 9, 1960, Mr. Barkley, also known as ``The Blade,'' was the youngest of eight siblings. Mr. Barkley's older sister, Yvonne, was an amateur boxer and lightweight contender in New York; she brought young Iran with her to local gyms as a way to keep him off the street. In the years that followed, under the tutelage of Connie Bryant, Bobby Miles, and with the friendship of another talented young fighter named Davey Moore, young Iran quickly demonstrated considerable in-ring ability. In 1981, Iran won the Empire State Games and was a finalist in the New York State Golden Gloves Competition. By 1982, he had joined the U.S. Amateur Boxing Team and traveled throughout Europe, medaling at the Copenhagen Boxing Club and the World Games in Munich, Germany. Shortly thereafter, Iran ``The Blade'' Barkley turned pro. Mr. Barkley began his professional boxing career with an impressive 10-3 record. Through management changes and a controversial loss in his first World Title shot, Mr. Barkley later shocked the boxing world by defeating Tommy ``Hitman'' Hearns in a third round knockout to become Middle Weight Champion of the World. Mr. Barkley held this title until losing a controversial decision bout to Roberto Duran in what Ring magazine called ``The Fight of the Year.'' Later, in part due to a string of injuries and managerial setbacks, Mr. Barkley's career would ebb and flow, with stunning victories sometimes paired with heartbreaking defeats. All told, however, this Bronx born boxing phenom would go on to be a five time World Champion, winning titles in three weight classes, and holding the distinction of being the only man ever to beat Tommy Hearns twice. In heavily contested and physical bouts, ``The Blade's'' mettle earned him the respect of his opponents. His relentless and efficient punching power thrilled boxing enthusiasts around the globe, and his ring accomplishments have left little doubt in the minds of boxing historians as to his abilities and class. Madam Speaker, each February we honor the contributions of our African American brothers and sisters. We know that one month is hardly enough time to reflect upon the incalculable enrichments that African Americans have made to our nation. However, we also know that each time we pay special tribute to the legacies of African Americans, we move one step closer to fulfilling the promise of a free and equal society. The Bronx has always had, in my view, an embarrassment of riches in its African American community--so many heroes, so many fighters, so many champions of the people. But Iran ``The Blade'' Barkley is truly a legendary figure. His punching power has been matched only by his staying power in the world of professional sport. Unquestionably, he is an example, for all of us, of what can be accomplished through persistence, will and heart. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing a giant in the world of professional boxing, and more, Iran ``The Blade'' Barkley.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor an important figure in the city of New York, a man whose voice reaches thousands of people, and who has consistently proven himself to be principled and fair in his judgment, Mr. Dean Meminger Mayo. In his professional capacity as a news reporter and anchor for the NY1 network, Mr. Meminger is charged with chronicling major events and other matters of importance to residents of New York. He approaches this work with a poise and professionalism beyond his years, and many have come to view his reporting as an unvarnished source of information upon which they can better comprehend the issues of the day. In his personal history as a native New Yorker, someone who has chosen to make our beloved city his home, we trust that the lens through which he views New York can be at once constructively critical and yet understanding. Born in Harlem Hospital but raised in the Bronx, Mr. Meminger attended St. Augustine's Elementary School and later Cardinal Spellman High School. A bright and athletically gifted student, Dean was awarded a track and field scholarship to Pace University in Westchester, New York. While at Pace, Dean discovered both his love and talent for media and communications. He joined the college radio station as a disk jockey only to rise quickly to the position of news director. During his senior year of college, Dean interned with the Sports Department of WABC-Eyewitness News, giving him exposure to professional news coverage and cementing his desire to make his mark in this field. Mr. Meminger got his break in 1995, when he was hired by BronxNet TV as a reporter and substitute news anchor. Then in 1997, Mr. Meminger joined the team at NY1 News, one of the city's most watched cable news channels. Over the past decade while at NY1, he has covered some of the city's biggest stories, bringing to his coverage everything from sharp analysis to compassion, but always with the goal of bringing unbiased and clear reporting to his viewers. Recently, Mr. Meminger played an important role in reporting the events of a tragic house fire in the Bronx that claimed the lives of 9 children in two families of African immigrants. The painful events surrounding this story, coupled with a simultaneous national debate about U.S. immigration policy and enforcement, caused this family's personal loss to become a national story. For days, the whole of New York grieved with this family. And as the grieving process unfolded, Mr. Meminger was on hand to report the developments as they arose, helping us to understand exactly what had occurred and what was yet to come for these families and for their community. Sensitive coverage of wrenching events like the Highbridge fire have become Mr. Meminger's hallmark, but his history as a sought after resource during difficult events dates back to September 11th, 2001 and to the shootings of Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell. Madam Speaker, Dean Meminger helps us to better understand and reflect upon the fluid state of affairs that we as New Yorkers all must learn to navigate. He is a proud man who possesses a keen intellect and an ever-growing capacity for insight. As an African-American, he inspires us, as people of color, when we see his face on television tackling issues that often cross color lines. The need still exists in America for greater acceptance in our society; for more, not less, tolerance and understanding. By being a positive and thoughtful voice in our city, Dean gains entry into our homes and earns our trust on a daily basis, and this, I am sure, is only a good thing. His profession requires that he not be an advocate for any one issue above another, but by virtue of his person, Dean advocates every day for multiculturalism and pluralism in this city. So on this February day during Black History Month, I ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to a man who is not only reporting, but also influencing history, Mr. Dean Meminger Mayo.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority of America on the occasion of its centennial anniversary in January, 2008. The Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority is the first African American sorority in America to reach the milestone of 100 years, and represents the first Greek-letter organization in this country founded by, and for, African American college women. The AKA motto is to ``provide service to all mankind.'' Over the years, AKA members have broken barriers and attained positions in American society of tremendous distinction. The AKA sisterhood prides itself on achievement, sacrifice, and a strong belief in the limitless potential of women of color. Together, the AKA's strive for the betterment not only of themselves, but their families, their neighborhoods, and the larger global community. From its founding in 1908, through 1921, Alpha Kappa Alpha underwent a period of significant growth. Chapters were first established throughout the Northeast and Midwest, and beginning in the mid 1920's, AKA founded new chapters in the Southeast. One of the most remarkable aspects of the AKA sorority is the history of its original nine founding members. Born during the Reconstruction era, and enrolling at Howard University at the turn of the 20th century, the founding AKA women embodied courage and soaring intellect. During a time in our nation's history when African Americans, and women especially, were viewed as second class citizens, the original AKA sisters coalesced around an affirmation of their own dignity. They taught women of color across the Nation that belief in one's self, in one's potential, is the essential building block upon which anything is possible. In a dark chapter of our history, theirs was a message of light--of hope, sacrifice and hard work in the pursuit of self-determination. This summer, more than 20,000 members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will come together on the campus of Washington, DC's Howard University to honor this legacy. Sorors from around the world will retrace the steps taken by the founding members ten decades ago in what is being called the ``Walk Through History.'' Discussions and plenary sessions will be convened, where together, members will rededicate themselves to the founding principles of the AKA tradition and chart a new course for the next 100 years. Madam Speaker, I am moved by the Alpha Kappa Alpha's prodigious historical narrative. The redoubtable strength and prescient vision of the founders paved the way for a sorority which today claims more than 200,000 members, 975 chapters, and a presence not only in the United States, but also the Caribbean, Canada, Germany, Korea, Japan, and the continent of Africa. Their unifying mission remains to serve others, while also challenging themselves and their fellow sisters to reach higher for the possible. On behalf of the nearly 3,000 members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority who reside throughout the 16th Congressional District of New York, and the surrounding counties, as well as myself, I ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to this most storied American sisterhood.