José Serrano

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1885, the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002, that is before the House today. This bill will extend Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act to certain immigrants as well as incorporate the provisions of H.R. 3525 which would help us in our fight against terrorism by generally strengthening border security. I voted for both of these bills in the past and continue to support their goals as represented in today's bill. I support today's bill because it recognizes, at least on a limited level, the needs of certain immigrants who have strong ties here, have families here, have jobs and pay taxes here. This bill is also important because it recognizes that we must protect ourselves against further terrorist threats. However, though on 245(i) this is a step forward, we must recognize that is only a small step. As I have said before and will say again, the 245(i) debate is not over. While this bill extends 245(i) to immigrants who were physically in the United States on December 21, 2000, and have established family or work ties on or before August 15, 2001, that is not enough. We must work for permanent reinstatement of 245(i). This bill today will move us in the right direction, but we need to work on a permanent solution. To stop the debate at this point would prevent us from securing a more meaningful extension of the provision for individuals with established lives, who work hard and contribute to our society. Without supporting a permanent extension of 245(i), the Republican leadership in the House fails to adequately recognize the importance of reuniting immigrant families and the important role that these individuals and their families play in promoting our country's prosperity. It is long overdue and we must continue to push for permanent extension of 245(i).

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my opposition to this resolution on Colombia. I am troubled as to why we are voting on this resolution today. It concerns me that the purpose of this resolution is for the Congress to give this administration the green light to become more heavily involved in the civil war in Columbia. I have the utmost respect for President Pastrana, but at the same time I am not in favor of expanding our involvement in Columbia by using our response to the terrorism threat after September 11 as a justification to participate in Columbia's civil war. The FARC might be on the terrorist list, but the reasons that have been given for our involvement in Colombia have been counternarcotics and not counterterrorism. I do not want to erase this important distinction. Mr. Speaker, I read the Spanish press, and let me assure you that in Latin America and in my congressional district the support does not exist for having the United States exert its military power in Columbia. There are atrocities committed on all sides of this conflict. Today, Secretary Powell testified before the Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Subcommittee, on which I am the ranking member, and I told him that I understand that drug trafficking is a problem in Columbia, but that has never before been a reason to send American troops. Let me be clear that the new threat of terrorism is not and never should be a reason to change our policy toward Columbia.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 2356, the Shays- Meehan Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Bill. First, I congratulate our colleagues from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) and Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan) for their diligence and persistence on this issue over the years. I remind my colleagues that legislation very similar to the bill under consideration today has passed the House twice before. I also applaud the courage of the 218 Members, particularly our 20 Republican friends, who signed the discharge petition that finally allows the House to work its will on campaign finance reform. It is an unusual procedure, but was necessary in this case. The 2000 elections were the most expensive ever, coming in at almost $3 billion. This is appalling. The system is broken. The American people are justified in lacking confidence that their priorities are considered as seriously as those of the big donors. The influence of money in American politics is a problem as old as the Nation. It is discouraging to remember that the broken campaign finance system that Shays-Meehan would replace was itself once seen as a reform, designed to limit undue influence by large unregulated and undisclosed campaign contributions, but that big money soon found its way around the reforms through soft money and ``independent'' advertising. The principles behind any meaningful reform are clear: National parties, congressional committees, and Federal candidates must get along without soliciting or spending soft money. Under the Shays-Meehan bill, limited soft money will remain available to state and local parties for necessary voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities, but not to support Federal candidates. Campaign advertisements masquerading as issue advocacy must be regulated. Shays-Meehan will require that broadcast communications that mention a Federal candidate must be paid for with hard money--which includes corporate and union PAC funds--within 60 days of a general or 30 days of a primary election. There are other important provisions, including enhanced disclosure of the financial sponsorship of electioneering communications, new FEC rules for coordinated communications, and limiting the cost of broadcast advertising by candidates to reduce the onerous cost of running for Federal office today. But basically, Mr. Chairman, the Shays-Meehan bill will replace a badly broken system with one that will limit the influence of soft money and ``issue'' advertising in Federal campaigns and begin to restore the faith of the American people in our campaign system. Under the rule, several ``poison pill'' amendments will be offered to defeat the Shays-Meehan bill, either by gutting it or by sending it to near certain death in conference. One of the most alarming is the amendment to ban campaign contributions by legal permanent residents of the United States. These are people who live, work, and pay taxes in this country, and making contributions to candidates and parties is they only way they can influence the makeup of the government and public policy until they achieve citizenship and the vote. They are committed to America and should not be silenced. Shays-Meehan is a reform that is long overdue. I urge my colleagues to reject the ``poison pills'' and to vote for Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Manhattan Beer Distributors, the first private, non-utility company in the Bronx to use heavy duty Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks to make deliveries. Manhattan Beer Distributors will roll out its first CNG delivery trucks at a ceremony on Monday, February 4, 2002. Mr. Speaker, Manhattan Beer Distributors first established a facility in the Bronx in 1979. The Bronx site is located on Walnut Avenue, in the industrialized and heavily trafficked area of the Bronx known as Port Morris. Today, the company employs 468 people at its Bronx facility, operates 95 vehicles and has an estimated 30 percent share of the beer market in the New York metropolitan area. Under the leadership of its President, Simon Bergson, and Vice President Mike McCarthy, Manhattan Beer Distributors will begin the transformation of its fleet with 15 heavy-duty vehicles that will operate exclusively on CNG. The dispatch of these first fifteen could be the ground-breaking catalyst for changing the infrastructure of the South Bronx, from one where pollutant emissions from multitudes of vehicles threaten the delicate health of our children to one where commercial operations can harmoniously co-exist with adjacent residential communities. Manhattan Beer Distributors deserves tribute for its initiative in this project and I hope that many other companies will do the same. Mr. Speaker, Manhattan Beer Distributors' use of alternative fuel contributes toward several local, regional and national interests. By reducing pollutant emissions through the use of CNG to power delivery trucks, Manhattan Beer Distributors helps improve our air quality. In addition, using CNG helps reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, which strengthens our nation's energy security and reduces our nation's trade deficit. Because it has installed a permanent CNG station, it is likely that the Manhattan Beer fleet will evolve into a total clean fuel fleet. The success of this project will demonstrate that other truck-based businesses in the Bronx can make similar improvements. These are the kinds of contributions to environmental quality and economic development that inspired me to introduce legislation providing tax incentives for businesses that use alternative fuels in federal empowerment zones. Mr. Speaker, our nation must do all that it can to support businesses like Manhattan Beer Distributors, who willingly exercise good corporate citizenship. I heartily urge all of my esteemed colleagues to join me in honoring this bold, conscientious and innovative enterprise.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Derek E. Broomes, CPA, an esteemed administrator and public policy expert who is being honored on February 1 by the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (CACCI) and The Friends of Derek E. Broomes at a Special Black History Month Tribute program in the Bronx. Mr. Broomes is an influential leader in the Bronx's economic business development, particularly in the area of minority business. Since 1995, when he became the first Chief Financial Officer of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC), Mr. Broomes has been the key component to the bolstering of economic development programs and small business initiatives for the Bronx. Among his many accomplishments is the role that he played in the establishment of the first SBA 504 Certified Development Company in the Bronx, the Bronx Initiative Corporation (BIC). The revitalization of the Bronx is also significantly due to the organizational and financial structure that Mr. Broomes developed for the Bronx Empowerment Zone. The Bronx Empowerment Zone is one of approximately 9 such Zones in the United States. The Empowerment Zone initiative aims to bring communities together through public and private partnerships in order to attract the investment necessary for sustainable economic and community development. Mr. Broomes took this initiative and made it a reality in the Bronx. He helped Bronx leaders identify the specific problems that the community's businesses faced and acted as a consultant to the Bronx borough president to actively address and alleviate these problems. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Broomes has held myriad important positions throughout his illustrious career. He has served as the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Contracting Officer for the New York City Human Resources administration. He also held the position of Inspector General with the New York City's Department of Investigation. Beyond Mr. Broomes' extensive professional feats, he also possesses a distinguished list of honors and credentials. Originally from Guyana, Mr. Broomes spent his young adulthood being educated at London's esteemed institutions. He received a diploma in Economics and Finance from London's School of Economics and diplomas in Mathematics and Physics from the University of London. Mr. Broomes continued his education in the United States by earning a Masters of Science/CPA degree in Public Accounting and Finance from the Graduate School of the City University of New York and also attending New York University Graduate School of Business. In 2000, I presented Mr. Broomes with the Congressional Outstanding Achievement Award to commend and thank him for all that he has done to promote economic progress in the Bronx. I feel it necessary to honor him once again for all of the work that he has done in the past two years and for being recognized by the reputable CACCI, an organization that also elected him as Chairman of the Board in 2000. He was also recently appointed Finance Chairman for the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts of Lehman College of City University of New York. There is no question in my mind as to why Mr. Broomes is being honored by his colleagues and neighbors this February 1. I urge my esteemed colleagues to join me in commending Mr. Derek E. Broomes for his outstanding achievements and invaluable contributions to the Bronx.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Mildred M. Allen, a leading advocate in the mental health field, who has dedicated the past 17 years to making the Fordham-Tremont Community Mental Health Center a viable and effective mental health facility that performs at a superior level. Dr. Allen was born in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, where she lived until graduation from the University of Puerto Rico. Here, she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree and went on to obtain a Masters of Social Work, a Masters in Public Administration, and a Doctorate in Art and Science from New York University. Armed with this extensive education and training, Dr. Allen went on to play a pivotal role in New York's mental health arena. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Allen has been a key participant in numerous state, national, and global conferences on mental health. In 1985 and 1987, she was a panelist at the World Congresses in Mental Health held in England and Egypt, respectively. Dr. Allen's contributions to mental health public administration include the first city-wide conference on Domestic Violence which she organized in 1985. In 1986, Governor Cuomo appointed her to the Manhattan Children's Psychiatric Center Board of Visitors. She continues to be an active member, and often officer, of many key boards that focus on various aspects of mental health. Dr. Allen's concern for the Puerto Rican community, particularly its youth, led her to create the Hispanic Advocacy and Resource Center, Inc. in order to facilitate the adoption of Puerto Rican children and provide support to families. She also went on to co-found the Puerto Rican Empowerment Partnership Corp., a non-profit organization focused on improving the mental and social welfare of Puerto Ricans living in New York State. Clearly, Dr. Allen will leave an undeniable mark on the world of mental health and has directly impacted the lives of an untold number of people. She is described as a truly kind and dynamic woman whose unyielding spirit inspires those around her. She has spent most of the last two decades in my district, sharing her gift and leading the Fordham-Tremont Community Mental Health Center to even greater success, with the support of an outstanding staff. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Mildred Allen for her illustrious and distinguished career and in thanking her for her unceasing passion.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report to accompany H.R. 1, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization bill, also known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. At the outset, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio, Chairman Boehner and our Ranking Democrat, the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) for bringing to the Floor a good conference report. This legislation reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for six years and authorizes $26.5 billion for its programs in fiscal year 2002. While President Bush made education a priority at the beginning of this year, he failed to request any significant increase in funding to back up his broad outline for reform. But Congress has stepped in to provide a significant increase in real funding. The appropriations bill that goes with this reform bill will provide nearly $4 billion more in funding for all elementary and secondary education programs funded by the federal government, nearly a 20 percent increase in appropriations. President Bush asked for only a three percent increase. Mr. Speaker, New York City's public schools face a host of difficult challenges including: overcrowded and outdated facilities; more students with special needs; increasing teacher shortages; and keeping up with rapidly advancing technology. I am pleased that H.R. 1 contains a number of important provisions that will help New York City meet its goals of greater student achievement levels by supporting enhanced efforts in these areas. For instance, NYC is estimated to receive an increase of $140 million in Title I funds under pending agreements to allocate most of the new Title I money to districts serving high numbers of poor students. H.R. 1 also retains targeting for the newly consolidated teacher quality program, which will be of great value to our current teacher recruitment, retention, and training efforts. The bill offers new flexibility to school systems through the 150- district ``local A's'' provision and through the ``transferability'' language. The flexibility, moreover, is achieved without state block grants, portability, vouchers, or other provisions that could have diluted otherwise-targeted assistance. As a native of Puerto Rico, I am pleased that this bill moved Puerto Rico to full participation in Title I over the next 6 years in roughly 8 percent a year increments. Next year, for example, Puerto Rico's Title I funds will increase by over $60 million, more than a 20 percent addition. But that is not all. Under this legislation and the upcoming appropriation bill, Puerto Rico will also enjoy expanded funds for the teacher quality program which will increase by $38 million, or 58 percent, the technology program which will increase by $10 million, or 67 percent, and the Bilingual Education program which will grow by $1 million, or 69 percent. However, Mr. Speaker, despite endless negotiations between people of good faith, I have to admit that I am disappointed that the conferees did not omit the so-called ``County Provision.'' The County Provision states that if a local education agency (LEA) contains two or more counties in its entirety, then each county is treated as if it were a separate LEA for the purpose of calculating Title I grants. The provision singles out New York City for different treatment than any other local education agency in the nation (other than Hawaii) in determining the allocation of Title I funds. The counties of Kings (Brooklyn), Manhattan, Richmond (Staten Island), Queens, and the Bronx are treated as if they are five distinct LEAs; despite the fact that under New York State law the New York City Board of Education is the only LEA in New York City. As a result, Title I funds are now distributed based on each borough's percentage of New York City's federal Census poverty count. In short, poor children in different boroughs receive differing amounts of federal education funding. Retention of this provision continues to promote inequity in funding among the counties within New York City. This funding disparity occurs even though New York City Title I schools, regardless of their location, have almost identical costs for personnel, materials, equipment, and mandated costs to educate youngsters. I hope that we will somehow find a way to strip this inequitable provision so that needy children will receive the same level of funding without regard to where they live. Finally, Mr. Speaker I am pleased that the Conference Committee on H.R. 1 has produced a bill that strengthens our commitment to closing the achievement gap between rich and poor, minority and non-minority students, improves targeting of funds to low-performing students, improves teacher quality, preserves the After-School program and key civil rights safeguards, and expands local flexibility in the use of certain federal education funds. And this bill contains the high levels of authorizations needed to assure that adequate resources will be provided to carry out the mandates of this new law. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the conference report.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Kathy Nguyen, a dedicated hospital worker and resident of the Bronx for over 20 years. Ms. Nguyen became an innocent victim of unfortunate circumstances on October 31, 2001 at the age of 61. Ms. Nguyen has been described as a loyal and caring woman who was well-known and well-loved in her South Bronx community. Like most Americans, I was shocked and saddened to hear of Ms. Nguyen's passing. I had remained hopeful that she would recover when it was determined that she had contracted Anthrax. Ms. Nguyen was a victim of horrible circumstance and while no family members could be located, she continues to be mourned by a host of friends and neighbors who miss her deeply. Ms. Nguyen will be remembered by the entire nation. While each of the lives lost in the past few months have reminded us of exactly how precious life is, Kathy Nguyen's passing brought home the reality of how vulnerable we all are, whether we are members of Congress, TV personalities, or hospital workers. That is one of the reasons that she will be remembered by the nation for years to come. Mr. Speaker, it is important that she be remembered more than as the first mysterious Anthrax victim, but as a unique and well-loved individual whose presence is missed by many. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to honor her memory. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Nguyen had encountered adversity more than once in her life. She escaped a war-torn Vietnam in 1975 in search of solace in the United States. She left behind her slain family and friends and began a new life, on her own, in a new country. Ms. Nguyen had been a business woman in her native country, owning and operating a bar in Saigon. The strength and courage this woman must have possessed in order to successfully overcome obstacles in her life are worthy of admiration. Besides Ms. Nguyen's quiet strength, she will be most remembered by her friends and neighbors for being a dear friend. Her friend Gina Ramjassigh was quoted as saying, ``Everyone that she touched loved her. She was an aunt to my children and she was the best friend I ever had.'' Other people who knew Ms. Nguyen have said that she was always reaching out to others. I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring a life that was needlessly cut short and in memorializing Ms. Kathy Nguyen.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Narco Freedom, Inc. and to its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Alan Brand, an innovative leader and steadfast humanitarian. Narco Freedom, Inc. is a Bronx-based organization that for 30 years has provided New Yorkers with a network of first-rate drug treatment and health related services. I am honored to acknowledge them on their 30th anniversary. As CEO of Narco Freedom, Inc., Alan Brand developed a revolutionary comprehensive continuum of care that supports the recovery of thousands of drug addicts. Programs developed and reared under Mr. Brand's leadership not only aid recovery from drug addictions, but foster successful daily living skills, social skills, and mental health. Once an individual has overcome an addiction with the help of Narco Freedom, Inc., he or she will receive continued support through after-addiction treatment in order to gain or regain a higher quality of life. These addicts' families also receive support from Narco Freedom's extensive programs because often they too must rebuild their lives during and after recovery. Mr. Brand's dedication to the advancement of substance abuse treatment and to providing health services to other groups in great need led him to spearhead the only HIV Social Needs managed care plan in New York State. Mr. Brand has developed a variety of treatment plans that are geared towards specific groups of individuals. Some aid women and their children, while others focus on people who are suffering from HIV or AIDS in conjunction with a drug abuse problem. His foresight and determination allow him to set new standards when devising treatment plans. For three decades, Narco Freedom, Inc. has helped people get off and stay off drugs and supported recovering addicts and their families with a network of programs dealing with various mental and physical health issues. The majority of Narco Freedom's clients have two major strikes against them; they are addicted to drugs and they are poor. People with the financial means to undergo the best drug treatment programs are often treated with more sympathy than poor addicts who society tends to view as ``hopeless.'' Narco Freedom has hope for these individuals and instills hope in them via intense programs. Many of these programs were engineered or strengthened by the efforts of Mr. Alan Brand. However, the devotion and expertise of Narco Freedom's superb staff, make the great work that they do possible. A great deal of patience and an acute understanding of effective drug treatment have made this team so successful. I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring Narco Freedom, Inc. for 30 years of outstanding service and its CEO, Mr. Alan Brand, for expertly guiding this great organization to even more success. I would also like to thank the entire Narco Freedom team for saving and improving so many lives.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great leader and political figure. Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer has dedicated his life to serving the community and has been recognized nationally for revitalizing the Bronx. I have known Mr. Ferrer, or Freddy as I know him, for 30 years and have been continuously impressed by his vigor and political expertise. Freddy was elected to his first term as borough president in 1987 with an overwhelming 87 percent of the public vote. To illustrate Freddy's outstanding leadership and how much Bronxites trust him, ten years and three terms later, he was reelected yet again with 87 percent of the public vote. Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to work with Freddy Ferrer throughout the years to continue and intensify the restoration of the Bronx. From the moment he took office, Freddy began implementing a new, higher set of standards by which to run the borough. These changes, such as his strict code of ethics for his staff, have made it easier to make necessary changes throughout the Bronx. Among Freddy's long list of accomplishments, he led the Bronx to winning the prestigious National Civic League's All-American City Award in 1997 and the Crown Community Award presented by American City and County magazine in 1999. The New York State Department of Health statistics show that between 1995 and 1999, 4,110 fewer individuals were unemployed. During that period, the number of AIDS cases in the Bronx dropped by nearly 50%, and homicides decreased by roughly 23 percent. Since 1990, the Bronx has received 2.5 billion dollars worth of new construction. From new businesses to new housing developments, Bronx residents have been able to witness their community grow before their very eyes. Freddy orchestrated the nation's most comprehensive housing revival when nearly 64,000 new and rehabilitated residences became available in the Bronx. This surge of structural progress and the resurgence of local businesses have been pivotal in rejuvenating the spirit of the Bronx. Along with the legendary Yankee Stadium, which Freddy and myself strove to keep in the Bronx, our borough president has become an undeniable part of Bronx history. Mr. Speaker, Freddy's roots are in the Bronx and he has not strayed from the borough. He was born there, attended primary and secondary school there, and attended the New York University at its Bronx campus. He and his distinguished wife, Aramina, raised their daughter, Carlina, in the Bronx as well. This fall, Freddy ran for New York City mayor, and in doing so, brought a new vision for all of our communities. Freddy's entire campaign, especially when he eloquently expressed his visions for the city in debates and speeches, made us all very proud. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Fernando Ferrer for over 20 years of remarkable and innovative service to the people of the Bronx.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Firefighter Angel Juarbe of FDNY Ladder 12, a national hero who gave his life to save many others during the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. Angel Juarbe, a valiant firefighter, was a Bronx native and resident for his short 35 years of life. Members of his community and family have felt a gaping hole in their lives since Angel's passing. They are not alone, and like the thousands of other family members and friends of those lost in the national tragedies, they have become survivors of September 11th. One of Angel's brothers, Ed, said of him, ``He always wanted to help the less fortunate.'' Another of Angel's brothers, Charles, is a New York City Police officer who searched desperately for his brother after the second World Trade Center tower came down. Angel Juarbe was a beloved son, brother, and uncle. Mr. Speaker, Angel had entered a hotel connected to the second tower, moments after the first had gone down. He and fellow firefighters rescued a number of people trapped in the building and as they moved up floors, made the judgement call to disencumber themselves for easier maneuvering by leaving behind some of their emergency equipment, namely their large supply of rope. After an undiscernible amount of time, the firefighters were called to evacuate the structure. Before they could all escape the collapsing building, staircases crumbled and Angel and his comrades realized that they needed the rope to rappel down to safety. Angel and a fellow firefighter retrieved the rope and made their way back up to the stranded men. On the way, they came across another firefighter in peril and while they assisted this individual, the second World Trade Center tower collapsed bringing down the joined hotel. Shortly before his tragic death on that infamous day, Angel had become a momentary television star thanks to his stint on Fox's reality show ``Murder in Small Town X.'' Angel emerged the victor of this program which placed regular individuals in the roles of investigators in a fictitious town beleaguered by a serial murderer. Angel earned quite a few fans throughout the airing of the show and today a number of webpages are dedicated to his memory by these devoted fans who felt like they knew the charming New Yorker. Angel, who solved the mystery and caught the ``killer,'' was awarded $250,000 and a brand new Jeep Cherokee. He told a reporter after winning the show that he was giving part of his winnings to his father so that he could retire. He said that another part was going to help his nieces and nephews with their educations. Mr. Speaker, the number of heroes emerging from the events on September 11th continues to grow. Our firefighters, police officers, and rescue workers who risked their lives daily before September 11th and have everyday since, are national treasures. I ask my colleagues to join me today in commemorating one of these treasured heroes; Angel Juarbe.

Mr. SERRANO

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

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from upstate New York for his support. Let me first do what so many of my colleagues have done, and that is to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) for really being our leader and trying to get what was rightfully ours and to try to keep to the promise that was made from the White House. Somewhere along the way the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) had to do what many people felt he had to do, which we disagreed with, some members of the delegation, which was to agree to this and present it to us. Let me also say that I understand the gentleman from California's statement. He is doing for his State no different than what I and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) have been trying to do for our State. He sees harm coming, and he is trying to stop it. But the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller) makes the point that I have been trying to make for the last 2 weeks, better perhaps than I have made it, and that is that the fight is already on between New York and other States based not only on this amount, but on the promise for all the money that is supposed to come in the spring. If my colleagues think this is going to be a difficult debate, imagine what it is going to be in April and in May when we try to take money, as I have said, out of the FBI and the INS and the Justice Department, and the State Department, and the war and defense, and all other departments and issues, to give to New York based on the promise that if we do not abide by the law now, the money will be coming in the spring. Now, we have a couple of problems here. One of them is that we had allies in this fight. The allies have abandoned us. Now, we know that one of the most difficult things to do in politics or in government is to take on a popular person at the top of his popularity. Mayor Giuliani is riding a wave of popularity. But he was in this fight with us from the beginning, and he took a walk on us. He said, Guys, girls, do not pester the President. You will get the money in the spring. Number one, in the spring he is not going to be around to use the force of his popularity to get us the money. Michael Bloomberg will be around; and he will be trying to get this money, which will not be coming. Secondly, by saying that, he pulled the rug from under the floor of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), all the members of the New York delegation. That is part of our problem. Mr. Chairman, this is a difficult situation to be in. I spent all week telling Members how bad the Walsh agreement was; and now I am here telling Members, do not get rid of the Walsh agreement because it is the only thing we have. But at the same time, it continues to make the point that someone put us in this situation. Someone already pitted 49 States and some territories against New York, and this was not what it was all about. It was about one part of America getting hit as a symbol of what we were all about, and the enemy wanted to hit that part of America. It was about a situation where the President and the Committee on Appropriations said, Whatever it takes, and whatever it takes did not even come to be. Mr. Chairman, if we can only realize that the Walsh agreement is the only thing that we have. So I would beg my colleagues, do not hurt us anymore. We are not going to get the money in the spring. We have been done in. We have been lied to. In fact, if New York newspapers were not so supportive of the Republican Presidents, the 1970s headline could come back, ``Bush to New York City: Drop Dead,'' the way it is set forth to New York City. We were never going to see that, but that is where we are going.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to rise today in support of the Obey amendment to Division B of this bill. As we all know, the needs that were so horribly exposed on September 11 will not be met with the $20 billion contained in this bill. We in Congress will be providing additional resources for the critical national needs of recovery, defense, and homeland security for a long time to come. I believe the amendment by the gentleman from Wisconsin gets us a little ahead of the curve by providing contingent emergency appropriations. We make sure the President has resources he needs when he needs them. But the funds cannot be spent unless the President formally designates them emergencies, assuring that this amendment will not trigger uncontrolled spending. In particular, I want to discuss the parts of the amendment that are in the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary, of which I am the ranking Democrat. Now, I am pleased that the chairman of the subcommittee, who just spoke, and I were able to do much better for the agencies than in past years. But even Chairman Wolf would have to admit that those agencies have come back to us and said that they need further assistance, and that is what the Obey amendment intends to do. Now, Chairman Young also did a wonderful job in trying to meet the needs in this bill. The chairman's package includes $400 million for counterterrorism grants to States and local first responders, and he also puts in money to create Radio Free Afghanistan. The supplemental, however, does not speak to the issues that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) speaks to. And what I would like to do is simply remind my colleagues the Obey amendment contains an additional $569 million for the FBI, so that they can continue their investigation; $128 million for construction needs for the INS; and $150 million, of up to $400 million already in the bill, for the Justice, State and local counterterrorism first responder grants. In other words, what we are trying to do here today is, first, pay respect to the fact that Chairman Young and the appropriators have come together and put together a bill that deals with a lot of these issues, but in doing so left out a lot that needs to be done. This is a very crucial time we are dealing with, this is a very difficult time, and the Obey amendment should be supported.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, this is how it started with the devastation at the World Trade Center. This aerial photograph shows you what you have already seen and what you know, the damage. What this photograph does not show you is the ripple effect that it has had on a community, on a city. Underneath this rubble, there are people who lost their lives and may never be found. But the ripple effect is people who lost their jobs, victims who have to be compensated, rebuilding that has to take place. That this picture does not show you. That is what this amendment is about. But this amendment is also about a promise, a promise from a President to a city, a promise from a President to a Nation, that we would get what was coming to us in terms of dollars. Now we are being told to wait until the spring. As I said many times today and many times in the last few weeks, next spring the fervor for New York may not be the same. Next spring if you pit New York against other budget items, New York will not win that fight. And so we are here today to try to bring help to the victims and to try to bring help to our city, not by asking for anything we do not deserve or not by asking for anything that was not promised, by simply allowing the law to be carried out. Let us be clear on that. It is law and all we need to do is follow the law. The picture tells you what you need to know. But what we need to solve is how to deal with the devastation that was left behind. I urge all of my colleagues to please join us in this fight in allowing this amendment to be approved and allowing my city to get back on the road to recovery.

Mr. SERRANO. Reclaiming my time, it was not this side, with all due respect, that put us in this situation. It was the gentleman's administration that did not keep the promise. That is why we are here. That is why the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) is in this situation and we have to find ourselves in this situation. So again, to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), I understand what he is doing. We would do the same thing in New York if we were caught up. But sooner or later, people are going to realize that New York, as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) has said, was the scene of the crime, but the attack was on America, and the people who died and were suffering and the economy that was devastated needs our help. This is a way to start getting some help, but the real help will probably never come. I ask Members to keep that in mind when they vote tonight.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, the issue is one promise on top of another promise. The promise that New York will get half of the dollars has been broken already. That is a fact. We are not here to create a problem, but that is a fact. Now we are being told wait until next spring. Next spring we are being told that we will move dollars from other parts of the budget to accommodate New York. That means that next March, April or May we are going to take money out of the agriculture budget, out of the Department of Defense, the State Department, the Department of Justice, the INS to move over to New York? If that is the situation New York finds itself in next spring, I can assure my colleagues, in that scenario we lose that fight. We cannot win a fight where we have to bid with other parts of the Nation for help. America was hit. New York was the scene of that hit. The President came forward, the Congress, the Speaker, the leadership, and said we will take care of New York. It is sad that we are here opposing this rule because it will not allow an amendment that simply says to enforce the law that is already on the books.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I want to join the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner) in expressing our sense of loss and pain both to the community and the Rockaways, as well as the community in the Dominican areas and throughout the City of New York. It is somewhat even sadder to know that a community that lost so many people, then on another day saw so many people being lost right there in their community. It is the kind of thing that you cannot explain; and you do not try to ask why they happen, but they did happen. The stories that are coming out about people who were on that flight, the stories of the American immigration and the immigration to this country. So many stories of people who came here, especially from the Dominican Republic to find a new world, a new life. And so many were involved in doing just that and were going back for whatever reason. Interestingly enough, interestingly enough, I learned something after this tragedy that I did not know before. And that was that a lot of folks were going back to celebrate Thanksgiving in the Dominican Republic. One would ask, why celebrate Thanksgiving in the Dominican Republic; it is an American celebration. Well, these are families who have been here so long and traveling back and forth to the point where that celebration has now become part of many, if not all, communities in the Dominican Republic. So the same way that this weekend and this week we will be traveling to be near loved ones, some folks come from the Dominican Republic to celebrate Thanksgiving in New York and the United States, and some go back to the Dominican Republic to celebrate Thanksgiving with all of that which is ours, the trimmings of the turkey and the celebration with a little touch of rice and beans and fried bananas that make who we are as a country, that we take every tradition and add our personal touch to it. Then there are the other stories of, for instance, the woman in my district who started to go to beauty culture school in the Dominican Republic at the age of 12. Came to the United States and saved all of her tips, saved all of her tips for 6, 7, 8 years with the intent some day of owning her own place. And on 149th Street in the Bronx, she owned her own place just 6 months ago. She was going back to her folks to tell them the story of the success she had found in this new land of opportunity and she never made it. We also have the stories about people who came here, the man who came here and became a citizen and was going home to pick up children who now because of his citizenship could enter into the country and he was lost. And so when we honor the memories of these folks, I think we have to realize that this is a classic American story of people who came here, of people who came here to make a better life for themselves, and who either did or are in the process of doing it. In closing, let me say as I started to say to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner) before, that there is something so dramatic and yet so sad and yet so strong about the fact that in that community in the Rockaways, which also has the tradition of immigrants coming here to succeed, they became the final place for the death of so many of these people. And these communities, who probably on a daily basis had perhaps very little in common at times, certainly maybe in the homeownership style or somewhat culturally; yet, at the end of it all, the suffering of 60, 70 families in that community through the World Trade Center and then the suffering of 260 through this airplane. I am glad this resolution is up. We join today in expressing our sympathy to all these families, and we just hope that we can now go on and help the survivors to face this tragedy.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Housing Options & Geriatric Association Resources, Inc., an organization dedicated to improving the lives of homeless, elderly, mentally ill, physically challenged, and HIV/AIDS infected individuals in the Bronx. This invaluable organization celebrates the grand opening of its Scattered Site Housing Program and Supported Housing Unit on November 15, 2001. H.O.G.A.R.'s mission is not only to raise awareness of the housing and health issues facing burdened groups of society, but also to provide ways of dealing with these issues. Not only does H.O.G.A.R. spread the word that a number of individuals diagnosed as mentally ill end up on the streets each year, but it also maintains a program to find housing for these people and has even opened a 12-bed supported housing unit that emphasizes community reintegration. Mr. Speaker, H.O.G.A.R. also recently implemented the Scatter Site Housing Program for HIV/AIDS infected people. This program provides relocation assistance, access to counseling services, access to primary health care, recreational activities, daily life skills training, and classes in healthy meal preparation to name just a few things. Essentially it is a program to ensure that people living with AIDS, actually have some quality of life. Often those who are sick and poor are left to the wayside. H.O.G.A.R. is there to pick these individuals up and to show them how to stand alone. An amazing group of men and women give H.O.G.A.R. its heart and soul and continually fuel its efforts. It is because of them that H.O.G.A.R. exists and succeeds in its mission. We will never be able to accurately assess exactly how many lives H.O.G.A.R. has saved or how many lives it has helped give meaning and hope to. We can only be sure that any addition to this organization is worthy of great celebration. That is why my son, Councilman elect, and myself are so honored to be named special guests of H.O.G.A.R.'s grand opening of these two new program units. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the H.O.G.A.R. directors and staff for their immeasurable contributions to those most in need and most overlooked and in thanking them for their ceaseless efforts.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. SERRANO asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2500, the Commerce-Justice-State-Judiciary and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. At the outset, I want to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), for the good working relationship we developed this year and for his insisting on a bipartisan process on the bill. Throughout, I and my staff and the subcommittee Democrats have been kept informed and consulted on our priorities. I want to acknowledge the contribution of other members of the subcommittee and their staffers. I also want to thank the bipartisan staff for the long hours and weekends they put in working to prepare for the conference. They even found off-site locations to continue conference talks when the Capitol and office buildings were closed due to the anthrax testing situation. They are, as we know, Gail Del Balzo, Mike Ringler, Christine Ryan Kojak, Leslie Albright, Julie Miller, Carrie Hines, and Geoff Gleason for the majority; and Rob Nabors, Christine Maloy, Lucy Hand, and Nadine Berg for the minority. Now, as Chairman Wolf did, we are going to take a little extra time here to say a special thanks and to say goodbye in a most dramatic way to Sally Chadbourne, who is leaving us at the end of the year, which makes this her last Commerce-Justice-State bill. Now, Sally has been in the appropriations business longer than I have been in the House, and she is among the most intelligent, professional, creative, experienced, and I could go on and on in English or in Spanish, person I have had the pleasure to work with. She also has a good sense of humor, which as we all know is very important on our committee but especially these days, a great advantage when things get grim. I thank her for her many contributions and I wish her and Del all the best in their new life in Maine, and I trust Governor Baldacci will not let her skills go to waste in the future, and I am glad he is in the House. This has been a fair, bipartisan process all year, as is obvious in the passage votes, 408 to 19 in the House, which must be a record, and 97 to nothing in the Senate, which means three people were missing. Going into conference, the two bodies brought quite different priorities to the table, and the negotiation was tough, but it was also fair and bipartisan, and I am pleased to support the results. Important national needs are addressed, particularly in the wake of the events of September 11. In this agreement we strengthen the basic capacities of our Federal law enforcement and diplomatic agencies on which they will build with additional resources from the supplemental budget. We also provide resources to strengthen our economy and aid in its recovery, protect the environment, and protect the rights of our people. Priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle have largely been included. If it had been entirely up to me, I would have maintained at least the House level for the Small Business Administration, and I would have kept the Senate provision restoring section 245(i) and dropped the one on the International Criminal Court. But it was not entirely up to me, and I think most Members will agree that this is a good outcome and a bipartisan one at that. Our chairman has described the conference agreement so I will not take the time to repeat the details. I will simply close by urging the House to support the conference report so we can get this important funding in place as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my Chairman Wolf, and I want to thank all Members of the House, because as the chairman has mentioned, it was the city that I represent that was hit so hard on September 11, and so much of what is in this bill deals with that issue and deals with the future of how we deal with issues like that. Just a few minutes before coming on the House floor, I found out that another 7 to 12 families were affected by the loss of Flight 587, folks from the South Bronx that were on that flight, small business folks that are there. And so my city continues to feel this pain and this anguish and to ask itself what is happening to us and what is happening to our country. So in anticipation of all that will be done for New York City, I want to thank this House and especially this committee, and, secondly, for the fact that so much in this bill addresses those issues. Lastly, I want to thank my chairman and all members of the committee and the Senate for allowing a provision that I had introduced to be included in this bill. It was something that is very dear to my heart, and that is that so many of the folks who died on September 11 had wanted so much to be part of our Nation, that even though they were not American citizens they had applied for citizenship before September 11. They never lived to see that citizenship come to be part of their family, something that I can tell my colleagues is cherished by so many immigrants who come into the South Bronx and other areas of our country. Well, there is a provision in this bill that retroactively to September 10 grants citizenship to those folks who died on September 11. So that if they wanted to live as American citizens, they at least got the opportunity to have died as American citizens. Now, let us understand why this was important to me. Those who attacked New York on that day, those who attacked the Pentagon, those who created the situation in Pennsylvania with the fallen plane were attacking Americans. They did not distinguished whether an individual was a visitor here or an American citizen. As far as they were concerned, they were attacking our country, they were attacking our people. And so this provision, in my opinion, will go a long way to honor the memory of those who wanted to be Americans and who died before they could fulfill their dream. With that in mind, I thank the chairman for his support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks).

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Baldacci).

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I certainly know of the passion with which the gentleman from California speaks. He is very much committed to this issue. I would love to correct him, just momentarily, on the fact that some things, when they leave the House Floor, somehow end up in conference a little different than when they left the House Floor, so this may not be the only time that this has been changed. But we do understand how serious he and other Members are about this issue. There are some concerns, but as we go into conference later today, we know that his concerns will be seriously taken into consideration. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), my chairman. (Mr. W0LF asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks, and include extraneous material.) General Leave