John Sweeney

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, let me note that the provision in the amendment is applicable only to the land water conservation portion of this bill. Therefore, it only applies to the large land purchases that would not be applicable to those areas.

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I offer this amendment in partnership with the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh), my neighbor to the north, to address the concerns of local government. The gentleman and I, Mr. Chairman, represent some of the best the Nation has to offer in terms of open space, recreational opportunities, and natural beauty in the form of the Adirondack Mountain region. There are concepts within the underlying bill here at work that I strongly believe in and I accept and I support; namely, strongly supporting conservation programs. I understand the value of protecting open space. However, I can only support open space initiatives that are accomplished in conjunction with meeting local concerns. I understand that the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), our distinguished chairman, and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), and Members on the other side of the aisle have worked diligently to try to manage many of the complexities of this issue. I think this amendment is being offered in the hopes that we will strengthen the underlying bill. They knew, as they constructed this bill, that local governments hold the responsibility in this country for many land use decisions and do so effectively through local zoning laws. I believe that land acquisition decisions are essentially land use decisions. The fact is, Mr. Chairman, that once private land is purchased by the Government, it is no longer subject to local zoning laws or to local property taxes. That is why I believe our towns and counties ought to have a real say in such a decision. It is on this basis that I offer this amendment today with the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh). Our amendment provides local governments with the opportunity to object to projects listed under both State and Federal land acquisition plans under the Land and Water Conservation Fund, LWCF. Our amendment first adds an additional requirement for States to notify the appropriate State political subdivision of government affected by each acquisition under the State Action Plan. I will note that, in the underlying legislation, the information to be provided by States is identical to that required of the Federal Government for its acquisitions. However, CARA does not currently require States to notify local governments as a condition of funding. Affected local governments, under our amendment, are given 90 days to submit a resolution of disapproval to the Secretary of Interior or to the governor, depending upon whether the listing is in the Federal or State plan. Mr. Chairman, let me note that most of the focus of tonight's debate over CARA is over direct Federal acquisitions in the West. State acquisitions are a major issue in States like New York and other places, and I believe we should be addressing both in this legislation. I do not object to giving our local government resources for preservation projects that they develop and support. I do object to this, what is seemingly a top-down approach. Without this amendment being approved, I think that that would be a great mistake. The CARA bill in its current form calls for public participation in the setting of land acquisition priorities. However, I feel that process needs to be strengthened. This amendment does so by ensuring that the people most affected at the local levels of government have a seat, a real seat at the table in the LWCF land acquisition decisions at both the State and Federal levels. Mr. Chairman, I would like to note that the concept being applied in this amendment tonight is not without Federal precedent, as the affected political subdivisions in the State of New York must agree before they may be included in the Federal Forest Legacy Acquisition Program. This provision was advanced in October of 1991 in this body. I believe this language has protected private forest land in New York that otherwise would have been threatened by Federal acquisition. Mr. Chairman, in my opinion, this amendment does not undermine the CARA bill. It simply strengthens the process for local governments to ensure that they have a seat at the table and the approval of ultimate land use decisions transferring land into public ownership. I urge my colleagues to support the Sweeney-McHugh amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, in response to my distinguished colleague, let me say two things to his explanations: The first is that we in Congress have the absolute right of responsibility to direct and restrict the spending of Federal dollars. These are Federal dollars that are going to be appropriated to States for the use in this process and, therefore, it is very well within our powers and our authorities and our responsibilities to restrict and set limits on the expenditures thereof. This is indeed not a taking of private property, because it is my assumption that no willing seller essentially has a constitutionally insured right to have their property purchased with Federal money. Furthermore, I think the Constitution does not require that the Federal Government spend money to acquire a land necessarily. We are affording that opportunity here. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh).

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, two hundred and twenty-five years ago on May 10, 1775, Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys made history when they seized the British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga, giving the newly formed American revolutionary forces their first victory. Ethan Allen and his band of Green Mountain Men met up with Benedict Arnold, who had orders to capture Fort Ticonderoga. Benedict Arnold had the orders, Ethan Allen had the men. Together they set off to capture the fort. Early on the morning of May 10, after surprising the guards, Ethan Allen charged up the steps of the Fort Commander's quarters and was challenged by Lieutenant Jocelyn Feltham who asked what orders he acted upon. Ethan Allen replied that he acted, ``in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.'' Others suggest less noble words were used. Meanwhile, the rest of Allen's forces stormed into the South Barracks and confined the garrison before they could offer resistance. Realizing fight was futile, Captain Delaplace came to the door, and gave his sword to Allen, surrendering His Majesty's Fort at Ticonderoga, giving America its first victory in the Revolutionary War. Fortunately, you can still visit Fort Ticonderoga. It is located between beautiful Lake George and Lake Champlain, NY and is reachable via Amtrak. Perfect for a weekend get-a-way where you can relax and learn more about this great nation's history.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Programs' Lifetime Achievements Award recipient, Mr. Douglas Weaver of Hudson Falls, NY. Mr. Weaver received the award at the New York State Shooting Sports Recognition Banquet which was held at the 4-H Training Center in Ballston Spa, NY on April 28, 2000. Mr. Weaver has been a 4-H leader in the 22nd Congressional District for the past 19 years. His leadership has been instrumental in starting and maintaining the popular Washington County Shooting Sports Program. Mr. Weaver's innovative approaches in the areas of youth development and environmental education distinguish the Washington County, NY program from all others. Local 4-H participants are fortunate to have a leader of his superior caliber. Mr. Weaver actively participates in the New York State Shooting Sports program. He attended instructor classes at the national level and currently serves as an instructor for state and local level workshops. Mr. Weaver has held numerous leadership roles in the 4-H, including Chairperson of the 4-H Leaders Association. He is an excellent role model for youth and adults and always promotes teamwork and cooperation. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Douglas Weaver on his receipt of the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Program Lifetime Achievement Award. He is an inspiration to us all.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Firehouse magazine's Firefighter of the Year, Assistant Fire Chief Paul D. Martin of Hudson Falls, New York. Assistant Chief Martin surpassed 101 other firefighters from across the nation to win the highly coveted award. His actions remind us that firefighting is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. I salute Assistant Fire Chief Martin, a fire investigator, for his heroic actions in the early morning hours of August 27, 1999. Without regard to personal safety, Assistant Chief Martin executed a daring rescue of an elderly woman trapped in her flame engulfed residence. He fought heavy flames in the two-story building while pulling the 77 year old resident to safety. Assistant Chief Martin suffered second- and third-degree burns to his face, ears, lower back and hip as the intense flames and heat ignited his fire-retardant equipment. This performance of duty set him apart from all other firemen in the nation and earned him the title of Firefighter of the Year. The 21-year veteran of fire service, husband, and father of two deserves our highest praise. He is among thousands of firefighters who lay their lives on the line for our safety and well-being every day. Upstate New Yorkers owe a lasting debt to Assistant Chief Martin and his firefighting colleagues who sacrifice so much to protect the lives and property of others. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Assistant Chief Martin on his selection as Firefighter of the Year. Please also join me in recognizing his outstanding courage in the face of grave danger and unquestionable dedication to duty. He symbolizes America's greatest heroes.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding me the time. I echo the thoughts of the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) and hope that we can work together in finding a solution. The beauty of this legislation really is that it provides an opportunity for localities and people in communities to really interact and do some positive proactive work. I have got a letter here from a Robert Mac Millan, who is the chairman of the Saratoga Lake Protection and Improvement District. I would like to read it because it will give people the sense of the kinds of things and kinds of people that are interested in this. Dear Congressman Sweeney: I am writing to you in support of your Clean Lakes Bill which will be the subject of a legislative hearing. I am the Chairman of the Saratoga Lake Protection and Improvement District (SLPID). The SLPID was created as political subdivision of New York State in 1986 to supervise, manage, and control Saratoga Lake. Our primary responsibilities are to enhance recreational use of Saratoga Lake, protect real property values, conserve fish and wildlife and enhance the scenic beauty of the Lake. We are funded primarily by a special tax assessment placed by lakefront property owners. This tax assessment was increased 65.9 percent for the tax year 2000 and will still fall short of funding necessary to control all of the actions we need on the Lake. Saratoga Lake is experiencing a major increase in aquatic weed growth and zebra mussels which adversely affects all aspects of our Lake. One of the most invasive weeds is Eurasian Water Milfoil, a plant not native to North America. Our primary method of weed control has been mechanical harvesting, but we find that harvesting is not accomplishing control of the aquatic weed problem. We have applied for a permit from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to treat two of the problem areas in the Lake with aquatic herbicide. This treatment will be closely monitored for effectiveness and incorporated in a lake watershed and management plan which is presently ongoing. I am aware of the Federal Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 which was to mitigate the financial impact of non-indigenous aquatic species such as Eurasian Water Milfoil and zebra mussels on local governments. Our current effort to control the weed in Saratoga Lake through the use of an EPA and New York State approved herbicide may be an excellent demonstration project which could be useful to other lakes experiencing similar problems with non-native aquatic species. Providing our treatment efforts are successful this year we hope to obtain funding to accomplish a whole lake treatment during 2001. Mr. Chairman, I read this letter and bring this letter to the floor to point out this will be the norm. This will be the norm that occurs throughout this Nation as we fight to preserve our clean water sources. This bill being passed today is coming at a crucial time, as I stated before, especially since we have taken many significant steps in the last decade to reduce the effects of pollutants, especially nitrates and sulfur dioxide throughout. But in some respects, we are losing that battle. This will provide us a ground-up approach to that effort. This will give us the opportunity for people in the local communities to fight for these valuable resources. I am very proud to be the sponsor of this bill, and I look forward to its implementation.

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I first want to start by thanking my chairman, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Shuster), from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for providing the great leadership, the great management skills and guidance throughout all of the dealings in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; as well as the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar); the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski), the ranking member on the subcommittee. When I came to Congress a year and a half ago, a lot of people said that Republicans and Democrats could not work together; we could not get the people's business done. I think if the American people were to look at the work being done by this Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, they would be incredibly impressed. As a freshman Member of Congress, I know I am and I am thankful. I am thankful because this piece of legislation is being passed today at a very important time. Recently, Mr. Chairman, the GAO released a study that I had requested on the problem of acid rain in the Adirondack Mountains, which is a region that is consumed by the 22nd Congressional District, which I represent. The results were striking. Many of our lakes in the Adirondacks are increasingly at risk from acid rain, much more than the EPA had originally forecast. Despite power plant emissions reductions under the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, nearly half of our lakes have shown an increase in nitrogen levels. In fact, last year a similar EPA study showed an expansion of the effects of acid rain throughout. However, acid rain is not the only problem that our Nation's lakes are facing. They are facing problems such as invasive species, degraded shorelines, mercury contamination, wetland loss, lake-use conflicts, fisheries imbalances, and nonpoint source pollution, are all threatening our 41 million acres of freshwater lakes. This is part of the reason why I introduced H.R. 2328, and the other is because my district, as in many parts of the Nation, the lakes are a way of life. They provide a quality of life for the citizens who live near them. Whether it is tourism, drinking water, the natural habitat for many species of birds, fish and other animals, or simply recreation, many communities derive their livelihood from freshwater sources. Additionally, Mr. Chairman, I should point out that I have been disappointed in the EPA's attempt to shift funding requests under this program to section 319, which deals with nonpoint source pollution management. Our lakes are important enough to qualify and compete with other programs for Federal funding, and that is why we need this reauthorization program today. I believe this program is something we can all agree on. During its heyday in the 1970s and the 1980s, this program was popular with grass- roots organizations and citizens because it offered them the opportunity to work with Federal, State, and local entities on both prevention and remediation of pollution. Fundamentally, this program focuses on restoration, not regulation. Some of the past successes included what happened in the State of Florida, when they did an assessment of the 7,000 freshwater lakes to set up a lake management priority system. The grant helped the State prioritize its lakes and their watershed for remedial management programs. In New York and Vermont they used a grant and teamed up to assess phosphorus pollution in Lake Champlain and set up a plan to monitor the phosphorous load in the lake. North Dakota used a clean lakes grant to seek correlations between micro-invertebrate communities and the trophic status of lakes. The results of these grants can help other States that might face similar problems, and without this program States and their communities will probably not have the resources or technical expertise to conduct studies for themselves. Mr. Chairman, this is a positive environmental initiative that I think a broad group of philosophies in this House can agree upon. It will provide resources to the most local levels of government to address environmental challenges in our lakes. Previously, the Clean Lakes program was a uniquely effective, cost- efficient environmental program that provided seed money to State lake programs to projects on public lakes. Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation, and again I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Shuster) for his leadership on this issue.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to speak about one of the 20th century's early atrocities, the Armenian genocide. It is a subject that is very near and dear to my heart as my own grandfather was a witness to the bloodshed firsthand. While the genocide began well before the turn of the past century, April 24 marks an important date that we as citizens and human beings need to remember. It was when 254 Armenian intellectuals were arrested by Turkish authorities in Istanbul and taken to the provinces of Ayash and Chankiri, where many of them were later massacred. Throughout the genocide, Turkish authorities ordered the evacuations of Armenians out of villages in Turkish Armenia and Asia Minor. As the villages were evacuated, men were often shot immediately. Women and children were forced to walk limitless distances to the south where, if they survived, many were raped and put into concentration camps. Prisoners were starved, beaten, and murdered by unmerciful guards. This was not a case for everyone, though. Not everyone was sent to concentration camps. For example, many innocent people were put on ships and then thrown overboard into the Black Sea. The atrocities of the Armenian genocide were still being carried out in 1921 when Kemalists were found abusing and starving prisoners to death. In total, approximately 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a 28-year period. This does not include the half million or more who were forced to leave their homes and flee to foreign countries. Together with Armenians all over the world and people of conscience, I would like to honor those who lost their homes, their freedom, and their lives during this dark period. Many survivors of the genocide came to the United States seeking a new beginning, my grandfather among them. The experiences of his childhood fueled his desire for freedom for his Armenian homeland in the First World War, so he returned there, where he was awarded two Russian Medals of Honor for bravery in the fight against fascism. It is important that we not forget about these terrible atrocities, because as Winston Churchill said, those who do not learn from the past are destined to repeat it. Since the atrocity, Armenia has taken great strides, achieving its independence over 8 years ago. Then it was a captive Nation struggling to preserve its centuries-old traditions and customs. Today the Republic of Armenia is an independent, freedom-loving Nation and a friend of the United States and to the democratic world. Monday, April 24, will mark the 85th anniversary of one of the most gruesome human atrocities in the 20th century. Sadly, it was the systematic killing of 1.5 million Armenian men and women. Ironically, Mr. Speaker, it was none other than Adolph Hitler who began to immortalize the Armenian atrocities when he, questioning those who were questioning his own determination to commit his own atrocities and his own genocide, he said, After all, who will remember the Armenians? As we do not ignore the occurrence of the Nazi Holocaust, we must not ignore the Armenian genocide. Many people across the world will concede this is a very tender and difficult event to discuss, but in order for us to discontinue the mistakes of the past we must never forget it happened, and we must never stop speaking out against such horrors. As a strong and fervent supporter of the Republic of Armenia, I am alarmed that the Turkish government is still refusing to acknowledge what happened and instead is attempting to rewrite history. It is vital that we do not let political agendas get in the way of doing what is right. Mr. Speaker, I call upon the Turkish government to accept complete accountability for the Armenian genocide. To heal the wounds of the past, the Turkish government must first recognize its responsibility for the actions of past leaders. Nothing we can do or say will bring back those who perished, but we can honor those who lost their homes, their freedom, their lives, by teaching future generations the lessons of this atrocity.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the H.J. Res. 94 and commend my colleagues from Texas for advancing this important legislation. Requiring a two-thirds supermajority for tax increases is one of the most critical hurdles we can erect to check future growth in government. This supermajority requirement for tax increases is a tested model that has proven effective. Fourteen states now have tax limitation amendments in place and have shown great progress in restraining taxes and spending. It is no accident that those states are among the most impressive economic growth states in the nation. Alternatively, as a resident of upstate New York where we suffer one of the highest tax burdens in the nation, I have seen firsthand how big government and escalating tax rates stifle economic growth. For many decades, Democratic leadership in New York enacted tax increase after tax increase and government expanded practically unchecked. Upstate New York is not sharing in the nation's economic prosperity and is in fact seeing its population leave for opportunities in other regions of the country. This is painful for me as a father of three who would like to see opportunities for my children to spend their lives in upstate New York. If upstate New York were a state by itself, it would rank near the bottom in terms of economic growth. I believe it is the tax climate that has driven job growth away from our region. Therefore, this amendment before us today is extremely important effort to show that government can check itself. Mr. Speaker, this is important legislation. I thank my friend, Mr. Sessions, for his hard work on this issue and urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I want to say, a year ago I rose on this floor with my colleagues the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner) in opposition to this bill. I come today in support of this particular provision. I rose in opposition a year ago because I was concerned about the effects on criminal justice and specifically the effects on law enforcement, but I have to point out that the chairman and the Committee on the Judiciary, as has been noted, in a bipartisan manner has done a tremendous job to ease those concerns. They have provided us great improvements on the bill. The compromise provides important procedural protections to law-abiding property owners without compromising law enforcement's ability to shut down criminal enterprises. Specifically the bill shifts the burden of proof in forfeiture cases from property owners to the government with the appropriate threshold of a preponderance of the evidence. The compromise also limits the appointment of court-appointed lawyers to indigent claimants whose primary residence is subject to forfeiture. I want to say that there is one concern that I have and I think a couple of my colleagues have as well as it relates to this legislation, and, that is, that we have a continuing reservation that the removal of the cost bond requirement could impair the asset forfeiture program in the future. We know that the Justice Department is already overwhelmed with challenges to asset seizures, and I am fearful that the removal of the cost bond could further paralyze that effort. But let me say this, I hope to and I know my colleagues who stood with me a year ago hope to work with the chairman and the committee to oversee the implementation of cost bond provisions requiring up-front certification and posthearing penalties and ensure that my fears do not become a reality for law enforcement. But overall, Mr. Speaker, this is a victory for the American people. I want to salute the Committee on the Judiciary and its great chairman. I urge support for this bill.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Mr. Bradley Fay, a nine year old hero, who inspires residents from my district through is tireless efforts in support of increased funding for diabetes research. Bradley, from Chatham, New York, was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes four and one half years ago. Since that time, Bradley has led a local crusade to educate citizens about the disease and raise additional funds to find a cure for diabetes. Bradley fights to live a normal life in his upstate New York home--as normal as possible around the daily ritual of finger prick blood sugar tests, five insulin shots, and a strictly regimented diet. He actively participates in soccer, swimming, track, and the Boy Scouts. He also sings and plays the drums and bass. Bradley recently visited my Washington, DC office in his role as Diabetes Ambassador for the American Diabetes Association. He won the trip by collecting 2,500 signatures on a petition in support of finding a cure for the disease. Bradley spent countless hours speaking to local citizens enroute to achieving his goal. I thank Bradley for educating the citizens of my district, as well as bringing his enthusiastic message to Capitol Hill. Bradley's determination and desire to cure diabetes is commendable. I join Bradley in advocating a $1 billion budget increase for diabetes research at the National Institutes of Health. Diabetes is a serious, debilitating, and deadly disease that must be cured. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the accomplishments of Bradley Fay and his Herculean efforts to increase funding for diabetes research. Also, please join me in advocating a budget increase to find a cure for this disease.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1776, ``The American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000'' and am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation. Many citizens in my district dream of owning their own home. Rising costs of living and increased amounts of government regulation often hinder the pursuit of this dream. Fulfillment of this ambition is sometimes unattainable without some form of assistance. H.R. 1776 provides that required assistance. The bill affords lower and moderate income families the opportunity to buy rather than rent housing, thus allowing them to realize the American dream. This legislation streamlines the regulatory regime to make it easier for state and local officials to tailor housing for the needy to local requirements. This Act creates a HOME Loan Guarantee program to allow communities within my district to tap into future HOME grants for affordable housing development. HOME is one of the most successful Federal block grant programs because it creates affordable housing for low-income families in rural areas. The HOME program provides a flexible resource to States and localities to increase the supply of affordable housing, through both construction and rehabilitation. I plan to hold a Housing and Economic Development Forum in my own Congressional District later this month and am proud to trumpet H.R. 1776 as a positive achievement of this Congress. I will gather with developers, non-profit housing organizations, community bankers, state and local officials, and community development professionals to explore how our communities can best develop affordable housing and stimulate economic growth. Many of the programs established in The American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act will aid us in accomplishing that goal. The citizens of my district eagerly anticipate enactment of H.R. 1776 and the joys of owning their own home. Investing in a home is the most significant equity investment for families throughout the country. We all know that housing needs to be more affordable and accessible for homeowners and H.R. 1776 provides important tools to hard working American families looking to achieve the dream of home ownership. Mr. Chairman, please join me in voting for this bill.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I am not a member of the Committee on the Budget and have not been part of the process that caused this incredible debt that caused this high taxation or that has caused repeated raids on the Social Security system, but I am proud to be part of the solution. I am proud to support this budget which strengthens Medicare. I am proud to be part of this process that pays down the national debt. I am proud to support this budget that provides tax relief in the areas of marriage penalty tax, death tax, education, health care, and repeal of seniors' earning limitations. I am proud to support this budget which strengthens national defense, strengthens education funding, aggressively attacks waste and fraud. Lastly, I am proud to support this Republican budget which strengthens and protects Social Security and permanently ends the raid on that. I am proud to do that, Mr. Chairman, as the father of three children, because I am proud to give them the future and America's children the future they deserve.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this legislation that takes a reasonable first step at illuminating the failure of our nation's energy policy. Gene Sperling, the chief economic advisor in the Clinton Administration might have it right when he calls their dealings with OPEC ```Quiet Diplomacy.'' `Quiet'' is what this Administration's reaction has been since experts began warning of an impending crisis last November. The silence is deafening. In the Northeast, we've been calling for help for months. I contacted the Administration in January to urge action, and I know many of my colleagues here did as well. We received what I would call a ``quiet'' response. Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. After a winter of economic hardship for so many in the Northeast, Spring breaks with no promise of easing their burden. While the rest of the nation reels from daily-increasing gas prices, we in the Northeast have been suffering for many months. Mr. Chairman, Northeasterners' budgets continue to get socked, the only difference being it hits at the gas pump instead of their heating oil tanks. Silence from the Clinton Administration. I would ask the President, when are you going to start feeling our pain? ``Quiet'' does not describe the anger of my constituents bearing this burden. ``Quiet'' does not describe my response or that of my colleagues joining me here today. We are here to raise the volume on this debate and talk about ensuring a consistent energy policy. An energy policy that promotes reasonable fuel prices through the growth of domestic oil production. A policy that supports alternative energy sources, takes the needs of America into account and preserves the environment. Mr. Chairman, by ending the silence I hope we can forge a consensus and move towards a sound energy policy.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), our distinguished chairman, for yielding me this time. In my brief period of time, let me just say that this is a great day of hope for the region of the country that I represent, a region that has been termed by the FAA as an underserviced area. This is a day of hope because it provides the necessary and requisite Federal resources that will give the people of that area the opportunity to connect with the rest of the world so that we can compete economically. I want to salute and congratulate the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I want to thank him for the opportunity not only to serve as vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation in the Year of Aviation but also for the opportunity to have served as a conferee on this conference. I urge my colleagues to support it. First, I would like to thank Chairman Shuster for all his hard work and dedication to transportation issues--without his leadership--I don't think this body would be considering such a landmark piece of legislation. Legislation that improves Air Safety, improves competition, preserves the environment, helps small communities, reforms the FAA, restores the trust in Aviation Trust Funds, and most importantly, helps passengers and pilots. As the only freshman member of Congress on the Conference Committee, I was fortunate to work so close with the Chairman and the Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John Duncan. These two gentleman's commitment to making our skies safer and more accessible to passengers is truly remarkable and commendable. I urge all my colleagues to support this conference report. Help us finish the work started by AIR-21 when the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 1000 last year. This conference report will help every segment of the aviation industry. I'd like to focus on how it will help the great state of New York. For example, the following small airports in my district will benefit by having a small, but dedicated, annual revenue stream that they can tap into to make the airport a better place for passengers and pilots alike. This money will allow airports to start projects like installing runway lighting for improved safety, purchase snow removal equipment, update the airport plans for growth. Adirondack Regional Airport in Saranac Lake, Seneca Falls, Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, Ticonderoga, Schroon Lake, and Hudson. Larger airports in New York will also benefit from this bill. Albany International Airport, which serves my district will receive twice as much as it did under the old funding formula. Under this bill it will receive an additional $2 million per year. Each year that money can go for excellent projects like navigation aides to improve safety, runway renovations, and acquiring land to expand safety areas. This is the consummate Win-Win-Win conference report. Passengers win by having improved safety and competition. Airports win by having a larger dedicated funding stream so they improve their facilities--which in turn helps passengers and pilots. Airlines win because this bill takes the first step in modernizing the air traffic control system--helping improve arrival and departures on time--which also help passengers. In the end, this bill will ensure that America's air transportation system is one of the finest in the world. Thank you again Chairmen Shuster and Duncan for all of your hard work in bringing this bill to the floor. I urge all my colleagues to support this conference report.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent) for yielding me this time, and I congratulate him and the ranking member for their fine work on this reauthorization bill. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to recognize an institution and engine for economic development in the great State of New York, the New York State Small Business Development Center. The center is the largest and most effective organization working directly with the State's small business community to ensure it survives and flourishes. Companies grow from entrepreneurs with dreams. The growth of tomorrow's companies will be as dramatic or beneficial as the past generation of start-ups if we do not ignore their needs and, where possible, we reduce the burdens placed upon them. That is because today's business environment is simply too complex and cumbersome to give the current entrepreneurs the same chance of success. Without an affirmative offer of help and assistance, we are stifling the very backbone that built this great Nation. Mr. Chairman, for the past 16 years, the New York State Small Business Development Center has done just that. It has bridged the gap between government and the entrepreneurial sector to accomplish results. Since its founding in 1984, the program staff has worked with over 142,000 New York entrepreneurs and small business owners one on one, helping them acquire and invest over $1.42 billion and funding their business dreams and, importantly, creating jobs for others. In fact, these entrepreneurs have reported that their investments created or saved 65,000 jobs in New York State alone. The SBDC does this by delivering critical outside expertise in the form of business counseling and training centers through 22 regional offices located on campuses of the State University of New York City and the State University of New York and private universities throughout New York. The SBDC staff works one on one with entrepreneurs to find sources of funding new markets, new technologies, or simply better ways to deal with the changes in our new economy. As a result, the SBDC serves all New Yorkers. In particular, the SBDC, by prioritizing its interests and its needs, provides help to members of our community that have not always been well represented in our business sector, such as women, minorities, veterans, and the disabled. It also emphasizes the economic development priorities of New York State, including international trade and the encouragement of technology-based industries. As the former State labor commissioner in New York, it was my job to work aggressively on job creation. I speak today of the SBDC's commitment with that full knowledge and understanding that they are a critical component, and I ask all my colleagues in this House to join with me today in showing our resolve by contributing to the further growth and success of this program, our most cherished resource, our entrepreneurial citizens.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I am here to talk about a specific provision that is part of this bill, and I think it really points out the difference between what our philosophy is and what the other side believes in. It is the installment tax consumer credit that is part of this bill, repealed last year by the administration as a revenue enhancer. What the administration prefers to do is force the hard-working American families, those in the small business community, to pay taxes even before they receive payment for the sale of their business. And it has real human impact. For example, several months ago Dorothy and George Long arranged for the sale of their bed and breakfast in my district in Upstate New York. They had worked for over 30 years to build this business, and now they were looking forward to the sale of the business so they could retire. Unfortunately, they may have to reconsider those plans because they are, with the current structure, left with three very tough choices: take a loan out in order to pay for the capital gains tax immediately due, break their contract and face a lawsuit, or suffer the consequences of nonpayment of taxes. Mr. Speaker, I think that it is very important that we pass this bill today because we have to ensure that small businesses remain healthy. And providing for these kinds of tax reductions in small business will do that.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution. When war broke out in Korea, America plunged headlong into conflict half a world away without even a week's notice. Brave men and women from around our great nation responded immediately to the call for help. They left families, traveled thousands of miles from home to the Korean peninsula, fought fiercely for freedom, and turned back the tide of communist aggression. Some may call Korea the ``Forgotten War'', but we must never forget the enormous sacrifices these fine American's made. I fill with pride as I listen to veterans from my district speak of their Korean War experiences. One can only imagine the horrors of war they underwent. I salute those who endured the bitter cold, driving monsoon rains, nerve- racking machine gun fire, and relentless bombardment in their successful attempt to protect freedom for all. It is time, Mr. Speaker, to recognize and honor these great Americans. General Matthew Ridgeway, 8th United States Army Commander, best described what the service men and women were fighting for under his command in Korea. He accurately noted ``this has long since ceased to be a fight for freedom for our Korean Allies alone and for their national survival. It has become, and it continues to be, a fight for our own freedom, for our own survival, in an honorable, independent national existence.'' Our fine men and women fought to uphold the principles of our democracy. They fought for our liberty. Let us never forget the 5,720,000 Americans who nobly served on land, in the air, and at sea during the Korean War. Their sacrifices were immeasurable and accomplishments great in places like Pusan, Chosen Reservoir, Yalu River, and Inchon. They faced an enemy of superior number, but never their equal in determination and fortitude. These Americans took the first stand against communism and won. The Korean War taught us several things which are applicable today. First, it reminds us to recognize, appreciate and take care of the veterans who fought for this country. Let us continue to build upon our first session successes in regards to veterans legislation. We must honor our commitment to veterans, as they honored their obligations in Korea. It also reminds us of the importance of having a fully manned, equipped, and trained force. Ready forces deter the type of aggression we saw exhibited in Korea. America's forces must have the resources to be able to protect our freedom. Mr. Speaker, please join me in supporting House Joint Resolution 86, recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War. America's men and women served bravely and deserve our highest recognition.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise very briefly to congratulate the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Archer). I rise in strong support to repeal the earnings limitation for Social Security recipients. I am particularly pleased to be an original cosponsor of this legislation. And I want to congratulate the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Johnson). We have had a lot of debate and discussion over whose idea this was, but I think the record is very clear and will very clearly show that we, the majority in Congress, over the last 5 to 6 years have really begun to move forward in a meaningful way to bring steps towards comprehensive reform of Social Security. I am proud to join that effort. This is good for senior citizens, and it is good for America. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support us in this endeavor.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today in support of H.R. 3357, legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to John Cardinal O'Connor. I want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) for introducing this legislation and for the great work that he has done in this body in bringing forward this legislation so that Congress may bestow its highest honor upon one of the most respected spiritual leaders in my great State of New York and our Nation and in the world. Cardinal O'Connor celebrated his 80th birthday earlier this year amid standing ovations throughout. And I am pleased that we offer today our own ovation here on the floor in the form of the Congressional Gold Medal. Mr. Speaker, his 54 years of devoted service as an ordained priest in the Catholic Church has shown him to be a cardinal of the people. He is a tireless advocate of charitable giving; reaching out to the homeless, the elderly, the sick and anyone needing a helping hand. His teaching and deeds on behalf of those less fortunate are truly an inspiration. We owe our thanks to John Cardinal O'Connor for over 3 decades of service to the men and women of our military, as chaplain of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and then as bishop for the Armed Services of the United States. Mr. Speaker, we owe John Cardinal O'Connor our deepest gratitude for a lifetime of devoted service to the Catholic Church, to our Nation and its people. Although illness has presented new challenges to Cardinal O'Connor's strength and his retirement is near, I am certain we have not seen the end of his service. The Congressional Gold Medal is the greatest honor that this House can extend to an individual, and there is none more deserving than John Cardinal O'Connor. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. LaFalce. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor New York State's Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Marilyn Lance of East Greenbush, New York. Mrs. Lance surpassed nearly sixty other candidates to win the highly coveted award, which is affiliated with the national Teacher of the Year program. Mrs. Lance is the first Capitol Region teacher to win the award in twenty four years. Marilyn Lance has dedicated the last 27 years to upholding the hopes and dreams of hundreds of children in the Averill Park Central School District. Optimism and positive vibes permeate from her classroom. She believes every child can achieve and provide the spark required to ignite their creativity, imagination and interest. Children embrace her caring demeanor and rise to meet her high academic standards. Mrs. Lance brings a special set of skills into her class of first and second graders. She never asks a child to do something they can't do and has a knack for bringing out the best in every student. Student success is her top priority. Her reward is seeing students grow and learn. She truly cares about each and every student. Mrs. Lance meets their needs at every level: educational, emotional, and spiritual. Children in her class are treated with respect and learn the value of kindness and decency. I commend her efforts to provide a rich, intellectually stimulating environment in which children learn the vital skills required to be successful in our society. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Marilyn Lance on her selection as New York State Teacher of the Year. Also, please join me in wishing her the very best of luck in the upcoming National Teacher of the Year competition.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner), for joining me today as we introduce the very important piece of legislation, the Installment Tax Correction Act of 2000. This is indeed important legislation, as I said, introduced earlier, which is intended to correct an egregious error committed as part of the tax reconciliation legislation passed last year. This matter affects hundreds of thousands of small business owners throughout America, and makes it a high priority for this coming congressional legislative session. That is evidenced by the fact, Mr. Speaker, that over 70 of our colleagues have already joined as cosponsors in this legislation. This legislation is intended to restore an important tax tool for small businesses, to allow small business owners to be able to transfer their businesses more correctly and equitably. Under the accrual method of accounting, owners of small businesses utilize installment payments to spread the capital gains tax burden of selling their business over a number of years, and are common for situations where the sellers continue to stay involved in the business. In many instances, the current Section 536 adversely affects the sale of closely-held businesses. With many business sales, bank financing is either unavailable or not cost-effective, so often the seller will act as a bank for a portion of the total sales price and carry the note, receiving installment payments over a number of years. Under Section 536, this is still possible, but the IRS requires the capital gains they realize on the sale to be reported in 1 year, rather than over the life of the note. Sadly, sales of businesses across the country have already been disrupted. Without the use of installment arrangements, small business owners who seek to sell or transfer their businesses have had to decrease their asking price. In many cases, the tax bill exceeds the first year's payment, and as a result, sellers cannot afford to pay, and often find themselves abandoning their sales entirely. Mr. Speaker, many owners rely on the sale of their business to finance their retirement. Without the installment sales option, they have to postpone their retirement dreams. In fact, I know this firsthand. Immediately after we recessed last session of Congress, I received a number of calls from constituents complaining of this very effect. Mr. Speaker, the loss of installment sales is not only detrimental to hundreds of thousands of small businesses in the country, or the tens of thousands of small businesses upon which my district is built, but it in fact has affected the real ability for those folks to transfer their businesses and move on with commerce. In fact, Mr. Speaker, 90 percent of all businesses in my district are small businesses, including Mr. and Mrs. Long of Salt Point, New York, who currently feel the onerous effect of this provision. Several months ago, Dorothy and George Long arranged for the sale of their resort, located in beautiful Lake George, New York. Unfortunately, they are now suffering the consequences of this provision in a real and immediate way. Mr. and Mrs. Long were relying on this sale to finance their retirement, and are now faced with one of three options: one, they take a loan out in order to pay for the capital gains tax; or two, they break their contract and face a lawsuit; or three, they suffer the consequences of nonpayment of taxes. Talk about being put in between a rock and a hard place. What my colleagues and I are proposing is a 556 fix. It is essential that we work together to stop the damage to our local economies, its effect on the hardworking people throughout America. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues here today for taking the first step with me towards fixing this inequity. I ask now that we move expeditiously so that the further damage that we have already caused on the small working businesspeople throughout America is mitigated.