John Sweeney

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on one of the infamous days for the citizens of New York's 22nd congressional district, a district that I represent. That is because yesterday, regrettably, the EPA Administrator leaked to the press her decision to dredge over 40 miles, 2.6 million cubic yards, 100,000 dump-truck loads of sludge from the bottom of the Hudson River. This is after much debate and much study but, more importantly, after weeks of negotiation where we sought to bring the parties together so that we could find an amicable and immediate solution. This decision will wreak havoc on the citizens of the 22nd Congressional District. I would ask my colleagues to imagine, imagine finding out that your life has been turned upside down through a press leak; imagine knowing that this could lead to the seizure of your home, of your property, a change of your quality of life; imagine for 20 years, fighting on an issue in which almost every public-appointed and elected official has abandoned you, and then having this occur to you. Mr. Speaker, shame on the EPA, shame on the administrator. I vow to continue this fight on behalf of the citizens of the 22nd Congressional District.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the assistance of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), the chairman, over the past months and years to address what has become an important and divisive area in our district, and that is our national environmental policy on contaminated sediments and, specifically, EPA's policy on contaminated sediments in the Hudson River. By now, many in Washington and throughout the East Coast have heard of this controversy. I happen to represent the district in which the proposed 40 miles of dredging would occur. Let us remember, Mr. Chairman, the EPA, in the closing months of the Clinton administration, proposed a massive environmental dredging project that would drastically affect both the ecology of the Upper Hudson River and the economies of the communities along its banks. This is a decision that the vast majority of the people in the communities that I represent, who are directly impacted, are rightly concerned about and concerned about the long-term impacts of any project and the scientific basis for it. As it is, for the past several years the committee report has directed the EPA with respect to its policies on contaminated sediments. Specifically, the committee report states, ``For fiscal years 1999 through 2001, the Congress included specific direction to EPA regarding the Agency's ordering of dredging or other invasive sediment remediation technologies pending the National Academy of Sciences' completion of a study intended to address dredging, capping, source control, natural recovery, and disposal of contaminated sediment, and comparing the risks of each technology. ``The committee notes that this study has been completed and published, and to the greatest extent practicable, expects the Agency to adopt as part of its own sediment remediation strategies those guidelines as presented in the Academy report.'' Mr. Chairman, it is critical. It is critically important that the EPA follow this direction and implement the NAS recommendations, which were highly critical of community outreach efforts with respect to its review of the Hudson River PCB contamination. In fact, the NAS found the EPA community involvement process in the Hudson to be a failure. Mr. Chairman, with EPA's cooperation, the NAS recommendations will inject sound science into a policy on the Hudson River that has unfortunately been driven by other agendas. I want to remind everyone looking at this issue why I am concerned about the EPA's dredging and landfilling proposals. As background, the Hudson Valley residents, having twice now been lied to or misled by the EPA, are understandably concerned about the impact of the largest environmental dredging project in history on the ecology of the river and the negative impacts on the region's economy. First, in 1997, the EPA was forced to reveal that it was conducting secret studies on the Hudson Valley farmland for siting of PCB landfills, after many months of deliberately deceiving the public as to the existence of those studies. They were looking, Mr. Chairman, effectively, by virtue of eminent domain proceedings, to take the valuable farmlands, the property, the homes of the residents that I represent. After this revelation and subsequent congressional hearings, EPA officials committed to prevent this type of public deception from ever happening again. Sadly, and secondly, questions continue to exist on the logistics of handling and disposing of 100,000 truckloads, 100,000 truckloads, of PCB-contaminated sediment and the disruption it would bring to the river. When the EPA released its report and proposed remediation plan for the Upper Hudson on December 12, 2000, Administrator Carol Browner and other EPA officials broadly discussed the possibility of siting two hazardous waste dewatering facilities at Moreau and Albany, New York. EPA officials flatly denied that the EPA had gone far enough to propose additional sites for such handling facilities. On February 5 of this year, responding to a Freedom of Information request by CEASE, a local grassroots organization, the EPA was forced to release an internal memo identifying 12 such sites that the EPA was looking at to create those facilities. Mr. Chairman, it seems that, on the issues most sensitive to local residents in this particular incident, the EPA's history indicates that its preferred policy is to hide from the public. This is a serious problem. It is important for my constituents in the 22nd Congressional District, and I think for all New Yorkers, to have confidence that the NAS scientific recommendations are properly considered. Mr. Chairman, I include for the Record an editorial from today's Journal News located in downstate Westchester County, New York, that points out that ``dredging would cause short-term elevations of PCB levels downriver. . . . It would damage marshlands, which might not be able to recover. And it might not, after all, thoroughly clean PCBs from the riverbed. ``With that much doubt still lingering about the safety and effectiveness of wholesale dredging, a limited approach sounds more like sensible prudence than a sellout.'' Mr. Chairman, again I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Chairman Walsh) for his effort; and I would ask that all Members look at this issue.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, recently, the Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin- based national dairy farm magazine, Hoard's Dairyman, on its editorial page, expressed its support for the continuation of the Northeast Dairy Compact and allowing other regions of the country to form their own compacts. As a representative of a Congressional District with a large dairy producing population, and as a strong advocate of States' rights, I implore my fellow Members to keep an open mind on the complex interstate dairy compact issues. I would like to read this thought-provoking editorial from the prestigious dairy magazine from the heart of dairy country, Wisconsin. ``Editorial comment: Compact Divisiveness Could Damage Our Industry. Hoard's Dairyman. Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. July 2001. ``Dairy compacts, in the eyes of their proponents, help stabilize and boost dairy farmer incomes by flooring Class I prices. Opponents see compacts as an unconstitutional restraint of commerce, a rip-off of consumers and processors, and distortion of supply and demand. We see the compact ``cup'' as being half full rather than half empty. That is why we support continuation and extension of the compact concept. We do so for the same reasons we work together to improve and stabilize their incomes. ``To us, compact pricing is of little difference to the overorder Class I premiums negotiated across the country by the dozen or more groups of dairy co-ops working together. Compacts are different in that they are not voluntary. Rebel processors and producers cannot circumvent the system by undercutting established prices. And unlike marketing federation boards, compact commissions represent consumers, processors, as well as producers. ``The Northeast Dairy Compact has improved incomes for dairy farm families, without hurting milk consumption or adding to price support costs. There is even a provision for leaving food programs, such as Women, Infants, and Children programs, unaffected by higher milk prices. Nor has the Northeast Compact contributed to lower Class III prices, as many in the upper Midwest contend. We see no reason to prevent dairy farmers in the South or other regions from working together the same way. ``Our biggest fear about compacts is that the issue will further divide the industry that needs cohesion more than ever. Unless cooler heads prevail, we will shoot ourselves in the foot over compacts just as we have on many other issues.'' Mr. Speaker, it is a myth that upper Midwest farmers oppose dairy compacts. I urge my colleagues to pay attention to the growing support from across the country for dairy compacts. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle from all States to advance this important legislation.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Joint Resolution 36--The Flag Protection Constitutional Amendment. In doing so, I rise to defend and protect the very symbol of our nation's unyielding promise of hope and opportunity. I rise to defend the memory of countless Americans, both men and women, who sacrificed their lives fighting for their country in time of war so that the values and ideals represented by our nation's symbol could be protected. I rise to defend the integrity and the mission of our men and women in the armed forces today, who stand in defense of our Nation's Flag on American * * * as well as foreign soil around the world, so that the very symbol of their commitment to those American values will not be compromised. The desecration, destruction and disrespect of our nation's Flag are contemptible acts against our nation's principles. The protection of our National Symbol from desecration is an essential part of preserving our Nation's sense of duty, citizenship and allegiance to a community fabric unlike that of any other nation. We must protect our Constitution from those seeking to distort it while cloaking themselves in a disguise of free speech. The American people cry out for us to do so. Forty-nine state legislatures have appealed to this Congress to pass a Flag protection constitutional amendment. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleagues that this a nation that promises more than just life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is a nation that offers as its foundation of principles the dignity, respect and self-sacrifice for the ideals upon which it was built. I urge passage of this resolution because it is the right thing for the Flag, and because it is the right thing for the United States of America.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I basically wanted to stand and commend and congratulate our chairman of the subcommittee, who faced a number of challenges, as well as the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo). This is a comprehensive bill that moves forward the transportation needs of this Nation in a very positive way, connecting road, rail and air. They faced a great many challenges. I come from a State that has huge transportation infrastructure needs. For example, in the New Start program, they faced the challenge that the Federal Transit Administration account has been drawn down to dangerously low levels in the New Start program, and there are a number of programs that need funding. We were able to secure some funding for the New York City area, which has huge and substantial needs. In addition to that, as my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman), pointed out, this bill moves forward in a very positive way. I think it is the first tangible way that any level of government began to look at the use of Stewart Airport as one of the four major airports in the New York metropolitan area. And this is not a Northeast regional issue or problem, it is a national problem, because 30 percent of all delays in air travel come out of that region. If we are able, through the commission of a study in this bill, to find a way to ease that problem, it will have an effect nationally. There are a number of other provisions in this bill that work to serve the Northeast and my constituents, an I-87 corridor study and many other efforts in the high speed rail area, to connect our region. But I want to especially commend the chairman, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), and his staff for their paying attention to these problems, for taking the issues that are at hand here today and working hard with them. In addition, I understand we are going to add some new money into the FAA's General Counsel's office to handle airport-airline complaints. All of those efforts are consumer friendly and are important to moving the agenda forward, and I want to commend the chairman for that.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Chairman, I would like to respond as well to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), my friend and colleague, from the perspective that I am pleased to join the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) as a sponsor on this amendment. The notion that what we are doing here is somehow a violation of fair play is really quite foreign to me at this point. What we are doing in bringing this amendment forward is disallowing the Libyans, the Chinese, those in Sudan and those who throughout the world want to sit in judgment of human rights violations and sit in judgment by excluding and pushing the United States out from that conversation. This amendment is about fighting and protecting human rights throughout the world, Mr. Chairman. Secret ballots at the United Nations enable human rights violators and those who impede our ability to combat international narcotics and other important causes, they push us from that debate and that argument. So I am proud to come forward and offer this amendment, because after all, the greatest sense of leverage we have as a Nation is the fact that we contribute 25 percent for the activities at the United Nations. To not have the United States sitting on the Human Rights Commission is a travesty.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate a historic institution in the 22nd District of New York. The Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company is the oldest bank in Warren County. In 1851, the bank was founded by a dozen pioneering businessmen from the local lumber, limestone, and insurance industries. Under the leadership of its first president, Benjamin Burhans, the bank recorded more than seventeen thousand dollars in deposits in its first month alone. Despite times of turmoil, such as the Civil War, the Great Depression and the two World Wars, Glens Falls National Bank was able to not only prosper, but grow as a dedicated establishment to downtown Glens Falls and the North Country. Although the bank currently has 23 branches, 350 employees, and over one billion dollars in assets, this landmark has been committed to remaining independent and local. Glens Falls National is a true pillar of the North Country. The bank and its employees donate money, time, and hard work to more than 300 charitable and community causes including Glens Falls Hospital, the United Way, and the Adirondack Balloon Festival. Mr. Speaker, as a proud resident of the 22nd Congressional District of New York, I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend those who join me tonight in educating the world about the Armenian Genocide. I think I bring some special province to this occasion in that I am the grandson of Oscar Chaderjain, a first-generation Armenian American, and the son of Mary Chaderjain. So therefore, this is an issue that is near and dear to my heart. Mr. Speaker, for those who question whether the genocide ever occurred in the first instance, I must say that I have no doubt that it did. My grandfather was a first-hand witness to the bloodshed. He often told us of his experience of holding his uncle's arms, with his cousin, as Turkish soldiers executed that grammar school teacher. He also told us that the world first took notice of the genocide on April 24, 1915, when 254 Armenian intellectuals were arrested by Turkish authorities in Istanbul and taken to the distant provinces of Ayash and Chankiri, where many of them were later massacred. Throughout the genocide, Turkish authorities ordered the evacuation of Armenians out of villages in Turkish Armenia and Asia Minor. As they were evacuated, the men were often shot immediately. Prisoners were starved, beaten, and murdered by unmerciful guards. This was not the case for everyone, though. Not everyone was sent to concentration camps. For example, in Trebizond, 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, as has been pointed out, over 1.5 million Armenians were killed. This does not include the half a million or more who were forced to flee their homes and flee to foreign countries. Mr. Speaker, 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 so fueled his desire for freedom for his Armenian homeland that in the first world war he returned there where he was awarded two medals of honor for bravery in his fight against fascism. It is important that we do not forget about these terrible atrocities because, as other speakers have said and as Winston Churchill said, ``Those who do not learn from the past are destined to repeat it.'' For those in America who think this is only a sad story, and it certainly is a sad story, they need to take note that Armenia has taken great strides in achieving its independence over the past 8 years. Once it was a captive nation struggling to preserve its centuries-old customs. Today the Republic of Armenia is an independent, freedom- loving nation and a friend to the United States and to the democratic world. Let us remember today, April 24, 2001, marks the 86th anniversary of one of the most gruesome human atrocities of the 20th century. Sadly, it was the systematic killing of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children. Let us remember that prior to his invasion of Poland in 1939 and subsequent Nazi oppression, Adolph Hitler attempted to justify his own actions by simply stating, ``After all, who remembers the Armenians?'' As we do not ignore the occurrence of the Nazi Holocaust, we must not ignore the Armenian genocide. I believe many people across the world will concede this is a very tender and difficult event to discuss. What we do tonight is not to condemn the Turkish people. Rather, it is to recognize the actions of the past and past wrongs in order to ensure that we do not repeat them. However, as a strong, fervent supporter of the Republic of Armenia, I am alarmed that Turkish Government officials still refuse to acknowledge what happened, and instead are attempting to rewrite history. It is vital that we do not let political agendas get in the way of doing what is right. I will continue to 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 actions of past leaders. Nothing we can do or say, Mr. Speaker, will bring back those who perished; but we can honor those who lost their homes, their freedom, and their lives by teaching future generations the lessons of the atrocities.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, As the former Labor Commissioner for the State of New York, I have a long standing and well known concern for workers rights and worker protection. I strongly believe that our workers are companies' best asset. Our workers are some of the best educated and most productive in the world and they deserve protection from unhealthy worker environments. For this reason I was pleased to see the U.S. Department of Labor work to address workplace injuries. Unfortunately, the rule put forward by the Department of Labor is unnecessarily broad and overreaching. Rather than being limited to jobs that involve numerous repetitive motions or excessive lifting, OSHA has created a rule so enormous in its scope that it regulates every motion in the workplace. Additionally, specific parts of the proposal have been identified by small business as costly and troublesome; a charge I take very seriously. Furthermore, there are charges that many non-work related factors may increase the likelihood of injury, yet OSHA's standard holds employers accountable. Lastly, some critics say there is a lack of consensus in scientific communities as to the causes and proven remedies for repetitive stress injuries. Two specific concerns prompt me to cast a vote of no confidence on the ergonomics rule. Besides the legitimate concerns I have already discussed, I am skeptical of regulations that are put into effect during the final days of an Administration that had eight years to promulgate them. Despite the obvious political aspects of these regulations, the idea that a rule can use a ``one size fits all'' approach to address the immensely complex ergonomics issue is foolhardy at best. Washington has tried this approach before and failed, time and time again. Secondly, the negative impact the 700 pages of regulations will have on small businesses is predictable. It will cost them time and money to decipher them, cost them more to implement, and cause many to simply close up shop. Small businesses are the engine that drives the economy, and the more difficult we make it for them to succeed through unnecessarily burdensome regulations, the more difficult it is for the economy to grow. My vote of no confidence on the ergonomics regulations does not mean I oppose an ergonomics standard; I just oppose this one. I plan to work with Labor Secretary Chao to ensure our workers are protected from unhealthy work environments. Secretary Chao has made clear in a letter to Members of Congress, ``Let me assure you that, in the event a Joint Resolution of Disapproval becomes law, I intend to pursue a comprehensive approach to ergonomics which may include new rulemaking, that addresses the concerns levied against the current standard * * * Repetitive stress injuries in the workplace are an important problem.'' I pledge to work with her to see a quality, common sense, workable ergonomics standard put in place to protect the valued workers of our nation.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the town of Hadley, New York, February 27, 2001. I have always been proud of the heritage and physical beauty of the 22nd Congressional district of New York which I have the privilege to represent. To savor the history and character of the picturesque towns in the Hudson Valley and Adirondack Mountains is the reason that I return home every weekend. We often forget that the real America is the small towns and villages that are rich in pride and culture, and not the bustle of Washington. It is these small towns and villages where the great traditions of this country were founded. I would like to talk about one of these great towns today. Mr. Speaker, the town of Hadley, New York in Saratoga County will be commemorating 200 years of existence since they separated from the nearby towns of Greenfield and Northumberland back in 1801. Hadley is one of the many beautiful river towns that we have in New York State. Located at the southern gateway to the Adirondacks and where the Sacandaga River meets the Hudson River, Hadley has endured many transformations. Like so many of the small river towns, Hadley has seen the rise and fall of the mills. Hadley has been transformed from a mill town to a power source with two dams located inside of the township providing electricity for many New York State residents. Even though many things have changed there, like everywhere else, there is something that still remains an unmistakable part of the town's character. That is the distinct small town charm and the good citizens of Hadley. This can be seen throughout all areas of the town, including the churches, the fire department, and the fields where children play and farmers work. Yes, Mr. Speaker, the neighborly hospitality is one thing that thankfully hasn't changed in Hadley. The pride and values of the citizenry is one of the most admired traits of small towns, not only in New York's 22nd district, but throughout America. Mr. Speaker, I commend the 1628 citizens of Hadley for their commitment to their values and their hard work in organizing a celebration of their heritage. I offer a full written history of the Town of Hadley that I am submitting into the Record. therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride to ask all members of the House of Representatives to join me in paying tribute to the citizens of Hadley on the towns' 200th birthday and also in wishing them many more years of good fortune. Hadley The town of Hadley originated February 27, 1801 from the Town of Greenfield and Northumberland. Corinth was removed in 1818 and a section of the Town of Day in 1819. This town is located in the far northeastern corner of Saratoga County and is nestled in the Kayaderossera Mountains at the southern gateway to the Adirondack Mountains where the Sacandaga River meets the Hudson River. Hadley is surrounded by the Warren County Towns of Stony Creek to the north and Lake Luzerne to the east. Corinth, in Saratoga County is to the south and Day is to the west. We have no record on how Hadley got its name.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege and the pleasure of serving on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the past 2 years. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Shuster) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), have disproven an old thought or an old perception that you cannot have it both ways, you cannot rebuild America's infrastructure and at the same time improve the environmental conditions here, and this is one of the best examples of that. I want to thank them for all of their hard work. Earlier this year, this House passed the Clean Lakes Act by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 420 to 5. I introduced the Clean Lakes bill because I have a strong belief that we can make a difference in preserving the environment for future generations. I am pleased to see the Clean Lakes bill included as amendment to S. 835, and I am proud of the hard work that went into the conference report, and strongly support its passage today. This single bill encompasses eight excellent programs that will advance clean water initiatives across the country and will benefit the generations to come by cleaning up and restoring many of our estuaries, sounds, beaches, bays, basins, keys and lakes. I just want to take a moment to focus specifically on the Clean Lakes Program. Where I am from, which includes the Catskill and Adirondack mountain ranges in upstate New York, the very lives of our lakes are threatened. This bill forwards a number of initiatives that will allow us and give us the resources to fight the fight that we need to, to ensure that their pristine nature and the way of life that many of my constituents know today can be preserved. Again I want to thank both the chairman and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for their terrific work.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I wish to remember Brother James L. Romond, who passed away at the age of 56 on October 9, 2000. Brother James dedicated his entire life to educating and guiding America's youth. He served as Principal at La Salle Institute in Upstate New York since 1982. Brother James was born on September 9, 1944 in Queens, New York and graduated from St. Joseph's Juniorate High School in Barrytown, New York in 1962. He entered the Brothers of the Christian Schools in 1963 and began a life long career of helping others. Brother James earned a bachelors degree in education from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1967. He received his masters degree from Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York in 1971 and Certification in School Administration and Supervision from Fordham University in 1973. Brother James believed that every child could achieve and provided the spark required to ignite their creativity, imagination and interest. He was known for teaching his students the value of community service, especially for the poor and needy. Annually from 1991-98, under the leadership of Brother James, La Salle's students contributed more food to an Upstate New York food drive than any other local school. Additionally, he brought the La Salle students together during Christmas for the annual Toy Drive in which they donated over 500 toys each year for the past 15 years. Brother James cared deeply for the disadvantaged and took steps to help them whenever he could. Brother James was a friend and role model to thousands of youngsters. His presence will be missed in the halls, at the bus stop, and at the school's sporting events. You see, Mr. Speaker, Brother James made it a point to go out to the buses at the end of each school day to give students a few encouraging words and ensure they were safely on their way home. He cheered his students' accomplishments at every sporting event held at the campus. He arrived in his office by 6:00 am each day--ready to guide students through the days activities. Most importantly, he always made himself available to his students--twenty- four hours a day, seven days a week. He created a friendly, kind, and compassionate atmosphere in which students could learn and grow. La Salle Institute in Troy, New York was twice selected as a National School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education during his tenure as principal for grades 6 through 12. Brother James previously served in several capacities at the Good Shepherd School in New York City. He taught grades 6 through 8, served as assistant principal, and fulfilled the role of principal for grades 5 through 8. He was an extraordinary educator who touched his student's hearts and minds and allowed them to believe in themselves. Brother James was also a major force in the planning and development of several major construction projects at La Salle. His innovative planning made it possible for the school to add on a new wing of classrooms, a state-of-the-art library and fully equipped computer room. He also laid the groundwork for construction of a new gymnasium, cafeteria, and modem kitchen facility. Brother James was particularly excited about the plans for the kitchen. He enjoyed cooking very much, and prepared meals at all the senior picnics and faculty and staff occasions. I am sure his students will fondly remember his skills in the kitchen whenever they dine in the new facility. Mr. Speaker, please join me in remembering the significant contributions of Brother James L. Romond. Brother James' dedication to religion and education were admirable, as was his desire to see his students succeed. He was a confidante to many young people and will be remembered as an educational icon whose life mission was to instill moral values and a sense of faith in students.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commmend the valiant sailors of the U.S.S. Cole and to express my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones who suffered losses due to an act of terrorism. On October 12, 2000, the Navy family suffered a tremendous loss, when the U.S.S. Cole fell victim to terrorism while attempting to refuel at the Port of Aden in Yemen. My heart continues to go out to the families and friends of the American sailors who were killed, injured or are still missing. I commend our valiant sailors who responded quickly to this tragedy, minimizing casualties and damage to their ship. It was a honor to assist three families from my District as they waited to hear news on their loved ones. Fortunately, the families and friends of Petty Officer Kevin Benoit of Cairo, NY, Ensign & Deck Division Commander Gregory McDearmon of Ballston Lake, NY, and Chief Petty Officer Charles Sweet of Broadalbin, NY, after hours of waiting, received word that their loved ones were safe. It is important that we always remember that these brave men and women are serving our Nation and we should pay tribute to them. These sailors have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. This is a loss felt by the entire nation. This tragedy highlights the constant dangers faced by our armed forces around the world. Our country must remain vigilant in protecting them from future terrorist or other attacks. Our government must work diligently to protect and provide aid to those who are injured and work with the families who are going through a period of grieving. Again, Mr. Speaker, our prayers go out to the sailors, their families and friends.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate ``A Weekend of Giving Care, A Lifetime of Commitment,'' which will take place around our great nation on December 2-3, 2000. I would also like to recognize one of my constituents, Mr. Martin K. Bayne, of Clinton Park, in Upstate New York, who first advocated establishment of this wonderful celebration. Martin is a 50 year old publisher and long-time advocate for our nation's elders. Mr. Bayne has worked closely on long term care issues with several of my House colleagues in the recent past. His work has been instrumental in beginning the slow, long process of re- establishing our ties with the generation who brought us up, fed us and protected us. A century ago, the average life expectancy was 46 years. Today, improvements in diet and medical practices are keeping us alive to average age of 78. Death, however, is often slow and preceded by years of chronic pain and disability. In 1900, we were usually surrounded by family when we died. Today, we often die alone, surrounded only by the sounds of compressors, ventilators, and electronic displays. In 1900, aging was a normal part of our life, and an important intergenerational bond within the family. It signaled the natural cycle of birth and death, like the changing of the seasons. Today, aging is an aberration in a culture that is fixated--some say obsessed--on eternal youthfulness. Unfortunately, the old are sometimes even shunned, ignored, abused, and neglected. As a show of commitment to our elder citizens, Martin Bayne proposed setting aside the first week in December as ``A Weekend of Giving Care, A Lifetime of Commitment.'' On that weekend, Mr. Bayne, who himself lives with the daily challenges of advanced Parkinson's Disease, will join other members of his community to volunteer in an elder care facility as a demonstration of their genuine commitment to the nation's oldest citizens--a generation too often forgotten and too seldom embraced. ``A Weekend of Giving Care, A Lifetime of Commitment'' will be an opportunity for many elder Americans to see beyond the health challenges of aging. This event also honors a sacred covenant and repays a debt. Our elders were responsible for our care and safety as infants. Now, the wheel of life comes full circle, and we must be mindful and ever vigilant of the well-being of our parents' generation. Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating ``A Weekend of Giving Care, A Lifetime of Commitment.'' This celebration is an important step in showing our care and concern for elders in this nation. I salute Mr. Martin K. Bayne's efforts to establish this vital celebration, as well as all those volunteers who will participate in the event. I hope our nation pays close attention to the celebration on December 2-3, 2000 and carries the ``Lifetime of Commitment'' message forward in an attempt to provide respectable treatment and care to all our aging Americans.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) for his thorough and responsible work, and let him know that I appreciate his assistance over the past months to address an important and divisive issue in my congressional district; that is, our national policy on contaminated sediments and specifically EPA's policies on contaminated sediments in the Hudson River. At this point, EPA is poised to propose a massive environmental dredging project that would drastically affect both the ecology of the Upper Hudson River and the economies of those communities along its banks. This is a decision that has many of those communities rightly concerned about the long-term impacts of any such project and the scientific basis for it. I recognize, Mr. Speaker, there are strong feelings on both sides of this issue and that the common interest is to see that remediation of the environmental damage to this river is accomplished. What we need at this point is to mitigate the contention and let sound science direct the decision making, and I believe the statement of the managers at this time will do that because it expressly directs the EPA to take no action to initiate or order the use of dredging until the National Academy of Science report has been completed and its findings have been properly considered by the agency. These instructions and the statement of managers are clear, and I expect the EPA to abide by the language. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the chairman's earlier statements to clarify the intent of the language in the Statement of Managers, which is similar to language included in this year's spending bill, and also for the past 2 years. As in past years, exceptions have been made for voluntary agreements and urgent cases. The NAS will soon deliver a comprehensive report on the risks associated with various methods of addressing contaminated sediments, including: dredging, capping, source control, natural recovery, and disposal of contaminated sediments. I want to point out that this information by the NAS will be really the first time that other alternatives to dredging have been seriously considered. On behalf of the constituents of the 22nd Congressional District, I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) for persevering and staying with us on this, because we need to ensure public confidence, and I want to thank him again for his earlier comments which do clarify.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, today I commend the valiant sailors of the U.S.S. Cole and to express my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones who suffered losses due to an act of terrorism. On October 12, 2000, the Navy family suffered a tremendous loss, when the U.S.S. Cole fell victim to terrorism while attempting to refuel at the Port of Aden in Yemen. My heart continues to go out to the families and friends of the American sailors who were killed, injured or are still missing. I comment our valiant sailors who responded quickly to this tragedy, minimizing casualties and damage to their ship. It was an honor to assist three families from my District as they waited to hear news on their loved ones. Fortunately, the families and friends of Petty Officer Kevin Benoit of Cairo, NY, Ensign & Deck Division Commander Gregory McDearmon of Ballston Lake, NY, and Chief Petty Officer Charles Sweet of Broadalbin, NY, after hours of waiting, received word that their loved ones were safe. It is important that we always remember that these brave men and women are serving our Nation and we should pay tribute to them. These sailors have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. This is a loss felt by the entire nation. This tragedy highlights the constant dangers faced by our armed forces around the world. Our country must remain vigilant in protecting them from future terrorist or other attacks. Our government must work diligently to protect and provide aid to those who are injured and work with the families who are going through a period of grieving. Again, Mr. Speaker, our prayers go out to the sailors, their families and friends.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Chairman Stump) for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to support H.R. 284, the Honor Guard for Veterans Empowerment Act. First, I want to give my heartfelt thanks to the gentleman from Arizona (Chairman Stump). I know it was his great efforts that got this bill to the floor today on suspension, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), ranking member, for all of their work in assisting me to bring this legislation to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 284 codifies the performance of voluntary inactive- duty funeral honors by reserve component members as protected under title 38, chapter 43 of the United States Code. H.R. 284 makes sense because it clarifies current law. It protects members of our reserve forces. It educates employers and requires no government spending. Finally, it supports our Nation's veterans. Mr. Speaker, we know that our veteran population is growing older. We know that more of these heroes are beginning to pass away. The Department of Veterans Affairs expects the annual veteran death rate to peak at 614,000 in the year 2008. That averages out to about 1,700 veterans' funerals each day by the year 2008. Mr. Speaker, with this trend comes increasing requests by veterans and their families for military honors at funerals. The Department of Defense estimates these funeral requests could reach anywhere from 270,000 to 465,000 per year by 2008. Coupled with the increasing death rate, there has also been a shrinking of our active duty military forces. The active duty military has declined by 1.4 million today, a 35 percent decrease from 1989. Active duty forces are just not available in sufficient quantity to perform the enormous number of military honor funerals which are being anticipated to occur over the next several years. That is why we introduced H.R. 284. This year, the Department of Defense, as well, implemented new policies on military honor funerals, Mr. Speaker. At a minimum, the military now must send two service members, a flag, a recording of Taps to be played at each veterans funeral service. At least one of the two- member honor guard must be from the service of the deceased veteran. The combination of an increased veteran death rate and reduction in active duty forces has placed us in a troubling situation. We have committed support to our veterans, yet appear not to have the active duty forces to provide adequate funeral honors for veterans who deserve it. As a result, the Department of Defense is increasingly turning to its reserve component to assist with the performance of these honored burial duties. In fact, it is hard to imagine how the new burial policies would succeed without the enthusiastic support and participation of reservists. Mr. Speaker, the ready reservists represent a quality force of nearly 1.3 million soldiers, sailors, and airmen who can assist with the performance of honor guard duty at a veteran's funeral. The Department of Defense is developing a statistical program to track the number of funeral honors performed by the service. That information is currently unknown, but I can tell my colleagues those numbers will grow rapidly in the next several years. Current defense policy allows reservists to receive a $50 stipend, one retirement point, and travel reimbursement for expenses if they travel over 50 miles from home during the performance of the funeral duties for a veteran. These soldiers are placed on inactive duty status and perform a function on a voluntary basis without a full day's pay, primarily out of patriotism, Mr. Speaker, and respect for our veteran population. The compensation they receive, I should point out, is hardly enough to risk losing a full-time civilian job should their employer balk at the prospect of the service member missing a day of work. H.R. 284 addresses that potential service member-employer situation. H.R. 284 clarifies title 38, United States Code, chapter 43 regarding employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services by ensuring reserve component members performing voluntary inactive- duty funeral honors duty are protected. This bill provides an additional incentive for reserve component members to perform burial service duty and educates employers about the reservists' vital role in these funerals. Before closing, let me briefly mention the amendments to the version of H.R. 248 which is before us today. After substantial discussion with the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor, it was determined that two technical corrections were necessary to fine-tune this legislation. Based on the Department's recommendations, we have inserted the leave of absence language and specific duty authorization language into section 4303, subsection 13 of title 38, as well as section 4312. These changes help clarify title 38. H.R. 284 makes sense, Mr. Speaker, because it clarifies current law, protects members of our reserve forces, educates employers, creates no new government spending, and supports our Nation's veterans. I ask my colleagues to support its passage. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I again want to give my substantial thanks to the gentleman from Arizona (Chairman Stump) and to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), ranking member, for assisting me in bringing this legislation to the floor. I would also like to thank the members of the committee for moving on this. Finally, I would like to thank the over 100 members who cosponsored this important legislation. The Honor Guard for Veterans Empowerment Act is an important effort to protect the reserve component service members, educate and motivate employers, and support our veteran population.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, today I express the sense that special recognition should be given to the observance of Veterans Day on November 11, 2000, the first Veterans Day of the 21st Century. As we enter this new millennium, it is important to preserve the memory of our Nation's veterans and to teach the next generations of their sacrifices. Our veterans are responsible for securing and preserving the freedom that all Americans now enjoy. This first Veterans Day of the 21st Century offers all Americans a special chance to recognize the contributions of our veterans in defending freedom and democracy. It is also an appropriate occasion to make a much greater effort to educate our country's children on the contributions of veterans in defending the freedoms the Nation enjoys so that the memory of those contributions will be preserved throughout the 21st Century. I believe children throughout the Nation would benefit from education that places greater emphasis on the Armed Services' role in shaping the history of the United States. It is extremely important for us to remember the more than 700,000 brave Americans who sacrificed their lives while serving this nation so that America's children may continue to live in a country founded on the principles of freedom, justice, and democracy. Veterans Day also affords us the opportunity to thank the more than 25,000,000 veterans currently living in the United States. It is important for them to know that our country is grateful for their service. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the first Veterans Day of the 21st Century. Also, join me in thanking the veterans who sacrificed so much to protect our way of life.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4946) to amend the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish a pilot program to provide regulatory compliance assistance to small business concerns, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to support H.R. 4946, the National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2000. This bill is intended to assist small business owners in their efforts to comply with the onslaught of Federal regulations which have substantially increased over the past 20 years. H.R. 4946 is designed to utilize the existing infrastructure of Small Business Development Centers to provide regulatory counseling and coordination of Federal regulatory outreach to America's small business community. We know that the vast majority of small business owners are honest and hard-working people who want to do the right thing. Clearly, this bill is an effort to help these small business owners. Just think, Mr. Speaker, it is highly unlikely that my colleagues or their staffs, or even the staffs of the committees, read the Federal Register on a daily basis. Yet that is what the government asks small business owners to do in order to determine which regulations affect them and what they must do to comply with those regulations. Let me give an example: The proposed regulation to prevent ergonomic injuries is just 11 pages long; however, OSHA admits that these 11 pages are not self-explanatory and determining the best method of complying will require a small business owner to wade through nearly 1,500 pages of supplemental explanation and economic analysis. Small business owners want to comply with Federal regulations, but often they simply do not have the time or the expertise to determine how to comply with proposed rules. This causes loss of revenue. Oftentimes, that revenue would be used to grow for jobs. When that happens, Mr. Speaker, it hurts us all. H.R. 4946, is designed to assist small business owners navigate through the maze of Federal regulations which continue to pour forth from the Federal Government. H.R. 4946 would establish a pilot program in 20 Small Business Development Centers, SBDCs, throughout the United States. These 20 centers would be charged with providing small business owners access to information and resources, including current Federal and State programs designed to provide small business owners with regulatory compliance assistance, training materials and educational activities such as conferences and seminars, confidential free-of- charge one-on-one in-depth counseling regarding compliance assistance, technical assistance, and referral to other experts such as professors in the university or colleges where the participating SBDC is located. The SBDCs would track information and H.R. 4946, as amended, would provide this information to the administrator of the SBA for collection in a clearinghouse. This will enable Federal agencies and Congress to ensure consistency of regulatory compliance assistance to small business. The cooperation envisioned by H.R. 4946 is not necessarily new. Some Small Business Development Centers already are thinking outside the box. This bill will, however, help foster those relationships with different Federal agencies. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor with firsthand knowledge of how effective this type of process can be. Before being elected to Congress, I served as the Commissioner of Labor in New York State. I know firsthand the difficulty that exists in trying to balance the needs of running a small business and maintaining a safe working environment and creating jobs. While I was State Labor Commissioner, I instituted an exhaustive review process that resulted in a 30 percent reduction of outdated, unnecessary, duplicative or oppressive restrictions on New York's businesses. The result, after that reduction in regulations, Mr. Speaker, was an increase in worker safety, an increase in safety in the workplace. As a former State regulator, I understand that penalizing first and asking questions later is not necessarily the best use of a regulators' time or their resources. If the pilot programs prove successful, and given my experience in New York, I think they will, then we will be on our way to a win-win situation for all involved. Mr. Speaker, before closing, let me briefly mention the amendments made to the version reported out of committee. After substantial discussion with small business owners and Small Business Development Center directors, it was determined that certain technical corrections were necessary to fine tune the operation of the pilot programs. First, the administrator of the SBA will maintain the central clearinghouse of information and make reports to the President and Congress. Second, to ensure that the assessment of the program is not biased, the General Accounting Office will provide a 3-year review of the program. And third, H.R. 4946, as amended, will provide significant guidance to the administrator in the development of regulations needed to place the program in operation, but at the same time ensure that the program is not unduly delayed by bureaucratic debate. H.R. 4946 is a good bill, Mr. Speaker, that passed out of the committee unanimously. I ask my colleagues to support its passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in closing I want to thank the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), my colleague and friend, the ranking member of the committee, for her support throughout this process, as well as the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis). I would just point out that all three of us, as do many of the members of the committee, represent districts that substantially rely on the small business community to create jobs in their areas. Especially those areas in a district like mine that happens to be economically depressed or finding itself at times in real competition as the world changes in terms of the economy. I also want to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Chairman Talent) for scheduling a field hearing on this issue and bringing the bill to markup. I want to also thank the Committee on Small Business staff for all of their hard work on this legislation. I think the Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2000 is an important effort to help small businesses and small business owners comply with Federal regulations. I urge my colleagues to support it. I think this is a job-growing proposition. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4946.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the conference report, the NASA Reauthorization Act. I believe it is a good bill and will continue to support NASA in its science exploration endeavors while maintaining the balance and cost effectiveness within its priorities. I want to specifically thank the chairman of the committee and the ranking member for their continued support of an amendment that I have had included in the legislation. There have been two major occurrences within the past 10 years that have proven to be a striking blow to national security interests of our Nation. First, the People's Republic of China, the PRC, used information it obtained as a result of our cooperation on satellite technology to upgrade its ballistic missile system and thereby improving its range and accuracy of its booster systems. It also used information obtained as a result of deliberate and successful espionage efforts at our nuclear laboratories at the Department of Energy in order to improve their nuclear warhead arsenal. While I recognize the value of international cooperation on our space program, it is vital that such cooperation not result in the transfer of inappropriate technology or otherwise increase the threat to U.S. national security and international peace. I believe my amendment accomplishes this by requiring the Inspector General of NASA to assess, on an annual basis, in consultation with the intelligence community, NASA's compliance with export control laws and the exchange of technology and information that could be used to enhance the military capacities of foreign entities. This amendment reestablishes that it is the policy of the United States to make certain our good faith efforts to share our technological advances with world partners are not turned against us in the form of advanced military threat. Mr. Speaker, NASA is one of the most respected governmental institutions in the world and its contributions to the technological development in the United States are enormous. This amendment ensures that the reputation so painstakingly earned is never tarnished again. I want to praise the bill's sponsors, especially the chairman of the committee, for standing with us on this amendment and urge passage of this rule and this important legislation.

Mr. SWEENEY

Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, today I not only congratulate Margaret Owens as she turns ninety-eight years old on Wednesday, July 26, 2000, but also I celebrate the dedication and achievement that marks her place in the history of this great nation. Born on July 26, 1902, Margaret Owens finished her high school education at Saint John's Academy in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. She attended Mount Saint Bernard Ladies College for a year before pursuing training at Mount Saint Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in Niagara Falls, New York. Margaret received $100.00 per month as a private duty nurse from 1925 until September 1944, when she began serving the United States Army as a General Duty Nurse. After Basic Training, she was stationed in the United Kingdom where she petitioned English Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, to allow American hospitals behind enemy lines in France and Germany. Though initially unsuccessful, she eventually gained permission to cross the English Channel and set up medical facilities. Margaret was transferred to the front line in December 1944 where she initiated, organized and supervised a one- hundred twenty-four bed surgical block in the 201st General Hospital in Verdum, France. In June 1945, she was transferred to Weisbaden, Germany, where she served valiantly with the 317th Station Hospital. Mrs. Owens is a true American hero. Her persistence and selfless service provided emergency medical care and attention to thousands of men and women who served abroad during World War II. In recognition of this dedication, Mrs. Owens was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal with one Bronze Star and the World War II Victory Medal. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and enthusiasm that I congratulate Mrs. Owens on her life of service and achievement. Mrs. Owens truly has a cause for celebration and I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating her. Mrs. Owens, as you celebrate ninety- eight wonderful years, we wish you a happy birthday and all the best in the years to come.