Adam Schiff

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Father Joseph Shea, Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church, for receiving the Spirit of Giving Award in recognition of his selfless dedication to the Glendale Community. Father Joseph Shea is a graduate of St. John's College Seminary where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. He is also a graduate of the Continuing Formation in Ministry Program at the University of Notre Dame. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1978. Prior to joining the Holy Family Parish, Father Shea served as associate pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Highland Park until 1982. He was subsequently transferred to St. John Vianney Church in Hacienda Heights where he was also associate pastor. In 1989, Cardinal Roger Mahoney appointed Father Shea as the Director of the Office of Vocations. He worked in this office until 1995, promoting and encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religious life throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Father Shea has been the Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Community since July of 1996. Under Father Shea's leadership, the parish engineered a Strategic Plan 2000 to build a strong vision for the new millennium. The plan's mission is for all registered parishioners to dedicate themselves to the support of the spiritual, educational, cultural, youth, and community outreach programs through active participation. Father Shea is highly dedicated to civic affairs. He serves on the Verdugo Mental Health Board of Glendale, the Board of Directors for Glendale's Community Center, Catholic Charities Loaves and Fishes, and the Institute for Urban Research and Development. He is an active member of the Glendale Human Relations Coalition, Kiwanis Club of Glendale, and the Recreation Facilities and Open Space Committee for the city. He is a newly appointed member to the Advisory Board of Glendale's Adventist Medical Center. Additionally, he is a member of the Board of Directors for the Cardinal McIntyre Fund for Charity, serves on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Department of School Board, and Dean of Deanery 6 of the L.A. Archdiocese. Father Shea is a remarkable man with an unwavering passion for community service and limitless energy. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in commending Father Joseph P. Shea for his commitment to service throughout the community and for his incomparable Spirit of Giving.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, commemorating the extraordinary contributions that Hispanic- Americans have made to our country throughout history. During this one- month period of celebration and tribute, we honor the culture and achievements of the Hispanic community, all of which have played a historic role in our Nation. I am proud, honored and privileged to represent a region in Congress that is extraordinarily diverse and home to many citizens who are of Hispanic heritage. To commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to highlight the remarkable accomplishments of an organization in my district committed to serving its neighbors. Founded in 1946, La Casa de San Gabriel Community Center is a family community ministry serving 5,800 clients per year, ranging from infants to the elderly. La Casa is unique in that it is a centrally located facility addressing the multicultural needs and interests of its diverse community--primarily Hispanic and Native American working poor--in their efforts to overcome the barriers of underemployment, poverty, inadequate housing, limited education, and lack of medical care. These efforts on behalf of the community have been extraordinary. Today, with an estimated Hispanic population of over 38 million in our country, we must also recognize that our efforts to commemorate Hispanic culture should not be limited merely to a one-month period. In addition to recognizing great accomplishments, we must also demonstrate our commitment to ensuring equality of opportunity for all Americans. Specifically, we must ensure that educational resources are readily available to all Americans. Since the future of our children is perhaps one of our most vital priorities, educational programs such as Head Start need to be supported and funded, rather than cut from our minority communities. We must also support economic empowerment and provide economic security for all Americans and work to ensure access to health care for the uninsured and underserved. Cesar Chavez once said, ``We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community and this Nation.'' As we reflect on Mr. Chavez's words and on this month of festivities and celebrations to honor Hispanic-Americans, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to civil rights for all Americans and promote increased representation in Government from all facets of our diverse country.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a matter of great importance to this country--impacting the national security of our Nation, the integrity of our branches of government, and the public trust. Earlier this week, the Central Intelligence Agency urged the Justice Department to open a criminal inquiry into whether Administration officials leaked the identity of a CIA agent, in order to discredit a critic of the Administration's intelligence claims with respect to an alleged uranium program in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, prior to the war, the Members of this House were provided with specific intelligence information with regard to weapons programs in Iraq--and this country went to war based on that intelligence. However, we are now learning that some of this intelligence information was seriously flawed, including information that was explicitly featured in a State of the Union address. The syndicated newspaper column that quoted ``senior administration officials'' identifying the undercover CIA operative by name was printed in order to discredit a critic of these very claims. Disclosure of the identity of a CIA operative is a serious setback to our national security. Such actions also undermine any efforts to candidly assess the intelligence flaws we are now discovering. Because the sharing of classified information by an administration official for political or malicious purposes is such a serious abuse of power, an independent investigation of this matter should be commenced immediately. As a former Assistant United States Attorney, I had the opportunity to handle both corruption and espionage cases. In my view, we have a clear conflict of interest if the Attorney General and other Justice Department officials are given primary responsibility for the investigation of this potential illegality, because of the alleged involvement of high-level Administration officials. Such an investigation will not only be difficult to pursue, but the conflict will undermine the results of the investigation, and cause the public to question its result. Rather, this investigation should be pursued by an independent and impartial special counsel appointed by the Attorney General with the full confidence of the public.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the most beloved and recognizable talents in the world. Bob Hope is regarded as a gifted entertainer, with an unmistakable ability to bring laughter and joy to persons of all ages; however, he was also an ambassador of hope to our men and women overseas. It is with great honor that I stand before you today, and bring to the Floor, House Resolution 3011, a resolution cosponsored by all of my colleagues from California. This legislation will honor Bob Hope's many contributions to veterans, active duty troops, the field of entertainment and the greater Los Angeles community, by naming the Burbank, CA, Main Post Office for him. Born in Eltham, England, on May 29, 1903, Bob Hope seemed to be destined to entertain. From impersonating Charlie Chaplin in front of the neighborhoods firehouse in Cleveland as a young boy, to celebrating an unprecedented 60 years with NBC in 1996, Hope's entertainment persona has been evident in every decade of the 20th century. An avid golfer, Bob Hope had been quoted as saying, ``Golf is my profession. I tell jokes to pay my green fees.'' Most notably, he developed and hosted the Bob Hope/Chrysler Classic, a pro am tournament held annually in Palm Springs, CA. Over four decades later, the Classic draws the most famous pros and celebrity amateurs, and it has gone on to raise over $35 million for the Eisenhower Medical Center and 70 other various charities. What separated Bob Hope from other beloved celebrities was his unwavering commitment to bringing smiles and hope to American servicemen and servicewomen overseas. For nearly six decades, during times of war and peace, Hope traveled to countless countries to entertain the troops. Affectionately referred to as ``G.I. Bob,'' Bob Hope became a fixture on the U.S.O. stage. In May of 1941, Bob Hope performed for U.S. Troops at March Field, CA, beginning a legendary tradition of military performances. During World War II, he performed almost all of his weekly radio shows from American military bases around the U.S. and in the theaters of war. In his support of our troops, he traveled to England, Ireland, Africa, Sicily, and the South Pacific. After the war, he continued his commitment to freedom and humor with a Christmas show for troops supporting the Berlin airlift. During the 1970s, he brought joy to weary soldiers with Christmas shows at bases or veterans' hospitals throughout Vietnam. 1983 took him to Beirut, and in 1987 he traveled around the world to entertain troops in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. His globetrotting commitment to entertainment is unsurpassed, in peacetime or in war. The Navy has honored him with a class of ships in his name. Not to be outdone, the Air Force named a C-17 The Spirit of Bob Hope. When I was in Iraq in August, I visited a commissary named after Bob Hope and saw first hand how much his visits to the troops meant to them. Our Nation's only honorary veteran, Bob Hope's legacy will be that of a wartime and peacetime soldier, always fighting to bring a smile and a piece of home to U.S. troops around the world. John Steinbeck once said of Bob Hope, ``It is impossible to see how he can do so much, can cover so much ground, can work so hard and be so effective.'' Former Burbank mayor Michael Hastings said to Hope, ``He was as large in this community as he was in the world, and I think Burbank has been a great beneficiary.'' It seems only fitting that a city that served such an instrumental role in Bob Hope's life, return that honor by naming its historic post office after the entertainer. Hope's ties to the city of Burbank, CA were numerous. In 1973, he was named the city's honorary mayor, and in 1989, the city renamed a portion of Catalina Street near NBC studios to Bob Hope Drive. In April of 1993, those studios were dedicated in honor of Hope's 90th birthday and his more than 50-year association with the network. Donating more than $1 million to the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation in Burbank, Hope also helped raise money to build a veteran's monument in the city, by performing at the Starlight Bowl in 1987. By naming the Burbank, CA Main Post Office for Bob Hope, we will remember him for his talent and honor him for his extraordinary impact on the lives of our troops. With the release of his very first feature film, ``The Big Broadcast of 1938,'' ``Thanks for the Memory,'' became Hope's signature song. Earning an Academy Award, the song will forever remind us of the legendary Bob Hope. The classic Hope song ends with the words, ``Aw' fly glad I met you, cheerio, and toodle-oo and thank you so much.'' We thank you Mr. Bob Hope, for all the memories.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate John Davitt who has dedicated 35 years of service to Glendale Community College. John A. Davitt received a B.S. in History in 1954 and an M.A in Secondary Education in 1958 from the University of San Francisco. In 1977, he graduated from the University of Southern California with a doctorate in Community College Administration-Higher Education. While he pursued his own studies, Dr. Davitt continued to exercise his passion to teach and serve the student community in the San Francisco Unified School District. From 1968 to 1980, he was a consultant for the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges, and from 1970 to 1985, he was a consultant for the College Entrance Examination Board. Dr. Davitt has had a myriad of impressive employment and service experiences. From 1955 to 1957, he was stationed at Fort Mason, California as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army. From 1957 to 1964, he was a Social Studies teacher, counselor, and debating coach at Roosevelt Junior High School, and instructor at Galileo Adult School in San Francisco. Additionally, from 1964 to 1966 Dr. Davitt was a counselor at Merritt College. He was the director and assistant professor of the Institute for Training of Community College Student Personnel Workers at California State University Los Angeles from 1966 to 1968. His distinguished list of memberships includes the Glendale Chamber of Commerce, and the Association of California Community College Administrators. He is also on the board of directors for Crestview Preparatory School and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. In 1968, Dr. Davitt introduced his unique and open management style to our community by taking the position of Administrative Dean of Personnel Services at Glendale Community College. In 1983, he was named Vice President of Instructional Services. Subsequently, in 1985 he became the college's Superintendent-President, transforming the campus into an innovative and productive center for learning. Davitt fervently fosters and promotes ideals of development and growth. As President, he has lead the college through unprecedented achievements. Dr. Davitt is a remarkable man whose unwavering passion and dedication have been instilled not only in the college's faculty, but student body as well. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in congratulating John Davitt on a truly exemplary professional and public service career, and for his immense commitment to Glendale Community College and the students it serves.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Glendale Community College on its 75th anniversary, and to celebrate the dedication of the Cimmarusti Science Center. Glendale College was founded in 1927 as a junior college at the old Glendale Union High School site. It served the needs of the people in La Crescenta, Glendale, and Tujunga. An earthquake devastated several of the main buildings, and finally in 1937 the college opened its new facilities. The community continued to grow and the campus thrived. In 1981, the college separated from the Glendale Unified School District. Today, Glendale Community College helps more than 25,000 students meet their educational goals. It has a college-credit enrollment of about 15,000 day and evening students and about 10,000 students are enrolled in the adult education programs. Its exceptional reputation and tradition for academic excellence and quality lives on in the current administration and student body. Its progressive and extensive curriculum includes customized contract instruction for companies, career training, and certificates in vocational training. The college innovatively forges and promotes mutually beneficial partnerships with industries and the city. In 1998, $2 million in Federal funding was requested for a NASA/JPL science education center to be located on the campus. Appropriation legislation was signed in late October of the same year. On March 4, 1999, brothers and local businessmen Larry and Ralph Cimmarusti presented an additional gift of $1 million to the college, as they are proud alumni. Their name will eternally be associated with the school by the state-of-the-art science center that will bear their name. The center will also serve as a regional training facility for local schools, enriching the already impressive list of services available at the college. The Cimmarusti Science Center's math and science education will not only be an example for other colleges, it will raise public interest in the subjects. The center also includes a spectacular planetarium, one of just a few at community colleges across the country. Glendale Community College is unique in its approach to education and in the way it utilizes its resources. It is a truly pioneering institution that has earned the endless praise of those who have seen it develop, and those who have benefited from its infinite opportunities. It is a model of dependable leadership and unstoppable advancement. Glendale Community College is at the forefront of education in our community, and its innumerable successes have already spanned three quarters of a century. It will undoubtedly continue to serve our community by responding to changing needs and meeting all challenges. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in congratulating Glendale Community College on 75 truly exemplary years of service to the community, the opening of the Cimmarusti Science Center, and for the college's commitment to educational excellence.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Friendship Baptist Church in Pasadena, California. Friendship Baptist Church is one of the oldest congregations in Pasadena-celebrating its 110th anniversary this month with the theme ``God's People Working Together.'' Founded in September 1893, it was the first Negro Baptist church in the city and for many years had the largest membership of any African American church. Throughout its history, the church has played an important religious and civic role not only here in Pasadena, but also in Mexico, Australia and Africa as well. Beginning as a Sunday school for Pasadena's early Negro settlers, the devoted members later chartered themselves as a full-fledged Baptist Church. The church was organized in the hall located at 12 Kansas Street which has since become known as Green Street. In 1897, the first building was erected on South Vernon Avenue at a cost of $950. The church grew and prospered under the leadership of several ministers until the 1920's when Reverend W.H. Tillman led the members to acquire a new site and erect the present edifice. In January of 1925, the Reverend W.D. Carter was called to lead the congregation spiritually and complete an ambitious building, which stands today as a monument to the heritage of Pasadena's African American citizens. Since its ground breaking ceremony held in March of 1925, the Friendship Baptist Church has stood prominently for over 70 years as one of the visible landmark churches in Pasadena. It is the first African American related cultural landmark, recognized as a state of California landmark, and in 1978 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America. I consider it a great privilege to recognize Friendship Baptist Church for its 110 years of service to the people of Pasadena. I ask all Members to join me in wishing Friendship Baptist Church many more prolific years of service to the community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 40th Anniversary of the March on Washington when over 250,000 Americans convened near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, brought together by a common cause-- achieving equality for all Americans. On that hot summer day in 1963, Americans arrived in Washington, D.C. to express a dire need for action against the dismal conditions of life for so many of our Nation's African-American citizens. Choosing to respond non-violently to injustices committed against them, the marchers rose above hate, calling for peace and justice with a clear voice that demanded change. I rise today in support of H. Res. 352, honoring the March on Washington as one of the largest civil rights demonstrations in United States history. It is important that we recognize the monumental importance of this event and its significance in the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equal rights for all Americans. We should also commemorate the courageous and inspiring men and woman who organized and participated in the March and dedicated themselves to the pursuit of equality and justice. We are a great nation of diverse backgrounds, drawn together by shared values and a common dedication to the cause of freedom, both at home and abroad. We, as a people, cherish our freedom and should honor those who have helped secure for us, and for those who will follow us, the freedom to pursue opportunity, the freedom to challenge inequality, and the freedom to actively and peacefully participate in the political process. Let the actions and poignant words of Dr. King serve as an example to us as well as the generations to come, that it is possible to dream and, through persistence and dedication, to realize those dreams. But let us not only commemorate these words, but continue to work to make Dr. King's dream a reality. As we commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the March on Washington, let us remember the struggles of those who came before us, and in so doing, help fully realize their dream so that one day our children will truly ``live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.''

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to introduce the ``Holocaust Victims Insurance Fairness Act''--legislation to provide states with the authority to assist survivors of the Holocaust. Before and during the Holocaust, millions of European Jews purchased life insurance policies with certain European insurance companies as a form of savings and investment for the future. After World War II, however, insurance companies rejected many claims presented by Holocaust survivors or heirs of Holocaust victims because the claimants lacked the requisite documentation such as death certificates that had been confiscated by the Nazi regime. Some families have tried for years to obtain promised benefits, but insurance companies continue to demand that the survivors produce non- existent documents. In 1998, the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC) was established to address the issue of unpaid insurance policies and to expedite payouts to Holocaust victims. ICHEIC has received over 90,000 claims, but has only made a few thousand settlement offers. This shortfall has forced disillusioned claimants to turn to the states for assistance in obtaining the swift justice they deserve. To continue to deny these claims would be a further injustice to these survivors and would only serve to perpetuate the horrible acts that occurred years ago. In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court in ALA v. Garamendi recently struck down a California law aimed at assisting thousands of Holocaust survivors and their families in collecting on millions of dollars of outstanding Holocaust-era insurance policies. The court narrowly rejected the right of states to require insurance companies doing business in their state to disclose information about Holocaust survivor insurance policies. The court in Garamendi maintained that the president's preference is for Holocaust-era insurance claims to be handled by the International Commission of Holocaust-Era Insurance Claims--an approach that has wholly failed Holocaust victims. I believe that states should have the authority to assist survivors of the Holocaust to recover benefits from policies lost or stolen before and during these tragic events. Therefore, I am introducing legislation to specifically allow states to collect insurance information for victims of the Holocaust. Unlike similar pieces of legislation that have been introduced, the ``Holocaust Victims Insurance Fairness Act'' also explicitly expresses Congressional disapproval of any Executive branch policy or agreement that preempts State efforts to collect insurance information for victims of the Holocaust to resolve outstanding claims. Please join me in this effort to finally provide justice to those who have been denied it for so long.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Donald R. Froelich who will retire from the City of Glendale's Department of Water and Power after 13 years of service to the city and community as Water Service Administrator. Donald R. Froelich graduated from the University of Southern California in 1963 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He continued his studies and received a Masters in Civil Engineering in 1967. He also received a certificate for Executive Management in 1988. Among his exemplary list of educational achievements is also an engineering license. In addition, Mr. Froelich is a distinguished member of the California Bar. While Mr. Froelich was vice-president of the Board of Directors of the Castaic Lake Water Agency, he held great responsibility for supplying State Project Water to the Santa Clarita Valley. Donald worked for the Metropolitan Water District for 24 years. He was responsible for water supply and demand, planning activities, and identifying the need for additional facilities to ensure that Metropolitan could provide adequate water to the growing communities of its member agencies. In September of 1990, Donald arrived at the City of Glendale to work for Water & Power as Water Service Administrator. He was dedicated to managing the activities of the Water Department that dealt with finances, construction, operation and maintenance of the City's water system. Donald Froelich's accomplishments have been numerous. In 1996, he received the California Water Reuse Association Project of the Year Award. Notably, he implemented a regional recycled water program with the cities of Pasadena and Los Angeles. He worked closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Health Services. He planned and implemented a pivotal Superfund groundwater cleanup project in an attempt to clear up the San Fernando Basin of volatile organic chemicals used by the neighboring industries as degreasers. Lately, Donald spearheaded the Chromium 6 research project where he worked with the cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, San Fernando and regulatory agencies to identify the best technology for removing Chromium 6 from drinking water supplies. He made this possible by dedicating his efforts to obtain Congressional funding for the project with my office and that of Senator Barbara Boxer. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in congratulating Donald R. Froelich on a truly exemplary professional and public service career, and for his immense commitment to the City of Glendale and surrounding communities.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Paul Goldenberg. Mr. Goldenberg has been a successful businessman in the Los Angeles area for two decades. He has also worked hard to fund and support medical centers and education programs, and has recently been honored with the 2003 Jewish Home for the Aging Lifetime Achievement Award. Known as ``The King of Big Screen,'' Paul Goldenberg is a self-made businessman who started a TV repair business with $1000 he borrowed from two cousins. For the last 19 years, his La Habra store has sold more big-screen TVs than any other store in America. Mr. Goldenberg's success has led him to support many charitable causes. Paul's work with the Keeping the Promise Capital Campaign made the opening of the Paul Goldenberg-Daphna and Richard Ziman Special Care Center possible, and he is also a major contributor to the Jewish Home Residential Medical Center and the City of Hope. Mr. Goldenberg is also active in the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Along with his contributions of time and money to the medical community, Mr. Goldenberg is a dedicated supporter of education and after-school programs. Mr. Goldenberg has been the scholarship director of the California Highway Patrol 11-99 Foundation, an organization devoted to awarding scholarships to children of Highway Patrol employees. This year Mr. Goldenberg and his committee raised over one million dollars to fund 712 scholarships. In June, Paul awarded 43 personally funded scholarships to local high school students. For his work on behalf of the Los Angeles community, as well as his dedication to education, I am proud to ask all Members to join with me in commending Paul Goldenberg upon receiving the 2003 Jewish Home for the Aging Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support the two amendments offered by my colleagues from California, Representatives Sherman, Lee, and Waters which would protect California's consumer protection laws from being preempted by the base bill being debated today. First, let me express my appreciation to my colleagues who serve on the Financial Services Committee for bringing to this Floor such a strong bipartisan bill. H.R. 2622 is important legislation which is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of our nation's credit reporting system. It is true, this legislation will extend consumer protections currently not afforded to millions of Americans. This is not true, however, for Californians. The California Legislature, with overwhelming bipartisan and consumer support, has adopted progressive and effective financial privacy laws which afford California residents the most far reaching consumer protections in the nation. Under California law, Californians can correct erroneous credit reporting through the filing of police reports, can request a fraud alert to be posted on their personal credit reports, have access to contact information for those who placed information on their credit report, and have the right to remove their names from credit card solicitation lists furnished by credit bureaus. Most recently, California adopted legislation which requires financial institutions to obtain a consumer's affirmative consent before sharing information with most third parties and prevents, except under certain circumstances, the affiliate sharing of a consumer's nonpublic personal information. Should this legislation be adopted in its current form and without these amendments, perhaps fifteen consumer protections, including those which I have just listed, will be preempted. As I said, while many Americans will enjoy additional consumer protections through the adoption of H.R. 2622, Californian's will lose many of the consumer protections which they have come to depend on. We should not punish Californians for adopting far reaching consumer protections. In fact we should learn form California's example and extend these protections to the rest of the nation. And while this legislation will help millions of Americans it will be detrimental to all Californians. All Members should support the amendments offered by Representatives Sherman, Lee and Waters to ensure the protection of California law and protect a state's right to enact and enforce effective consumer protection laws. However, should these amendments not be agreed to today, I urge my colleagues to ensure that this issue is corrected in the House--Senate Conference Committee on this legislation. Finally, H.R. 2622 is necessary and important legislation which would only be made better with the adoption of these amendments.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Scott United Methodist Church in Pasadena, CA. On Saturday, September 20th, Scott United Methodist Church will celebrate 100 years of dedicated service to the community. In its century of existence, the location of Scott United Methodist Church, named for Bishop Isaiah Benjamin Scott, has changed on numerous occasions, but the benevolent spirit of the church has remained a consistent presence in the community. After its first humble meeting in the home of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Harris in 1903, the church assembled in a series of buildings for short periods until 1930 when the congregation settled into the church building at 55 Mary Street for the next 43 years. Scott United Methodist Church then held services at First United Methodist Church on Colorado Boulevard for 2 years before arriving at the current site on Orange Grove Boulevard. Despite the many moves in its history, Scott United Methodist Church, acting on its motto, ``the church at the heart of the community with the community at heart,'' continually dedicated itself in service to the people of Pasadena. That commitment remains to this day. The Aspires West-Pasadena Program supports at-risk youth in the Pasadena area, and the ``Clothe the Pasadena Unified School District School Children'' project provides school wardrobes for children from low- income families. Scott United Methodist Church also provides assistance to the needy with its rent relief and holiday food programs. I consider it a great privilege to recognize Scott United Methodist Church for its 100 years of service to the people of the San Gabriel Valley. I ask all Members to join me in wishing Scott United Methodist Church many more fruitful years of service to the community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Hillsides Home for Children in Pasadena. On October 5, 2003, Hillsides will celebrate its ninetieth anniversary with a carnival to honor the achievements of those who have devoted countless hours to Hillsides, as well as to celebrate the children who have been greatly helped by the home. Hillsides opened its doors in 1913 as an Episcopal Orphanage known as The Church Home for Children. Deaconess Evelyn Wile formulated the agency's mission of loving care, therapeutic healing, special education, family crisis intervention and children's rights advocacy. This vision continues to be the focus of Hillsides over ninety years later. Today, Hillsides is a private non-profit treatment center, but it is considered an official institution of the Los Angeles Diocese of the Episcopal Church. While Hillsides began its journey solely as an orphanage, the agency has since branched off into several other areas. For children suffering from abuse and mental illness, Hillsides provides them with a safe place that they can call home. The main campus contains six residential cottages for emotionally disturbed children ranging in age from seven to thirteen. On the campus, Hillsides provides a home and intensive treatment services geared to healing and redirecting kids who have experienced traumatic upbringings. In addition to the on-campus housing, there are two off-campus group homes which house twelve teenagers. These off-campus facilities provide residential treatment, mental health care, and practical skills training for independent living after the youth leave Hillsides Home for Children. Hillsides has also responded to the need for counseling at-risk families to prevent abuse before it starts, and in 1996, the family center was opened. This center provides a broad range of programs from counseling services to classes designed to strengthen families and protect children. Clearly, Hillsides acts as a voice for children through advocacy. I am proud to recognize Hillsides Home for Children as an integral component of our community by providing a safe haven for children, strengthening families and advocating for children's rights. It is for these extraordinary achievements that I ask all Members to join me in congratulating Hillsides Home for Children for their ninety years of remarkable work.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. I rise today to honor an outstanding citizen of California's 29th Congressional District: Ms. Ernestine L. Moore. Though Ms. Moore has served Pasadena City College for 32 years, she has been a positive force in the community for much longer. Before coming home to Pasadena, Ms. Moore studied and worked across the nation. She began her academic journey at Virginia State University where she obtained both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology. She later completed graduate work at the University of Santa Clara, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the University of California Los Angeles. Ms. Moore began her career as a Psychologist in Norfolk, working for the Virginia City school system. From there she traveled westward to San Jose City College where she worked as a counselor, then moved on to take the title of Supervisor of Counseling for the Los Angeles Urban League's MDTA/OJT program. Ms. Moore first came to Pasadena City College in 1971 as a counselor. She was promoted to dean of counseling in 1977, became the dean of Student Services in 1984, and reached her current position as Vice President of Student Learning and Services in 1997. Ernestine showed her commitment to her students and her community when she helped to initiate the African-American High School Day. She has chaired committees that worked to diversify Pasadena City College's student body through recruiting and working to retain the minority groups on campus. Currently, she serves as President Elect of the California Community Colleges Chief Student Service Officers Association. Ms. Moore continues to add to the list of her services to the community. She serves as the chairperson of the City of Pasadena's Human Services Commission and as President of the Board of the Urban Revitalization Development Corporation. She is an appointee to the City of Pasadena's Utility Advisory Commission, was on the Board of Directors of Women at Work and is a member of ZONTA. She is also Treasurer of the Gamma Lambda Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Incorporated, which is an organization of African-American women in education. Ernestine has been awarded the Young Women Christian Association's Second Century Award, was honored as Woman of the Year by Pasadena City College, and was also the recipient of the Sojourner Truth Award from First African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. I ask all of the members to join me in congratulating Ms. Moore for the tireless work she has done for the community and join me in wishing her prosperity and happiness in the years to come.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of northern Cyprus. On July 20, 1974, Turkey invade Cyprus and Turkish forces occupied more than one-third of the island nation, in clear violation of international law. Today, thousands of Turkish soldiers, armed with the latest weapons, are stationed in the occupied area, making it one of the most militarized regions in the world. Eighty-five thousand Turks have been brought over from Turkey to colonize the occupied area with the aim of changing the demography of the island and controlling the political situation. The Greek Cypriot community that remains enclaved within the occupied villages continues to live under conditions of oppression, harassment, and deprivation. For 29 years, divided by a 113-mile barbed wire fence that runs across the island, Greek Cypriots were prohibited from visiting the northern Turkish-occupied towns and communities where their families had lived for generations. Since 1974, the United Nations has been trying to encourage a solution to the Cyprus problem. U.N. Secretary Kofi Annan has sponsored proximity talks between the President of Cyprus, Glafcos Clerides, and Rauf Denktash, the self-proclaimed leader of the occupied area. Unfortunately, those talks were suspended due to Denktash's abrupt departure from the negotiating table. In January 2002, U.N.-sponsored direct negotiations between the Greek and Turkish sides finally resumed. Later that year, Secretary-General Annan presented a comprehensive new plan aimed at reunifying Cyprus. Unfortunately, unlike the Government of Cyprus, which promptly accepted the Annan Plan as a basis for negotiations, the Turkish side rejected the plan. Furthermore, the newly elected Cypriot President, Tassos Papadopoulos, accepted Annan's proposal to submit the U.N. proposal to a referendum. Denktash, however, rejected a referendum, thereby denying the people in the occupied areas a chance to determine their future. Mr. Speaker, the United States has a national interest in fostering peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean region. We as a nation cannot continue to pretend our NATO partner is not in clear violation of international law for its continued illegal occupation of its neighbor. We in the United States pride ourselves for our respect for fundamental freedoms. Human rights norms are the cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. The war on terrorism and our efforts to restore democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq are centered on those principles. As we lead international efforts to rout out terrorists and dictators that usurp fundamental principles of justice and human rights, we should remain committed to finding a just and durable settlement to the Cyprus problem. An important first step to that commitment is our strong opposition to Turkey's 29-year occupation of Cyprus.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the COBRA Coverage Act of 2003. As you may know, our Nation's faltering economy has resulted in staggering unemployment, unemployment that has risen from 5.7 percent in January of this year to 6.4 percent in June, leaving millions of Americans out of work. The loss of one's job is often accompanied by the loss of employer-based health coverage and the ability to afford individual health insurance. In this time of economic hardship, we must act to make health care more accessible to the working and middle-class families of America. In an attempt to reduce the growing population of those without health coverage, Title X of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) provided access to group health insurance for workers who had lost their employer-sponsored coverage. COBRA requires employers who offer health insurance to continue coverage for their employees under circumstances such as a change in their employment status. However, this law allows the employer to charge up to 102 percent of the premium for the covered beneficiary and up to 150 percent for disabled individuals who qualify for an additional 11 months of coverage. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that in 2002 health care premiums increased by 12.7 percent, making the average cost for self- only coverage $3,060 while the average cost for the family coverage reached $7,954. These high costs make retaining health coverage extremely difficult for individuals without work, without an income. As a result many people and their families choose to go without health insurance until they find another job. This is unacceptable. Not only do these prohibitive costs prevent people from maintaining their health coverage, they can also drive up the group costs of employers who offer COBRA coverage. Because health care premiums are so high, those who have costly, preexisting health problems are more likely to enroll in extended coverage than those who are healthy. These costs are often passed onto the employer and onto the others covered by the group insurance. We can alleviate this problem by making COBRA health coverage more accessible and more affordable. With the COBRA Coverage Act of 2003, laid-off workers would be provided with a 50 percent tax credit toward the cost of COBRA coverage, up to a maximum of $110 for an individual and $290 for a family per month. This credit is entirely refundable, which means one can receive it regardless of one's tax liability, and it is advanceable, meaning that it's available to the recipient immediately. This is possible because the tax credit would be administered through the employer. While we work diligently to improve our economy, we must not sit idle and turn our backs on the millions of uninsured Americans. We must assist those who are suffering by ensuring they retain access to affordable health insurance for themselves and for their families.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time, and I want to join the chairman and my colleague and friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) from the San Gabriel Valley in strong opposition to the Markey amendment. I appreciate the colleague's interest in increasing funding for the Superfund program, and I share that desire, but this is most emphatically not the way. To divert $115 million in funds away from a critical NASA project, Prometheus, is not the way. Project Prometheus and the exploration of the icy moons of Jupiter has been rated as top priority by the National Academy of Sciences. JPL has recently launched two Mars Rovers, aptly named Spirit and Opportunity, to land on the red planet and determine whether there was or has been water on that planet and help science unlock the geologic mysteries of our solar system. This work in Project Prometheus is a bold, new venture and will revolutionize solar system exploration using nuclear power and propulsion. Project Prometheus will enable more robust and ambitious scientific missions by supporting more complex scientific instruments, enabling significantly larger and faster data communication networks and allowing a single spacecraft to visit multiple targets per mission. Using nuclear power and propulsion systems will exponentially increase the amount of power available to spacecraft instruments and enable vastly greater amounts of scientific data to be returned to home, 120 CDs worth of data compared to one or two floppy disks of information today. It will allow much more time for scientific observation of the moons, 180 days, opposed to only 1 to 5 hours using conventional technology. This project's spearheading the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter mission will be the first application of these new technologies for a flight mission. It will search for evidence of global, subsurface oceans on Jupiter's icy moons. This is a top priority, and I urge rejection of this effort to rob Peter to pay Paul.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I appreciate the chairman's willingness to work with me to try to improve the funding of this account in conference committee. The Senate, my understanding, has gone even beyond the President's request of $45 million. We are currently at $20 million, and I would hope that we would work together to meet the President's request of 35; and based on the Chairman's willingness to work together, I will move to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, my amendment increases the nonproliferation and disarmament funds by $15 million, from $20 million to $35 million. The effect of this amendment, therefore, is to restore the full amount of the President's request for the nonproliferation and disarmament fund. Why should we do that? Why should we meet the President's request for funding of this account? Perhaps the single greatest threat we face as a Nation is from terrorists armed with weapons of mass destruction. It is why we went to war in Iraq. It is why we established the Department of Homeland Security, to address this significant threat to American lives. And within the threat of terrorist possession of weapons of mass destruction, the greatest danger within that threat is the potential access of terrorists to nuclear material and the ability to create a nuclear weapon. We will survive another biological attack like the anthrax attacks. We will survive chemical attacks. But a nuclear attack in this country, on our soil or against our troops around the world would fundamentally change this Nation. And around the world there are literally hundreds of facilities that have some kilos, others that have tons of plutonium or highly enriched uranium in an unsecured condition. The technology of the atomic bomb is a half century old. It is not difficult to replicate. Obtaining the nuclear material is the terrorists' main obstacle and that challenge may be far too easily overcome. Removing the weapons usable material from the most vulnerable facilities around the world is a national security imperative for this country. What are we waiting for? It is far easier to prevent the theft of nuclear material than to track down the thieves after the material is gone. Fifty million dollars for a global cleanout of this material would be sufficient for several years if we were maximally efficient; $35 million, the President's request, is barely adequate; $20, what we do today, is simply irresponsible. The State Department has identified 24 top targeted sites of vulnerable stockpiles. If we look at our pace over the last decade, in August of 2002 in Project Vinca operation we removed 48 kilos of highly enriched uranium, enough to make one to three nuclear bombs from a vulnerable site in Yugoslavia. To succeed we had to go hat in hand to a private organization, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, for $5 million. Project Sapphire some years before that airlifted 600 kilos of highly enriched uranium away from a vulnerable location in Kazakhstan. We have had a total of three efforts like this in the last 10 years. At that pace our work will never be done. Our risks will be unacceptably high. Meeting our national security needs in the post Cold War period means addressing the most immediate threats first and with adequate resources. Restoring the funds to the nonproliferation and disarmament account in an amount requested by the President is what this amendment would do. I ask for Members' support.

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

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, my understanding is that the chairman was prepared to offer this evening that he would work with me in conference.

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, it is my intention.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the DeFazio- Bradley amendment to strike the Mr. Recreational Fee Demonstration program from the Interior Appropriations bill. This program is punitive, unfair, and mismanaged. The Recreation Fee Demonstration program allows the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service to charge citizens to recreate on public land, including primitive trails and unimproved campgrounds. I believe--as do many of my constituents who hike and picnic in the Angeles National Forest in Southern California--that it is patently unfair to charge them a fee to hike or picnic in these undeveloped public lands that they already support with their tax dollars. The GAO has recently found evidence of serious mismanagement of the Recreation Fee program. Only 50 cents of every dollar collected is actually used to maintain or improve our public lands. This mismanagement is unacceptable, and we must not allow it to continue. Let me be clear that I strongly support the National Park System, and users have already paid fees for use of National Parks, as well as developed campsites, boat launches, and other developed areas. Evidence shows that the National Park Service has a much more impressive track record in utilizing its program fees towards maintenance backlogs in national parks. Nonetheless, we must not allow the Recreation Fee Demonstration program to continue without enhanced Congressional oversight. I urge my colleagues to support the DeFazio-Bradley amendment to strike this wasteful program.