Ed Towns

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate 3M, in partnership with the American Association of School Librarians, for their donation of $1 million in detection systems to school library media centers in 2000. In an effort to help school libraries maintain their valuable resource, 3M, a leader in library security, has launched ``3M Salute to Schools,'' a program which will donate up to $1 million in 3M detection systems for up to 100 schools in the United States. The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) will be responsible for receiving applications and selecting recipients for the donations. The program is open to middle and high schools in the United States. Schools selected will be awarded a 3M Detection System for the entrance/exit of their media center, a supply of 3M Tattle-Tape security strips for marking items in their collection and necessary materials processing accessories. Individual donations will vary depending upon the size of the collection and the physical layout of the media center. To receive the donation, a school must meet eligibility requirements, including demonstrating a need for a security system. Schools must apply by May 31, 2000, applications are available by calling the AASL Fax on Demand at 1-800-545-2433, then press 4 and request document No. 802. Recipients will be announced at the AASL Annual Conference, July 8-11. For more information about ``3M Salute to Schools,'' contact the AASL awards program at 1-800-545-2433 ext. 4383 or cattenh@ala.org. This important award program reflects 3M's and AASI's shared commitment to education and investing in our nation's schools. It is with this outstanding award, Mr. Speaker, that I offer this tribute in honor of 3M and their contribution to our nation's school libraries.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, recently two human-rights groups in Punjab, the Punjab Human Rights Organization and the Movement Against State Repression, published a report on the massacre of 35 Sikhs in the village of Chatti Singhpora, Kashmir, this past March. Despite the Indian government's efforts to blame Pakistan and alleged Kashmiri ``militants'' for the massacre, an effort the Indian government reinforced by killing five innocent Kashmiris, the report clearly and unambiguously places the blame where it belongs--on the Indian government. ``It is our considered opinion,'' the report says, ``that Pakistan has nothing to gain by ordering militants/mercenaries to massacre Sikhs in the Kashmir valley. Pakistan had steered clear of this kind of act during 10-15 years of militancy in J&K,'' the group wrote. ``J&K militants too had nothing to gain from such an incident. Indian leaders however gained substantial mileage from this incident as a spate of international sympathy was forthcoming,'' the investigative team wrote. They noted that India's Home Minister, L.K. Advani, ``was quoted as saying that three events brought a turn around in international opinion in India's favor. He mentioned Kargil, the hijacking of the Indian airliner, and the Chatti Singhpora incident.'' According to the report, the people in the village of Chatti Singhpora ``did not believe that militants had any hand in this incident.'' The report notes that ``as a rule foreign mercenaries visit a village once and do not come back again. So these men cannot be militants. Also real militants do not part with their weapons even for a minute.'' The killers wore military uniforms and chanted ``Jai Mata Di; Jai Hind,'' a Hindu nationalist slogan. The report notes that the Sikhs and Kashmiri Muslims have very good relations. Both the Chief Minister of Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, and Mr. Advani had warned villagers against supporting ``militants.'' The authors of the report conclude that the Indian government's counterinsurgency forces, which are run by the Indian intelligence service, RAW, are responsible for the massacre of Chatti Singhpora. Unfortunately, the Indian government is suppressing this information, and their friends in the democratic countries of the world are protecting them. There must be a full, fair, independent, and complete investigation and the people responsible for this terrible atrocity must be prosecuted. However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan admitted that ``security forces would not be punished for the killings of civilians. It would demoralize the troops who are fighting insurgency in different states.'' This is a very revealing statement by an official of the Indian government. Perhaps this is why an allegedly democratic country needs a ``Movement Against State Repression.'' America is the beacon of freedom. America must not allow an allegedly democratic country to continue these activities. We must do what we can to help bring freedom to the people of South Asia. It is time to stop our aid to India until it lets the people within its borders enjoy the human rights to which all people are entitled. We should stop supporting India's anti-Americanism. And we should declare our support for an internationally-supervised, free and fair plebiscite in Punjab, Khalistan on the question of independence. We should also support similar plebiscites in Kashmir, in Christian Nagaland, and throughout India. This is the way to bring real freedom, peace, prosperity, and stability to South Asia. It will also gain us new allies in that troubled region. Mr. Speaker, I wish I could put this excellent report into the Record, but it is too long. I would like to place the summary sections of observations and recommendations into the Record, for the information of my colleagues. I urge my colleagues, especially those who are supporters of India, to read these sections carefully. Visit to Chithi Singhpora

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we will have an opportunity to vote on this important health bill before this weekend's celebration of Mother's Day. Certainly, no action is more important than the preventive breast and cervical cancer health screenings which will be authorized by this bill. As an advocate for retaining mammography screenings at age 40, I am pleased that H.R. 4386 will afford us the opportunity to provide breast and cervical cancer screenings for early detection and treatment. For the grandmothers, mothers and aunts who are too young for Medicare and whose incomes are too high for Medicaid, but who still do not have health insurance, this bill can literally be the difference between life and death. H.R. 4386 includes the enhanced match of 75 percent Federal to 25 percent state dollars for treatment, instead of the basic 60 percent Federal to 40 percent State dollars. Hopefully, this enhanced match will be a major incentive for Governors to enroll their States in the program once the bill is signed into law so that these women can receive the treatment they need. I remain hopeful that our Senate colleagues will soon join us in passing this important initiative.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Mrs. Ethel Bampfield Denmark, an educator, community leader, wife, parent, and a pillar of her community. Ethel Bampfield was born in Hampton, South Carolina, to Mr. and Mrs. James H. Bampfield. In 1958, she graduated from the Mathis School for Girls and enrolled in Florida A & M University. She was a proud graduate of FAMU in 1968, and joined her family, who had moved to Brooklyn, and made it her home for the past thirty-two years. When Mrs. Denmark began her career in the field of Juvenile Justice, it never occurred to her that she was beginning an impressive, challenging, and extensive career that today holds for her many positive memories, and opportunities for meaningful moments of reflection. In 1969, Mrs. Denmark was hired as a caseworker at the Manida Juvenile Center For Girls. Had it not closed, this innovative center would have become part of the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice. After spending approximately two years with the Manida Juvenile Center For Girls, Mrs. Denmark decided to seek a graduate degree. In 1972, she began pursuing her Masters of Social Work Degree at Hunter College School of Social Work. In 1974, she earned her MSW degree, and shortly thereafter accepted a position as a Foster Care Worker and the New York State Division for Youth. In the years that followed, she also obtained her license as a New York State Certified Social Worker. While pursuing the position with the Department of Youth, Mrs. Denmark met Thaila Carpenter-Paige and Beatrice A. Hudson, two women she came to know, respect and appreciate over the past 26 years. Throughout her career with OCFS, she feels fortunate and blessed to have had mentors who recognized her abilities, believed in her potential, and provided opportunities that contributed to her growth and development while she was with the Division for Youth. Over the past three decades, Mrs. Denmark has remained very aware of all of the people who have contributed to her professional achievements. On behalf of Mrs. Denmark, I want to thank everyone who touched her life, and to convey to them her belief that her work in the Downstate area rang of success only because of the efforts of those with whom she worked--those who supported her and provided her with valuable opportunities. Mr. Speaker, today Mrs. Denmark wants to pay homage to her family: her husband James Denmark, an outstanding contemporary artist; her mother, Mrs. Johnnie B. James, and; her children and grandchildren. She believes that, had it not been for her families' blessing, she would not have been able to devote the time and energy that she did to her very demanding career. Even as she prepares to retire, Mrs. Denmark continues to participate actively in the Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Brooklyn, as well as in a number of social and civic organizations, and also to serve on various Boards and Committees. Mr. Speaker, Ethel Bampfield Denmark feels fulfilled for having had the opportunity to touch as many lives as she has through teaching, and learning, during her tenure with OCFS. Her travels brought her to us in Brooklyn, where she has stayed for three decades, always enjoying the experience of life to its fullest. She has earned this honor, and I hope that my colleagues will join me in wishing her peace and happiness as she continues her travels through this remarkable journey we call life.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate Leo J. Kimmel on the occasion of his being the honoree at the 22nd Anniversary Dinner of the Young Israel of Avenue J, in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Kimmel has been a distinguished member of our community for many years, and has served us in a variety of capacities. Mr. Kimmel is the founder of the Court Street Synagogue which has provided an opportunity for the Jewish community in downtown Brooklyn a place to both pray and fulfill their religious duties with a convenience never before possible. This synagogue has provided unity for downtown Jewish professionals, from which Mr. Kimmel has proven time and time again his ability as an unparalleled civic leader for this community. Mr. Kimmel is a practicing attorney in downtown Brooklyn, who has dedicated his pro bono legal expertise for such worthy organizations as the Council of Jewish Organizations and the American Arbitration Committee. Mr. Kimmel has contributed endless hours of community service through his membership on the boards of both the United Lubavich Yeshivah, and the Young Israel of Avenue J. Mr. Kimmel is also an active member of Community Board 14. I wish to recognize the lifelong efforts of Mr. Leo J. Kimmel, and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contribution of The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, under the strong leadership of Rabbi Marc Schneier. The Foundation has over the past ten years worked to highlight the need for strengthening relations between Jewish- Americans and African-Americans. In doing so, the Foundation has reminded Americans of the strength that comes from sharing our similarities as well as our differences, while reminding us all of the pain endured by our nation during the Civil Rights Movement, and the ultimate success of those efforts. On April 4th, the 32nd anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., members of Congress and leaders of both the African- American and Jewish-American communities gathered in the halls of Congress to pay tribute to the legacy of Dr. King. Even as we paid tribute to this hero of the Civil Rights Movement, we joined the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding in honoring two members of Congress, my colleagues, Congresswoman Nita Lowey from New York and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee from Texas. Both of these leaders deserve our greatest admiration for their commitment to ensuring that justice and liberty will prevail within our nation. Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Schneier, The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, and Representatives Lowey and Jackson-Lee deserved to be honored for keeping the memory and dream of Dr. King alive. Together, they have-- while perhaps less dramatically, but with equal success--challenged the system of segregation that has now given way to a better America.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in India continues. Now even an ally of the ruling party has spoken out against it. Newsroom, a website devoted to religious news, reported that the Trinamool Congress, a party in coalition with the ruling BJP, demanded the banning of Bajrang Dal, a militant Hindu nationalist organization. The Bajrang Dal is affiliated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which in turn is part of the RSS, a Fascist organization that is the parent organization of the BJP. Dara Singh, the person India has arrested in connection with the murder of missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons, has been linked to the Bajrang Dal. Christians have been subjected to three attacks in Uttar Pradesh in two weeks. On Good Friday, members of the Bajrang Dal attacked members of the House of Worship, a Christian church in Agra. Uttar Pradesh also has a law prohibiting Muslims from building new mosques or converting any building into a mosque without government permission. In the state of Orissa, religious conversions are banned without government permission. In Haryana on April 22, three nuns were attacked by a Hindu fundamentalist. One, Sister Anandi, remains in Holy Family Hospital in serious condition. No one has been arrested for this crime. The militant Hindu fundamentalists who carried out these acts are allies of the Indian government. The government itself has killed over 200,000 Christians in Nagaland, over a quarter of a million Sikhs, more than 65,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, and tens of thousands of others. It holds tens of thousands of political prisoners without charge or trial. Some of them have been held for over 15 years. This is unacceptable. America is the bastion of freedom in the world. It is our responsibility to do what we can to ensure freedom for all people. We should cut off India's aid until it learns to respect human rights. The government must stop killing religious and ethnic minorities. It must also punish strongly those who kill and do other acts of violence in the government's behalf. Amnesty International, which has not been allowed to enter India to investigate human rights abuses since 1978, must be allowed to come into the country. Until then, no American money should go to India. We should also put this Congress on record in support of democracy in South Asia by calling for a free and fair plebiscite, under international supervision, to decide the political future of Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and all the other nations occupied by India. These steps are the best way to bring freedom to all the people of South Asia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the Newsroom article into the Record. I urge my colleagues to read it. Bajrang Dal Ban Sought After Pre-Easter Attacks on Christians in India New Delhi, 25 April 2000 (Newsroom)--Allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which leads India's coalition government, this week demanded that the BJP ban a militant group of Hindu nationalists and dismiss the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh state government in the wake of recent attacks against Christians. The call by the Trinamool Congress, an ally in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to ban the Bajrang Dal and dismiss Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta and his government stunned BJP leaders. Leaders from the Trinamool Congress and from the opposition Congress and Samajwadi parties blasted the BJP for failing to control the Hindu nationalist group that many blame for the spate of violent incidents directed toward religious minorities in the last two years. The Bajrang Dal, a militant Hindu organization affilated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) and linked to several attacks on Christians, believes it has a duty to promote the Hindu religion and Hindutva--Hinduness-- in India. Dara Singh, who is accused of masterminding the murders of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons last year, has been linked to the Bajrang Dal, although the group denies he is a member. Sudip Bandopadhyay of the Trinamul Congress and Yerram Naidu, Tulugu Desam party leader, demanded that security be provided to Christians and other religious minorities wherever possible, especially in states like Uttar Pradesh where there have been three violent attacks against Christians in the last two weeks. Madhavrao Scindia, deputy leader of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament), said the government should put a stop to incidents like those reported in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana this month. He demanded a response from Home Affairs Minister Lal Kishen Advani, who is considered a friend of most of India's Hindu nationlist groups and is the second most powerful man in India after Vajpayee. ``Groups close to the BJP must be reined in as they are vitiating communal peace,'' Scindia said. Opposition Samajwadi party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, who once headed the defense ministry, said that militant Hindu groups pose a greater danger than the actions of religious minorities. ``Majority communalism poses a greater danger compared to minority communalism,'' he said. Members of the Hindu group Shiv Sena tried to heckle him while he addressed members of Parliament. During a two-day BJP national executive meeting in the Uttar Pradesh town of Lucknow, Vajpayee chastised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta over his state's handling of attacks on Christian missionaries in Mathura. Vajpayee reportedly said the state should have dispatched police to assess the situation and instill confidence among the Christian community. He also asked the state government to explain its position on the controversial religious places bill, which prohibits Muslims from building mosques or converting an existing building into a mosque without government permission. Bajrang Dal national coordinator Surendra Kumar Jain said last month that his group was fighting to construct a temple for Ram in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. The extremist group also once demanded that the federal government declare Pakistan an enemy state. Referring to the attacks against Christians, Jain said that ``missionaries consider Hindus a soft target. Even the words `soft target' were used in the missionary literature. However, now the Hindus have woken up. We are no more a soft target for their unholy activities. We appreciate missionary services, but only when the object is service and not conversion.'' Monday's confrontation in parliament followed three attacks against Christians in Uttar Pradesh in the last two weeks. Members of the House of Worship, one of India's fastest- growing church groups headquartered in the southern state of Hyderabad, were attacked by suspected Bajrang Dal activists on the outskirts of Agra, site of the Taj Mahal, police said. The Good Friday attack on the 14-member preaching team from Hyderabad in the BJP-ruled state came a week after a Catholic priest and three nuns were attacked in a school. It was the seventh attack reported in the state in less than 100 days. The Bajrang Dal complained to state police that the Hyderabad group was trying to convert villagers by offering them money, a charge church authorities deny. In a counter complaint the victims reported that a mob of 20 to 30 people attacked the van in which they were traveling and tried to burn the vehicle. The group returned to Hyderabad where the main church, Hebron Church, is located. The church, also known as the Indigenous Society of Churches in India, is one of the fastest growing in the country with mainly new converts as members. It was founded by a Punjabi Sikh agricultural engineer, Bakht Singh, in the 1920s. Bakht Singh is 99. Three Catholic nuns on their way to attend midnight Mass in Rewari in neighboring Haryana state were attacked Saturday night by a man riding a scooter. It was the third attack on Christians reported in the past three months in this wheat- rich state. One nun, Sister Anandi, remains in Holy Family Hospital in serious condition. The other two nuns suffered minor injuries. Police so far have made no arrests. John Dayal, convener of the United Christian Forum for Human Rights, said in a prepared statement that ``this attack was part of the series of ongoing attacks on Christians and their institutions.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues in their support of H.R. 3519 the ``World Bank AIDS Marshall Plan Trust Fund Act.'' In Testimony before the Committee on Government Reform, Sandra Thurman, the Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy, sometimes called the AIDS CZAR said that as of this moment, AIDS has killed 12 million men women and children in Africa. Today and every day, AIDS in Africa buries more than 5,500 men, women and children. And that number is estimated to double in the next few years. AIDS has become the leading cause of death in Africa. But in order to understand the total dimensions of this tragedy, we not only look at the dead, but we must also look at the living. It is estimated that by the year 2010, 40 million children in Africa will be orphaned by AIDS. These children will have lost their parents, and many will have lost entire families. What will these children do? Who will pay for their education? How will they get the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter? Who will teach them right from wrong? Forty million children with no connection to society, no connection to family, the community or each other will grow up to be forty million adults who have no sense of past, present, or future. Forty million people who are without moorings can and will destabilize a country, a region, a continent and a world. I know that the fate of Africa or Africans may not be a high priority for many here. Many may not care about the AIDS virus or its victims. But I don't know anyone here who does not care about children. I ask you to do what you can to prevent the predictions of forty million orphans from coming true. Lets find a way to keep their parents healthy and alive. Lets find a way to provide medical assistance so that there will not be 40 million orphans. The United States can and should be a leader in the fight against this pandemic. We can not be the leader of democracy and turn our backs on these families.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, America and the world are reacting to today's decision by U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson that Microsoft, among other things, violated federal antitrust laws when it bundled its Internet browser and its Windows operating system. In particular, a lot of focus is being placed on the way the financial markets are reacting to this decision and its impact on consumers of technological goods and services. I am not in a position at this point to comment on the Judge's decision or on who is to blame for the settlement discussions failing to achieve a solution acceptable to the parties. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ensure that we do not overlook many of the tremendous benefits that Microsoft has given to America, and African Americans in particular. No one can seriously dispute that the Microsoft phenomenon has had a profound impact on the way every American lives today. When Microsoft and IBM led the personal computer revolution in the early 1980s, helping to make this powerful tool affordable to many American families, no one could have dreamed that we would be where we are today. The Internet and the potential of e-commerce simply could not have been imagined. Today, the personal computer with the user-friendly Windows operating system is a way of life for many of us. We are just beginning to fully realize the great improvements in our educational achievement, our economy growth and our personal enjoyment that we owe to the personal computer and Microsoft. I hope that we never forget the tremendous contribution Microsoft has made to our way of life, no matter the outcome of this proceeding. I also want to point out that Microsoft and its Chairman, Bill Gates, are outstanding corporate citizens whose record of charitable giving should not be ignored. Together, Bill Gates and Microsoft have donated over $20 million to the United Negro College Fund and other organizations helping to educate future generations of Americans. They also have taken great steps to help bridge the ``digital divide,'' the gap between those with access to the Internet and information technologies and those without it. They have donated over $200 million in software to public libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, and made ``Connected Learning Community'' grants to community-based nonprofit organizations in cities across the United States. Mr. Chairman, our antitrust laws are creatures of the early 20th century, designed to address ``robber barons'' and railroads. As the lessons learned from the AT&T litigation showed us, these laws were not easily adapted to the economic realities of telecommunications in the 1970s. The Microsoft litigation shows the problems inherent in applying these old laws to the electronic marketplace of the third millennium. Microsoft was a pioneer in an industry that did not exist twenty years ago, and it may ultimately pay a penalty as our legal system attempts to grasp this new, dynamic industry. What happens to Microsoft in the coming months will have an important impact on other technology companies, and will frame the shape of 21st century commerce. Mr. Speaker, I do not know what the right form of regulation, if any, should be and how the antitrust laws should apply in this new age. I encourage Congress to begin to look at this issue, as well as addressing the growing digital divide, to ensure that the great revolution that Microsoft helped begin does not falter.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the substitute amendment to H. Con. Res. 290 offered by Representative Clyburn. In particular, I offer my enthusiastic support for the $225.5 million in funding the substitute provides to the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA). NTIA administers many important programs designed to begin closing the Digital Divide--the gap between those with access to the Internet and information technologies and those without. NTIA will also be active next year in encouraging meaningful improvements to the Nation's telecommunications infrastructure by giving directed research and program grants. Mr. Chairman, I am encouraged that the Clyburn substitute allocates $97.5 million to NTIA's Digital Divide cluster of programs. The centerpiece of this cluster of programs is the allocation of $45.1 million to fund grants for the Technology Opportunities Program. The Technology Opportunities Program matches private contributions with government funds to promote the widespread availability of advanced telecommunications technologies. Dollars allocated through this program would be used to purchase equipment for building networks and linking networks to one another, connect communications networks such as the Internet, train people in the use of equipment and software, and purchase telephone links and access to commercial on-line services. With these projects, rural and low-income communities that may not otherwise have the means or opportunity, are able to tap into the wealth of information that is accessible via advanced telecommunications technologies and use this technology to improve the delivery of health care, public safety efforts and other services. Another important allocation for part of the NTIA's Digital Divide cluster of programs is $50.0 million for the Home Internet Access Program. This new program would provide low-income individuals and families with the connections, training, and support necessary for full participation in today's information economy. The goal of the Home Internet Access program is to bridge the digital divide by providing targeted investments to bring these at-risk populations online. Mr. Chairman, in addition to closing the Digital Divide, the Clyburn substitute would support NTIA's programs to support critical infrastructure projects. Specifically, the Clyburn substitute allocates $110.1 million for Public Telecommunications Facilities, Planning, and Construction. Grants funded by this allocation would assist communities in purchasing the equipment needed by local public broadcasting organizations to meet the 2003 FCC deadline for public broadcasting organizations to convert to digital transmission. Mr. Chairman, the Digital Divide is a major socio-economic problem facing our nation today, and it threatens future opportunities for large segments of the population that lack access to the Internet and other new technologies. In the new digital age, it is vital that all Americans have access to the new telecommunications and information technologies, and the Clyburn substitute provides essential funding to meet this challenge.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Ester Geddis, an educator, entrepreneur, wife, parent, and a pillar of her community. I honor her today because she has devoted her life to serving the needs of others. Mrs. Geddis was born the tenth of eleven children to Enoch and Geneva Pringle in South Carolina. Upon the completion of her formal education in Charleston, SC, Ester married her husband, James Geddis, in 1959. That union has given her two daughters, Ava Gaillard and Felisa Geddis- Hawkins, adopted son Antonio L. Litmon, granddaughters Heaven and Joy Hawkins, and son-in-law Jerome Gaillard. Mrs. Geddis attended Brooklyn College in the midst of marriage and motherhood, where she received her bachelor of science degree in education in 1977. Upon completion of her education, Mrs. Geddis began her career in education in 1978 as a classroom teacher in the Children and Youth Department at Kingsborough Psychiatric Center. She was then promoted to the position of educational supervisor in 1986. Mrs. Geddis went on to serve as educational supervisor at Brooklyn Children's Center, and then as supervisor for the Department of Aging's Foster Grandparent program, where she has remained until her retirement. Mrs. Geddis has been actively involved in the Lions Club for over 20 years. She has been a member in the East New York Lions Club, East Brooklyn Lions Club, and she is currently active in the Central Brooklyn Lions Club. She also has always been a member of the Riverside Club. She has also been an active member of the First Baptist Church of Crown Heights for 25 years. Mrs. Geddis' hard work had not gone unnoticed. She was listed in ``Who's Who In America--1980,'' and ``Who's Who In The World--1990.'' The Concerned Women of Brooklyn recognized her with an award for her dedicated service, and the Riverside Club presented her with their Achievement Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business and Profession. Because she knows what hard work and dedication can do, Mrs. Geddis founded E & E Catering in 1980, along with her partner Ermine Myers. In addition to catering many events for me, through E & E Catering, Mrs. Geddis has had the opportunity to nourish many distinguished persons, including President Nelson Mandela, Mayor David Dinkins, Reverend Herbert Daughtry, and numerous others as well as civic, private, and community organizations. Mrs. Geddis has traveled to Africa and many other continents. However, it was in Africa where she gained many friends and met many people whom she helped and sponsored over the years. It can truly be said that all of the many people who have been in the company of Mrs. Ester Geddis have truly been blessed and inspired by her undying spirit and love. Mrs. Ester Geddis is more than worthy of receiving this honor, and Mr. Speaker, I hope that all of my colleagues will join me today in honoring this truly remarkable woman.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, like everyone in this House, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the brutal murders of 35 Sikhs in Kashmir. The loss of life is a tragedy. I am sure that my colleagues will join me in expressing our sympathies to the victims' families. Although the news media reported that ``Kashmiri militants'' were responsible for this incident, the latest information shows that India's Research and Analysis Wing carried out this brutal and cowardly atrocity. There are over 700,000 Indian troops in Kashmir. How could the persons responsible for these crimes simply disappear without being detected? What motive would the Kashmiris have to kill Sikhs, who are their allies in the struggle for freedom? When these incidents occur, Mr. Speaker, one must ask who benefits from them. The only beneficiary is the Indian government, which again divides the minorities, setting them against each other to continue their divide-and-rule strategy. India's pattern of terrorism is well known. It recently tried to blame the Sikhs for the murder of Christian missionary Graham Staines by arresting a Hindu man who calls himself Dara Singh despite the fact that Staines and his family were murdered by Hindu extremists allied with the ruling party. According to the Hitavada newspaper, the Indian government paid the late Governor of Punjab, Surendra Nath, to foment terrorist activities in Punjab and Kashmir to generate more repression and set minorities against each other. In this country, if someone tried to create violence between, say, African Americans and Hispanics, that person would be rejected and likely arrested. In India, this is government policy. It is also disturbing that this atrocity occurs just after President Clinton lifted the sanctions imposed on India after its nuclear tests. In light of these murders, those sanctions should be reimposed and India should be declared a terrorist state. Here in Congress, we should cut off U.S. aid to India and we should declare our support for the freedom movements in Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and throughout India. We must do these things to promote freedom for the people of South Asia and the world. Mr. Speaker, Burning Punjab published the names of the victims of this massacre and the Council of Khalistan published an excellent press release on the incident. I would like to introduce these items into the Record to honor the memory of the victims and inform my colleagues and the people. Indian Government Murders 35 Sikhs RAW Agents Pose as Kashmiri Militants--Continues Pattern of Pitting Minorities Against Each Other Washington, DC, March 21.--Thirty-five (35) Sikhs were murdered in Kashmir today by agents of the Indian government's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) posing as Kashmiri militants. There are over 700,000 Indian troops stationed in Kashmir, yet the murderers disappeared without detection. The murders were carried out during President Clinton's visit to South Asia. Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, strongly condemned the murders. ``These murders are evil, cowardly, and stupid acts designed to pit one community against another and prop up India's image for the President's visit,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``Whoever carried out these brutal acts, they are cowards,'' he said. ``They may escape justice in this world, but they will face the justice of God. That will be worse for them.'' ``Sikhs and Kashmiris are allies in the struggle for freedom,'' said Dr. Aulakh. ``What motive would Kashmiri freedom fighters have to kill Sikhs? This would be especially stupid when President Clinton is visiting. The freedom movements in Kashmir, Khalistan, Nagaland, and throughout India need the support of the United States,'' he said. Khalistan is the Sikh homeland declared independent on October 7, 1987. The murders continue a pattern of divide-and-rule terrorism by the Indian government. The government has recently tried to blame Sikhs for the murder of Christian missionary Graham Staines by arresting a Hindu man who uses the alias Dara Singh. Every Sikh male uses Singh in his name. Yet it was reported at the time of the Staines murder that he and his two sons were burned to death in their jeep by a mob chanting ``Victory to Hannuman,'' a Hindu god. That mob was affiliated with the Fascist RSS, the parent organization of the ruling BJP. In November 1994, The Hitavada reported that the Indian government paid the late Governor of Punjab, Surendra Nath, $1.5 billion to organize and support covert state terrorism in Punjab, Khalistan, and in Kashmir. The book ``Soft Target,'' written by two respected Canadian journalists, proved that the Indian government blew up its own airliner in 1985, killing 329 people, to blame the incident on the Sikhs and provide an excuse for more repression and bloodshed. This is a well-established modus operandi of RAW. The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, according to figures compiled by the Punjab State Magistracy and human-rights organizations. The figures were published in ``The Politics of Genocide'' by Inderjit Singh Jaijee. The government has also killed over 200,000 Christians in Nagaland since 1947, more than 65,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, and tens of thousands of Assamese, Manipuris, Tamils, Dalits, and others. The U.S. State Department reported that the Indian government paid more than 41,000 cash bounties to police to murder Sikhs. Amnesty International recently reported that there are thousands of political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, held in Indian jails without charge or trial. Some Sikh political prisoners have been in this illegal detention since 1984. ``This shows that there is no freedom for minorities in India,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``For minorities, India is no democracy,'' he said. ``As U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher said, for the minorities `India might as well be Nazi Germany.' '' ``I urge President Clinton and Ambassador Richard Celeste to confront India on these brutal murders, as well as the recent harassment of journalist Sukhbir Singh Osan, getting Sikh and other political prisoners released, and the ongoing, massive, and brutal human-rights violations against Sikhs and other minorities,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``If the United States wants to see an end to these incidents, it should support self-determination for Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and all the other nations seeking their freedom from India,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``Only a free Khalistan will end India's corruption, tyranny and genocide against the Sikh Nation,'' he said. ``India is on the verge of disintegration. The Sikh leadership should immediately begin a Shantmai Morcha to liberate our homeland, Khalistan.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, the wave of violence against Christians by Hindu fundamentalists continues. Since Christmas 1998, churches have been burned, priests have been murdered, nuns have been raped, and Christian schools and prayer halls have been destroyed. The government of Orissa now requires anyone who wishes to change religions to get a permit from the government. Sikhs and Muslims have previously been subjected to similar tyranny. These attacks have been carried out by Hindu fundamentalists who belong to a branch of the RSS, an openly Fascist umbrella organization that includes the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party under its umbrella. In the most recent incident, a gang of RSS militants attacked the Convent of Our Lady of Grace in Panipat. Previously, a priest from the same complex had been murdered. This is the fourth attack on the church in Panipat, according to The Deccan Herald. Fortunately, when the militant Hindus attacked the convent, the nuns screamed and the alarm went off, attracting the attention of the Sikh family next door. They got their gun and came over to the complex, where the RSS mob attacked the rescuers using steel rods and guns. One of the attackers was captured. Unfortunately, this incident shows us again that there is no religious freedom in India. Hindu nationalist mobs associated with the ruling party have free rein to commit these acts of violence against the religious minorities and they rarely get any punishment from the government. Instead, the government uses these incidents to try to set one religious group against the other so that they can continue their brutal, intolerant, tyrannical rule. In the murder of missionary Graham Staines, which was carried out by Hindu militants chanting ``Victory to Hannuman,'' a Hindu god, the government arrested a man who uses the alias Dara Singh in order to blame the Sikhs. This kind of intolerance is unacceptable. As the lone superpower and the beacon of freedom in the world, the United States must act to bring freedom to all the people of South Asia. While President Clinton visits India, it is crucial that he bring up the issues of political prisoners, religious freedom, and self-determination. There are also things we can do here in Congress. We should stop all American aid to India until these basic human rights are respected and we should declare our support for an internationally-supervised plebiscite on independence for Punjab, Khalistan, for Kashmir, for Nagaland, and for the other nations seeking to free themselves from India's brutal, corrupt rule. We must be prepared to take responsible measures to extend freedom to all the people of the world. [From the Deccan Chronicle, Mar. 14, 2000] Sikh Family Saves Nuns From Bawaria Attack New Delhi: A Sikh family saved the lives of five nuns who were attacked by a group of over ten armed men in the wee hours of the morning on 11 March, in Panipat. Putting their own safety at risk the male members of the family attacked the intruders armed with guns and steel rods who had entered the church where the Franciscan nuns were staying. Answering to the alarm call of the nuns, the Sikh men immediately came to their rescue. The incident happened in Panipat in the convent of Our Lady of Grace. The Sikh family who have been staying in the Joti Nagar area next to the convent for over a decade, hearing the cries of the nuns and the alarm calls of the chowkidar, rushed to their help. Armed with their licensed country made gun attacked the men. In the ensuing chaos the assailants attacked the Sikhs with steel rods and fired two rounds of gun shots. One of the Sikhs managed to nab one of the men, who in his desperation to escape bit him. Meanwhile the other gang members started firing from behind the church forcing the Sikhs to shoot back and attack them. The nabbed man has been identified as Kala and belongs to the Bawaria caste. The gang is believed to be involved in the earlier attacks on the church. This is the fourth such attack in the past three months on the church in the Sonepath- Panipat Samalkha region. The superior of the convent, Sr Vandana said, ``We are very grateful to them for helping us, even though they could have been killed in the process. We will always remember them in our prayers.'' Earlier a priest living in the same compound was attacked by unknown men a few weeks ago. As a result, two police guards were posted outside the church compound which houses a church, and quarters for the priest and nuns. The police removed the guards from duty and within two days of this the church was attacked again. Recalling the incident Sr Vandana said, ``Though convent houses six nuns, one of them was not present at the time of the incident. The men scaled the compound wall, broke opened the main wooden entrance of the convent and then tried to break in the door of the dormitories where the five nuns were sleeping. The shocked and panic struck nun rushed into the smaller rooms and bathroom, where they locked themselves. The men later broke open an almirah.'' The Sonepat-Panipat Samalkha region had reported spate of violence which included attack on a priest who narrowly escaped and threatened several nuns. The area also witnessed four cases of dacoity. Earlier two cases of dacoity had taken place in Samalkha and Panipat within three days of each other. In Samalkha in the early hours of March 9, 2000, gang of ten men raided and looted the Ish Mata Church and made off with Rs 60,000 kept for refurbishing the church. Fr Azeem Raj of the church escaped by locking himself in the bathroom. On 1 January Fr Vikas of Panipat Church was serious injured and his skull and limbs fractured when he was attacked by a gang of armed men. This incident took place in the same compound where the nuns were attacked. The district collector of the Panipat, Sandeep Garag said, thanked the Sikhs for the help and has advised that the guards be posted back to the church and more arms be sanctioned.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Herman S. ``Woody'' Dorsey on the occasion of his receiving the 2000 James E. Stewart Award from the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE). The American Association of blacks in Energy is the preeminent association of Black energy professionals. By virtue of training, expertise, and experience in the energy realm, AABE emerged in the energy crisis of the 1970s to create a structure by which Blacks bring their expertise, experience, and perspectives to bear on energy policymaking. AABE members provide a vital service to those of us trying to formulate the best energy policies for all the citizens of the United States. Since its establishment in 1977, AABE has continually and insightfully informed the members of the Congressional Black Caucus on considerations vital to an effective national energy policy. We are particularly indebted to AABE for their expert counsel for the past two decades. The Stewart Award is AABE's highest level of recognition. This year's award honors Woody Dorsey's long years of local and national leadership dedicated to a AABE's growth and viability. Woody joins the ranks of 13 earlier distinguished recipients of the Stewart Award. It is bestowed only upon those who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership both within the AABE and the larger African American community. Woody's career and life exemplifies both extraordinary achievement and leadership. A member of the AABE Board of Directors since 1990, Woody rose through the officer ranks of AABE in record time. He served as the Board's chairman for two years during which time he increased the number of chapters in the organization by 35 percent. Woody also applied his skills and enthusiasm to the High Energy Partnership (HEP) program to guide promising young engineers from college to hands-on work experience with mentors. Woody was instrumental in getting his Company, the Consolidated Edison Company of New York to adopt a New York city high school in order to extend student development. As a result, students at Woody's ``adopted'' high school receive mentoring from energy professionals and college scholarships for engineering majors. Since 1978, Mr. Dorsey has served as visiting engineering professor in the Black Executive Exchange Program (BEEP) of the National Urban League. Mr. Dorsey participated in the 1997 White House Conference on global warming. Mr. Dorsey is the Plant Manager of the 59th Street electrical generating plant in New York City. He was co-chairman of the Department of Energy's workshop on district heating and cooling and has written a number of technical papers on cogeneration. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Mr. Dorsey for meriting the distinguished Stewart Award. Woody is a true leader in AABE, his company, his community, and the Nation. We owe him a debt of gratitude.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I was distressed to read an article in the Washington Times of February 25 datelined Calcutta reporting that the government of India's state of Orissa is now requiring anyone converting to Christianity to get a government permit. This policy has been met with protests in front of government offices in Calcutta, because it is just the latest chapter in the ongoing religious tyranny in India. As you know, thousands of Sikhs languish in Indian jails without charge and without trial. These Sikhs are political prisoners in ``the world's largest democracy.'' Many of them have been in prison illegally since the Indian government attacked the Sikhs' holiest shrine, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, in June 1984. That is coming up on 16 years now! The BJP, which runs the central government, destroyed the most revered mosque in India, the mosque at Ayodhya, intending to put a Hindu temple on the site. Hindus affiliated with the BJP's parent organization, the RSS, burned a Christian missionary and his two sons, ages 8 and 10, to death in their jeep while they slept. The mob surrounded the family's jeep and chanted ``Victory to Hannuman,'' a Hindu god. RSS-affiliated Hindu extremists have burned down Christian churches, schools, and prayer halls. They have murdered priests and raped nuns. In 1997, the police broke up a Christian religious festival with gunfire. The Indian government has sent over 700,000 troops to Kashmir and half a million to Punjab, Khalistan, to suppress the freedom of the Muslim and Sikh populations there. It has killed tens of thousands of Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits, and others. President Clinton will soon be going to India. While he is there, one important thing that he should do is to press the Indian government on the subject of human rights. If we do not support the human rights of all the people of South Asia, who will? I call on the President to raise these issues in the strongest terms. Also, we should cut off aid to India until it observes the basic standards of human rights for all and we should support freedom for the people of South Asia by going on record in support for self- determination for the people of Punjab, Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and the other nations of South Asia that now live under occupation. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the Times article into the Record. [From the Washington Times, Feb. 25, 2000] Christians in India Protest `Bias' Order Calcutta--Hundreds of Christians converged on a government office yesterday to protest what they said was a discriminatory order by the Orissa state government on religious conversions. The protesters said the order, which requires people who are converting to Christianity to apply to a local official and get police clearance, violates the Indian Constitution. The protesters belong to the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba, or United Forum of Catholics and Protestants. They delivered a statement to the Orissa government through its local office in Calcutta.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Let me thank the gentleman for taking the time out. And I agree with the gentleman, this is something that needs to be done, and certain things need to be said. I would also like to congratulate and thank my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), for the work that he has done in the area of police brutality, because, as you know, throughout this Nation, the problem of police brutality is something that we must begin to address. I am really sad today. My heart is heavy, because when I think about what is happening in this Nation, even in the city that I am from, when I think about senior citizens, a lady 93 years old said to me that you cannot even trust the police. I think on that note, the police department should support the Law Enforcement Trust Act, because I think that the police officers that are on the force that are doing what is right should recognize that those that are doing things that are not right also creates a kind of negative stigma for the whole department and for policemen everywhere. I think that law enforcement authorities should support the Law Enforcement Trust Act. We have had too many situations where minorities, men of color and women of color, have been shot. You could call the roll. I mean, in New York I was just sitting there thinking in terms of Eleanor Bumpers, in terms of what happened to her, and Michael Griffin, then Randy Evans, I could go on and on, and, of course, Amadou Diallo. All of these are names of people that have been killed by the police department. And we have not done a whole lot to correct this over the years. We have too many people who you talk to who have horror stories about the police. You can talk to people on the street. People stop me all the time to tell me what happened to them. So profiling, let us face it, we might as well take our heads from out of the sand and from behind trees, and realize the fact that this is something that exists and let us now come together and work toward it. We need to make certain that we have a program put in place that is going to monitor these kinds of issues, because when you have people talking about it on a regular basis, even at church they talk about the kinds of things that the police department is doing. The people are now afraid of the police department, that is how bad things have gotten. And I think that those policemen of goodwill understand that and should now come forth and say yes, I really feel that something needs to be done, and it needs to be done now. The Justice Department I think now has to step in, because of the tactics that have been used by the unit, in terms of street gang units, street police units. I think that a street crime unit, the kind of tactics that they are using, I think that the Justice Department should take a look at it, because all of these people that I talk to cannot be wrong. If you just walk the streets of New York, in terms of the communities of color, they will tell you what the police are doing; how they were stopped and how they were asked all of these different questions. And the only reason that the person stopped them is because they happened to be of color. I think the time has come in the United States of America where we must address that. Now, I know that it is not all police officers, and I don't want to stand here and indict all of them; but I think it is enough for us to stop at this point in time and begin to address it. To the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and those who are having police brutality hearings around this Nation, I think that you must continue until the message is heard all over that something needs to be done, and that the things that are going on with the street crime unit and all of these things that people are complaining about must be addressed. I do believe that if we pay enough attention and we stop for a moment, we can do something about it. Too many people have been left with tears as a result of what has happened with the police department. It is always ``I thought they had a this,'' ``I thought they had a that.'' I mean, I can tell you about the story of Randy Evans. No weapon. Police officer just shot him. I think that we need to understand that we have to address those issues. We have to do it as quickly as possible. Let me close by saying simply this to my colleagues, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), who is also offering up the Law Enforcement Trust Act, I think the time has come to do that. I think that we can no longer afford the luxury of sitting back. I think when we go to the Justice Department, we need to go with a clear message, in fact, that the street crime unit must be investigated, that tactics must be investigated. This kind of stuff should not go on in a civilized society. So at this time I would like to yield back to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens) and say to him I really appreciate the work that he is doing.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of a dedicated city employee, Evelyn ``Tessie'' Williams. ``Tessie'', as she is affectionately known to all her friends and co- workers, was born in Salisbury, North Carolina. Her family moved to the Fort Greene neighborhood in Brooklyn when she was 7 years old. Tessie is the mother of five children and grandmother of 13. She developed an interest in better quality education for children in the New York City school system and served as the P.T.A. President at P.S. 46 in Community School District 13 for four years. Her volunteer service led to employment as one of the first para- professionals in the City, enabling her to resume her education at New York City Community College and Richmond College (presently The College of Staten Island), as a student of early childhood education. Tessie then enrolled at John Jay College of Criminal Justice to study Government and Public Administration. In 1979, Tessie became District Manager of Community Board #2. She brought her skills and talents acquired during her five years in the private sector as a program coordinator of the NY/NJ Minority Purchasing Council. Her varied abilities and new position reaffirmed an earlier awareness that true change in government begins when one becomes involved and gains knowledge of how the system works. As District Manager, she shares that knowledge and is truly committed to making a difference in the community she grew up in and now represents. Tessie was the co-founder of the Better Education Committee, Community of Business Labor, Educational Services (CABLE), and the Brooklyn Women's Political Caucus. She is also on several boards, is an affiliate with many organizations and the recipient of numerous honors. Please join me in recognizing the contributions of one of Brooklyn's most respected city employees, Evelyn ``Tessie'' Williams.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with yet another example of how India violates the basic human rights of its minorities and ignores the rule of law. Sukhbir Singh Osan is a journalist in Punjab. He has exposed many scandals and acts of tyranny on the part of the Indian government and the government of Punjab. His family suffered losses in the 1984 massacre in Delhi, which were organized by government-inspired mobs while the Sikh police were locked in their barracks and the state-run TV and radio called for more Sikh blood. He has now filed suit for his rights as a 1984 riot victim. Sukhbir Singh Osan earned an LL.B. degree from Punjab University seven years ago but it is being withheld from him because he has exposed corruption and brutality. For his aggressive reporting, the Indian government has damaged his career in an arbitrary and vindictive manner. Mr. Osan's situation proves that in ``democratic'' India the law is subservient to the wishes of those in power. The people in power routinely violate the law for their own benefit. How can a country be a democracy when the government routinely subverts the rule of law? It is clear from the treatment of Mr. Osan and from so many other incidents involving the abuse of Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, and other minorities that the only way these minorities will secure their freedom to live in peace, dignity, and security is by achieving their freedom from India. In this light, it is appropriate for the United States to take action to protect the rights of the minority peoples of the subcontinent. If India cannot observe the rule of law even for a victim of the 1984 Delhi massacres, then why should it receive any aid from the American taxpayers? We should stop that aid, subject India to the sanctions that their terrorist rule deserves, and throw the full weight of the U.S. Congress behind a free and fair, internationally-supervised plebiscite to decide the question of independence for Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and the other nations of South Asia. Until these things are done, there will continue to be others mistreated like Sukhbir Singh Osan, and worse. America is the beacon of freedom. How can we accept this? Mr. Speaker, I submit the Burning Punjab article on Mr. Osan's plight into the Record for the information of my colleagues. [From the Burning Punjab News] Riots Ruined Family, Judiciary His Life Chandigarh--Sukhbir Singh Osan in a Civil Writ petition No. 14940 of 1999 filed in the Punjab & Haryana High Court has pleaded that--``he became a `November 84 riot victim' neither by his own act nor by birth since he was just 14 years old when riots took place. He further pleaded that the failure of the executive and the law & order situation and also the failure of various provisions incorporated in the Indian Constitution, after the assassination of the then Indian Premier Indira Gandhi was the reason which placed him under the category of `Sikh Migrant Family & Riot affected person''. The petition has been fixed for hearing on November 15, 1999 before the Chief Justice Arun B. Saharia and Mr. Justice Swatantar Kumar. Osan has demanded `justice' in this petition. ``Punishing those who were responsible for riots in November, 1984 and to grant certain concessions to the victims of these riots are two different things?'', Sukhbir Singh Osan has questioned the division bench of the High Court. The petition elaborates, how a riot victim in Sukhbir Singh Osan was harassed, his career was ruined in an arbitrary and vindictive manner and that too right under the nose of judiciary shows that justice in India is not a virtue which transcends all barriers. It also proves that law never bends before justice on the land of Sri Guru Nanak Dev, Sri Guru Teg Bahadar and Sri Guru Gobind Singh. Why Sukhbir Singh Osan's result/degree of LL.B. course is being withheld by the Panjab University for the past about seven years is a apathetic story because he in the capacity of a journalist tried to expose corruption, high-handedness and other irregularities at different levels in the University affairs through his dispatches in a leading daily during 1991. Narrating chronology of his `ordeal' Sukhbir Singh Osan in a writ petition filed by him ``in-person'' in the Punjab and Haryana High Court has said that in August, 1990 he was granted admission in LL.B. course under the Riot affected (November, 1984) category in the Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh. Being a journalist he in good faith published certain news items pertaining to nefarious activities including corruption, high-handedness, moral turpitude and other irregularities at different levels in the university affairs. Smitten by a news-item, Sukhbir Singh was asked by Dr. R.K. Bangia, Prof. & Chairman, Department of Laws in a written communication on May 29, 1991 `to furnish some authentic proof as evidence of the facts as stated by you'' in the news-item ``Teen Hazaar Mein Uttirne Karva Date Hain Kanoon Ki Pariksha'' otherwise strict action would be taken against him. On September 30, 1991 in an arbitrary and illegal manner his admission was cancelled when he was studying in the 3rd semester of the LL.B. course, since Dr. J.M. Jairath, Dr. R.K. Bangia and Dr. R.S. Grewal were got annoyed due to news reports filed by S.S. Osan. Sukhbir Singh Osan approached the Punjah & Haryana High Court against the Panjab University, but the High Court relegate him for his remedy to Civil Court. The Civil Court of Chandigarh after four years of hectic activities of examining evidence and witnesses termed the admission of Sukhbir Singh Osan as genuine and according to law. The judge in his 27 page order also declared Sukhbir Singh Osan as `November 84 riot victim'. It was perhaps the first ever case in the history of India and Indian judiciary, that a riot victim was asked to prove that he is a `November 1984 Riot affected person' and Sukhbir Singh Osan has proved the same in the civil court. Here it is pertinent to mention that Sukhbir Singh Osan along with his family migrated from Madhya Pradesh to Punjab in the year 1985 after November 1984 anti-Sikh riot which broke through out India after the assassination of the then Indian premier Indira Gandhi. Such was the agony of Sukhbir Singh Osan that he has to recall all those days, which his family has suffered during 1984. The miserable plight of Sukhbir Singh Osan proves that in India law and judiciary are not meant for those who obey them but are subservient to those who outrage the modesty of the very concept of law & justice and that too, in connivance of those who are considered to be the custodian of law & justice. Will the law of India be able to punish those who have ruined the life of Sukhbir Singh Osan? Whither Indian Judiciary?

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the African Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church (known as Bridge Street AWME Church) on their 234th anniversary. Mr. Speaker, this is indeed something tremendous that should be honored. This historic institution, now entering its third century of service to the church and community, has always focused on providing spiritual, social, educational, and recreational activities for the Bridge Street parishioner and for the community at large. This church, located in the heart of the Bedford Stuyvesant community, has a long proud history of overcoming adversity to continue to survive. The earliest records of the church date back to 1766 when a British captain named Thomas Webb began holding open air services in downtown Brooklyn. Captain Webb was a convert of John Wesley, the father of Methodism in America. In 1794 the congregation purchased the land on which they held these open air services from a wealthy Brooklyn landowner named Joshua Sands. Later a small church was built, and as was the custom in those days to name streets and buildings after wealthy landowners, the church was named The Sands Street Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church. The congregation consisted of whites, free blacks, and ex-slaves. The ability of blacks and whites to worship together in the beginning of the church's history foreshadow its unique ability to overcome any challenge it may face. By the end of the 19th century, the AWME church had survived almost two centuries of struggles, disappointments and oppression. From its origins in 1766, the AWME Church has been a standard bearer for the family of man, especially in the Brooklyn-Long Island area. From Sands Street, to High Street, to Bridge Street, and to Stuyvesant Avenue, the Church has overcome every major obstacle encountered on its Christian journey. From its pulpit, some of the greatest preachers and orators of the last two centuries have challenged many to higher heights and consistently championed the cause for all men to exist as children of God equal to one another. Throughout the years, the AWME church has made lasting and significant contributions, not only to education and religion, but to every other major profession which helps to shape the lives of so many. Mr. Speaker they are indeed a ``Great People, and a Great Church, Serving a Great God.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to pay tribute to Ms. Jean C. Leon. Jean is recognized in the New York health community for her strong administrative skills. During the 1990's, she held numerous outstanding positions within the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC). She began her tenure with HHC as Assistant Director of Nursing at Woodhull Hospital and Mental Health Center. She then joined Metropolitan Hospital Center as Director of Quality Management. Jean later served as the Deputy Executive Director for AED Quality Management Services. Prior to her current position as the Executive Director of Kings County Hospital Center and Senior Vice President of South Brooklyn--Staten Island Family Health Network, Jean worked as the Chief Operating Officer at Harlem Hospital Center. She has dedicated herself to improving patient care at member facilities and ensuring greater access to health care for the residents of both Brooklyn and Staten Island. She received her undergraduate degree in health administration from St. Joseph's College and an MPA from New York University's School of Public Administration. Jean holds a certification in Quality Assurance and Nursing Administration and has lectured and consulted extensively in health care. She is a member of the National Association of Health Care Quality and the American College of Health Care Executives and has been the recipients of many awards, including the New York State Quality Assurance Health Care Professional Award in 1995. Jean also served two terms as President of the Trinidad and Tobago Nurses Association, the Caribbean Nurses Association and the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance of North America, Inc. Please join me in recognizing the achievements of Jean G. Leon.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the hard work of Angela Howe Anderson. Angela is a true immigrant success story. After arriving in the U.S. in 1979 from Trinidad, Angela began working for Bloomingdale's department store. However, she remained there for only three months before moving to St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital. Angela has remained with the New York hospital industry since 1979. She is currently on the staff of Brookdale Hospital Medical Center where she is in charge of processing applications for patients in need of medical assistance. One of ten children, Angela received encouragement from her mother, Myrtle, to continue her education once she immigrated to the United States. To that end, she has pursued college courses at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. Her daughter Sharla is also attending college. Angela has been married to Maurice Anderson since 1992. She remains a shining example of the rich contributions made to this nation by many immigrants. Please join me in recognizing the achievements of Angela Howe Anderson.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the important community contributions of Evelyn Clarke. Evelyn was born and educated in Charleston, South Carolina. She has been active in Brooklyn community affairs for a number of years. Not one to rest on her laurels, Evelyn continued to work in Central Brooklyn even after she retired from 35 years of service with the Marriott Essex House Hotel. She began volunteering at the Berean Missionary Baptist Church's Senior Center where she has been credited with initiating a number of new senior programs. Evelyn has also worked with the Auxiliary at Kings County Hospital Center. She served as its President for four years. The proud mother of one daughter, Dotrice and two grandsons, Ian and Christopher, and several nieces and nephews, Evelyn Clarke has made her mark as an advocate for seniors and a key supporter for one of Brooklyn's largest medical centers. Please join me in honoring Evelyn Clarke as one of Brooklyn's most committed activists.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of Brooklyn's grand dames, Mrs. Evelyn Dixson. Mrs. Dixson has provided a lifetime of public service to the people of Brooklyn. She was elected to eight consecutive two-year terms as a Democratic State Committeewoman for the 56th Assembly District. She is a past President of the Brooklyn Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. and is presently an advisor to the Club. She is also a former member of the Board of Directors of Elected Officials of New York State; a past President of the Bedford Stuyvesant Lioness Club; and a charter member of the Stuyvesant Heights Lions Club International. A long time member of Cornerstone Baptist Church, Mrs. Dixson is President of the Cornerstone Federal Credit Union and President of the Board of Directors for Cornerstone's Sandy F. Ray Elderly Housing. As a result of her community activism, Evelyn Dixson has received numerous honors and awards including the Sojourner Truth Award, The Churchwoman of the Year Award from Key Women of America and the Melvin Jones Award from Lions International. She has also been honored by a number of elected officials like Brooklyn's Borough President, Howard Golden, and the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators, Inc. The Pratt Area Community Council also honored Ms. Dixson by naming one of its affordable housing projects in 1994, ``The Evelyn Dixson Houses''. The Dixson Houses are seven newly rehabilitated buildings in Brooklyn. A former teacher, Mrs. Dixson was also Executive Administrative Assistant for the Taxi and Limousine Commission of New York City. She is an alumna of North Carolina State College. She also studied at Bank Street College and the New School for Social Research in New York City specializing in Early Childhood Education. I am pleased to bring the achievements of one of Brooklyn's finest citizens, Mrs. Evelyn Dixson, to the attention of my colleagues.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of Brooklyn's finest entrepreneurs, Geneva Berrien. A native of Texas, Mrs. Berrien migrated to Brooklyn, New York after spending several years in Chicago. She worked for Gimbel's Department Store before pursuing a career in hat design. She graduated from McDowell School of Design in 1948 after completing a course in millinery design. Geneva became one of Brooklyn's most popular and outstanding milliners known for her unique designs throughout New York State and the nation. It was not a ``Hat Show'' until ``Geneva's Originals'' were shown. ``Geneva's Millinery Shop'' was opened in 1950 and remained a lucrative business until 1968 when she decided to operate from her home on a part-time basis. Even today, her hats are still being worn and are just as stylish as when Geneva created them. Geneva Berrien is also known for her long service as a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church which she joined in 1947. She was active in the Victory Club and the Business and Professional Women's Division of the Missionary Society. Additionally, she served as a teacher in the Cornerstone Vacation Bible School; she participated as a Board Member of the Isaiah Whitehurst School and the Cornerstone Day Care Center. Geneva also was a faithful member of the Senior Choir and Chairlady of Women's Day in 1964. As a member of the National Council of American Baptist Women, she received citations for outstanding Christian work in the church and the Standard Leadership and Curriculum Card for her involvement in Christian Education Week activities in 1970, 1972, and 1975. Please join me in honoring one of Brooklyn's pioneering businesswomen, Geneva Berrien.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleague and friend, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), in supporting S. 632. I also would like to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the ranking member of the full committee; and, of course, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the chairman of the subcommittee; and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley), the chairman of the full committee; and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), who is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment. I would like to thank all of them for their outstanding leadership, along with the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush). The Poison Control Center Enhancement and Awareness Act, we introduced virtually identical legislation, H.R. 1221, in March of last year. The poison control centers provide cost savings, effective preventive services to the American public. For every dollar spent on a center's services, $7 in medical costs are saved. Yet, we have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of centers. They have actually decreased them by 588 from 1978 to 1999, when we introduced 1221. That is hard to understand. When we talk to the nurses, they want it. When we talk to the doctors, they want it. Anybody that is involved in health care is asking that we fund these poison control centers and that we do it now. Because they are so important in terms of saving the lives of so many people, especially our children. This legislation would authorize appropriations for $28 million over the next 5 years, which provides a stable source of funding. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is also directed under the legislation to improve public education about poisonings and to provide correlation and assistance to regional poison control centers for the establishment of a nationwide toll-free phone number to access these centers. This kind of effort is critical if centers are to provide the maximum level of service to our most vulnerable population, the Nation's children. Children are disproportionately impacted. For example, 60 percent of poisonings involved children under the age of 6. In hearings that we held during the 104th Congress, in the House Government Operations Subcommittee on Human Resources, suggested that the unintentional injuries and deaths that result from poisonings could be mitigated if we had a stable source of funding for poison control centers. In other words, if we would just say that we were going to be committed to it and put forth a certain amount rather than continuing to do a piecemeal kind of thing, we would be able to save a lot of lives because people would know where to turn. S. 632 provides us with the opportunity today to ensure a stable source of funding. I urge my colleagues, including the 130 cosponsors of our bill, H.R. 1221, to join me in voting for this measure. It passed the Senate by unanimous consent. We should do no less today to guarantee that poison control centers have the financial security they need to provide our citizens with life-saving information about these centers. Mr. Speaker, let me just again commend my colleague, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), for the outstanding job that he has done. Because when we walk the streets and we talk to people that have children and they talk about some of the incidents that have occurred and that they do not know where to turn, when we talk to physicians who are actually in the emergency rooms of these various hospitals who say that they look to these poison control centers to get information to be able to deal with the mother, or for a mother to be able to pick up the phone and call a center and for the center to tell her what to do on the phone, we are talking about saving money. I cannot understand why we are so reluctant to do this in this day and age when we know that it is important that we cut costs. But we need to do it in a very reasonable fashion. So I want to once again thank my colleague for having the foresight to say that this should be done. I think that we have to continue to work to make certain that we have that central number so that everybody knows that, once an incident occurs, that a person right away will know what to call by saying 1-800 and that mother would be able to be relieved of some of that tension that she might have if otherwise that information was not available. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.