Ed Towns

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to participate in this evening's special order on FDA reform. On March 29, three ``FDA reform'' bills were introduced to amend the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act with respect to the regulation of drugs and biological products, foods and animal drugs and medical devices. I believe that three bills offer an earnest and responsible approach to the reform of FDA regulations and procedures which govern a variety of very different and distinct products and industries. These legislative reforms recognize the need to streamline the operations of the Food and Drug Administration while giving the agency ultimate authority to protect the public's health. Under the reform approach now before the Commerce Committee, the FDA would also be responsible for getting new products on the market through a prompt, efficient review and approval process. This effort responds to the agency's critics who argue that the current product approval process slows down the availability of safe and effective products. It is an approach which I believe will still protect the public health but it will also enhance American companies' ability to be more competitive in the internatonal marketplace. That is why I am supporting these legislative reforms and also why I am the principal cosponsor of H.R. 3200, introduced by the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr.Klug], to address needed changes in the food and animal drug areas. H.R. 3200 proposed changes to the labeling of Foods and the approval process for animal drugs. The current standard which subjects health claims to the same scrutiny that is applied to drugs is simply not warranted. In addition, the food additive petition process, which has allowed 200 petitions to languish, is in dire need of revision. Last year, an investigative report by the Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations found that reviewers requested too much data that was not even used to determine the safety of a food additive. Irrelevant data only adds unnecessary cost and depresses investments in new food ingredients and technologies. This ``zero risk'' management approach could be directly attributed to the influence of the Delaney clause which almost everyone agrees is no longer reflective to today's best scientific measurements. The findings, in this report, support the proposed change in H.R. 3200 from zero risk to a ``negligible risk'' standard. H.R. 3200 also incorporates the provisions of H.R. 2508, to modernize the requirements for the regulation of animal drugs. The time frame for approval is shortened from 180 days to 90 days. In addition to these provisions, the bill provides for the regulation of certain drugs through a ``veterinary feed directive'' regulation for medicated feeds to be issued by a veterinarian. Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that the three reform bills currently under consideration will retain FDA as a strong and viable agency that has the necessary resources to ensure product quality. It is also my expectation, however, that these reforms will make FDA a strong partner, rather than an impediment, in making useful technology and products to market.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, Rev. Jacqueline McCullough has spent most of her life in the church. She is the daughter of two preachers, Reverend and Evangelist Percival Phillips. Presently, she is an associate pastor at Elim International Fellowship and has been under the tutelage and pastoralship of Bishop Wilbert McKinley for over 20 years. After 7 years of working as a nurse, Reverend McCullough left the medical field to enter full-time ministry. She has traveled for over 20 years nationally and internationally conducting and attending revivals, seminars, workshops and conferences. She is often seen on religious cable television and heard on religious talk show. Reverend McCullough is accredited with master of arts in philosophy from New York University. She is presently working toward a doctorate degree in Bible--Old Testament--at the Jewish Theological Seminary. In 1986, Reverend McCullough founded the Daughters of Rizpah, a nonprofit religious organization where she is the president and director. This organization underwrites all of her extra-church ministerial activities and community involvements. She is also the proprietor of Biblion--The Family Bookstore, the author of ``Daily Moments--In Quietness and Confidence'' and publisher of a semiannual newsmagazine ``Mended Bridges''. This recount only serves to give an overview of her life, work, and godly commitment. It does not reflect her passionate love for God, His word, the innumerable sacrifices for the work of the Lord and her sensitivity to the needs of God's people.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I want to lend my support to the efforts of my colleagues to restore the Brooke amendment. My congressional district has one of the largest concentrations of public housing in this Nation. Under the Frank amendment, my constituents' rent contribution would still be capped at a maximum of 30 percent of their income. I would remind my colleagues that public housing is often the only affordable housing for many poor and low-income residents. While the manager's amendment has dramatically improved this bill, it still does not protect low rents for new residents of public housing who have very low incomes, many of them elderly or disabled. Let us not be guilty of using our power to harm. Let us use our power to help. If this amendment is not adopted residents with median household incomes of less than $7,000 will find themselves making choices between paying their rent or buying food. Some may feel that budgetary constraints warrant a rent increase for public housing residents. I would say to you that we should not balance the Federal housing budget on the backs of the poor. I would urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, every day my constituents remind me of the difficulty they have with making ends meet. And while $50 may not be much to you, but it is a lot for many of my constituents living in public housing. It has been estimated that 5.3 million low-income households are either spending more than half their incomes on rent or living in extremely substandard housing. This figure is expected to dramatically increase if the Velazquez amendment is not accepted. I understand that the rent increase is intended to encourage personal responsibility. But I wish someone would tell me how a 70-year-old senior citizen or a 73-year-old Air Force veteran is going to be taught personal responsibility. I believe they know what responsibility is and many of them have lived and survived in situations that many of us could not imagine living through. This bill presupposes that the average public housing resident has extra money for rent. We are talking about people who have been displaced from their jobs, who have been homeless, who are single parents with young children and cannot afford child care and therefore cannot work a minimum wage job. People who are disabled, perhaps on dialysis, or who have suffered a stroke, simply cannot afford to pay higher rent. We are talking about truly needy families who do not want to be in the situation in which they find themselves in. While I understand compassion is something this Congress is often not able to express. We want all Americans to pick themselves up by their own bootstraps when they don't even have boots. We must not forget that welfare, Medicaid and several other programs to help the needy are already on the chopping block. We cannot throw people out on the streets because they happen to be poor. I urge my colleagues to protect the housing for seniors with limited incomes, former homeless families with no income and large families receiving AFDC benefits. I urge the adoption of the Velazquez amendment.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that we finally have the opportunity to vote on a conference concerning the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act. I want to particularly commend the Chairman of the committee, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis], for his tireless efforts to reauthorize this legislation. I want to also thank the ranking minority member, the gentleman from California [Mr. Waxman], for his work not only on this bill but also for the tremendous role he has played in the past in working on the Ryan White Act. And, I am certain the majority and minority staff are to be equally commended for their efforts. There is no more critical issue than funding for health care services to combat the AIDS virus. Those of us from New York State continue to have the unfortunate distinction of the highest number of AIDS and HIV infection cases in the Nation. In fact, the Ft. Greene community in my congressional district, has the highest incidence of new AIDS cases of any area in New York City. Mr. Speaker, Ryan White programs have been critical to New York's ability to provide a continuum of care which has greatly improved the quality of life for people with AIDS and HIV infection. For example, as a result of Ryan White dollars, the HIV/AIDS dental program was able to provide over $300,000 to Brooklyn Hospital in my district for oral health services to AIDS patients who had little or no dental insurance. The changing nature of the AIDS epidemic and its impact on minority communities is recognized in this legislation. The average person would assume that the leading cause of death for African-American men is homicide. They would be wrong, however. AIDS now kills more black men than gunshot wounds. Eighty-four percent of the AIDS cases involving children, age 12 and under, can be found in the Black community. And, AIDS has now become the second leading cause of death for black women. I.V. drug use and T.B. have exacerbated these mortality statistics in minority communities. It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that with today's action we can move quickly to provide the funds that our cities and small towns so desperately need to address the AIDS crisis in communities across this Nation. I believe that this reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act meets the needs of rural and suburban areas without devastating our metropolitan areas, which still have the burden of treating the largest number of AIDS and HIV infected patients. This bill has been a long time coming, and I am happy we were able to get through the conference process and where we are today. I would like to encourage my colleagues to vote for the passage of this legislation. There is a need for this legislation to pass and to pass very quickly. I am not totally pleased with the formula, but I am happy that some sensitivity was shown to those large areas, those metropolitan areas, that have a severe crisis. So I would like to again salute the leadership on both sides, the minority and the majority, for taking these factors into consideration. It is not perfect and a lot still needs to be done, but I am happy we are moving in the right direction.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Rev. Curlee Windham for his longstanding service to God and the community of Brooklyn and the members of Liberty Baptist Church. Reverend Windham is a native of St. George, SC. Employed as a New York Housing Authority housing inspector, Reverend Windham is guided by spiritual faith and devotion. As the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church he has been instrumental in mentoring and creating spiritual leadership within the church community and the community at-large. Under the pastor's religious and organizational direction his congregation has retired the mortgage on his church. Additionally programs that nourish the soul, body, and mind have been developed under Pastor Windham's guidance. His initiatives include a 12-step program of Narcotics Anonymous, and programs that provide food, clothing, tutoring, and community outreach. Reverend Windham has established himself as a pillar and visionary in the community. On May 3, 1996, he will celebrate his 13th anniversary of service to God, his church, and the community. I am pleased to recognize his selfless efforts and dedicated service.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, each year mental health services are being provided to millions of our constituents, representing every age, ethnic and economic group in the country. Unlike many insurance policies, mental health illness does not discriminate among its victims. The illness could hit any one. And, without the proper treatment, leave an entire family scarred for life. Mental illness can be every bit as debilitating as other major medical illnesses including heart disease and cancer; like them, mental illness can be successfully treated, enabling patients to return to productive lives. It would be unconscionable to legislate limits on the scope and duration of treatment for cancer, heart disease or diabetes. Unfortunately, time after time, limits are placed on mental health services and it is wrong. For some strange reason there is a stigma placed on mental illness and I believe this stigma is the root of ignorance. Mental illness is not due to some sinful behavior. The stigma has kept many individuals from seeking help, and it has prevented health professionals from providing needed services. It is my honest belief that if health plans provided parity in their mental health coverage the stigma would be instantaneously removed. No longer would patients be too embarrassed to seek help. And, no longer would providers be forced to turn patients away, and discriminate between illnesses. People with mental illness, severe and otherwise, are just as sick as the next person who is suffering from cancer. The idea of not being able to think and reason for yourself is as disabled as one can be. The only real and important difference between physical illnesses such as cancer, or heart disease is that mental illness is a disease of the brain, and it appears to be more complicated. This disease can manifest itself in our centers of thought, reason, and emotion and leave us totally dependent on someone to think for us. Individuals in need of health benefits for physical disabilities has come a long way. But mental health benefits are not at the same level, even though they serve an important population. These individuals are desperately in need of insurance reform. According to the American Psychological Association, overall national mental health costs are small--only 7 percent of the total health care spending. Insurance carriers have traditionally limited mental health benefits out of fear that parity of coverage would attract poor risks, increase their costs, and put them at a competitive disadvantage. During the 103d Congress I actively worked to pass universal health coverage and was pleased that the disparity of mental health benefits was brought to the forefront of that debate. Now in the 104th Congress, we have a real opportunity to do something about this disparity. I urge the conferees to allow the mental health community a chance to be on equal footing with other illnesses that are receiving benefits.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, celebrating 101 years of a thriving lifetime is a monumental achievement. I am pleased to recognize Mrs. Janie A. Greene, a resident of Brooklyn since 1933. Mrs. Greene was born on April 29, 1895, and she has experienced a bountiful life. Janie was born in Georgetown, SC, to her proud parents Prince and Clara Browne. In 1915 she married Walley Greene. They remained married until he died in 1931. Four children were born out of that marriage, Thelma Greene McQueen, Clifton Greene, Oreda Greene Dabney, and Myrtle Greene Whitmore, whom she presently resides with. A devoted family member, Mrs. Greene has 11 grandchildren, and a host of great- grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. The church is a central part of Mrs. Greene's life. She has been a member of People's Institutional A.M.E. for over 55 years. Mrs. Greene is presently a charter member of the South Carolina Club and also a member of the Virginia Smith Missionary Society. Among her varied interests are: gardening, reading, shopping, and preparing daily brunch for herself and her family. It is indeed rare for a person to live to be 101 years old, but it is even rarer to experience such a rich life in that length of time. I am proud to claim her as a resident in my home borough of Brooklyn.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 3024 and H.R. 1972.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to acknowledge Raki Nelson, a young man who is destined to achieve greatness. Raki is the 1996 Watkins Award Winner, and has been honored as the premier African- American student-athlete in the country. Raki has committed to attend Notre Dame University as a wide receiver on a full football scholarship. He has achieved recognition for not only his dazzling display on the football field, but his contributions to his community. As the recipient of the Watkins Award, he is being honored for exemplifying leadership. Franklin Watkins was one of the founding fathers of the National Alliance of African-American Athletes. The alliance lists a host of professional athletes who support the organization's endeavors, including Reggie White, Green Bay Packers; Charlie Ward, New York Knicks; and Royce Clayton of the St. Louis Cardinals. Raki's sterling career as a wide receiver ended with 185 catches for 34 touchdowns which generated 3,132 total yards. However, the hallmark of his efforts was his community action poster. He and a fellow team member distributed and autographed posters for grade school and midget football programs throughout his home State of Pennsylvania. I am pleased to recognize one of college football's future stars, and a shining light in his own community.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the contributions of one of Brooklyn's most committed community activists, Sarah L. Watson- Blanding. Sarah is a native of Cameron, SC, and the daughter of Mrs. Hester Bookhardt and Mr. Richard Watson. After an early education from Orangeburg, SC, schools, she graduated from Claflin College with a major in Social Science and a minor in Education. Sarah also did graduate work at New York University. For the past 25\1/2\ years, Sarah Blanding has been an outstanding employee with the Department of Labor. For her work, Sarah received both the Merit Award and the Julius Shapiro Youth Award for the highest placement of youth in New York City. Sarah has continued her collegiate activism with the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and the NAACP. She is also an energetic member of the New Canaan Baptist Church and is presently the president of the Brooklyn Alumni Association of Claflin College. Sarah and her husband Jesse have one daughter, Renee, a graduate of Brown University who resides in Atlanta. I comment Sarah Watson-Blanding on her exceptional commitment and dedication to youth and the Brooklyn community at large.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on April 13, 1996 the Sikh nation celebrated its 297th birthday. Sikhs call this day Vaisaakhi Day. It was on Vaisaakhi Day in 1699 that the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, baptized the Sikhs into nationhood. Sikhs refer to their nation as the Khalsa Panth. Since becoming a nation, Sikhs have experienced periods of great prosperity and periods of immense, brutal repression. Sikhs ruled Punjab from 1710 to 1716 and again from 1765 to 1849, establishing an enlightened form of government that recognized the equality of all citizens regardless of religious affiliation or social class standing. Sikhs have also persevered through periods of immeasurable oppression from Mogul invaders who desecrated the holiest of Sikh shrines, the Golden Temple in Amristar and who slaughtered Sikhs who refused to deny their faith. Throughout their entire history Sikhs have persisted in the command given to them by Guru Gobind Singh to stand up against tyranny and oppression no matter where it exist. Today Sikhs find themselves again standing up against tyranny and oppression. This time the oppressor is the Government of India. Indian forces have murdered over 150,000 Sikhs since 1984. In June 1984 the Golden Temple was again desecrated, this time by the Indian military. In that assault, over 20,000 Sikhs were killed. In November 1984, over 40,000 Sikhs throughout India were killed by mobs instigated to murder Sikhs by leading members of the ruling Congress (I) party. According to prominent human rights activists in the Sikh homeland, the number of Sikhs who have been ``disappeared'' or illegally killed in ``fake encounters'' may be over 100,000. One Sikh human rights activist, Jaswant Singh Khalra, was abducted by Indian police on September 7, 1995 after he released a report showing that the Indian regime has abducted, tortured, murdered and cremated over 25,000 Sikhs. On October 19, 1995, 65 Members of the Congress sent a letter to Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao demanding Khalra's release. Mr. Khalra's whereabouts remain unknown, 7 months after his abduction. India desperately wants the world to believe that the Punjab is a tranquil place and that Sikhs eagerly want to remain part of India. I want my colleagues in the U.S. Congress to know that the only peace in Punjab is the silence of a nation suffocating in the stranglehold of Indian repression. Every Sikh who has been bold enough to stand up and advocate the freedom of Khalistan through peaceful means has felt the immediate sting of Indian brutality. In January 1995, Simranjit Singh Mann asked a crowd of 50,000 Sikhs if they supported the independence of Khalistan through peaceful means. All 50,000 Sikhs raised their hands in support. Mr. Mann was then arrested by Indian police for asking this question despite the fact that in 1992 the Punjab and Haryana High Courts in India ruled that waging a peaceful struggle for self-determination is no offense. The hypocrisy of the Indian Government is evident. It is clear to Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike that India simply wants to prevent the Sikhs from enjoying their right of freedom. In the face of this kind of repression, Sikhs are reminded of their duty to stand up against tyranny wherever it exists. On October 7, 1987, the Sikh nation declared itself independent from India forming the separate country of Khalistan. This Vaisaakhi Day, Sikhs are emboldened to carry on their struggle for freedom in the face of immense brutality, because to be a Sikh means either to live free of tyranny or to persistently struggle against it. I call on my colleagues in the Congress to join me in supporting the Sikhs nation's struggle for freedom. As Americans it is our duty to do so, because like Americans, the Sikhs are a freedom-loving people struggling to break the chains of tyranny. Sikhs want to live in peace and be allowed to develop to their fullest potential. Sikh and American ideals parallel one another to a great degree, and it is my firm conviction that an independent Khalistan would be America's strongest ally in South Asia. Khalistan would form a buffer nation between India and Pakistan, thus reducing the potential for armed conflict between the two countries. Khalistan would also agree to the nuclear nonproliferation efforts currently being made by the United States and the international community in South Asia. And unlike India which depends on IMF loans and U.S. assistance to feed its people, while secretly spending billions on developing nuclear weapons and crushing freedom movements, an independent Khalistan would develop itself along the lines of a South Korea or a Taiwan, cultivating economic self- sustainability. For America, the Sikh vision of an independent Khalistan is an attractive alternative to the current state of affairs in South Asia--a vision of economic development, nuclear nonproliferation and regional stability. Today, however, Sikhs are reeling under the boot of Indian state repression. I call on my colleagues to support the independence of Khalistan and help the Sikh nation obtain the freedom it so rightly deserves.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I have concluded after years of public service and personal experience that the lifeblood of a stable and effective community is mutual cooperation. Today I am pleased to acknowledge a process of mutual cooperation that has served the Borough of Brooklyn and the community of Canarsie very well. I am referring to the relationship between the Canarsie Volunteer Ambulance Corp. and the work of police officer Warren Neal, community affairs officer of the 69th Precinct which encompasses the Canarsie community. The Canarsie Volunteer Ambulance Corp. provides free emergency medical care and is funded solely through donations from the Canarsie community. Officer Neal, a professional with 28 years of experience, is being honored by the corporation for his distinguished and dedicated service. Mr. Neal embarked on his law enforcement career in 1968 with the New York City Police Department, assigned to the Times Square area. He was later transferred to Canarsie and served as a patrol officer and was subsequently assigned to be the auxiliary police coordinator. Officer Neal was promoted to Community Affairs Officer for doing an effective job in recruiting and training auxiliary police officers. In that capacity he has represented the precinct at local civic, fraternal, religious and educational events conducted within the Canarsie community. His selfless efforts have endeared him to the numerous Canarsie residents. Officer Neal is a dedicated family man and has been married to his wife Patricia for 36 years. They have three children, James, Michael, and Suzanne, and five grandchildren. I am pleased to acknowledge to two community success stories that are mutually linked. The Canarsie Volunteer Ambulance Corp. and its relationship with Officer Warren Neal has been a fruitful relationship that has nothing but positive results. I am pleased to highlight this exceptional example of community cooperation.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, there is no greater calling than service to God. I am honored to recognize Rev. James R. Green, Jr., the pastor of Universal Baptist Church on the occasion of 12th pastoral anniversary. Reverend Green's pursuit of ministerial service was cultivated from the faith and actions of his grandfather, who was a devoted servant and preacher of the gospel. In keeping with his Christian faith, Reverend Green founded the Association of Brooklyn Clergy for Community Development [ABCCD] to be advocated on behalf of human services, housing, and economic development. Reverend Green's activism and faith have been bolstered by his avid pursuit of education. He has received degrees from Long Island University, The Manhattan Bible Institute, the Trinity Theological Seminary, and is currently working on a D. Min. in pastoral care. The vision, unselfishness, and dedication of Pastor Green is an example of spiritual empowerment. His efforts to educate young children through the creation of a God-centered school is truly commendable. It is my pleasure to introduce Reverend Green to my House colleagues.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, in the borough of Brooklyn there is an institution called Bridge Street A.M.E. Church which serves as a beacon of light and a source of spiritual sustenance for its parishioners. Assistant Pastor Barbara Austin Lucas contributes greatly to the positive activities and energies that flow from the church. Reverend Barbara has impeccable academic credentials. She graduated with honors from Tufts University, received masters degrees from Boston University and Colgate Rochester Divinity School, and earned her Ed.D at Union Theological Seminary and Teachers College, Columbia University. Reverend Barbara has traveled throughout the Western Hemisphere as well as the continent of Africa in her quest to seek knowledge and spread goodwill. An organizer by nature, Barbara is responsible for the Sisters Sharing Convocation in Buffalo, a program that focused on African-American women addressing solutions to critical problems that beset the black community. She is also a member of the Missionary Society, the Brooklyn Historical Society, the NAACP, and Church Women United. A devoted mother and wife, Reverend Lucas has three children, Kemba, Hakim, and Kareem. She also works with her husband, the Reverend Frederick A. Lucas, Jr., pastor of Bridge Street A.M.E. Church. Reverend Lucas has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Outstanding Young Women of America, the Sister Sharing Award, and the Church Woman of the Year Award. I am pleased to recognize her unique achievements and contributions.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the health issue that is very important to a vulnerable population; namely, Medicare beneficiaries. This year, colorectal cancer will claim an estimated 54,000 lives. This is the second leading cancer killer in the United States; 134,000 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, most of them in the elderly population. And we are talking about cutting Medicare. Madam Speaker, we know that early detection will save lives and save money. The technology exists to eradicate more than 90 percent of colorectal cancer in this country. Let us work toward a Medicare package or preventative benefits, one which will include colorectal cancer screening. It makes good health sense, and it makes good economic sense. I urge my colleagues to move forward in addressing this disease in the Medicare population, the group most vulnerable to colorectal cancer.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, many of us have spoken repeatedly about India's repressive tyranny in Punjab, Khalistan, and in other areas where the dominant population is not Brahmin Hindu. Now a new video has come out which exposes the pervasive nature of that tyranny, at least as it relates to the Sikh nation in Punjab, Khalistan. I thank the Council of Khalistan for sending me this powerful documentary Disappearances in Punjab. This video was not made by Sikhs, but by a human rights activist who is Hindu. It is a solid investigation of the repressive nature of India's brutal rule of Punjab, Khalistan. Khalistan, of course, is the independent Sikh country declared on October 7, 1987. The Council of Khalistan is its government in exile. Disappearances in Punjab focuses on Sikhs who have been made to disappear by the Indian regime. According to a coalition of prominent human rights groups and individual activists, there are more than 100,000 Sikhs who have been subjected to this cruel fate. Perhaps the most prominent is the general secretary of the human rights wing-- Shiromani Akali Dal--Jaswant Singh Khalra. Mr. Khalra was whisked away from his Amritsar home on September 6, less than a week after meeting with a congressional delegation to discuss a report he had published. In the report, Mr. Khalra showed that over 25,000 young Sikhs men had been abducted by the regime, tortured, and killed, then their bodies had been declared unidentified and cremated. After the report was published, the Tarn Taran police chief explicitly told Mr. Khalra that he, too, would be made to disappear. After more than 6 months in illegal detention, Mr. Khalra's whereabouts remain unknown. As the video shows, this incident is unfortunately part of a pattern of intimidation through terror by the Indian regime. The video publicizes real victims of India's brutal repression. It shows us a policewoman talking about the disappearances and other repression in Punjab, Khalistan. It is vivid indictment of the brutality that is a way of life in Punjab, Khalistan, under India's tyrannical rule. After seeing this video, I am more convinced than ever that we need to support the Sikhs of Khalistan and the other oppressed people of the South Asian subcontinent in their struggle to be free. The Indian regime has killed over 150,000 Sikhs since 1984, over 200,000 Christians in Nagaland since 1947, over 43,000 Moslems in Kashmir since 1988, and thousands of Assamese, Manipuris, Tamils, Dalits--black untouchables--and other people who are in the way of the Brahmin class. Maybe that is what the New York Times had in mind when it described India in its February 25 edition as ``a rotten, corrupt, repressive, and anti-people system.'' No one should have to live in such a system. If America can help the peoples of the subcontinent escape from this brutal and bloody tyranny, it is our moral duty to do so. We must do whatever we can. One thing we clearly can do is to cut off United States aid to India. A good first step in that direction is H.R. 1425, the Human Rights in India Act. Under this act, United States development aid to India would be cut off until human rights are observed. I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill and to join those of us who have become sponsors. America must not be supporting tyranny with aid or trade. We must be especially careful not to support tyrants with the tax dollars of the American people. We must also pass House Concurrent Resolution 32, urging a plebiscite in Indian-occupied Khalistan under international supervision. This is a sense-of-the-Congress resolution. Frankly, India shows all the signs of a country in the process of unraveling. It is time that America got itself on the side of the emerging South Asian nations who will soon be free despite Indian's repression. Only then will the subcontinent live in prosperity and harmony.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation which ensures that newborn babies and their mothers receive appropriate health care in the critical first few days following birth. The legislation requires insurance companies, HMO's, and hospitals to offer mothers and newborns at least 48 hours of inpatient care following normal births and 120 hours after caesarean sections. Mothers may choose to go home earlier but insurers and HMO's must then offer them a home care visit within 24 hours of discharge. The typical length of stay over a decade ago for a woman and her infant after delivery was 3 to 5 days for a vaginal delivery and 1 to 2 weeks for a caesarean delivery. Over the past few years the typical length of stay decreased to 24 hours or less for an uncomplicated vaginal delivery and 2 to 3 days for a caesarean. In some regions around the country, hospitals are now discharging women 6 to 12 hours following a vaginal birth. Health care organizations such as the American Medical Association [AMA] have stated that early discharge of women and infants after delivery cannot be considered medically prudent. The AMA's policy on early discharge is that it is a decision which should be based on the clinical judgement of attending physicians and not on economic factors. Furthermore, national medical health care organizations such as the AMA and the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, all agree that shorter hospital stays are placing the health of many newborns and mothers at risk. There is reason for concern for the trend toward shorter hospital stays. Health care officials agree that the shorter stay increases the incidence in newborns of jaundice, dehydration, phenylketonuria [PKU], and other neonatal complications. For an example, adequate PKU test requires a newborn to have had 24 hours of milk feeding and most babies are not fed until 4 hour after birth. If a newborn is discharged prior to the 24 hours of milk feeding, then the hospital readmissions for undetected jaundice, a common condition in newborns and the easiest to treat. PKU and severe jaundice are conditions that can cause mental retardation if not detected early. Clearly if newborns spend more time in the hospital, then these and other conditions can be easily detected and treated, saving lives and money. A recent study by the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center found that within an infant's first 2 weeks of life, there is a 50-percent increased risk of readmission and a 70-percent increased risk of emergency room visits if the infant is discharged at less than 2 days of age. Other studies indicate that early release is just as harmful to mothers as to infants. Mothers can develop serious health problems such as hemorrhaging, pelvic infections, and breast infections. There is also the concern that opportunities for educating new mothers in the care of their newborns are lost when inappropriate early discharge occurs. This, coupled with the fact that many mothers are simply too exhausted to care for their children 24 hours after delivery, often leads to newborns receiving inadequate care and nourishment during their crucial first few days of life. A 48-hour minimum stay is consistent with steps being considered by some States. For example, my bill is very similar to one which recently passed the New York Assembly, and which is being considered in the Senate. New Jersey, Maryland, and North Carolina have also enacted laws on maternity hospital stays. Prevention has always been a way to cut health care costs. However, discharging mothers and newborns early creates its own costs. When a child suffers brain damage or other permanent disabilities because they did not receive adequate early care, insurers are then forced to pay for treating patients for conditions which could have been prevented or lessened if caught earlier. Mr. Speaker, this bill allows new mothers to focus on learning to care for their newborns and themselves instead of being concerned with when their insurance coverage will run out.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, balancing the budget is important, but the debate has taken the wrong turn. We should be focusing on saving lives and the quality of care, not just balancing the budget, balancing the budget at the expense of losing people, and at the expense of creating turmoil in the lives of so many. For the past 30 years, Mr. Speaker, America has prided herself on protecting those vulnerable populations who, because of many circumstances, are not able to afford the health care they desperately need. Last week, Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Commerce which I serve on, held a hearing on the Medicaid proposal by the National Governors Association. During the recess, we had a hearing in which six Governors came to testify. Due to the fact that many Members could not be there, we required another day of hearings. The Governors' proposal is a bipartisan consensus which I must admit has done a lot to contribute to the debate and finding solutions to reforming the Medicaid program. I applaud them, Mr. Speaker, for trying to help. However, I am still concerned with several very, very important issues which, in my opinion, must be further reviewed. Under the NGA proposal, not only will the recipients of the Medicaid safety net program suffer, but so will the inner cities, which house many of our great teaching institutions that train the majority of our Nation's physicians. New York alone trains 15 percent of the Nation's physicians. Public hospitals which care for over 30 million uninsured will also suffer much more than ever imagined. If enacted, Mr. Speaker, the Medicaid cuts would deliver a blow to New York City that is double its proportionate share. Over the next 7 years, cuts to New York hospitals will total approximately $12 billion, that is B as in boy, billion, in New York City, and billions more in New York State. Payments for long-term care and personal health services will decline by approximately $7 billion in New York City, and $1 billion in New York State. Furthermore, the Medicaid cuts will reduce needed service levels, and access to care will also suffer, as well as reduced projected employment by over 100,000 in New York City and 200,000 in New York State, and cause the personal income of New Yorkers to decline by at least 2.7 percent. While the debate over Medicaid reform has largely focused on cost savings, it is important to refocus the debate on saving lives and quality of care. Mr. Speaker, let me just say that we need to recognize the fact that people are living longer, and as they live longer, they will need additional care. In order for them to have that care, we need to make certain that the resources are there to provide that care. People in nursing homes today are doing a fantastic job. For a long time, we did not have standards like we have today. Of course, we had a mess. We had some nursing homes that were creating all kinds of problems for our elderly. However, we were able to get some statutes in the law that sort of turned that around. We now seem to be moving back toward where we were before those statutes came into being. I visited a nursing home just recently in my district, the Cobble Hill Nursing Home. I listened to the staff as they talked about the kinds of things they have to do now, and recognized that if we continue to cut the programs, that they will not have the staff to be able to perform those duties. I am hoping, Mr. Speaker, that we realize that as we talk about the budget cuts, that we do not forget that we are talking about quality of care, we are talking about the lives of human beings, and let us not let the debate make the wrong turn. Let us straighten it out and go in the right direction to protect the lives of our people.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to recognize the perseverance of Arelis Figueroa. She has overcome tremendous odds to pursue self-improvement, and in turn has assisted her family members to realize their innate potential. Arelis migrated to the United States from Puerto Rico at a very early age, along with her five older sisters. Life was not easy for her family, but despite difficulties, she began her odyssey of self- improvement. Her three children, Arelis, Eric, and Nicole have been tremendous sources of inspiration and pride for her. Arelis, the eldest, is the first to receive a 4 year college degree; Eric is a member of the New York City Police Department, and Nicole, although afflicted with Downs's Syndrome, has distinguished herself in Special Olympic gymnastic events. Nicole's condition prompted Arelis to learn everything she could about the disease. She decided that learning about the disease and helping others similarly affected would be her calling. As a result, Arelis secured a position with the New York City Board of Education, working with students with special needs at P.S. 72 in Brooklyn. Through vision, tenacity and a sense of love, Arelis Figueroa has made her world, and the World around her a better place. I am profoundly inspired by her actions and accomplishments, and wish her much success in the future.

Mr. TOWNS of New York

Mr. TOWNS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank my colleague from Ohio, Mr. Louis Stokes for calling this special order today in honor of African-American History Month. Today, I would like to pay special tribute to our African-American women. These women are our mothers, sisters, and wives. Women who have watched their young children be sold on the auction block and women who even today watch their children be buried or sent away in shackles. Through all the trials, tribulations and pain that African-American women have gone through, they have always been the backbone of our community. In 1969, Shirley Chisholm of New York became the first black woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the arts, Gwendolyn Brooks became the first black to win a Pulitzer. She received the award in 1950 for a collection of poems titled ``Annie Allen.'' In 1955, Marian Anderson became the first black to sing a leading role with Metropolitan Opera in New York City. In the civil rights movement, Rosa Parks, a seamstress and civil rights activist in Montgomery, AL, became a leading symbol of black's bold new action to attain their civil rights. In 1955, she was arrested for disobeying a city law that required blacks to give up their seats when white people wished to sit in their seats or in the same row. Montgomery's blacks protested her arrest by refusing to ride the buses. Their protest lasted 382 days, ending when the city abolished the bus law. During the Great Depression, most African-Americans felt that Republican President Herbert Hoover, had done little to try to end the Depression. In the elections of 1932, some black voters deserted their traditional loyalty to the Republican Party. They no longer saw it as the party of Abraham Lincoln the emancipator, but of Herbert Hoover and the Depression. In 1936 for the first time, most blacks supported Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic Party candidate for President. This change opened the door for women like, Mary McLeod Bethune, who became an advisor to Roosevelt on the problems of black America. Bethune, founder of Bethune Cookman-College, during the Roosevelt administration, directed the Black Affairs Division of a Federal agency called the National Youth Administration. Brooklyn is very blessed to have the guidance and leadership of many virtuous women. Virtuous women are leaders and organizers, creative and culturally aware of their communities. Women such as, Rev. Evelyn Mann, Rev. Barbara Lucas, and Rev. Barbara Williams-Norman and Rev. Jacqueline McCollaugh have all supported their families and communities through the work and word of God. All of these women and many more have contributed to the political, social and spiritual progress of this country. As we honor African-American women, we honor our heritage and our ancestors who have passed the torch of strength and determination. I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting African-American women around the country for their outstanding achievements even under the most difficult circumstances.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Gwen Towns attended college in her home State of North Carolina where she received a bachelor of science in early childhood education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Later, she earned a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Brooklyn College, and obtained post master credits from Pace University. As an advocate for quality education for children and adults, she has taught in New York for several organizations, including the Women's House of Detention and the board of education. In addition, Mrs. Towns has served as a member of various national and local education committees. Mrs. Towns has been recognized on numerous occasions for her commitment and leadership on issues related to education and her efforts as a community activist. Also, she serves on the board of directors for the Brooklyn Children's Museum, St. Joseph's Home for Children, and president of the Interfaith Medical Auxiliary. She is a member of the NYC chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Conerned Women of Brooklyn, and an active member of Berean Missionary Baptist Church. Most importantly, she and Congressman Ed Towns are the proud parents of two children, Assemblyman Darryl Towns and Deidra Towns, and the grandparents of Kiara Towns and Jasmine Towns.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, all of us are concerned about quality health care, and fortunately the citizens of New York City have Lynda Dianne Curtis working to provide them with top flight service. Lynda is a native New Yorker. She received her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York [SUNY] at Buffalo, and her masters degree in special education and learning disabilities from Fordham University. Ms. Curtis began her professional career at Sydenham Neighborhood Family Care Center [NFCC]. She has held numerous positions of responsibility, including her current position as executive director of the Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Brooklyn. During her tenure the center has extended clinic hours, increased the number of patients attended to by physicians, and improved the physical plant facility. Lynda's hard work has often been recognized, including awards such as the Community Service Volunteers Award, the Renaissance Community Service Award, and the Black Agency's Founders' Award. Clearly, Lynda's record of service and delivery of health care is commendable. I am happy to introduce my House colleagues to Lynda Dianne Curtis.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, Jo Anne Simon is an outstanding community activist who represents the brownstone community of Boerum Hill in downtown Brooklyn. Ms. Simon is the president of the Boerum Hill Association. The association serves the historic community that has thriving merchant businesses. Jo Anne works closely with local community board and public officials to ensure that critical issues such as education, crime prevention, historical preservation, and quality of life issues are responsibly addressed on behalf of community and neighborhood members. Ms. Simon recognizes that her efforts must be special because Boerum Hill is a very special Brooklyn enclave. An attorney and former teacher of the blind, Jo Anne has been very active in the disability rights movement. She is a founding member of the Association of Higher Education and Disability, a national organization which advocates for equal access to higher education. She currently serves on its board of directors. I am pleased to bring Jo Anne Simon's community activism to the attention of my colleagues.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Jacqueline Charity, who serves as deputy director for access and compliance with the New York City Board of Education, for her years of service. Ms. Charity has amassed an impressive resume of selfless service in the cause of educating young people. She has been directly responsible for programs targeted at talented and gifted students, in addition to her outstanding supervision of the College Bound Program. Recognizing that it is essential for students to be competitive in math and sciences, Ms. Charity undertook the challenge to establish a math-science program at Stuyvesant High School. Jacqueline attended primary and secondary school in Brooklyn, and received her undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College, and her masters degree from New York University. A devoted mother and wife, Jackie finds the time to provide extensive community service in her church and for numerous civic organizations. Among her numerous awards is recognition from the Jack and Jill organization and the YWCA. Jacqueline maintains her spiritual center by serving as a eucharistic minister/lay reader at St. Phillips Episcopal Church. I am pleased to be able to bring the accomplishment of this noted Brooklyn educator to the attention of my colleagues.