Ed Towns

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to join my friend and colleague from Florida, Mr. Stearns, in the introduction of important and long-overdue legislation to begin to reform the way in which electric utilities in this country are regulated. This bill would repeal section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 or PURPA. Section 210 of PURPA is unusual legislation. It requires utilities to buy power from certain privileged nonutility generators of electricity at a price that is set by the State, with guidance from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. This price is supposed to be no higher than a utility avoided cost, the cost which the utility would have payed to generate the electricity itself or to buy the power from other sources. Unfortunately, in most cases, this avoided-cost calculation has turned out to be higher than the market price for electricity and consumers are paying billions of dollars for high-cost power which is not needed. In New York alone, it has been estimated that PURPA has resulted in billions of excess power costs. This harms business, costs jobs, and penalizes residential users who must pay electric bills which are higher than they need be. While this measure will not affect existing above-market contracts, it will eliminate the possibility that the problem will be made worse in the future. The drafters of PURPA never anticipated the changes which are now sweeping through the electric industry. In large part, these changes were initiated by the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which opened up the Nation's transmission system and greatly expanded the firms who could compete to supply power. PURPA today stands pat as an outdated moment to a different era in our national energy policy. Simply put, PURPA's time has come and gone. The restructuring of the electric industry is accelerating both at the State and Federal levels. Mr. Schaefer, chairman of the Energy and Power Subcommittee, has indicated that he intends to hold several hearings on this important issue and I applaud him for his foresight. Further change in the regulation of utilities, including the introduction of greater competition, is inevitable. Repeal of section 210 of PURPA is an important step in this process of allowing competition to play a greater role in the electric industry. Repeal will also lower future electricity prices to our constituents. I urge speedy consideration of this legislation.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, make no mistake about the measure before us today. It is a major setback for nursing home care in this country. In my district alone, cuts in Medicaid will result in a $32 million loss to just Cobble Hill Nursing Home, and that figure is just for one nursing home. Not only are the cuts devastating to nursing homes, the elimination of minimum care standards add insult to injury. These standards were passed in 1987 precisely because of widespread abuse, neglect and indecent conditions in the Nation's nursing homes. Under this bill, all these protections are wiped out: Gone are the curbs on misuse of physical restraints and abuse of drugs; Gone is the requirement for round-the-clock licensed nursing services; Gone is the prohibition against evicting patients on financial reasons. Patients now will be subject to eviction or transfer from nursing homes after their private funds have been depleted and before Medicaid assumes payment. And finally, this bill contains no guarantee of healthy, appropriate meals. There is not question that nursing home care will return to the dark ages. Mr. Chairman, if we can not protect ``those who are the least of these,'' like nursing home residents, then who can we protect?

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, make no mistake about it. What we are doing here today is applying a $270 billion meat-ax approach to a $90 billion problem merely to pay for a $245 billion tax cut for the wealthy. Let me say that I know my colleagues want to help their rich friends, but let me say to the Republicans, Please find another way to help your friends. Do not do it on the backs of senior citizens, those that have worked all their lives to come to this point now and to be told we are going to cut, cut, cut, cut. Let me just talk about two lies here very quickly. No. 1 is that we are going to go after fraud and abuse. My colleagues are not going after fraud and abuse; they are cutting half of the people that is supposed to go find fraud and abuse. How are they going after it if they eliminate half of the people that are supposed to look for it? And the last one is choice. The biggest lie of all is choice. If they do not have the resources, they have no choice.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Marzieh, legendary singer of Iran. The news media has reported the smashing success of Marzieh, grande dame of Iranian music, at her concert in California on September 30. You will recall that Marzieh began her tour of the United States with a brief stop in Washington, where many members, including myself, had the great pleasure of meeting her at a reception and dinner here on the hill. The sellout crowd of over 3,000 at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre gave her a tremendous welcome and one after another of her songs prompted standing ovations. Marzieh is, of course, renowned among her people not only for her tremendous talent and career, spanning half a century, but for her commitment to democracy and human rights in her troubled homeland, Iran. The civil rights movement in this country was sustained with freedom songs and songs of praise. Marzieh has brought a new voice for Iran, a voice which has helped to preserve Persian musical traditions, and a voice which now lends itself to the battle for freedom and justice in Iran. Just as the freedom songs of the 1960's carried the message of the civil rights movement, Marzieh's melodic tones will carry the message of the resistance against the repressive regime in Iran. At 71, Marzieh is already a musical icon, but with her courageous decision last year to leave her oppressed homeland after 15 years of silence and meet with the Iranian Resistance's President-elect, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, in Paris, she has become much more: A true champion of her people. As Mrs. Rajavi's advisor on the arts and culture, I am sure that Marzieh will play a significant role in reviving the world renowned legacy of Persian art and music. I send Marzieh my congratulations on her great success on the west coast, and my best wishes on her continuing work on behalf of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Dr. Thomas Monteiro. Dr. Monteiro serves as the department head of the Advance Certificate Program in Education Administration and Supervision at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. He formerly served as the director of the Principal's Center at Brooklyn College. Dr. Monteiro has worked diligently and passionately to improve educational programs, with a particular emphasis on designing program evaluations for school districts. This distinguished gentleman graduated from the New York City school system and has received degrees from Winston-Salem State University, Queens College of the City University of New York, and Fordham University. Active in community and political affairs, Dr. Monteiro served as the former president of the Jamaica, Queens branch of the NAACP. One crowning achievement among many in his life, was being named the recipient of the 1988 Educator of the Year award by the Association of Black Educators in New York City. I am proud to highlight the accomplishments of Dr. Monteiro.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Sanford Rubenstein for his work as a delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business. His contributions at the conference were helpful in formulating a small business policy agenda for the 21st Century. Mr. Rubenstein participated in vital discussions that are critical [[Page E 1888]] to small businesses, such as the need to access capital, regulatory reform, and pro-growth tax policies. The recommendations of Mr. Rubenstein and his fellow delegates at the conference will serve as the basis for important new legislation which will be considered by the Congress and the President. Sandy Rubenstein's selfless work in making the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business should be recognized and commended.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a shining star in the great borough of Brooklyn, NY, the Rev. Doctor V. Simpson Turner, who this year celebrates his 30th year as senior pastor of the historic Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Turner's achievements during his pastorate have been many, including the rebuilding in 1978 of a new church complex and education facilities, costing over $2 million. Again, he oversaw the rebuilding of the church sanctuary after a devastating fire in 1986. In 1995, the Mt. Carmel Housing Development Corp. developed 78 units of housing, and in March of that year, 38 families realized their dreams of home ownership and moved into the Mt. Carmel town houses. The latest project undertaken by the church includes developing plans to build a home for the homeless near the church at a proposed cost of over $3 million. Other initiatives during the past 30 years have included: a homework center for youngsters of all ages, a high school equivalency program, a senior services and handicapped bus ministry, and a radio ministry. In addition to pastoring Mt. Carmel Church, Dr. Turner has been active in numerous community organizations. He serves as president of the board of trustees of the Baptist Medical Center, and serves on the board of trustees of Gordon college, the Baptist home for the elderly, and the Brooklyn public library, His ecumenical involvement includes: chairman, Department of Communications, Council Churches of the city of New York; former president, North American Baptist Fellowship of the Baptist World Alliance; member of the board of directors, Religion in American Life; and, former president, Baptist Minister's Conference of Greater New York. Dr. Turner is also a member of Brooklyn Community Board #3. He is an adjunct professor of urban concerns at Alliance Theological Seminary, and he appears regularly as a radio and television host. Dr. Turner has traveled throughout the world as a featured preacher. Dr. Turner has been honored by many community groups, including: the NYC Bureau of Child Welfare, the United Builders Association, the Boy Scouts of America, and the YMCA. He was appointed by the Governor of the State of New York to the New York State Commission on Health Education and Illness Prevention. Dr. Turner has a B.A. from Gordon College, an M.S. form Biblical Seminary of New York City; an M.T.S. from New York Theological Seminary; and a D.Min. from Drew University. He is the author of ``Compassion for the City,'' used throughout the country as a textbook for students pursuing urban ministry. For 10 years, he served as editor of the Baptist Progress, the official journal of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Dr. Turner is married to Laura B. Turner, an educator, and they have two children. I am pleased to bring the life and service of the Rev. Doctor V. Simpson Turner to the attention of my colleagues and commend him on a ministry well-served and a life well-lived.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise for the purpose of commending Sanford A. Rubenstein for his work as a delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business. This conference provided the forum to formulate a small business policy agenda for the 21st century. The conference discussed the most critical issues facing small business, including the need for access to capital, regulatory reform, and pro-growth tax policies. The recommendations of this conference will form the basis for important new legislation which will be considered by the Congress and the President. My thanks to Sanford A. Rubenstein for his dedication and hard work in making the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business the best ever.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform my colleagues that the LABOR-HHS-ED bill cuts $2.4 million from the child welfare training programs and should restore these funds in conference committee. While it is recognized that the deficit needs to be fixed, should it be done on the backs of children? In 1994, over 3 million children in the United States were reported physically, emotionally, or sexually abused or neglected. The need for trained, skilled, and qualified child welfare protection personnel is essential. Yet, according to the National Commission on Children, only 25 percent of child welfare case workers have social work training, and 50 percent have no previous experience working with children and families.* Under section 426, title IV-B discretionary grants are awarded to public and private nonprofit institutions of higher learning to develop and improve education/training programs and resources for child welfare service providers. These grants upgrade the skills and qualifications of child welfare workers. To ensure an available and adequate supply of professionally trained social workers who provide child protection, family preservation, family support, foster care, and adoption services, I urge you to support schools of social work in their untiring efforts to train competent and qualified child welfare protection workers. If adequate resources are not made available then we all bear the responsibility of promoting a child welfare work force that will be ill-equipped to deliver critical services to many children and families. If we provide the necessary funds, we can be assured of a well qualified, trained, and skilled child welfare work force who will make sure that all American families in special need will get quality assistance. This program without a doubt is a sound Government investment for families.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Coburn substitute. I understand what the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Markey] is trying to do, and of course it points out probably the frustration that has gone on as a result of the amount of violence that we have seen on television. But let me say to him and to those that support it, Mr. Chairman, it is the wrong thing to do at this time. Mr. Chairman, I think that what we need to do is empower parents, and the way we empower parents would be to make it possible for them to control the situation. This is a great moment and a great opportunity. This is an issue that I have been involved in for quite some time, saying that there has been too much violence on television and that our children go to bed seeing killings, and they wake up in the morning seeing people killed, wake up seeing people destroyed, and sometimes I think they get confused in terms of reality because they see a person getting killed on one episode, and the next week he is starring on another episode. I think they are confused about this whole situation. So, Mr. Chairman, I am convinced that, yes, we must do something, but I am not sure that what is being proposed by the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Markey], that that is what we should do. There is affordable and practical technology available for parents that does not require the Federal Government to mandate the use of a V-chip. I strongly believe that broadcasters should decrease violence on the programs, but, as consumers, we can exercise choice in this matter of what our children watch. Mr. Chairman, that is why I strongly support the Coburn amendment. It provides consumer choice and programming control. If we do not support this provision, it would leave us with no other alternative but to rush down the path of censorship, and I want to caution my colleagues as they rush down the path of censorship. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. This is a way to protect our children and to empower our parents, and I think we should seize this moment by voting for Coburn and rejecting the Markey amendment.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I want to compliment the gentleman from California, the chairman of the subcommittee for his willingness to increase the funding for the special needs account. If the HOPWA Program funds remained at the level reported by the Appropriations Committee, it would have resulted in significant program cuts for New York City. Homelessness would have surely increased for people living with HIV infection. This limitation on funding would have delayed the release of homeless inpatients and prevented individuals and families from moving out of housing that is no longer adequate to the health status of a person with AIDS. Fortunately, because of the compromise that you reached with my good friend from Long Island, Mr. Lazio, New York City has been spared these serious program reductions. I want to complement you Mr. Chairman and all of my colleagues, Mr. Shays, Mr. Schumer, and Ms. Lowey, who have been worked so hard to develop a positive solution for restoring the HOPWA funds.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. At $348.5 million, the subcommittee has already reduced funding for EDA by 21 percent from its fiscal year 1995 funding level. Totally eliminating funding for this Agency is not justified either from the standpoint of fiscal constraints or economic development policy. The Economic Development Administration plays a vital role in supporting and enhancing communities around this Nation in a manner that is not carried out by any other agency. EDA grants help localities to build the capacity to plan and implement economic development strategies needed to respond to problems and to restore an employment base. In areas where there has been a significant loss in the manufacturing sector, EDA has been able to halt further economic deterioration through its revolving loan programs to local businesses. In Buffalo, these efforts resulted in a 61-percent increase in manufacturing employment. EDA also aids strategic planning and feasibility studies that bolster cooperative efforts for local economic development. For example, EDA efforts in this area helped the State of Maryland and the city of Baltimore to develop a restructuring plan for the promotion of local biomedical research and health facilities. But Mr. Chairman perhaps the most important aspect of EDA programs are being overlooked here. The Agency's ability to pay for itself. It may be the only Federal program that is actually a net profit maker with a return for the Federal Government. Statistics suggest that approximately $3 of private investment is spurred by every invested EDA dollar. As the Secretary indicated in his testimony before Congress, ``* * * economic opportunity is not evenly dispersed to all communities * * *'' EDA programs strive to equalize the economic playing field for distressed communities. This week the Public Works Committee reported out new strict eligibility standards which will ensure that EDA grants are awarded to our most distressed regions. This action ensures that funds will only go to the neediest communities. Let us give these new changes an opportunity to work. EDA makes an important contribution to the economic vitality of this country. It is an agency that we need and an agency that deserves our support.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment introduced by my distinguished colleague, Mr. Nadler, to change the one-way toll collection system for the Varrazano Bridge crossing between Brooklyn and Staten Island in New York City back to a two-way collection. This is a matter of utmost importance to the residential and business communities that I represent. The one-way toll was established in 1986 as a temporary experimental program to study any decrease of air pollution impacting the Staten Island communities located near the then existing east-bound toll booths. Since 1986, several thousand Staten Island residents may have benefited from less air pollution but the half million people of western Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan have been choking from the hot spots created by the gridlock. For the past 9 years, these Brooklyn and Manhattan neighborhoods have suffered from a monumental increase in car and truck traffic through our historic neighborhoods due to the implementation of one-way westbound tolls at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. We have experienced a dramatic escalation in congestion, noise, pollution, and damage to our aging infrastructure as a result of the daily car and truck traffic that spills onto our local streets. This Federal intrusion in local traffic management imposing one-way toll collection has cost my constituents and my colleagues nearly $1 billion over the last 6 years in losses associated with increased traffic congestion, air pollution, and noise. Because of this toll, motorists are turning western Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, and Jersey City into a pollution-filled parking lot. Equally serious are the vibrations on our nearby residential and commercial buildings and the costly water and gas main breaks. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has lost an estimated $8 million a year in lost toll revenue since 1986. This has meant higher public transportation fares for everyone in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. One-way tolls have made it more difficult for the New York region to come into compliance with the Federal Clean Air Act. Mr. Chairman, it is unconscionable that this action was ever permitted to happen, let alone continue for 9 years. Impassioned appeals to the Congress by leaders of Brooklyn and Manhattan to strip previous Transportation appropriations acts of this language have been ignored. Congress should not be in the business of imposing on local transportation officials toll collection schemes which bankrupt municipal budgets and clog our streets with metal elephants shaking everything as they motor by. I implore my colleagues to support Mr. Nadler's amendment that addresses this major quality of life issue for some of New York's thriving neighborhoods.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Prof. Thomas Monteiro, a product of the New York City school system and a graduate of Winston-Salem State University, Queens College [CUNY] and Fordham University. In addition, to his strong academic credentials, Professor Monteiro has always recognized the need to reach back and educate others. A teacher, for more than 30 years, Thomas Monteiro has supervised a variety of programs at the secondary school and college level. He served as the first president of the Jamaica Branch of the N.A.A.C.P. and as a former Co-Chairperson of New York City's African American Teachers Association. Recently, he was appointed by the Commission of Education to the New York Task Force on Minorities, Equity and Excellence. Not only has Professor Monteiro taken an active role in educating our youth; he continued to shine his light on the community by also taking an active role in community affairs. On a daily basis Thomas touches many lives. He has worked continuously by inspiring and mobilizing many of his peers. His vitality flows out of these experiences. The energy he projects represents a coming together of a personal and professional commitment to enhance educational opportunities for young people. Certainly, it is no coincidence that Prof. Thomas Monteiro is being honored as a result of his retirement from Brooklyn College [CUNY], by his colleagues, family, students, and friends on Sunday, October 29, 1995. I want to wish him the best of luck in the future and I hope others will follow the example of service and dedication by this distinguished citizen, Prof. Thomas Monteiro.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to recognize Saleem S. Rizvi for his accomplishments in the Pakistani-American community. An attorney by profession, Mr. Rizvi earned his bachelor of law, master of arts, and political science degree from the University of Punjab, Pakistan. He came to the United States to advance his education in law, entering one of our most prestigious legal institutions, Columbia Law School. There, he expanded his academic horizons and excelled in the area of international law. After graduating from Columbia with a master of law degree, Mr. Rizvi enrolled again as a special student to conduct further studies and research in the areas of corporate law, international trade, and investment law. In 1990, he developed a diversified practice covering corporate, commercial, real estate, bankruptcy, and immigration law. He successfully and continuously applies his knowledge, skills, and vision to help those less fortunate and who seek his assistance in fighting for justice and securing their legal and political rights. He is very active in many community affairs. He organizes, participates, and lectures at many seminars and conferences on legal and general matters. Saleem writes a weekly column on law for three ethnic newspapers and hosts the television program ``Legal Forum.'' Through this program, he is able to update his viewers on the latest developments in the legal field. Married and the father of a daughter, Saleem Rizvi is a member of the New York County Lawyers Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the American Bar Association. [[Page E 1402]] Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge Mr. Rizvi's accomplishments and his dedication to the service of our community.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. Denis Jardine for his impressive career in the field of health care which began in 1948 as a venereal disease follow-up officer for the World Health Organization in Liverpool, England. In 1969, he started his uphill career with the Lyndon B. Johnson Health Complex, Inc. in Brooklyn, NY, as a community organizer. Then, in 1971, he was promoted to coordinator of community affairs. From 1974 to 1976 he served as assistant vice president. Since 1976 Dr. Jardine has served as chief executive officer, a position which required the handling of many financial problems. Through hard work and determination, he was able to successfully pull the Lyndon B. Johnson Health Complex out of bankruptcy. He has entered a unification agreement with Interfaith Medical Center to enhance the needs of the community. During the span of his career, Dr. Jardine has received many commendations and awards for his years of service to the community. He is a member of the National Association of Health Services Executives Presidents' Association, American Management Association, and the American College of Hospitals Administrators. He is a widower and the father of a daughter. Mr. Speaker, I salute Dr. Jardine for his many years of invaluable service to the community.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions and achievements made by Wesley D. Ratcliff. Born in Crockett, TX, he holds a B.S. in math and physics from Prairie View University and a M.S. in math from the University of Houston, TX. He is a former associate professor of math and computer science at Texas Southern University. After completing 2 years as a lieutenant in the Armed Forces, Mr. Ratcliff joined NASA as an aerospace engineer, where he performed significant work on the U.S. moon missions. In 1976, he joined IBM as a customer engineer in Houston, TX. He then went on to serve as program support representative and field manager. In 1981, he was promoted to equal opportunity manager and in 1983, he took a staff position in the area of plans and controls in Dallas, TX. Subsequently, Mr. Ratcliff held the position of branch manager in San Antonio, TX before joining the Corporate Marketing and Service Group in Purchase, NY in 1986 as a marketing consultant. As he continued to climb the corporate ladder, he became the administrative assistant to the vice president of business development in Franklin Lakes, NJ. In 1990, he was promoted to plant site manager in Brooklyn, NY. On September 30, 1993, Mr. Ratcliff reached the height of his career goal when he signed an agreement with IBM which transferred ownership of its Brooklyn plant to Advanced Technological Solutions, Inc. [ATS] to form a new minority controlled employee-owned enterprise to become the company's first president and CEO. Mr. Ratcliff is very active in many community activities. He also serves on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Ratcliff and his wife are the proud parents of three children. I am proud to recognize Wesley D. Ratcliff for his hard work, dedication, and outstanding achievements over the years.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my strong concern over the expropriation of the cellular telephone system installed and formerly operated by Millicom in Costa Rica. Congress must address this situation not only for the sake of this U.S. company, but because of the terrible discouragement the expropriation makes against investors to bring Latin America into the information age, and onto the information highway. Millicom has headquarters in New York and operates cellular telephone networks in 19 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The company was invited by Costa Rica to install a cellular telephone system there. After the system had succeeded and was being expanded, the government began using insidious techniques of regulatory expropriation to nullify Millicom's property rights. Finally, a court ruled that the Costa Rican Constitution requires the government's telephone company to be a monopoly, and thereby expropriated Millicom's network and overturned written assurances Millicom had received that it could own and operate the system. Negotiations with Millicom to resolve the situation were on the threshold of an agreement when they were suddenly terminated last month by the President of Costa Rica.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with pleasure to pay tribute to an extraordinary public servant from Brooklyn, NY--Maj. Gen. Enoch H. Williams. General Williams retired as Commander of the New York Army National Guard on May 31, 1995, after over 30 years of active military service. Major General Williams earned his commission in 1950 after serving as an enlisted member during World War II. Rising from the rank of second lieutenant to colonel, he served in many positions, among them-- artillery officer, transportation officer, liaison to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, and Commander of Selective Service, and Headquarters Detachment. General Williams was appointed Commander of the New York Army National Guard in 1990. His military education includes Field Artillery School, the Air Defense School Command and General Staff Colllege, and the Industrial War College. Military decorations General Williams has earned include the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal, and both the Bronze and Silver Selective Service System Meritorious Service Medals. General Williams received a B.S. in business management from Long Island University. He also attended New York University and the New School for Social Research. In his civilian occupation, General Williams is serving his fifth term as a New York City councilman, representing the 41st Councilmanic District. The 41st district covers the multiethnic Brooklyn communities of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, East Flatbush, and Crown Heights. General Williams also gives freely of his time to serve in many governmental positions. He is a member of the American Institute of Housing Consultants, Community Service Society, and the New York Urban League. He is currently civilian director of the New York City Selective Service System. General Williams' dedicated service to the U.S. military merits special recognition. I take great pleasure and pride in entering these words of commendation into the Record.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, Sanford A. Rubenstein is the majority leader of the Rockland County legislature. He has served five terms as a country legislator representing the town of Ramapo. As a practicing lawyer he has been described by Joana Molloy of the New York Post as one of New York's ``High Powered Personal Injury Attorneys.'' Rubenstein, for over 20 years has represented and presently represents victims of the city's most terrible tragedies which have been the subject of headlines in all of New Yorks daily newspapers. He has appeared on numerous television news and talks shows including ``The Phil Donahue Show,'' ``CNN World News,'' ``Sally Jesse Raphael,'' ``Montel Williams,'' ``Good Day New York,'' and ``The McCory Report''. He hosts a weekly Manhattan cable television show called ``Lawyers Corner''. He also has been interviewed by foreign journalists from Melbourne, Australia and by the BBC in England. He is a member of the board of directors of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the board of governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of the City of New York. He is a trustee of the New York State Democratic Committee. Rubenstein has been recognized by President Clinton for his work for democracy in Haiti and peace in the Middle East. He is presently working with President Aristide of Haiti on the economic revitalization of that country's badly battered economy.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the accomplishments of a very special woman, Ella Adene Kemp Bampfield. Ms. Bampfield was born June 29, 1905, in Waynesville, NC. She is the fourth of nine children born to Elijah Melton and Lelia Love Kemp. Ms. Bampfield is a graduate of Fayetteville State Normal College, in North Carolina, and Howard University and Cortez Peters University, in Washington, DC. After teaching in the North Carolina school system for 7 years, she relocated to Washington DC, and began a career with the Treasury Department's Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where she retired in 1969 after 28 years and 11 months of dedicated service. A member of the John Wesley AME Zion Church since 1934, Ms. Bampfield is affiliated with the Education and June Calendar Clubs. She has traveled extensively and is the mother of one son and grandmother of two. Celebrating her 90th birthday, Ella represents a longstanding tradition of dedicated service to her family, community, and her church. It is my pleasure to recognize the contributions of a remarkable woman, Ms. Ella Adene Kemp Bampfield.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, once again, another child in the city of New York died needlessly at the hands of a police officer who thought the child had a gun. While the child did have a gun, it was a toy gun. As a result of this ongoing crisis, I am introducing a bill today asking the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban toys which in size, shape, or overall appearance resemble real handguns. Congress tried to ban toy handguns by passing the Federal Energy Management Improvement Act of 1988 which required that all toy guns manufactured or sold after May 5, 1989, be marked to distinguish them from real weapons. The act required one of the following markings: a blaze orange plug inside the muzzle; an orange band covering the outside end of the muzzle; construction of transparent or translucent materials; coloration of the entire surface with bright colors; or predominately white coloration in combination with bright colors. The act also required the Director of the National Institute of Justice [NIJ] to conduct a technical evaluation of the marking systems. The conclusion of the evaluation conducted by NIJ showed that the orange plug marking standard completely failed to enable police officers to identify the weapon as a toy gun. In fact, clearly marked toy guns were most likely to provoke shootings on the first trial, and less likely only after police officers gained some familiarity with the situation and the possible appearance of toy guns. It is quite clear to me, and should be to all of you, that something drastic needs to be done to stop the needless shooting of innocent children. Markings are not enough--they do not work. To ensure that there are no mistakes, no failures to recognize plastic from steel, I strongly encourage you to vote for a total ban on the manufacturing of realistic toy handguns.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Hazel A. Younger, a native New Yorker. She was born in Coney Island Hospital. Hazel is particularly close to her family and feels that her strength comes from her Lord, and the encouragement offered by her mother, Mrs. Ella Garner, and her three sisters, Friedna, Edna, and Connie. Hazel is also the very proud mother of one son, Travis. Hazel began her education with the goal of being a lawyer. However, midway during her studies, she developed a fascination with numbers and accounting became her career. Presently, retired, Hazel serves as president of the board of directors of the cooperative in which she lives, P.E. Gorman Houses. She is a member of the Brookdale Hospital Ambulatory Care Services Community Advisory Board and Community Board 16. Hazel is also co- chairperson of Concerned Citizens of the 58th assembly district. Because of her experience and eloquence, Hazel is often asked to speake at churches, community meetings, and A.A.R.P. chapters. She is known to be an articulate representative of the community, with direct access to local elected officials. I am pleased to commend Ms. Younger to the attention of my colleagues.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of Leroy F. Smith, a man who has contributed greatly to the community of Brooklyn, NY. Mr. Smith is a graduate of the New York public school system. He attended Boys High School in Brooklyn, and received a B.B.A. from Brooklyn College and his M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina. Leroy has combined his academic training with community activism and professional experience to make meaningful contributions to my congressional district and greater Brooklyn. Mr. Smith works tirelessly. Currently he serves as the president of a Bedford Stuyvesant tenant association, in addition to being the president of the Williamsburg-Throop-Marcus Garvey Blvd. Block Association. He is also a member of the 79th Precinct Community Council and the Willoughby Square Corporation. His past endeavors included service on the board of directors for the Bedford Stuyvesant Community Legal Services Corporation, and he is past president of various PTA organizations at Satellite East J.H.S., O.S. 44, and J.H.S. 258. Additionally, Mr. Smith served as a legislative aide to Assemblyman William F. Boyland, and he was one of 13 members of the Brooklyn Congress of Racial Equality [CORE] who walked 250 miles to attend the 1973 March on Washington. I am pleased to introduce Leroy Smith to my House colleagues and to congratulate him for his valuable service to the community.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Manuel Ortiz Arroyo for his personal vision, professional achievement, and unswerving dedication to his community. Professionally, Manuel works as a development consultant specializing in communications, area planning, real estate development, and venture capital formation. He is the executive director of the Carroll Gardens Associations, Inc. Neighborhood Preservation Corp., and has served in similar capacities in Manhattan. Mr. Arroyo's academic background and training is impressive. He obtained a M.S. in community economic development, a M.S.W. in policy and planning, and a B.A. in politics from Old Westbury/SUNY. Manuel has also completed 39 credits toward a masters of urban planning. Manuel Arroyo also recognizes the absolute need to empower people and communities, and has been involved in organizations such as the Progress/Puerto Rican Organization for Growth and Self Sufficiency, the Statewide Hispanic Housing Corp., the National Economic Development & Law Center, and the Neighborhood Preservation Coalition. I am honored to recognize Mr. Arroyo for his personal, professional, and community contributions to the great Borough of Brooklyn.