Jim Walsh

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Cato- Meridian High School Sunpacer solar-electric car team for participating in this year's Tour de Sol competition. After a four-day, 350-mile race beginning in Washington, D.C., the Sunpacer team ultimately tied for first place with the Zodiac team from West Irondequoit High School near Rochester, NY. Special recognition should be given to Cato-Meridian High School teacher Mr. Earl Billings and his team for their determination. The Sunpacer team has won its class several times and has been honored with many awards for efficiency. At this year's competition, the Sunpacer team received a $250.00 first prize and a first place plaque. On behalf of the 25th District of New York, it is my honor to congratulate the Sunpacer team for another first place win at the Tour de Sol competition. With these remarks, I would like to recognize the following student participants and staff: Arron Kolb, Ashley Davenport, Amber Ross, Tim Soine, Nick Snow, Nicole Leach and teacher Earl Billings. Congratulations to all.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Nottingham High School's Girls Junior Varsity Crew team for winning its first national championship. The Nottingham girls junior varsity crew team, coached by Joe Bufano, became only the third area team to win national honors after receiving the title of national champions in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The team, consisting of seven juniors and two sophomores, competed against traditional powerhouses, including four other teams competing in the finals of the Scholastic Rowing Association of America championships. With a winning combination of hard work and determination, the young women of the Nottingham junior varsity crew team competed successfully as a city school under a tight budget. Special recognition should be given to the parents and volunteers who assisted the team when funding for chartered buses was unavailable. On behalf of the residents of the 25th Congressional District of New York, it is my honor to congratulate Nottingham High School's Girls Junior Varsity Crew team and their coach Joe Bufano on their first national championship win. With these remarks, I would like to recognize the following nine girls of the eight oared shell division and their coach: Jackie Stone, Katie Schneider, Christina Shaw, Crysten Rushmore, Karlyn Downing, Megan Holloway, Zaula Usman, Stacey Karpouzes, Lyndsay Boileau, and coach Joe Bufano. Congratulations to all.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Madam Speaker, early this morning while most Americans were sound asleep, about 1 billion people from all over the globe, myself included, watched a group of talented young American athletes do something truly remarkable. Against all odds, the U.S. Men's Soccer Team defeated Portugal in the first game of the 2002 World Cup. The Portuguese were one of the favorites to win the World Cup outright, but our team prevailed 3 to 2. And it was no fluke. We took them apart in the first half with slashing attacks, and wore them down with tough defense in the second half. It was a balanced effort with everyone contributing under Coach Bruce Arena's guidance. The win gave the U.S. the opportunity to move into the quarter finals, but they have more work to do. They play the host team Korea and then Poland, with the two best teams from the group moving on. These young men have already exceeded expectations. They are off to the best start for any American team in history. Please tune in. Set the alarm clock for an early rise, brew some strong coffee and enjoy a great spectacle. They deserve our support.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, regular order.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I object.

Mr. WALSH. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Chairman, I will not object, but I would like to register a complaint. The dilatory tactics we are seeing today are bad enough playing by the rules. To waive the rules to allow more dilatory tactics is not necessarily a good idea for this body. Mr. Chairman, I will not object at this time, but if there are further requests for extensions of time beyond the normal rules and I am in this chair, I will object.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I object.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. It has been said over and over: we all support the war effort. We all support the emergency supplemental appropriation for all the right reasons. We need to get New York City back on its feet to keep the commitment the President made, and we are going to do that. We need to support the war effort both at home and abroad. We need to give our military and our security agencies the support that they need. There are some aspects of this bill that are disagreeable. Raising the debt ceiling seems to be the most contentious. But is there any doubt that the reason we are raising the debt ceiling was the terrorist attack on our country? Look at what happened to our revenues. Look at what happened to our economy after that event, after that attack. That attack put my State and much of the country into full recession. Revenues sunk. Revenue projections were thrown into disarray. We have to make a short-term adjustment. We have to do the responsible thing. When I was a member of the minority party for 6 years, I voted to raise the debt ceiling. It was the responsible thing to do. I did not like it, it was distasteful, but I did it. Now, it is very easy to be irresponsible in the minority. In the minority you do not have to make the hard decisions. The majority does. We are trying to govern. So we have some difficult things here. They are not easy things to do. But the government has to govern, we have to do our job, and if we do not have enough revenues to run the government, we have to raise the debt ceiling. Now, our party, in the brief time we have been in the majority, has dramatically reduced our deficits. We have not had to do this before. We have not had to raise the debt ceiling before because we are paying down on the debt. What intervened? In the midst of good governance there was an attack on our country, and the resultant recession and reduction in revenues has hurt us. We need to do this. It is not fun, but it has to be done. What the debate today is really all about is political advantage. The minority party is blaming us for the recession, they are blaming us for the loss of revenues. I think their blame is misguided. But it is an opportunity for political advantage, so they are trying to take it. Democratic members of the Committee on Appropriations have taken the unusual step of putting out press releases all around the country attacking Republican members for votes on this bill. Is that about substance? No, Mr. Chairman, it is all about politics. We are in the majority, they want to be in the majority, so they are using this as an opportunity. The fact remains that we have to govern, we have to make hard decisions, and, when all the political speeches are over, whether it ends tonight or tomorrow or over the weekend or whenever it is, this bill will pass. That is a fact. It will pass. We will have the votes to pass this. There are a lot of Members here who want to be home for a very patriotic Memorial Day weekend. They want to be home with their families. They want to be home with their kids. But this job is about making sacrifices. We are prepared to make that sacrifice, to stay here through the weekend. But the fact remains, whenever we get to the final vote on this bill, it will pass. I would submit if political advantage is being attempted, the only story coming out of Washington today or through the weekend is the sad and unfortunate story of Chandra Levy. That is what will dominate the press. It is a sad, sad story, but that is what people will be hearing about from Washington today and into the near future. Mr. Chairman, this is about substance. This debate is about substance. It is about hard decisions. It is about governance. So make your speeches, try to take your political advantage, but the fact remains when we finish the debate, whenever that is, we will pass this bill.

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

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, before my colleagues jump again to react to the airline industry, I would caution that we think about the way the airline industry responded to our last legislative action. Within hours, Mr. Chairman, within hours of the passage of that airline bailout, USAirways fired hundreds and hundreds of its employees. Not only did they do that, they fired and closed reservation centers of their most senior, most experienced reservationists because they could save more money that way. And then they did not give them the opportunity to be rehired at other locations. They went out and the reservation centers that needed additional employees, they hired people ``off the street,'' because they could hire them at a lower wage. This is the airline that charges customers seven times what other airlines serving the same two cities charge. This is the same airline that has average employee costs of $87,000. This is the same airline that provides service in 37-seat prop jets when they could go out and purchase new regional jets that would provide dramatically better service, and they are asking people to fly in those 30- and 40-year-old planes because their contract with their pilots will not allow them to buy new regional jets. This is the same airline that came back to us and said we need your help on this bill, and they still have not got their loans filed. It is no surprise that an airline this poorly managed would not have their paperwork done. So before we proceed to give them more help, let us remember what they did the last time we provided them with help. Lord knows what they will do to their employees and their customers this time.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) for being a champion for my State, New York. As a number of Members have mentioned, there are 3 goals to this supplemental. I would like to address the New York City component of that. We remember well President Bush's pledge to do whatever it takes. A number of $20 billion was discussed. There was a lot of discussion, a lot of contention about that in the last supplemental. The President said, ``I am good for my word.'' The chairman said the President's word is good. I said the President's word would be good. And the President's word is as good as gold. In fact, this brings the total appropriation for New York City to $21.5 billion. There is $5.5 billion additional in this for the reconstruction and recovery of New York, $1.8 billion for transportation, $2.75 billion for FEMA, and $750 million for HUD. The HUD fund, CDBG funds, have enabled New York City to begin to put itself back together again and at the same time retain the businesses and the residences of the people who live in that Lower Manhattan neighborhood. I was there just 2 weeks ago, and I was there the Friday after the attack, with President Bush. It is a remarkably different place. Then it was total devastation. Today the World Trade Center site looks like a construction site. It is hallowed ground, clearly, but New York is back to work. Is there more to do? There is lots more to do. Decisions have not yet been made on what to do at that site. But the fact of the matter is the neighborhood is alive, it is vibrant, and it is New York City again. It has that hum in Lower Manhattan. So the President kept his promise, the Congress is keeping its promise, and it is a remarkable thing to see the vibrancy of that city returning. Is there more to do? Yes. Is there planning to be done at the World Trade Center site? Yes. But the New Yorkers will make that decision, with the help of the Federal Government and the people of the United States.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the public service of a longtime local business leader in my Central New York district. From 1988 until just recently, Mr. Bob Giarrusso served as Chairman of the Onondaga County Republican Committee. I write to congratulate him on his retirement and to thank him for his fourteen years of service to our community. He is the longest serving chairman in the committee's history. During Bob's tenure, the Onondaga County Republican Committee flourished. He made the committee more democratic and more inclusive and expanded committee members' involvement and influence. His efforts supported Republican candidates at all levels of government, and his leadership encouraged some of our community's best and brightest individuals to run for public office. Most importantly, Bob Giarrusso led local Republicans with an unique style all his own that was both endearing and dignified. Through Bob's longtime political service, our community certainly has been enhanced. Many new challenges await Central New York Republicans as we enter a new year. I applaud Bob for his strong leadership and believe that his decision to step aside will only infuse the local Republican Party with new energy and new life. It's my pleasure to thank Mr. Giarrusso for his service to the Central New York community and to congratulate him on a job well done.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for the leadership that he provides in this Congress on health issues and especially those that affect children. I would respectfully disagree with my colleague from Ohio who spoke earlier. There is no partisanship in this issue. There is great leadership on both sides of the aisle from both parties. Our health is something we all hold in common. I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 358 designating May 2002 as National Better Hearing and Speech Month. I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun), for introducing this resolution and also for his hard work and contributions as a co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Hearing Health Caucus. Because of his personal experience with hearing loss, he brings firsthand knowledge of living with hearing loss to our caucus and to the public as a whole. Thirteen years ago I began working with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to craft legislation to have all infants screened for hearing loss at birth. At that time, only three hospitals in the country had programs, and only 3 percent of all infants born in the United States were being screened. Since passage of the Newborn Infant Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 1999, which gives States seed money through HRSA and CDC to set up their own screening and intervention programs, we are now screening 66 percent of infants born. This is remarkable progress, and yet we have much more to do. Unfortunately, this year's budget zeros out funding at HRSA for these programs and basically level-funds the programs at CDC. I am working very closely with my fellow caucus co-chairs, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun), the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps), and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy), to ensure that this critical program receives additional appropriations so that we can screen all children. The science in this area is clear. By identifying children with hearing loss by age 3 months and beginning intensive intervention by age 6 months, these children can and do develop communication skills on par with their normal hearing counterparts by the time they are ready to enter school. The next step is to ensure that children identified get appropriate interventions through the medical, audiological, educational and community support systems. All of these components are equally important. Before I close, I want to invite all of my colleagues to a hearing health fair to be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2002, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building foyer. At this event our Federal agency counterparts, as well as several advocacy groups, will have representatives at booths to meet with anyone needing information on hearing health issues. I encourage everyone to attend as this will be a wonderful opportunity to have questions answered on anything from hearing aids to testing and living with hearing loss. While most of my comments have focused on infants with hearing loss, the issue affects people of all ages. Regardless of whether hearing loss is genetic, disease-based, a function of the aging process or of unknown etiology, most people can be helped to maximize their hearing capabilities and communication skills, and I encourage my colleagues to take the opportunity to get a hearing screening during National Better Hearing and Speech Month. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would just like again to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for his leadership. He is one of the newest members of the Health Hearing Caucus. We are delighted that he is and we urge him to continue his important leadership.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Faith Heritage High School Boys Basketball team for winning the Class D New York State Basketball Championship. The Faith Heritage Saints not only won the Class D State title, they did so in an impressive fashion, finishing the season with a perfect 27-0 record. The Saints were led by first year coach Dan Sorber as well as strong leadership from the team's veteran members, which included six graduating seniors. The team had high expectations from the very beginning of the season, never settling for anything less than perfection. Their senior leadership and perseverance allowed them to emerge victoriously in the title game. They finished the season having fulfilled all of their expectations and successfully completing the perfect season. On behalf of the people of the 25th District of New York, it is my honor to congratulate the Faith Heritage Boys High School Basketball team and their coaching staff on their Class D State Basketball Championship. With these remarks, I would like to recognize the following players and staff. Jason Awad, David Booher, Joel Canino, Tim Halladay, Ryan Nellenback, Vivek Thiagarajan, BJ Dwyer, Paul Finch, Andrew Honess, Dan Loucy, Jacob Brunner, Cooper Stroman and Head Coach Dan Sorber.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Onondaga High School Boys Varsity Football Team for winning the Class D New York State Football Championship on December 1, 2001. This was the first team in Onondaga High School's history to win a Class D State football championship. Four years ago Onondaga High School did not have a football team; therefore, within just a few years this team quickly took the game to new levels, surpassing all others in the state. Ending the season 13-0, this stellar team attained their goals and set league records. The Tigers set the bar high and focused upon winning their league title, sectional title, and state title. Their strategy was a success because they were the first team out of the 41-school Onondaga High School League to win the state title. They stayed focused and never let their determination fade. This team came together, and against all odds, rose to the top. As a result of their unfettered fortitude, the Tigers, led by coach Bill Spicer, established themselves as a unified team and showed others how hard work, courage, and passion for the game can enable any team to conquer their goals. On behalf of the people of the 25th District of New York, it is my honor to congratulate the Onondaga High School football team and their coaching staff on their Class D State Football Championship. With these remarks, I would like to recognize the following players and staff. Hodges Sneed, Chad Amidon, Ryan Hotaling, Justin Graham, Ricky Bova, Kyle Bome, Adam Legg, Donald Cummings, Brandon VanSlyke, Carl Runge, John Manley, Matt Scriber, Mac Cushing, Andrew Flynn, Mike Hart, Tom Brownell, Kyle Martin, Joe DelVecchio, Marty Brunner, Shane Zehr, Jon Whipple, Dan Willis, Pete Majewski, Jacob Cummings, Cory Dill, Mike McAuliffe, James Sanford, Robert Bailey, Caleb Golembiewski, Chris Mayotte, Travis Burton, Pat Neuman, Kurt Wasilewski, Aaron Johnson, Paul Runge, Travis Hass, Adam Goodman, Jesse Schneider, Head Coach Bill Spicer, Building Principal William Rasbeek, Athletic Director Michael Rizzi, Assistant Coaches, Paul Taylor, Jeff Pierce, Rick Bailey, and Victor Zampetti, and Volunteer Coaches Dave Pierce and Sean Colfer.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cooksey) for his leadership on this issue and for bringing it promptly to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3986, a bill to extend the period of availability of disaster unemployment assistance for those most affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11 and their families. The extension would take it out a full 39 weeks. On September 11 the Nation endured a domestic assault upon American values and our democratic way of life beyond anything anyone could have previously imagined. Thousands of innocent people lost their lives, thousands lost their homes, their businesses and their jobs. Thousands more lost their families' livelihood. The attack caused the loss of 110,000 jobs in New York alone; another 270,000 are at risk. Twenty percent of the downtown New York office space has been damaged or destroyed. In Northern Virginia the Pentagon attack has greatly impacted local businesses, especially those at or around Reagan National Airport. The impacts of September 11 will extend further and longer than those of any other major disaster in our history. As such, our Nation and our government must respond to the overwhelming needs of the September 11 victims and their families. This bill ensures that our government keeps its responsibility to those Americans by extending unemployment benefits and ensuring economic solvency for the affected families. In the case of the World Trade Center attacks, this insurance will be eligible for many of the small business owners, small restaurant operators, janitors and other blue collar workers who no longer have jobs, or who are unable to reach their jobs in the case where the building was destroyed, or have become the sole breadwinner for the household because the head of the household died or cannot work because of a disaster-related injury. This bill is important to the well-being of those most impacted by the September 11 terrorist attacks, and I are urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. I would like to especially thank the majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey) for the expeditious scheduling of this important legislation; and I would also like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn) for his consistent and strong leadership on behalf of our State, New York, and for all working men and women in America. I urge all my colleagues to support this important bill. It is timely, the right thing and the necessary thing to do. I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I have often risen and submitted comments recognizing the heroics of first responders across the country. Today I rise with a heavy heart to recognize two firefighters from my own congressional district who made the ultimate sacrifice just last week. On Thursday evening, March 7, during a three-alarm house fire in the town of Pompey, two central New York firefighters--John E. Ginocchetti and Timothy J. Lynch--were killed in the line of duty. While acting on what appeared to be a routine house fire, Firefighters Ginocchetti and Lynch, both responding in a mutual aid capacity on behalf of the Manlius Fire Department, proceeded to mount an aggressive interior attack after successfully ``venting'' the roof. As Ginocchetti and Lynch made their way into the kitchen and laundry room from the home's attached garage, the floor suddenly gave way, and the men were consumed in a horrific ``fireball,'' falling into the structure's basement where the blaze had started. Despite repeated rescue attempts by their colleagues, both men were lost. Firefighter John ``Gino'' Ginocchetti, age 41, was a paid professional with the Manlius Fire Department. Firefighter Timothy ``T.J.'' Lynch, age 28, was a full-time firefighter with the Fayetteville Fire Department, a part-time paramedic with Rural/Metro Medical Services, as well as a volunteer responder with the Manlius and Kirkville Fire Departments. Each leave behind a wife and son. Both men held a longtime commitment to fire service, and since the tragedy, numerous stories of their previous acts of heroism and compassion have been recalled. Their tragic deaths remind us all how dangerous the fire fighting profession truly is. On behalf of a grateful community, I thank the Ginocchetti and Lynch families for their sacrifice. Our thoughts, prayers, and admiration are with them during this difficult time.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, Colonel Robert L. Homer retired on 26 September 2001 from his position as the Logistics Group Commander for the 174th Fighter Wing, New York Air National Guard in Syracuse. He was appointed to this position on 2 Nov 95. Col. Homer was born on 28 September 1945 in Ithaca, NY. He graduated from Skaneateles High School in 1963 and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Lawrence University, NY in 1967. He went on to graduate from Syracuse University with a Masters in Business Administration Degree in 1971. His military education includes Squadron Officer School, Air Command & Staff College and Air War College. Col. Homer enlisted in the NYANG in Aug 1968, was commissioned in March 1969 and graduated from Pilot Training in 1970 as Distinguished Graduate. He began working Full-Time at the 174th in 1975 as a Flight Instructor and held various positions within Operations to include Ground Training Officer, Stan/Eval Officer, Scheduling Officer, Air Operations Officer and Deputy Commander for Operations. In 1991, when the 174th was activated during Operation Desert Storm, he was assigned as a Mission Director on the Joint Stars Aircraft. Following that, he went on to head the NYS Counter Drug Program for Headquarters, NYANG in Albany, NY. His last assignment prior to his current position was that of establishing the Minimum Essential Airfield (MEA), at Griffiss AFB in conjunction with the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1995. Col. Homer is a command pilot, having been combat qualified in the A- 37, A-10 and F-16; with more than 4,000 flying hours. His awards and decorations include The Bronze Star Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and 4 devices, Combat Readiness Medal with 5 devices, National Defense Service Medal with 1 device, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 devices, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 5 devices, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 device, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with 1 device, Air Force Training Ribbon, and Kuwait Liberation Medal. His military and civic affiliations include the National Guard Association of New York, Militia Association of New York, and the Air Force Association. Col. Homer resides in Scott, NY with his wife, the former Lynn Bari.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 3379 introduced by Congressman Israel, I also rise in strong support of the Raymond M. Downey Post Office Building Designation Act. This legislation is a small, but fitting, tribute to one of New York City's bravest fire chiefs. Chief Downey was the most decorated member of the New York City Fire Department and leader of the department's special operations unit. At age 63 with 39 years on the job, Chief Downey was a ``firemen's fireman'' as they say in the fire service. He was a national expert on urban search and rescue and led a team of New York City firefighters who responded to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Chief Downey even testified before a House committee in 1998 on the topic of weapons of mass destruction, sharing his valuable knowledge with our colleagues. He truly defined what is meant by calling New York City firefighters the ``world's bravest.'' As I watched the events of September 11th unfold in my Washington office with my staff, I remember thinking, God be with the firefighters who are going in there to save lives. As a true leader Chief Downey was on the front lines with his personnel directing the rescue efforts. As he had done in the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, Chief Downey's efforts saved thousands of lives. Sadly, with 343 of his men, Chief Downey made the ultimate sacrifice on that tragic day. It is said that a firefighter's first act of heroism is taking the oath to become a firefighter. From there on, the rest is just part of the job. As we recognize Chief Downey today, it is important to remember not only his heroic deeds of September 11th, but his extraordinary firefighting career as well. His wife Rosalie commented, ``He never complimented himself. He always did what he had to do.'' We as a nation are forever grateful for what Chief Downey and his fellow firefighters did on September 11th. We are also grateful for what our nation's firefighters continue to do everyday in this country, saving lives and property. The spirit of Chief Downey will continue to live on through this post office in Deer Park and in the fire service forever.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. This discussion is a bit difficult to follow. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the leader of the minority on this issue, offers a motion to instruct. Our chairman, the leader of the majority on this issue, accepts. But what does this really mean? Well, I would submit that it means nothing, because we are not instructing the Senate; the Senate is instructed by the Senators. We are instructing the House conferees. Since there is no controversy over the defense bill, the only thing we are instructing the conferees on is the supplemental. Now, who are the conferees? Well, they just happen to be all here today at the same time in the same room: the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young.) They know how they are going to vote, clearly. So who are we really instructing? What is this exercise all about? Polemics? Politics? I am not sure. The fact is, the President has made the point over and over again. The supplemental will not go over $20 billion. It took me a while to figure that out. I offered an amendment in the Committee on Appropriations to add money to this. We lost the amendment. The House decided not to go over $20 billion, and we did not. The Senate, reacting to what the House did and what the President said that he would do, also did not go over the $20 million. I submit to my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, that the conference will not go over $20 billion either. Now, there are a couple of problems with what has not happened. We have not helped workers with unemployment insurance benefits or their health benefits. If the Senate majority leader, Mr. Daschle, would stop obstructing the stimulus package and let that bill go forward, we could deal with the really vital issues that need to be dealt with in this bill. So, Mr. Speaker, I would submit that we need to move forward on this bill and we need to have this conference and we need to get these expenditures resolved quickly. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, at the end of this year the House will say farewell to one of our most loyal and dedicated employees, namely, the Superintendent of Buildings, Bob Miley. I have known Bob for several years and worked very closely with him in 1997-98 during my tenure as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch. The person who responded to my questions about the many problems related to this House complex was Bob Miley. If ever a person knew first hand what needed to be accomplished in a priority manner it was Bob. He planned and executed his assignment with skill and expertise. When you work your way up through the system as Bob did, starting from being a temporary elevator operator in 1962, and rising to the position of building superintendent some 25 years later, it clearly indicates your skills are recognized by everyone. The work of caring for the House takes dedication and devotion on a daily basis. One doesn't simply start at nine and expect to leave at six. The problems related to work follow you 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. This vast facility is always changing and the unexpected occurs regularly. Bob Miley has a difficult job. His patience and understanding is in large part the reason for his successful reign. He has earned respect from the members and his colleagues who work so closely with him on a daily basis. I hope every member of this House will recognize the contribution Bob Miley has made during his almost 40 years of service. He is to be congratulated for his effort on our behalf and I extend to him warm wishes for a wonderful retirement ahead. Bob, in conclusion let me simply offer my personal thanks for a job well done.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 298 sponsored by Congressman Frelinghuysen that ensures November 11 remains a day solely committed to United States Veterans, a separate day from any other federal holiday, day for federal elections, or day for national observances. Veterans Day is a day of celebration, a day of remembrance, and a day of thanks. It is a day when we celebrate the challenges that our country has faced and the moments in America's history where we have united on land, air, and sea to fight for our country and to ensure security, happiness, and safety for our world's people. It is the one day a year when we remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives' for our country, its ideals, and its foundation of personal freedom. It is a day to remember the families of the victims who may have lost a son, daughter, husband or wife during times of war. And above all, it is a day of thanks for the 25.5 million veterans today who look towards the American flag with such feeling of pride, devotion, and American spirit and who define what it is to be an American. United States veterans truly are some of our nation's bravest citizens. They not only risked their own lives but sacrificed time away from their loved ones to protect our country. Because of their sacrifice this day of honor should remain solely theirs. Since November 11, 1919, we have been acknowledging these men and women annually. It would be a tragedy if we try to combine their memorial with other days of observance. As Chairman of the VA/HUD Subcommittee for the past three years, I have had the privilege of working very closely with veterans and their various organizations. A day in their honor is the least we can do to acknowledge the pledge they have made to a grateful nation.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I thank Members for this important debate about the future of our State and the great City of New York. The amendment that is being debated today, right now, that the gentleman from California has offered, would take approximately $1.8 billion of the funds that were reallocated in an agreement we reached with the White House, take almost $2 billion out of the Community Development Block Grant program, away from New York, and spread it around to the rest of the country. It does not re-create the national emergency grants that the administration initially provided. This keeps it within the Community Development Block Grant program, but it also takes away the waivers that we had provided for New York so that those waivers would not be available either in New York or the rest of the country. Why is that important? Well, I think it is pretty obvious to all of us that we have a two-front war going on right now, Afghanistan and the United States. In Afghanistan we have been seeing all the battlegrounds as the battle has progressed. In the United States, we all know what the battleground was; it was New York City and the Pentagon. The Pentagon is being rebuilt. We are working on a defense appropriations bill today that provides over $300 billion in the defense budget, and there are further funds within the supplemental to fight the war and to rebuild the Pentagon and to conduct our military action. New York City took a direct hit on September 11. Not only was the World Trade Center destroyed and thousands of people died, but hundreds of thousands of people have been affected in that immediate area. I talked with people in the last number of weeks who still do not have telephone service, who cannot get to their apartments or their businesses by public transportation. There is no one else in the country in that situation right now. What we did was we tried to attach funds that would otherwise have gone to the rest of the country in anticipation of serious unemployment dislocation. The stimulus package that is being discussed in the House and in the Senate deals directly with unemployment issues. We tried to add to this appropriations bill unemployment insurance benefits and COBRA benefits to provide for health care for those workers who were dislocated and lost their health care. It belongs in the stimulus package. That is where the debate has centered, and both the House and the Senate deal with that, with those issues, in the stimulus package. Indeed, these national emergency grants were authorized by that stimulus package bill. So the $1.5 billion or the total amount of funds, the $3 billion, is unauthorized. When we designated, redesignated these funds as community development block grant funds, we also redesignated about a half billion dollars in FEMA funds to provide New York City with $2.5 billion in community development block grant funds. Those funds are the most flexible, the most readily available, and most important dollars that we could send to New York City at this time. Why? Because of the thousands of people who live in those neighborhoods and the thousands of businesses that conduct their business and employ people and put bread on the table, there is no other way to affect those decisions that are being made that the Federal Government can do right now. I think most people understand that CDBG funds are flexible; they can be applied to individual situations, for businesses, for residences; those funds can be used to build public infrastructure, to approve parks, to provide curbs and streets that were destroyed, to build water systems, public utilities. That is why we went after those funds. We have heard today, clearly, that New York City did not get all the funds that were promised and have not received all the funds that were promised. We had to take, I think, dramatic action to show the administration that these funds were needed and they were needed right now, and they agreed to this. And I think the administration was reticent about this, but they acceded to our desires. The key to this whole thing is putting New York City back together again as quickly as possible. There is no better way to do it than to utilize these funds, these community development block grant funds. If the Congress supports what the gentleman from California wants to do, which basically plays the entire country against New York, it will hurt New York very deeply for a second time. Because right now, people are beginning to understand what this action that we have taken accomplishes: that those businesses who want to stay in New York but need incentives, they need to help put their storefronts back together again, they need to get their communications systems redesigned; they need to buy new communications systems and new point-of-sale equipment for their stores; they need to help their employees to get back on their feet. Quite frankly, I say to my colleagues, this is about putting a neighborhood back together. No American could or should or would want to deny the people of New York, of lower Manhattan, of the neighborhoods of Chinatown and Soho and Chelsea and Battery Park, and that magnificent area which was really one of the real centers of the beginning of this country; that is where the island of Manhattan was first settled. We are trying to put that neighborhood back together. We have taken dramatic action to try to do that. I promise that if this amendment is defeated, and I hope that it will be and I believe that it will be, that I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as I have thus far, to make sure that any workers who have been displaced or suffered a loss of a job because of that attack on September 11 will have the full force and strength of the Federal Government behind them in making sure that their unemployment insurance benefits, their health care benefits, their retraining, is supported by the Federal Government. Mr. Chairman, there is one aspect of this that the gentleman has not mentioned. There is $175 million of funds in here that would go towards reflushing the Workers' Compensation Fund. Why is that important? Because hundreds and hundreds of workers have been injured, were injured in the attack and have been injured in the subsequent rubble removal and in the search and rescue processes that took place. This is a dangerous place. There are still toxins in the area from that attack. Those funds, the workers' compensation funds and another $30 million or $40 million for worker retraining to help those workers dramatically and directly affected in New York, in no place have they been affected as they were in New York, to give those people a chance to learn a new job. So I say to my colleagues, I would implore them, please, please do not accept this amendment. Please reject it. New York has suffered enough. This gives us an opportunity to help, to show the people of lower Manhattan and the rest of that magnificent island the concern that the country has for them. Do not play America against New York. I think America is squarely behind New York. This is a divide-and-conquer strategy that the gentleman from California has offered. I strongly urge that we reject it. Stick with the bill as it stands. Let the bill go forward and let us try to work for the rest of the country's benefit as we go forward. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALSH

Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, indeed, I have not done all of the hard work on this bill. There has been a lot of work done by many, including the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), who has been so patient with us as we attached the supplemental to this bill. I rise in strong support of the rule and the bill, and I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the bill. There has been a good deal of debate about this, but not much about the substance of the DOD appropriation. It is a good bill and it needs to be supported. The supplemental has drawn most of the attention. As all of us know, the President issued a veto threat that if we added more to the bill than the $40 billion, he would veto it. That changed all of the rules when that occurred. The President did say that New York should get half of this money, and I believe we will receive $20 billion plus. Most agree that $20 billion is a floor, not a ceiling. When we negotiated with the White House, there were very few options we had. We had to operate within the existing structure of the bill. What we did was allocated $1.5 billion national emergency grants to the Community Development Block Grant Program. Community development block grant funds are the most flexible funds the Federal Government has. They are the most important funds that we have, the best tools that we have to rebuild the City of New York. CDBG can be used for infrastructure, public utilities, help hospitals, it can be used to help incent businesses to stay there, help residents to stay there, improve the quality of life in that neighborhood. It is the best money we can put in at this point. That is why we settled for that amount. Is it all we wanted? No, it is not. My belief is that the President will keep his commitment and the rest of those funds will flow. I remind my colleagues that 75 percent of the bill here for New York City is FEMA. Many of us go back 10, 15, even 20 years here. Not once has the Federal Government ever withdrawn its commitment to fully fund the FEMA program. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a good bill. This is a good rule. New York will benefit from it. I urge my colleagues to support the rule.