Anthony Weiner

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Well, I am always guided by the wisdom of my subcommittee chair. Would the chairman support that amendment if I crafted it in that manner?

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Chairman, I ask the gentleman, would he support that amendment if I did?

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Chairman, I just want to summarize here what we have had a chance to learn. We have learned that there is virtual consensus in this body, even on those that are opposed to my amendment, that aircraft noise has reached almost chronic proportions. We have agreed that we need to do more about it. We have agreed in the years to come there will be even more aircraft taking off, more people living in those paths, and more people being harmed every day several times an hour by that air traffic. But what we have heard is that my amendment to add $10 million this year to a package that includes $42 billion of spending, including $14 billion just this year alone, is somehow too rich. And we found out that instead of offering this amendment in the way that I have to bring it up to last year's level, no higher, that instead I should identify places in the budget and seek to have this funded from those areas. Well, perhaps I can have it funded from the Advanced Space Transportation Technology section of this bill. $80 million plus-up, an $80 million additional allocation is in this bill, above and beyond what the President proposed. Perhaps it can come from that research and technology base that I had a brief colloquy with my chairman about, which is a $362 million pot of money that is essentially fungible that we are saying, as this Congress, we want to give the authority to NASA to decide how that should be spent. But if we agree on the fundamental premise that we need to do more research, that we need to ensure that when the stage-four aircraft are ready that we in the United States are able to put them on our aircraft as quickly as possible, then perhaps this is the place to start. There is concern, and it is legitimate concern, that we not bust the budget. Well, we are not busting the budget by restoring this to last year's level. We are not busting the budget if we are going to be approving a bill with this amendment, which is exactly at the same level as it was this year. And all of the protest about us not paying enough diligence, not paying enough respect to the request that the President submitted I believe is a false concern. I believe that there are many areas in this budget where we exceed the President's request. This is an opportunity for us to touch people's lives all over this country. It might be our last chance this year to say, in addition to trying to foster greater air commerce, in addition to trying to foster growth at airports, in addition to trying to track new jobs, we should do a little bit, a very little bit, to add to the amount of research that we do that, perhaps with the great assets that we have in this country, intellectual and otherwise, in years to come we might be able to look back at this bill and say give us the extra push to get even quieter aircraft flying over our country.

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Just so we do not lose perspective here, I agree, we should keep things in mind. We should keep in mind that the bill the gentleman is bringing forward is above the President's request, so the outrage that I hear about we are changing the President's priorities, I think perhaps the chairman doth protest too much. I also want to point out exactly the parameters we are talking about. I am talking about restoring to last year's level, not above, to last year's level of roughly $10 million in the context of a bill in the aggregate that is $42 billion. It is $14 billion this year. What we are saying is, look, at the same time that we are taking this technology and devoting a significant portion of it to thinking about the problems we are going to be encountering in the future, ought we not to be thinking of the problems we are going to be encountering in a couple of months when we pass the FAA reauthorization, which is something NASA admits they did not take into their calculation when they estimated whether or not the funds provided for noise reduction were sufficient? This is a relatively small amount of money. I would just respond to one other point that the gentleman made. In this research and technology base, which, just to keep perspective, is about $362 million, there was criticism, and legitimate criticism, raised in the committee consideration of this bill about whether we were taking from one pocket to fund this program. I accepted that criticism as valid, so now I am saying, in the aggregate, let us do this one-one thousandth increase for this purpose.

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

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

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Salmon) would further yield, I just did.

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Chairman, I am willing and able, and I think my colleagues who are cosponsoring this amendment would be more than willing. The gentleman said where shall it come from. The gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) said I have not proposed it comes from the Space Station, although I will be glad to accept that proposal as well. I understand from the gentleman's concerns that he would accept it if I took that $10 million from the existing Research and Technology Base.

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

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Salmon) would further yield, I will gladly change my amendment and take it from that huge pot of money that is Research and Technology Base. If he will support that, I will be glad to do it. But it seems like I have a moving target here. We cannot take money from a $400 million Research and Technology Base because then any numbers of projects could fall from the sky. But, on the other hand, if I say let us plus it up just to last year's level and no higher, then that, too, raises an objection. It seems to me that what we are trying to say here, and I will try to do anything that I can to meet the objections of the subcommittee Chair, is to try to say, look, all we want to do is take the level that we had last year in this important program and meet it this year. I will do it the gentleman's way, and I stand ready here to amend my amendment in any way necessary.

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Chairman, if I could just respond to the chairman of the subcommittee, my good friend, would he then not object to an amendment which took the money out of the research and technology base?

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

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to Joseph E. DeVoy on the occasion of the Forest Hills Community and Civic Association's Testimonial Luncheon in recognition of his thirty-five years of service to the Association and to the Forest Hills community. Joe DeVoy, a strong believer in community and coalition building, was selected as Community Board Six's first Chairman and continues to serve as a member of the Board. He has served as the President of the Central Queens Allied Council, a forerunner of Civic Alliances in Queens. Joe DeVoy's strong interest and focus on community service led him to be one of the founding members of the Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps where he served as an EMT for six years. Through his dedicated efforts, the North Forest Park Branch of the Queens Borough Library was completed and opened to the public providing neighborhood residents with a haven to read and learn about their community and the world. In addition, Joe DeVoy was the driving force behind the designation and development of Remsen Park as a historic landmark and protected area and currently serves as the President of the Remsen Park Coalition. Joe DeVoy routinely works with neighborhood community groups and local elected officials to ensure the quality of life of his friends and neighbors in Forest Hills. Under Joe DeVoy's leadership, the Forest Hills Community and Civic Association has developed a broad array of services for people of all ages. Today, the members of the Forest Hills Community and Civic Association still enjoy the benefits of Joe's guidance and leadership in finding ways to resolve problems which affect the Forest Hills community. Joe DeVoy has long been known as an innovator and beacon of good will to all those with whom he has come into contact. Through his dedicated efforts, he has helped improve my constituents' qualify of life. In recognition of his many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations to Joseph E. DeVoy on the occasion of the Forest Hills Community and Civic Association's Testimonial Luncheon in honor of his thirty-five years of service to the Association and to the Forest Hills community.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to the American Fujian Association of Commerce and Industry on the occasion of its 7th Anniversary Annual Banquet. The members of the American Fujian Association of Commerce and Industry have long been known for their commitment to community service and to enhancing the quality of life for all New York City residents. This banquet is not only a festive happening, it is a chance for all of us to celebrate and pay tribute to a group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to helping others. The American Fujian Association of Commerce and Industry is a not for profit corporation whose membership is entirely composed of business owners who have immigrated to the United States from the Fujian Province of China. The Association, which was established in 1992, enjoys a membership of approximately 1,000 business leaders throughout the city of New York. The Association's membership, ever mindful of the rigors of immigration, have devoted their efforts to the integration of new immigrants from China into American society as productive citizens. The American Fujian Association of Commerce and Industry fosters programs that are designed to introduce immigrants to the American way of life and our country's economic and political system so that they may become productive citizens. Members of the Association have also devoted themselves to the development of the trade and commerce between the state of New York and the provinces of Fujian, Shandong, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Hepei, Liaoling, and Anhui Sichuan China. Under the dedicated leadership of its Chairman, William P. Chiu, the American Fujian Association of Commerce and Industry have embraced the belief that trade breeds mutual understanding and respect which in turn promotes peace between the United States and China. The members of the American Fujian Association of Commerce and Industry have long been known as innovators and beacons of good will to all those with whom they come into contact. Through their dedicated efforts, they have each helped to improve my constituents' quality of life. In recognition of their many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations to the American Fujian Association of Commerce and Industry on the occasion of it's 7th Anniversary Annual Banquet.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation on the occasion of its 20th Anniversary Celebration. The members of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation have long been known for their commitment to community service and to enhancing the quality of life for all New York City residents. This event is not only a festive happening, it is a chance for all of us to celebrate and pay tribute to a group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to helping their friends and neighbors. This year's honorees truly represent the best of what our community has to offer. As a member of the Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society, Queens Division, Douglas A. Gerowski helped raise more than $50,000 in a five-year period through the organization's ``Stepping Out Against Cancer'' fund-raising campaigns. Douglas has served as a Chairman of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporations Board of Directors and coined the slogan ``Taking Care of BIDness'' as the Woodhaven Business Improvement District's first 3rd Vice President. He currently serves as the President of the Merillon Athletic Association of Hew Hyde Park and is actively involved in coaching his children's baseball, basketball and hockey teams. Born a few months after Pearl Harbor, Jeffrey Lewis grew up in Woodhaven and attended local public schools. At that time, Jeffrey's family already owned and operated a small store, Lewis' of Woodhaven, on Jamaica Avenue and 85th Street. While in high school, Jeffrey helped his family celebrate the opening of Lewis' of Woodhaven's second store on Jamaica Avenue between 90th and 91st Streets. Following his graduation from the University of Denver in 1963, Jeffrey got married and started working full time at Lewis' of Woodhaven. Within a few short years, Jeffrey and his loving wife Marlin were blessed with two daughters. Even though he moved his family to Westchester, Jeffrey's roots and time were all in Woodhaven. In 1989, Jeffrey became involved with the Woodhaven Business Improvement District Feasibility Committee and became the first President of the Woodhaven Business Improvement District in 1993 upon its creation. While most of Jeffrey Lewis' time is still spent running the family business, he makes sure to enjoy the time he has with each of his children and grandchildren. Today's honorees have long been known as innovators and beacons of good will to all those with whom they come into contact. Through their dedicated efforts, they have each helped to improve my constituents' quality of life. In recognition of their many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations on their being honored by the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to the First Baptist Church of Sheepshead Bay on the occasion of its Centennial Anniversary. The members of the First Baptist Church of Sheepshead Bay have long been known for their commitment to community service and to enhancing the quality of life for all New York City residents. This is not only a festive happening, it is a chance for all of us to celebrate and pay tribute to a group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to spreading the word of God and to providing spiritual comfort to their friends and neighbors. Knowing that the men of the Sheepshead Bay Race Track and their families needed a place to worship, Mother Maria J. Fisher held prayer meetings either in her parlor or in the front rooms of charitable community residents. The First Baptist Church of Sheepshead Bay, which was formally incorporated by the State of New York in 1901, was organized on May 21, 1899 by Mother Fisher and the Reverend George O. Dixon of Alexandria, Virginia. Members who attended the Church's organizational session included: Messrs. Joseph Braxton, Tom Greene, William Jackson and Mesdames Edna Adams, Jessie Bogart, Bertha Greene, Anne Johnson, Ida Shaw, Susie Tucker, and Mary Woods. Members who were not already Christians were converted and baptized in the Concord Baptist Church of Brooklyn, New York. Upon their return to Sheepshead Bay, they joined forces with Mother Fisher to create the First Mission. The site of the Mission was on the corner of Avenue X and East 15th Streets. An old ice box was used for the Pulpit and the members donated lamps and chairs for the Church to use. When it was difficult to meet at the Church, members would convene at the home of Mother Fisher, who lived at 2362 East 15th Street. Mrs. Lena McMillian served as the Mission's first organist while Mesdames Sarah Lowe, Alice Robinson, Fannie Winston, Bertha Greene, Fannie Brown and William Forehand raised their voices to the Lord in the Mission's first choir. While serving as the Church's first Sunday School Superintendent, Mrs. Fannie Winston started the tradition of providing area youngsters with the moral precepts that they would need to grow into law-abiding adults. The members of the First Baptist Church of Sheepshead Bay have long been known as innovators and beacons of good will to all those with whom they come into contact. Through their dedicated efforts, they have each helped to improve my constituents' quality of life. In recognition of their many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations to the First Baptist Church of Sheepshead Bay on the occasion of its Centennial Anniversary.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to Rabbi Abraham Kelman on his being honored by the Rabbis and Congregations of Flatbush and Vicinity on the occasion of their Annual Breakfast on behalf of the Ezras Torah Charity Fund. Rabbi Abraham Kelman is an eighth generation Rabbi in his family, a tradition which is continued today by his son, Rabbi Lieb Kelman. The Kelman family has traditionally been involved in Chinuch and community activities as a means of helping those who are unable to help themselves. Before coming to New York, Rabbi Kelman was a Rabbi in Toronto for nine years. He received Smicha in Toronto, as well as a B.A. and M.A. in Oriental Languages from the University of Toronto. In addition, Rabbi Kelman was a chaplain in the Canadian army during World War II. Rabbi Abraham Kelman is the founder and Dean of Bnos Leah Prospect park Yeshiva. Since it's founding in 1952, the school has provided thousands of youngsters with a strong secular and Jewish education. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Rabbi Kelman, Bnos Leah Prospect Park Yeshiva has seen its enrollment rise to more than 1,300 students. He is also the Rabbi of the Yeshiva Congregation of Prospect Park. Rabbi Abraham Kelman is the author of a number of books such as ``Prospectives on the Parsha.'' He was instrumental in organizing the Prospect Park Nursing Home, a nonprofit facility in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn dedicated to meeting the needs of our senior citizens. Rabbi Abraham Kelman has long been known as an innovator and beacon of good will to all those with whom he has come into contact. Through his dedicated efforts, he has helped improve my constituents' quality of life. In recognition of his many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations to Rabbi Abraham Kelman on the occasion of the Rabbis and Congregations of Flatbush and Vicinity's Annual Breakfast on behalf of the Ezras Torah Charity Fund.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to O. Lewis Harris on the occasion of his 20th Anniversary as the Executive Director of the Forest Hills Community House. Lewis Harris joined the Forest Hills Community House in it's fourth year of operation. With a small budget and staff, he worked with the agency board, community leadership and elected officials to define the service role and mission for the organization, a task that continues to this day. A strong believer in community and coalition building, Lew Harris quickly became involved with Community Board #6 and was appointed as a member in the spring of 1979. Lew Harris' strong interest and focus on community service led him to join the Queensboro Council for Social Welfare, the Queens Interagency Council for Aging. The Non-Profit Coordinating Committee of New York; The Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City, and the New York City Coalition for the Aging on whose Boards of Directors he continues to serve. Under Lew Harris' leadership, the Forest Hills Community House has developed a broad array of services for people of all ages. Today, the Forest Hills Community House operates more than thirty-five programs through nineteen different locations in Queens and provides services to more than 15,000 people annually. In the last twenty years, the Forest Hills Community House has gained a reputation for developing innovative and high quality services. Several Community House programs have also been identified as models for replication throughout New York City and beyond. O. Lewis Harris has long been known as an innovator and beacon of good will to all those with whom he has come into contact. Through his dedicated efforts, he has helped improve my constituents' quality of life. In recognition of his many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations to O. Lewis Harris on the occasion of his 20th Anniversary as the Executive Director of the Forest Hills Community House.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to the Kew Gardens Civic Association, Inc., on the occasion of its annual meeting. The members of the Kew Gardens Civic Association have long been known for their commitment to community service and to enhancing the quality of life for all Kew Gardens residents. This year's annual meeting is a chance for all of us to celebrate the 85th anniversary of an organization that was founded in 1914 to represent the interests of homeowners in Kew Gardens. Under the dedicated leadership of retiring President Al Brand, the Kew Gardens Civic Association has seen its membership rise to more than 300 members. The Kew Gardens Civic Association has routinely stood at the forefront of the battle to ensure that any new developments in Kew Gardens adhere to applicable zoning regulations and to prevent the illegal use of private homes for commercial purposes. In addition, the Kew Gardens Civic Association has established subcommittees to assist members in the resolution of problems with local, State, and Federal Government agencies. The members of the Kew Gardens Civic Association elect their officers and governors each year at the organization's annual meeting in accordance with New York States' Not-for-Profit Corporation Law and the Association's By-Laws. The Board of Governors meets periodically to discuss member and community problems as well as to establish Association policy. The members of the Kew Gardens Civic Association have long been known as innovators and beacons of good will to all those with whom they come into contact. Through their dedicated efforts, they have each helped to improve my constituents' quality of life. In recognition of their many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations to the Kew Gardens Civic Association on the occasion of its 85th anniversary.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to the Park Slope Neighborhood Family Center on the occasion of its Annual Dinner Dance. This event is not only a festive happening, it is a chance for all of us to celebrate and pay tribute to a group of individuals who embody the spirit of community service. This year's honorees truly represent the best of what our community has to offer. The Park Slope Neighborhood Family Center (PSNFC) is home to five community organizations serving thousands of south Brooklyn residents. PSNFC was founded in 1983 by a small group of neighborhood residents in response to the need for safe, affordable space shared by local community organizations. By placing a variety of social service programs under one roof, PSNFC encourages the creation of innovative intergovernmental and multicultural programming while answering the interrelated needs of many agency clients. Martin Gomez serves as the Executive Director of the Brooklyn Public Library, the nation's fifth-largest library system. He is an elected member of the American Library Association Executive Board and a board member of the Metropolitan New York Library Council. He established the Library's first foundation board to raise private funds for library programs and was instrumental in creating an online wide-area network providing free public access to the Internet at Brooklyn's 60 public libraries. With a lifelong commitment to encouraging diversity in libraries, Martin has designed programs for the California Literacy Campaign and its Minority Services Recruitment and Scholarship program. Tupper Thomas serves as the administrator of Prospect Park where she is responsible for the ongoing operation of the park. In addition to overseeing the ongoing restoration of Prospect Park, Tupper Thomas has been instrumental in increasing the park's usership through special events, public information and outreach programs. Tupper Thomas also serves as the president of the Prospect Park Alliance, an organization dedicated to funding activities and services for park visitors, landscape projects, and selected capital projects. Judith D. Zuk serves as the president and chief executive officer of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. An horticulturist with experience as an educator, researcher, and administrator, she heads one of America's preeminent public grandens. With members in every State and 52 foreign countries, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden attracts 800,000 visitors annually. She is active in a number of professional and civic organizations and serves as the chairman of the Cultural Institutions Group. Judith also serves on the boards of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Chase Manhattan Regional Advisory Board, Greenwood Cemetery, New York City Street Tree Consortium, and the New York City Water Conservation District. All of today's honorees have long been known as innovators and beacons of good will to all those with whom they come into contact. Through their dedicated efforts, they have each helped to improve my constituents' quality of life. In recognition of their many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations on their being honored by the Park Slope Neighborhood Family Center.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to Brooklyn Pride on the occasion of its Spring Gala. This event is not only a festive happening, it is a chance for all of us to celebrate and pay tribute to a group of individuals who embody the spirit of independence and community activism. This year's honorees truly represent the best of what our community has to offer. Joo-Hyun Kang is the Executive Director of the Audre Lorde Project. Before coming to the Audre Lorde Project, Joo-Hyun was the Program Coordinator for Women's Rights at the Women's Environment and Development Organization, an international women's organization founded by the late Bella Abzug. She has been active in various struggles for justice, particularly those addressing concerns related to women of color and to the gay and lesbian community. Regina Shavers is the Program Director and founding Board member of the Griot Circle, the only Senior Center committed to affirming the lives of seniors in the gay and lesbian community. She is currently employed by the New York City Department of Health's HIV Training Institute as a training supervisor and serves as a Literacy Tutor at the Bedford Learning Center. Continuing her family's tradition of community activism, Regina became an advocate for workers' rights while working for the New York City Police Department as a supervisor in their Communications Division Training Unit. Regina has also served as the Co-Chair of DC 37's Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee and served on the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Lesbian and Gay Rights National Advisory Board. An active member of Brooklyn Pride, Regina was an integral member of the citywide coalition that negotiated with the City of New York to insure Domestic Partner benefits for all New York City employees. Alan Fleishman is a lifelong Brooklyn resident who has lived in Park Slope for the last fifteen years. He has been an organizer in the lesbian and gay community and has served as the President of the Lambda Independent Democrats and the Gay Friends and Neighbors. Alan currently advises New York City Comptroller Hevesi on matters concerning the lesbian and gay community as well as on HIV/AIDS issues and concerns. Mr. Fleishman has been honored by the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, the Paul Robeson Independent Democrats and the Brooklyn AIDS Task Force for his organizing work in Brooklyn. All of today's honorees have long been known as innovators and beacons of good will to all those with whom they come into contact. Through their dedicated efforts, they have each helped to improve my constituents' quality of life. In recognition of their many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations on their being honored by Brooklyn Pride.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 21 and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 22 on the occasion of it's Annual Hibernian Dance. This event is not only a festive happening, it is a chance for all of us to celebrate and pay tribute to Mary Anne Kirby and Patrick (Pat) M. Moynihan who have been named as ``Hibernians of the Year'' by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 21 and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 22. This year's honorees truly represent the best of what our community has to offer. Mary Anne Kirby, an active member of the Ladies Ancient Order of the Hibernians Division since 1980, was born in Lyrecompane, County Kerry, Ireland. After attending Renagown National School in County Kerry, Mary Anne immigrated to the Middle Village section of Queens and relocated to Rckaway Beach in 1962. Mary Anne was married on June 28, 1958 at the Resurrection Ascension Church in Rego Park to her late husband, Timothy Kirby, who was a member of the men's Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 21. With her loving husband, Mary Anne rasied four wonderful children and currently takes great joy in the accomplishments of her four grandchildren. Patrick (Pat) M. Moynihan was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1937 and is the second eldest of a family of nine. After immigrating to New York in 1957, Pat was inducted into the Army where he served with honor and distinction in the Armed Forces Medical Corps until his discharge in 1963. Since his arrival in New York, Pat has been active in the Irish- American community. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 21 and has served as the group's financial secretary, treasurer, historian and president. Pat has also served the Queens County Board of Hibernians as their organizer, historian, chairman of the grievance committee, chairman of the publicity committee, recording secretary, and vice president. He has also served as the chairman of by-laws and resolution committees at several biennial convention of the Queens County Board and has been a delegate to numerous state and national Hibernian conventions. Both of today's honorees have long been known as innovators and beacons of good will to all those with whom they come into contact. Through their dedicated efforts, they have each helped to improve my constituents' quality of life. In recognition of their many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations on their being honored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 21 and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 22.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to the Rockaway Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of it's Bravest & Finest Luncheon. The members of the Rockaway Chamber of Commerce have long been known for their commitment to community service and to enhancing the quality of life for all New York City residents. This luncheon is not only a festive happening, it is a chance for all of us to celebrate and pay tribute to a group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to protecting their friends and neighbors. This year's honorees truly represent the best of what our community has to offer. Lieutenant Carl Trincone was appointed to the New York City Fire Department in September 1982. After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1991, he was assigned to Engine 264 where he continues to protect the people of the Rockaways from harm's way. Firefighters 1st Grade Gregory Ruggiero, Steven Incarnato, Brian Gallagher, and Eugene Gentile are well known for their heroism and dedication to the people of the Rockaways. These brave men routinely place their own lives at risk in order to protect their friends and neighbors. Police Officers George Von Bartheld, Jason Gaertner, Cory Fink, Scott Rodriquez, and Lucion Herriot have each made an exceptional contribution towards the reduction of crime in the Rockaways and have enhanced community safety. In addition, the members of the Transit Borough Queens Detective Squad, lead by Sgt. Scott Guginsky, have helped make our subways a safer place to travel. Each of these officers have proved themselves to be valuable assets to both the Police Department and the people of the Rockaways. All of today's honorees have long been known as innovators and beacons of good will to all those with whom they come into contact. Through their dedicated efforts, they have each helped to improve my constituents' quality of life. In recognition of their many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations on their being honored by the Rockaway Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Chairman, I rise against the Coburn amendment. It is very often in these debates we have a great number of charts and a great deal of interpretation on what we are going to call the budget and how we are going to contour its label. But, in fact, there are certain fundamental differences that I think all Americans are starting to see in this debate. One is that the President and those of us on the Democratic side of the aisle believe that Medicare is an important Federal program that aids many seniors and it should be shored up, it should be expanded, and we should cover prescription drugs. That is what we believe. That is not what the opponents believe. We believe that schools are important, education is important, teachers are important, new construction for overcrowded schools. That is what we believe. This is what is in our value systems. That is what we believe the other side will not speak about because it is not what they believe. We believe that it is important to pay down, to retire some of our Federal debt because every dollar that we pay into interest are dollars we cannot spend for all of the things that all of us here support, whether it be tax cuts, whether it be defense, whether it be education or anything else. These are fundamental dividing lines between us. And they can hold up charts all they like, but we will never see the sponsors of this amendment talk about those three fundamental issues. It makes us wonder, do they not realize that these are the issues that motivate Americans? Right now seniors pay more out of their own pocket than when the Medicare program was created in the 1960s, more today than at that time we declared a health care emergency. That is a shame and we should reverse that.

Mr. WEINER

Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite my colleagues to pay tribute to the Brooklyn Irish-American Parade Committee on the occasion of it's 24th Annual Brooklyn Irish-American Parade. The Brooklyn Irish-American Parade highlights the cultural, education and historical accomplishments and contributions of Brooklyn's Irish- American community. The Annual Brooklyn Irish-American Parade serves as a celebration of Brooklyn's cultural diversity and richness and takes place in historic Park Slope on the hallowed ground of the Battle of Brooklyn and commemorates the Marylanders, Irish Freedom Fighters and Americans of other ethnic backgrounds who gave their lives to secure independence for all Americans. The Spirit of '76 was, and still is, the ideal of the Brooklyn Irish-American Parade. The Parade Committee, it's officers and members, continue the memorialization of ``The Great Famine'' (An Gorta Mor) which caused the deaths of over 1,500,000 people in Ireland and tens of thousands as they traveled to America. During ``The Great Famine'', over 1,000,000 of Erin's sons and daughters emigrated to the United States through the port of New York. The theme of this year's Parade is Wolfe Tone and The Good Friday Peace Accords. Wolfe Tone was an Irish Patriot and founder of the Society of the United Irishman, whose vision of Ireland was neither North nor South, neither Protestant nor Catholic, but one Ireland United and Free. The Good Friday Peace Accords, which were overwhelmingly supported by the people of the North and South, gave new hope for an end to sectarian violence and a peaceful resolution of political and social differences. The members of the Brooklyn Irish- American Parade Committee salutes with gratitude all the peacemakers who secured these accords for the people of Ireland, especially the untiring negotiations of former United States Senator George Mitchell. This year's parade is dedicated to the memories of Johanna Cronin McAvey of County Cork, a founder of the Brooklyn Irish-American Parade Committee; Past Grand Marshals Paul O'Dwyer and Patrick McGowan, Past Aides to Grand Marshals Maureen Glynn Connolly, Tom Doherty, Eugene Reilly and Irene Stevens. The Grand Marshal for the 24th Annual Parade is Sister Mary Rose McGeady, D.C., President and Chief Executive Officer of Covenant House who has dedicated her life to homeless children and their families. Sister McGeady has long been known as an innovator and beacon of good will to all those whose lives she has touched. The Grand Marshall, her Aides Robert Hanley (Irish Culture) Pipe Major NYC Correction Department Pipe Band; Jane Murphy Parchinsky, Ladies AOH Kings County Board and Division 17; James Boyle (Irish Business) Snook Inn & Green Isle Inn; Bettyanne McDonough (Education) Emerald Society Board of Education; Patrick W. Johnson (Kings County AOH & Division 22); Geraldine McCluskey Lavery (Gaelic Sports/Young Irelands Camogie Team); Thomas Daniel Duffy (Grand Council, United Emerald Societies/Housing Authority); Parade Chairperson Kathleen McDonagh; Dance Chairperson Charlie O'Donnell; Journal Chairperson James McDonagh; Raffle Chairperson Eileen Fallon; Parade Officers, Members and all the citizens of Brooklyn, have joined together to participate in this important and memorable event. In recognition of their many accomplishments on behalf of my constituents, I offer my congratulations and thanks to the Grand Marshall, her Aides, the Parade Officers and members of the Brooklyn Irish-American Parade Committee on the occasion of the Brooklyn Irish- American Parade Committee's 24th Annual Brooklyn Irish-American Parade.