EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

August 2, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1389 

FEDERAL EMPLOYEE TAX 

ACCOUNTABILITY ACT 

SPEECH OF

HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN 

OF MARYLAND

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, once again 

the House finds itself considering a bill that 

unfairly targets the hard working public servants who every day are providing a wide array 

of public services from helping to nurse our 

wounded veterans, to discovering cures and 

treatments for diseases that plague millions of 

American families, to ensuring aviation safety, 

to protecting our borders, public safety and the 

food supply. Over the last two years, our Republican colleagues have repeatedly brought 

legislation to the floor to slash the pay and 

benefits of civil servants in order to protect 

special tax breaks for the super wealthy and 

special interests. 

Obviously, all Americans should pay their 

taxes, and those who fail to do so should be 

penalized. But federal employees should not 

be denied the full complement of due process 

rights that are available to any other American. This bill would result in the firing of federal employees who may be legitimately contesting a tax liability through the established 

process. Moreover, by linking the firing of a 

federal employee to a lien, this bill would result in the firing of individuals who are already 

in the process of satisfying their tax obligation. 

There are already laws and regulations on the 

books that address how tax debt should be 

handled and how federal employees who are 

delinquent on their payments should be disciplined. 

In 2002, the IRS asked Congress to change 

the standard for determining when an agency 

was mandated to fire employees. Rather than 

firing every employee who fails to properly file 

their tax return, IRS created a hierarchy of 

penalties based on the seriousness and willfulness of the offense. This bill throws out that 

process and treats all delinquencies as if they 

were willful and deliberate. 

Comparatively, federal employees have a 

compliance rate that is higher than the average American taxpayer. In 2010, 3.35 percent 

of federal employees were delinquent in their 

tax payments. That same year, the delinquency rate for the total universe of American 

taxpayers was 7.4 percent. Instead of making 

public servants the target of new, unnecessary 

and unfair legislation, we should instead be focusing on uniform ways to strengthen and better enforce existing laws and regulations governing tax delinquency. 

HONORING METRO CHICAGO 

HON. MIKE QUIGLEY 

OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, thirty years 

ago, in August of 1982, a little-known band 

from Georgia took the stage at a new music 

venue at 3730 North Clark Street in Chicago. 

Five hundred tickets were sold for 5 dollars 

each, and Chicagoans gathered in ‘‘the big 

room’’ to watch R.E.M. 

The show was a huge success, and the 

Metro Chicago has been an influential music 

venue ever since. 

Celebrating their 30th anniversary this 

month, the Metro continues to hold an important place in the Chicago music and performing arts scene. 

There is a long list of memorable moments, 

including performances by music legends like 

James Brown, Bob Dylan, the Ramones, 

Smashing Pumpkins, and my personal favorite, Poi Dog Pondering. 

The Metro has always been a venue that 

has provided a platform for new music talent 

to start their careers the old fashioned way, by 

sending in a demo and booking a slot. 

Their dedication to independent music 

comes from the enthusiasm of owner Joe 

Shanahan, a south side Chicago native. 

In the late 1970s, looking to better connect 

the music community of his home town, Joe 

started hosting parties for performing artists 

out of his loft apartment in the city. 

It was not long until his musical gatherings 

outgrew his small space. 

He eventually converted an old community 

center into a venue, and he has been bringing 

Chicago the best local and national talent ever 

since. 

Shanahan, an icon in independent music 

promotion, stays involved in the community as 

well by serving on the boards of the Chicago 

Children’s Choir and Rock for Kids, a charity 

that provides music education to underserved 

children in Chicago. 

Without a doubt, the Metro and Shanahan’s 

influence on the Chicago music scene is beyond measure. 

Music before money always has been the 

message, and because of this commitment, 

the Metro has helped shape Chicago’s cultural 

landscape. 

For 30 years the Metro has contributed to 

the music scene in Chicago, and for 30 years 

fans have flocked to it. 

Congratulations on three decades of rock. 

We’ll be lining up for thirty more years of 

great music to come. 

RESOLUTION OF DISAGREEMENTS 

ABOUT CYPRUS 

HON. VIRGINIA FOXX OF NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, there is a need to 

respond to recent comments that have been 

made by some of my colleagues involving 

issues of concern to Cyprus. 

We all agree that a comprehensive and sustainable resolution of disagreements about Cyprus is long overdue. Such a solution must 

allow both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to participate in all aspects of the island’s national life and government while respecting the rights and political equality of all 

Cypriots preserved in a renewed partnership 

state. 

Of concern to me are statements by some 

that Turkish Cypriots, and the Republic of Turkey itself, are obstacles to any forward 

progress. 

Without rehashing the history that brought 

about the current situation on Cyprus, it 

should be made clear that the Turkish government has, on multiple occasions, welcomed 

the resolution of these issues which guarantees the equal rights of the Turkish Cypriot 

community. Turkish Cypriots voted overwhelmingly in favor of the U.N. Comprehensive 

Peace Plan (known as Annan Plan) in 2004, 

demonstrating their sincere desire to move beyond the painful past. Despite this genuine determination to incorporate, not only within the 

life of the island, but within the wider European and global communities, the U.N. proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by the 

Greek Cypriot side. Incredibly, one week after 

missing one of the most significant opportunities to reach a comprehensive solution to 

these longstanding problems, the Greek Cypriots were awarded with membership in the 

European Union. 

As a result, the Greek Cypriot community, 

as the Republic of Cyprus, now enjoys full 

membership status in the European Union including all associated rights and privileges as 

well as membership in the wider, global community. It is time to end the isolation and embargoes imposed upon the Turkish Cypriot 

community and secure a negotiated political 

settlement, agreed to by both parties, that allows all Cypriots to build a common future together. 

f 

RECOGNIZING THE 100TH 

ANNIVERSARY OF DEVEREUX 

HON. JIM GERLACH OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

congratulate Devereux on its upcoming 100- 

year anniversary. 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS