May 17, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 1061

ROB WALSH HONORED FOR EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNITY

SERVICE

HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 17, 1995

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

bring to the attention of my colleagues the efforts of an extraordinary individual who lives

and works in my district, Rob Walsh.

Mr. Speaker, too often, the stories of those

who make a difference in their communities

are drowned out by the tragedies which split

our community. Pick up any newspaper on

any given day. Headlines will scream of the

latest crime; columnists will lament the many

foibles of our society. The quieter success stories largely go unreported, unremarked upon.

I believe it is critically important that we do

a better job of telling the success stories, that

we do a better job of being role models for our

Nation’s youth. I therefore take the House

floor today to recognize the efforts of a man

who has done so much for so many. I would

also like to say that I am extremely pleased

that Rob Walsh will be receiving the prestigious Annual Cancer Care Community Service Award this Sunday.

Before I go into Bob’s many achievements,

I want to take a moment to congratulate Cancer Care for its dedication to providing free

and comprehensive clinical services, education, and financial assistance to patients and

their families at any stage of illness. Cancer

Care works cooperatively and effectively with

the many hospitals and health institutions in

my district and New York in general, to provide critical services to those who are most in

need. I cannot say enough about the compassion and commitment of Cancer Care to its

mission.

I also want to commend Cancer Care on

their judgment. Each year, Cancer Care

bestows it’s Community Service Award to

someone who makes significant contributions

to the community. This year’s recipient will

surprise no one who has spent any time over

the past 5 years in the 14th Street-Union

Square area.

In 1989 Rob Walsh became the executive

director of the 14th Street-Union Square Local

Development Corp. and business improvement district. Rob came prepared.

Rob’s service in New York City government

had been as varied as it was successful. In

fact, it seemed that there was no bureau of

government which had not benefitted from

Rob’s considerable energies. He had served

in the mayor’s office of operations as a voter

assistance coordinator, the transportation department, the parks department the personnel

department, and the general services department. In addition, Rob has a master’s degree

in public affairs from Fordham University,

where he also relieved his undergraduate degree.

Since taking the helm of the 14th StreetUnion Square LDC/BID, Rob has overseen

unprecedented efforts to revitalize a community which has fallen on hard times. During the

1980’s, 14th Street had become a drug infested areas, people by prostitutes, and covered with graffiti. Union Square, once one of

New York’s greatest public spaces, was now

best known for its nickname ‘‘Needle Park.’’

Rob Walsh, thankfully, is not a man who

shrinks from a challenge. With his remarkable

energy, intelligence, and can-do attitude, Rob

has led the efforts to turn the neighborhood

around. Stop by Union Square on a sunny

spring day and you will see the difference.

New businesses move into this thriving

neighborhood every day. Children and workers

on their lunch break pack into beautiful and

accessible Union Square. Stuyvesant Square

Park is now the kind of well maintained open

space that every member of the community

can enjoy. The streets are cleaner and safer

and there exists the kind of communitywide

pride which is so characteristic of the best

neighborhoods of New York and any city.

As Rob will be the first to say, this turnaround was the product of efforts by hundreds

and thousands of caring members of the community. But I am not sure it could have happened without Rob’s leadership. As the

‘‘Mayor of Union Square,’’ Rob has directed

the efforts, and led the battle at the front lines.

He can always be found, walking the streets,

checking on his latest brainstorms.

There is, of course, much work left to be

done. But Rob’s commitment to the values

which make this community great—affordable

housing, opportunities for our kids, safe

streets, and economic growth—will certainly

guide his future efforts in the right direction.

I should also point out that Rob also volunteers his time to a number of important groups

in our city including New York Cares, the Vanderbilt YMCA, Beth Israel Medical Center

community advisory council, Cabrini Medical

Center advisory council, NYC Urban Fellows

advisory board, Washington Irving High

School business advisory council, and the

mayor’s Voluntary Action Center. And with all

of his efforts, Rob remains a devoted husband

to his lovely Terry and is a doting father to his

beautiful daughter Cara, perhaps the most important job of all.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to Cancer Care

for giving me this opportunity to tell a true

New York success story. Rob Walsh deserves

our most sincere thanks for all of his efforts on

behalf of his community, and I hope that all of

my colleagues will join me in congratulating

him at this time.

SOCIAL SECURITY PRESUMPTIVE

DISABILITY FOR THE SEVERELY

fDISABLED INTRODUCED

HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 17, 1995

Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that incorporates the Supplemental Security Income’s [SSI] presumptive

disability system into the Social Security Disability Insurance [SSDI] Program.

One of the largest continuing problems

faced by the Social Security Administration

[SSA] is the backlog of more than 1 million

cases waiting for a disability determination. In

1995 President Clinton asked for disability investment funding in the amount of $280 million as part of the regular administrative budget. These funds were specifically earmarked

for processing disability related workloads.

Congress appropriated disability investment

funding in the amount of $320 million for fiscal

year 1995. I support this move but we need to

do more and to act more quickly.

Social Security expects to receive nearly 3

million applications for disability benefits

through 1995, 70 percent more than it received 5 years ago. Social Security admits

that its complicated decision process has

changed little in 40 years and offers an ‘‘unacceptable’’ level of service to the public. An announced ‘‘re-engineering’’ of the increasingly

complex disability determination system is expected to stabilize the workload but not to result in an appreciable reduction in the backlog.

On the average, it now takes a disability applicant 5 months to get an initial decision. If

benefits are denied, the applicant waits another 18 months to get an administrative law

judge’s decision on the appeal. Congress has

heard complaints in recent years of deserving

applicants waiting months for desperately

needed funds and, in some cases, dying before they get a decision.

For example, in Arizona a recent disability

applicant was forced to leave her secretarial

job due to injuries resulting from a serious

auto accident. She applied to the Social Security Administration for disability benefits to offset the loss of her income. She did not realize

that she was venturing into an understaffed,

underfunded Federal program that often forces

disabled people to wait months to learn whether they qualify for benefits. After a year wait,

she was successful in obtaining the benefits to

which she was entitled only after hiring an attorney who specializes in such cases. These

kinds of long delays are repeated in anecdote

after anecdote.

For many severely disabled, there should be

a faster way.

The SSI program makes an initial determination that presumes a person to be disabled if they fit certain severe disability criteria. These people begin to receive SSI benefits immediately and the SSA has a 6 month

period to make the final determination of eligibility using the SSA’s definition of disability.

Being able to receive SSI benefits on the

basis of a presumptive disability determination

provides the disabled person with much needed money immediately. However, for a worker

who has paid into Social Security and becomes disabled, there is no comparable process to identify the people that would most likely qualify for DI benefits. My legislation would

remedy this by providing for determinations of

presumptive disability under title II of the Social Security Act in the same manner and to

the same extent as is currently applicable

under title XVI of such act.

This means that if a person is found to be

presumptively disabled under title II and meets

the requirements for entitlement to benefits the

person will begin to receive benefits, after the

initial 5 month waiting period required before

DI benefits can be paid, for up to 6 months

while the final determination is being made. If

the person is presumed eligible to receive DI

benefits, then their dependents shall also

begin to receive benefits.

If, in the final determination, a claimant’s impairment does not meet the Social Security

Administration’s definition of disability, they

and their dependents shall not be responsible

to return the money they received during the

presumptive eligibility determination period.

In some instances a person may be presumed eligible for SSI benefits before being

found to be presumptively disabled under title
E 1062 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 17, 1995

II. In this case, the person will still be entitled

to only 6 months of presumptive disability benefits. In most States, while receiving SSI benefits, a person is eligible for Medicaid. Under

this proposal, claimants who would have been

eligible for SSI benefits, were it not for their

receipt of DI presumptive disability benefits,

would be deemed eligible for SSI, making

them eligible for Medicaid in those States

where SSI eligibility triggers Medicaid eligibility. When the final determination for DI benefits is made, the claimant loses the Medicaid

eligibility. Medicare will be provided to disabled workers and their dependents after they

have been receiving disability benefits for 24

months, including the time they were receiving

presumptive disability payments.

INTRODUCTION OF DIABETES

RESEARCH ACT

f

HON. ELIZABETH FURSE OF OREGON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday May 17, 1995

Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, diabetes research is at a crossroads. Earlier this year,

leading scientists and researchers from across

America gathered in Washington, DC, at the

Capitol Summit on Diabetes Research to release the white paper. The white paper demonstrated that diabetes research has reached

a critical point, and that immediately increasing our focus could yield substantial and dramatic breakthroughs. Recent evidence indicates that a cure, or improvements in other

disease management techniques, are within

our reach to improve the quality of life for 14

million Americans who are affected by diabetes.

Today, along with Mr. NETHERCUTT, I am

proud to introduce the Diabetes Research Act.

This legislation would substantially increase

the funds available for diabetes research at

the National Institutes of Health. In light of the

scientific revelations brought forth by leading

researchers and endocrinologists, we must

adopt a long-term strategy to deal with the

problem of diabetes in America. As a nation,

diabetes and its tragic complications cost our

Nation over $100 billion every year. Everyday,

thousands of people go blind, have extremity

amputations, or develop heart disease as a result of diabetes. We can make a difference if

we only heed the call of the people who are

on the front lines fighting this dreadful disease.

The Diabetes Research Act answers that call.

I believe this bill could also be called the

Priorities Act of 1995. In order to balance the

budget and still invest in our Nation’s future,

we must have an open and honest discussion

with the American people about our priorities.

Tomorrow I am going to introduce three bills

to create budgetary savings of $1.5 billion, a

portion of which could be used to pay for increased diabetes research funds. In sum, I believe diabetes research should be a priority

and encourage my colleagues to follow my

lead and make recommendations on how to

pay for it.

My own daughter has diabetes. She is one

of millions of Americans who live with this disease everyday, and I am so proud of her. I am

also grateful to all the national diabetes organizations to gave their insight into the development of this legislation. I urge all my colleagues here in the House to cosponsor the

Diabetes Research Act, cosponsor a bill to

pay for it, and then let the thousands of people with diabetes in your community know you

are working for their future.

TRIBUTE TO CREW MEMBERS OF

THE SUGAR ISLAND FERRY BY

fTHE HONORABLE BART STUPAK

OF MICHIGAN

HON. BART STUPAK OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 17, 1995

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

offer my sincere congratulations to the crew

members of the Sugar Island ferry in Sugar Island, MI for their outstanding service to the

community.

Each year, civic groups on Sugar Island

choose an individual to recognize his or her

contributions to the community. This year,

however, the entire crew of the Sugar Island

ferry was chosen to be honored for their enormous efforts for the betterment of the Sugar

Island community.

The first regularly scheduled ferry to bring

cars to Sugar Island was the Service, which

began operation on July 1, 1928. On that day,

30 automobiles were transported from the island to the mainland of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It cost 45 cents for cars and 15 cents

for foot passengers to be carried across St.

Mary’s River. In addition to cars and trucks,

the ferry also carried horse-drawn wagons

during this period.

The Service, was in use until 1932, when it

was replaced by the Beaver. The Beaver ran

until 1937, when a second ferry, Scow No. 1,

was placed into service. Later rebuilt and

named Chippewa, that ferry was in use until a

larger, steel ferry with a 12 car capacity was

constructed. That ferry, the Sugar Islander,

built in 1947, is still in use today. The Sugar

Island ferry was privately-owned by the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority

in 1979.

In 1994, 252,339 vehicles were transported

by the Sugar Islander. The ferry provides a

vital link from Sugar Island to the city of Sault

Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula. In addition

to its regular service, the ferry goes out of its

way to promptly transport emergency vehicles

and ambulance, fire and police personnel for

the benefit of Sugar Island residents.

Additionally, Mr. Speaker, the ferry is known

for its outstanding service. It operates every

half hour in good weather and bad, 365 days

a year. The highly dedicated crew works 11-

hour shifts, and I commend the crew members

of the Sugar Islander, for their unfailingly courteous and reliable service. Specifically, I would

like to congratulate the current members of

the Sugar Island ferry, including: Tom Stevens, Brian Dynes, Dan Cairns, Paul McCoy,

Derek Myerscough, Doug Bisdorf, Mike Patten, Tim Switzer, Don Soper, Jim Gort, Jr.,

and Rick Brown.

I know my colleagues join me in honoring

those crew members who enrich the lives of

Sugar Island residents, as well as visitors to

that Northern Michigan community.

YOUTH CANCER AWARENESS

HON. CHARLIE ROSE OF NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 17, 1995

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

bring to the attention of this body youth cancer

awareness.

More than 5 million living Americans have a

history of cancer. It is estimated that among

the 1 million people diagnosed with cancer

this year, half will die from this disease. In my

State of North Carolina alone, over 3,200 people will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

Even more alarming is the growth in reported cases of cancer in young people. Cancer is the No. 2 killer among our youth.

In my home State of North Carolina, the

month of April is ‘‘Cancer Awareness Month.’’

North Carolina has planned a number of

events to emphasize the importance of cancer

awareness. I would have like to have made

April ‘‘National Cancer Awareness Month.’’

However procedural changes will not permit

the offering of such a resolution.

Nonetheless, I would still like to increase the

public’s awareness of the degree to which

cancer affects young people. The key to finding a cure for cancer is in awareness of the

symptoms, the causes, and the best means to

address the problems raised by cancer. Increased volunteer participation and the promotion of education and research have had a

profound positive impact on discovering a

cure. We need to do more in this regard.

With the help of dedicated people like Miss

Leslie Cobb, a Jacksonsville, NC, teen cancer

activist, who fight this terrible disease everyday, we will eventually find a cure. I urge everyone to do all they can to inform our youth

about the risks of cancer.

LORETTA PONTICELLO HONORED

FOR LIFETIME OF SERVICE

f

HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 17, 1995

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, it gives me

great pleasure to stand before my distinguished colleagues today to honor Ms. Loretta

Ponticello.

Its has been my observation that we are so

consumed with the problems and negativism

that plague our Nation that we sometimes forget about those who are working to solve

these problems. We ignore the heroes who

are right in our midst, choosing instead to talk

about the the bad news that dominates the

news.

This situation needs to be corrected. That’s

why I take this opportunity to honor one of

these heroes. She may not be featured in a

movie or on television, but there can be little

doubt that Loretta Ponticello is a hereo to all

who know her.

First, let me talk a little bit about Loretta’s

remarkable business career. By combining her

great aptitude for business with a high standard of integrity and diligence, Ms. Ponticello

has brought success wherever she has gone.

After graduating from the New Jersey College

for Woman—now Douglas College—she