E 1090 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 22, 1995

CONGRATULATIONS TO ATLANTIS

COMMUNITY AND NORWEST

BANK COLORADO

HON. PATRICIA SCHROEDER OF COLORADO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 22, 1995

Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, I want to

commend Atlantis Community Inc. and

Norwest Bank Colorado, both of Denver, for

launching one of the Nation’s first home mortgage financing and consumer loan programs

for lower-income people with disabilities.

On May 17, Social Compact recognized

Atlantis and Norwest in its 1995 Outstanding

Community Investment Awards program. Social Compact is a Washington-based nonprofit

coalition of leaders in financial services and

community development industries who work

to strengthen neighborhoods.

In partnership with Atlantis, Norwest introduced the Disability Community Homeownership Program in June 1993 as a 1-year pilot,

with a $2.5 million set-aside for loans. The

program offers generous and flexible mortgage terms of physically disabled people, allowing them to own their own homes for the

first time. Norwest now has generated more

than $6 million in approved loans to more than

100 people in the program.

Atlantis, the largest home health care agency in Colorado, has built awareness of the

program through its close links with the disabled community and its financial counseling

services. Atlantis also has implemented a

homeownership workshop and money management services, which address the needs of

disabled people in the home buying process.

Also in partnership with Norwest, Atlantis

has developed a consumer loan program for

vehicle purchase and modification, home access improvements and independent living

aids.

Atlantis and Norwest are a good example of

commitment and partnership in the service of

others.

TRIBUTE TO MR. JOHN O’TOOLE

OF CONNECTICUT

f

HON. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 22, 1995

Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month,

one of the most respected leaders in the advertising industry, John E. O’Toole, former

President and chief executive of the American

Association Of Advertising Agencies, and a

resident of Connecticut’s Fourth Congressional

District passed away in New York.

John O’Toole’s four decades in advertising

were distinguished by the highest standards

he demanded of himself and demanded of his

industry. That dedication and determination to

provide the American public with quality and

seamless honesty earned him his induction

this year into the Advertising Hall of Fame.

John O’Toole’s leadership, his creativity, his

wit, and his friendship will be sorely missed by

his family and many, many friends. My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Phyllis and

his two daughters.

CONGRATULATIONS TO FIRST OCCUPATIONAL CENTER OF NEW

JERSEY AND ITS HONOREES

HON. WILLIAM J. MARTINI OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 22, 1995

Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to

tell my colleagues about several very special

individuals whose excellent work in the area of

occupational and rehabilitational therapy for

the aged, the disabled, and the disadvantaged

has earned them high honors at the 41st anniversary celebration and annual awards presentation of the First Occupational Center of

New Jersey on May 24, 1995.

Peter Cocoziello, president of Consult Realty, Janet May, executive director of the West

Essex Chamber of Commerce, John Smith,

manager of public affairs at PSE&G, and Joan

Verplanck, president of the New Jersey State

Chamber of Commerce will all be the

honorees on this memorable occasion. Their

work with the center helps individuals and

families challenged by both physical and economic disadvantages become contributing

members of the community. With the support

of individuals, private groups, and Government

agencies, the center provides professional

counseling and real work opportunities to

those who truly need such services. For seniors over age 55, job readiness and placement

services are available; for welfare recipients,

remedial instruction and work experience are

encouraged.

The center, and the outstanding individuals

that are being honored, strive to bring dignity

and self-confidence to lives that may otherwise lose sight of these essential human traits.

I congratulate these honorees: Mr. Cocoziello,

Ms. May, Mr. Smith, and Ms. Verplanck for

their contributions, and urge them to keep up

their good work.

TRIBUTE TO JOS

fE ́ M. GRACIANO

HON. JOSE ́ E. SERRANO OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 22, 1995

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, on Friday,

May 19, 1995 a group of dedicated public

school educators gathered in my congressional district to honor one of their distinguished colleagues, Jose ́ M. Graciano.

Mr. Graciano has been the principal of P.S.

5 since 1971 and has earned the distinction of

being the longest serving public school principal in Community School District Seven. His

record of accomplishment at P.S. 5 is truly impressive; he has brought more than two dozen

different enrichment programs into his school.

We are particularly proud of Mr. Graciano for

his accomplishment in creating the first bilingual pre-kindergarten program in the Nation, a

title VII grant Project PROBE. Under his leadership, P.S. 5 was designated a model bilingual school, recognizing the successes of

such programs as the Bilingual Teacher

Corps, Project SABE, Project BETA and CSIP.

Mr. Graciano is an active member of his

community and his hard work has earned him

numerous awards and recognitions including

the Educator of the Year award from the Hispanic Educators Association, the Community

Service Award from the Association Civica

Arecibeno, the P.S. 5 Parent Teacher Association Award, the Ramon S. Velez Scholarship Committee Leadership Award and the

P.S. 5 Parent Teacher Association 20th Anniversary Award.

Mr. Speaker, the residents of my district,

Hispanic Americans everywhere, and indeed

the entire Nation are the beneficiaries of such

lifelong dedication to the education of our

youth, and in particular of those often-disadvantaged youngsters who grow up in our

inner city communities. I ask my colleagues to

join me in conveying best wishes and deep

gratitude to Mr. Jos

fe ́ M. Graciano.

MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 22, 1995

Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, the debate on reforming our health care system has begun to

focus on the potential role of medical savings

accounts.

I would like to enter into the RECORD some

comments from business, consumer, and

health policy organizations regarding medical

savings accounts [MSA’s]. There comments

are helpful in evaluating the likely costs and

benefits to be derived from MSA’s. In sum,

these organizations find that the risks of

MSA’s are high and the rewards are, at best,

overstated.

The attached also sheds light on one particular company that is profiting handsomely

from MSA’s, and how this is so. The level of

profits generated by this company, and how

they have chosen to spend them, give us reason to take pause.

These comments follow.

FEBRUARY 1, 1995.

MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS—NOT FOR

MEDICARE!

DEAR COLLEAGUE: We have heard much

about medical savings account (MSAs) recently. Companies that stand to benefit financially from MSAs—and those who have

benefited from the profits of these MSA proponents—have been quick to push their merits. This week, Speaker Gingrich proposed to

give Medicare recipients vouchers to enroll

in medical savings accounts.

More objective parties—business,

consumer and health policy organizations

across the potential spectrum—have concluded that the expansion of medical savings

accounts will exacerbate problems in the

health insurance market.

‘‘While on the surface these proposals have

some appeal . . . they pose serious

problems . . . There does not appear to be a

way to design an MSA that is not detrimental to the goal of achieving universal or

near-universal coverage at a reasonable

cost.’’—Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

‘‘To illustrate the current misunderstanding of how MSAs would generally operate,

the [Academy] uses an example that appeared in a letter released by Senator Phil

Gramm . . . The example seems clear

enough. However, like many others, it misrepresents what is generally financially possible.’’—American Academy of Actuaries

‘‘Our judgment is that the medical IRA is

not going to bring about the kind of universal coverage and the stopping of cost shifting