[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7696-7697]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO NATIONAL ETHNIC COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 27, 2004

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding humanitarian organization, the National Ethnic Coalition of 
Organizations. NECO, as it is better known, celebrates its 20th 
anniversary this year.
  NECO's mandate is simple but powerful, universal in scope and 
humanitarian in purpose. It seeks to preserve ethnic diversity, promote 
equality and tolerance, combat injustice and bring about harmony and 
unity among all peoples.
  Since its founding in 1984 this multi-ethnic coalition has taken 
leadership in the promotion of diversity and has sponsored programs, 
activities and educational initiatives designed to break through the 
walls of ethnic misunderstanding and ignorance.
  I am especially pleased and proud in this tribute to acknowledge the 
inspirational leadership and tireless work of NECO's Chairman and a 
good friend, William Denis Fugazy. Bill has been the leader of NECO 
throughout these 20 years and in that role has become one of our 
nation's most respected humanitarian leaders and a dedicated visionary, 
who constantly works to promote brotherhood and respect between all 
citizens.
  NECO's most distinct program is familiar to many of you and to the 
general public. Each year since 1986, NECO has awarded the Ellis Island 
Medal of Honor. It honors Americans of various ethnic origins for their 
outstanding contributions to this country. It is an award that has been 
bestowed on all American Presidents since 1986 as well as Nobel Prize 
winners, leaders in entertainment, business and science and a number of 
members of Congress on a bi-partisan basis. I was proud in 2001 to 
cosponsor a resolution which passed the House and Senate to recognize 
the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
  Beyond the Ellis Island Medals, NECO has provided leadership in a 
wide range of humanitarian and national civic work. This includes 
raising more than $1 million to renovate and refurbish the Immigrant 
Wall of Honor on Ellis Island, a wall which contains the names of more 
than 200,000 immigrants to the United States who first aimed to begin 
the American dream on Ellis Island.
  One of the best-known of NECO's programs is the Forum Children's 
Foundation. This project involves sponsoring children from various 
third world nations who are in need of urgent medical assistance to 
come to the United States and receive this care. To date more than 30 
children have been provided with surgeries and related care that could 
be characterized as either life saving or life changing in nature. The 
Foundation assumes the responsibility for the costs associated with the 
care and the transportation necessary to receive it. In this endeavor 
they have made a genuine difference in the lives of not only the 
children but their families as well.
  NECO in its history has been deeply involved as an advocate to combat 
the rising local, state, and national problem of hate crimes. It began 
in response to one of the most heinous of all hate crimes that was 
committed against James Byrd in Texas. NECO in addition to helping the 
Byrd family with the funeral costs, also established two scholarships a 
year in conjunction with the James Byrd Jr. Foundation for Racial 
Healing. NECO has worked closely with the sponsors of comprehensive 
hate crime prevention legislation in both the House and the Senate 
working to educate and inform the Congress about the need to prevent 
hate crimes by providing law enforcement with adequate resources and 
responsibility. Today in our nation we average nearly 25 hate crimes a 
day and it is obvious that we must do more to combat the problem.

[[Page 7697]]

  NECO is constant in its efforts to combat negative ethnic and racial 
stereotyping. This has included work with the Family Exchange Peace 
Program. This program brings thousands of school children and their 
families together to raise awareness about the diverse racial and 
ethnic heritage of New York City as well as to encourage racial, ethnic 
and cultural harmony.
  NECO also is responsible for one of the most important Italian 
American organizations, the Coalition of Italo-American Associations. 
The Coalition representing 143 organizations around the nation with a 
membership of some 1.5 million works in conjunction with NECO on the 
key mission to fight discrimination including negative media 
stereotyping, and to spotlight the contributions which Italian 
Americans make and continue to make to America.
  NECO also is responsible for the Forum Club, a leading business 
organization in New York City, which sponsors monthly high-level 
programs with prominent speakers from government, media and business.
  Over the past 20 years NECO has distinguished itself in many 
humanitarian programs and initiatives. It has stayed true to its 
mission to promote the strength of diversity and to promote 
understanding and harmony. Its positive mission and message is 
challenged so often by some harsh realities of modern society such as 
hate crimes and discrimination, yet NECO's strength of character and 
sense of commitment has been unwavering.
  It is a special honor for me to recognize NECO and its great work 
these past twenty years. I salute NECO's leadership including its Board 
of Directors, staff and volunteers and most especially their Chairman, 
Bill Fugazy. NECO is an outstanding model of an organization which does 
so well by doing such good.

                          ____________________