Timothy Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. McGovern for yielding. I want to start by thanking Chairman Spratt and his colleagues on the Budget Committee and the conferees for so quickly coming to an agreement on the conference report. I rise to support the rule and the underlying conference report. This budget resolution begins the long and painful process of digging out of the very deep hole that we have inherited. It makes good on President Obama's promise to cut in half the deficits he inherited in 5 years. In fact, it cuts the deficits by two-thirds, and it does so even while we are cutting taxes for 95 percent of Americans to the tune of $1.7 trillion worth of tax cuts. We also invest in priorities that are absolutely vital to our future. I'd like to be specific about one of those priorities, and that is the investment made in higher education and in education in general that is accommodated by the conference report. There are significant investments in higher ed and an increase in the Pell Grant maximum, which will make it easier for hard-pressed students and their families to achieve their slice of the American dream. The moving from the Federal Family Education Loan program, the so-called ``FFEL program,'' to direct lending will save $97 billion over 10 years, and it will put money in the hands of needy students as opposed to having that money added to the bottom line of banks and of other loan providers. It will restructure the Perkins Loan Program to make it more readily available to students. It will create a college access and completion fund that will enable colleges to emulate best practices across the country so that students really do succeed, and it will make permanent the American Opportunity Tax Credit. All of these are the kinds of investments we need to make if we are going to have the prosperous future that we all want. With specific reference to education, Mr. Dreier made reference to the various alternatives that Republicans have offered to our budget resolution. The alternative that the Republicans offered made absolutely no mention of education.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. I thank the chairman for yielding, and I thank him for his really extraordinary leadership as we work our way through a very difficult process. I want to speak first obviously in opposition to the motion to instruct, and I am going to focus primarily on the implications for that with respect to the Committee on Education and Labor. But before I do, we should be clear; the argument that is made by our friends on the other side of the aisle is very much a situational argument. I do not recall in 2001 or in 2003 or in 2005, when the Republicans used reconciliation to push through policies that increased our deficit over 10 years by about $1.8 trillion, I don't remember them saying that they needed to ``jam this through,'' I don't remember them saying that they needed to ``rush it through,'' I don't remember them characterizing it as ``sweeping it through.'' They felt that they were passing legislation that was responsive to the American people. We feel we are passing legislation that is responsive to the interests of the American people. Let me speak with specific reference to education. We intend to enact policies that will save $47 billion over 5 years and allow us to use that money to help students and families, particularly needy students and families so that they can get their slice of the American Dream so that college attendance can be a realistic and realizable aspiration for them. Who wants to argue against increasing the Pell Grant maximum? Who wants to argue against indexing that maximum to the rate of inflation plus 1 percent so that it preserves its buying power? I certainly don't, and I would hope that my friends on the other side of the aisle don't want to either. I would hope that we can look at a low or moderate income student and say that you have every chance to have the same access to higher education as a student in the top 1 or 2 percent of our Nation's wealth. This budget resolution and the legislation that we will need to pass to put in place the legislative underpinning for these policies will allow us to do that. And who doesn't want to save $94 billion over 10 years, $47 billion over 5 years by having the government take over a student loan program that they can run, that we can run every bit as efficiently, every bit as effectively as the privately run program now, and do it in a fashion that will be invisible to students, and do it, as I say, by saving taxpayer money to the tune of $47 billion over 5 years and taking that money and putting it into the hands of needy students? That is a worthy aspiration. That is an aspiration that deserves the support of every person in this Chamber, and hopefully we will realize that.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. I thank Mr. Scott for yielding. As Chairman Miller indicated, since January of 2007 this Democratic Congress has made great strides in ensuring that students across the country have access to high-quality education. Passage of this budget resolution continues this commitment to ensuring that every child who dreams of going to college can do so. Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have described this budget as a budget that expands Federal control of education. What it really expands is access to educational opportunity, particularly in the area of higher education. And not only does this budget significantly expand access, it does so in a fashion that is fully paid for. The budget resolution would accommodate the President's major initiatives in higher education, which include increasing the Pell Grant maximum by an additional $155 and indexing that maximum to the CPI plus 1 percent. It would also include phasing out FFEL lending and moving to 100-percent direct lending providing students with the same access to support but doing so at a 5-year savings of $47 billion. It also calls for restructuring the Perkins Loan Program, increasing funding for this program by a factor of six and increasing the number of students who can benefit from this program by 2.7 million students. And finally, it calls for a creation of a college access and completion fund of $2.5 billion over 5 years so that schools can adopt best practices in both access and completion. Taken as a whole, these four proposals will be of significant assistance to students. We cannot achieve economic prosperity without an educated populous. This budget will ensure that those who can benefit from higher education will do so and that students will get their chance at their slice of the American dream. I urge my colleagues to vote for this budget resolution.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my colleagues and the entire nation the service and sacrifice of firefighter and 9/11 first responder John McNamara. A 10-year veteran of the New York Fire Department, John is currently assigned to Engine Co. 234 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He is a first responder who not only assisted during the search and rescue efforts following September 11th, 2001, but also assisted the New Orleans Fire Department and the citizens of Louisiana during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Formerly a resident of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and currently a resident of Blue Point, Long Island, John is valiantly struggling to survive a nearly three-year battle with Stage 4, metastatic colon cancer. John, age 43, and his wife Jennifer have a 2\1/2\ year old son named Jack. In the firefighting tradition of ``leaving no man behind,'' John's friends and fellow firefighters at Engine 234 / Ladder 123, Engine 220 / Ladder 122, the Blue Point Volunteer Fire Department and the New York City Firefighter Brotherhood Foundation are working hard to see that John and his family are supported as his battle grows more difficult. Like John, many of the brave first responders who served at Ground Zero are now struggling with debilitating diseases as a result of their courageous efforts. As a nation, we made a promise to help all those who suffered as a result of the heinous acts of September 11th. We must keep that promise. We must ensure that those brave first responders receive the medical care and other support they need. Today, we in Congress honor John McNamara for his service to New York and to our nation.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. I rise particularly noting that Congressman Bacon at one point represented the district that I have the honor of representing. I want to be clear on what our friends on the other side of the aisle are fighting for. The prevailing wage for a bricklayer in Lee County, Florida, is $8.34 an hour. That is an annual rate of $17,000 a year. The Federal poverty level for a family of four is approximately $21,000 a year. Does this Congress really want to go on record as imposing a wage rate that consigns the hardworking people of our communities to living under the Federal poverty level? I would hope not. The prevailing wage for a backhoe operator in Madison County, Arkansas, is $12.17 an hour. Is that a wage that we can find indefensible? Is that a wage that is going to bankrupt the companies that hire these people? Absolutely not. An annual rate of $25,000 a year, how do we help our families get their piece of the American dream when we consign them to wages as low as $17,000 a year or $25,000 a year. So I would urge my colleagues to both reject this amendment and to make a statement that we want to support the working families of our communities. We want to see to it that they are paid a livable wage. And we want to ensure, frankly, that we don't give opportunity to unscrupulous contractors who will not be bound by Federal prevailing- wage requirements, and they will then access a workforce that is willing to accept the subsistence wages and no benefits that would go along with such a job.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. On behalf of the residents of eastern Long Island, I would like to commend Chairman Oberstar and Chairwoman Johnson for their leadership and unwavering dedication to clean water issues. I would also like to thank Ranking Member Boozman and the committee staff for their hard work and commitment to advancing this legislation. The Water Quality Investment Act will renew our commitment to clean water in America and provide funding to chip away at the tremendous backlog of water infrastructure needs across the Nation. This legislation will increase investment, reduce costs, and promote efficiency in our water infrastructure. I am particularly proud of Title IV of the bill that provides monitoring, reporting, and public notification of sewer overflows. My good friend, Mr. LoBiondo of New Jersey, and I have worked to advance this issue for several years through independent legislation, the Sewage Overflow Community Right-To-Know Act, that is a part of this legislation. Sewer overflows discharge roughly 850 billion gallons of sewage annually into local waters. These discharges end up in local rivers, lakes, streams, and the ocean. The best way to avoid health and environmental concerns from sewer overflows is to ensure that they never occur in the first place, a primary goal of this legislation. However, even with significant increases in investment, sewer overflows will continue to occur. Therefore, it is imperative that we provide the public with comprehensive and timely notification of sewer overflows, which is also accomplished in this bill. Mr. Chairman, the Water Quality Investment Act makes investments today to protect our families tomorrow. I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this commonsense legislation to ensure we maintain our commitment to clean water.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1127. I oppose this legislation, not due to a lack of merit, but because many members of this body have sought relief for an equally vital visa issue--the H- 2B Visa program. The H-2B Visa program was designed to provide access to nonimmigrant, temporary workers for seasonal needs when no American workers can be found. These foreign workers offer short-term assistance and return to their home country at the end of their season. H-2B visas are capped at 66,000 per year. This still does not meet the needs for small businesses. In fact, the 2009 cap was met within the first week of January. I have previously called upon the leadership of the Congress to address this urgent need in districts like mine across the country. To the detriment of so many of the small businesses that are the engine of our economy, this issue is ensnarled in the broader immigration debate and no action has been taken to date. In the absence of such a consensus, I respectfully oppose this bill and ask my colleagues to join me in supporting and calling for a vote on H.R. 1136, the ``Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act,'' introduced by my friend from Michigan, Mr. Stupak. During these difficult economic times, we cannot leave our small businesses with few options and even fewer workers.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, let me start by taking this opportunity to commend both the House and Senate conferees on crafting this compromise legislation that will create and preserve nearly 3.5 million jobs here in America and will set our Nation on a course toward economic recovery. It is imperative that we plug the holes in our job market that lost 600,000 jobs last month alone, and these holes will not be plugged by a strategy of saying ``no'' nor will they be plugged by a strategy of returning to the failed policies of the past, which is all our friends on the other side of the aisle are offering. Through investing in our infrastructure and investment in our children's education and preserving the ability of our States to provide essential services, this bill will create jobs for millions of Americans, even as we better prepare the next generation for the challenges they will face. Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that this historic effort will return our Nation to economic prosperity and provide hope to the millions who have suffered as a result of the failed policies of the past.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today recognize George C. Welker at the close of his 40-year career serving the employees of CWA Local 1108 in Patchogue, New York. His remarkable tenure spans dramatic changes in the telecommunications industry and labor relations in America. Unwavering and undiminished in that time is Mr. Welker's devotion to the members of CWA Local 1108 and his Long Island community. In 1969, George Welker joined CWA as Steward for his gang of installers at New York Telephone's St. James garage. He rose through the ranks, serving as Chief Steward of Repair, Area Representative and Business Agent, before being elected President of Local 1108 in 1990 and serving until 2008. He was also a member of the Regional Bargaining Committee, participating in the negotiation of four collective bargaining agreements, and served the CWA National Union as chairman of its Finance Committee. The most significant of Mr. Welker's many achievements at CWA Local 1108 include negotiating the addition of 3,200 temporary employees to Bell Atlantic's regular payroll in 1998, winning an arbitration case that restored the livelihoods of 215 union members who were wrongfully dismissed in 2002, and overseeing Local 1108's successful merger with Local 1110 in 2004. Madam Speaker, organized labor deserves much of the credit for the rise of America's middle class. The labor movement and its successes are built on the shoulders of leaders like George Welker. He will be sorely missed by the workers of CWA Local 1108, and I join them in thanking him for his service and offering best wishes for a retirement free of grievances.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 912 into the Record.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 912) to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to clarify the eligibility requirements with respect to airline flight crews.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me just say that the extent to which the two sides cooperated on this bill I think serves as a model for the way that legislation can go forward in this Chamber. We worked together very cooperatively both at the staff level and at the member level to work out issues that existed that were sources of concern to various members. We were able to do that. And as I say, in the last Congress, we only had two dissenting votes. I am hopeful that we will have similar support in this Congress, and I am also very hopeful that this measure, which last Congress was stalled in the Senate, this year will receive a somewhat better fate in the Senate so that we can act to correct this very narrow omission, if you will, in what is an otherwise very good law. With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of my colleagues.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Does the gentleman from Kentucky have any further speakers?

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to start by thanking Chairman Miller for supporting this bill and for helping to bring it to the floor so quickly. I would also like to thank Representative McCotter for being the lead Republican cosponsor of the bill, as well as my colleagues who have cosponsored this bill. In the 110th Congress, this bill passed by an overwhelming majority, 409-2. This legislation submitted today is identical to the measure that passed in the 110th Congress, and I hope it once again receives the strong support it did in the last Congress. H.R. 912 simply states that an airline crew member will be eligible for Family Medical Leave Act benefits if they have been paid for or completed 60 percent of their company's monthly hour or trip guarantee and have worked 504 hours. The Family Medical Leave Act, or FMLA, has been a great program for working families in this country since it was passed in 1993. No one can question the benefit it has provided for working men and women by being able to take time off from work to care for themselves or for their family members. The intent of the law was to provide for 12 weeks of unpaid leave if an employee had worked 60 percent of a full-time schedule over the past year, which equates to about 1,250 hours per year. Therefore, in order to qualify for FMLA coverage, an employee has to have logged in at least 1,250 hours over a 12-month period to be eligible. While 1,250 hours adequately reflects 60 percent of a normal full- time schedule for the vast majority of employees in this country, that equation does not work for flight attendants and pilots. Flight attendants and pilots work under the Railway Labor Act rather than the Fair Labor Standards Act, which covers most 9:00 to 5:00 workers. Time between flights, whether during the day or on overnight/ layovers, is based on company scheduling requirements and needs but does not count towards crew member time at work. Flight attendants and pilots can spend up to 4 to 5 days a week away from home and family due to the nature of their job; however, all of these hours will not count towards qualification. The courts have strictly interpreted the law and insisted that crew members must abide by the 1,250 hours for qualification, even though the intent of the law was to work 60 percent of a full-time schedule. Thus, airline flight crews have been left out of what was once a legislation that was intended to cover them. Therefore, a technical correction is needed to ensure that FMLA benefits are extended to these employees. This legislation seeks to clarify the original intent of the law. This legislation brings these transportation workers in line with the intent of the original legislation and as promised when the law was passed. Last year, during a committee hearing, we heard from Jennifer Hunt, a flight attendant for U.S. Airways. Jennifer was denied FMLA benefits when she applied to take time off to care for her ill husband, an Iraq War vet. Jennifer, unfortunately, like many other flight attendants and pilots as well, did not meet the hourly requirements and, thus, was denied coverage. Again, I thank the chairman for his support in bringing this legislation to the floor, and I urge the support of my colleagues. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark an important milestone in the civic life of Stony Brook, New York, a picturesque college town on the shores of Long Island Sound. In 1909, a small group of volunteers founded the Stony Brook Fire Department, beginning a tradition of service that has continued uninterrupted for 100 years. The job of volunteer firefighting has changed significantly in the past century. Fire alarms in Stony Brook are no longer broadcast with church bells, and the Fire Department's original hand-drawn chemical firefighting apparatus has been replaced with state-of-the-art equipment. However, Madam Speaker, the spirit of volunteer firefighters remains undiminished, and is as vital today as ever before. I join their neighbors in thanking the Stony Brook Fire Department for 100 years of protecting the community and wish them the best as they enter a second century of service.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution honoring the heroic actions of the pilot, crew, and rescuers of U.S. Airways Flight 1549. What will be remembered in New York as the ``Miracle on the Hudson'' owes less to divine intervention than it does to the training, experience and quick thinking of Captain Sullenberger, his crew, and the first responders who bravely rescued every passenger aboard Flight 1549. All too often we hear about delays, breakdowns, and disappointment in air travel. We frequently overlook how hours upon hours of flight training and simulation keep air crews sharp and prepared. And rarely do we stop and praise them for making the kind of good decisions every day that are surely responsible for saving lives and keeping us feeling confident when we fly, but that otherwise go unnoticed. On behalf of the pilots, flight attendants and first responders I represent, I thank the gentleman from New York, Mr. Crowley, for offering this resolution to make sure we recognize those heroic acts on and above the Hudson. This measure, Madam Speaker, like the crew of Flight 1549 and the first responders who answered the call that day, goes a long way to preserve our faith and confidence in air travel.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the exceptional achievements of the Riverhead Blue Waves Football Team: 2008 Long Island Class II Champions and the first Long Island squad in history to compile a record of 12-0. The Blue Waves also earned the overall championship for Suffolk County and the Rutgers Award as the county's consensus best team. As always, Riverhead's success was built on strong teamwork, solid coaching, and the contributions of talented individuals. Anchoring a potent offense that averaged 35 points per game, senior running back Miguel Maysonet was voted the top offensive player in Suffolk County by opposing coaches. The same group recognized one of their own, Riverhead Coach Leif Shay, as coach of the year. Madam Speaker, the success of Riverhead's football team has brought great pride to their school and the community. I am pleased to join all residents of Riverhead in congratulating the Blue Waves on their accomplishments, and wish the departing seniors the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, our brave men and women in uniform are all heroes. But the exceptional few who make the supreme sacrifice to protect the lives of their brothers-in-arms become more than heroes; they become legends. Today, I rise to honor U.S. Army Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn, a resident of Riverhead in Eastern Long Island who received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Pleiku Province, Vietnam, 40 years ago this month. As they attempted to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter, PFC Langhorn's unit was trapped under intense enemy fire. As night fell and U.S. air support was called off, enemy fighters began to probe their perimeter. The citation for PFC Langhorn's Medal of Honor reads: ``An enemy hand grenade landed in front of PFC Langhorn and a few feet from personnel who had become casualties. Choosing to protect these wounded, he unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade, scooped it beneath his body and absorbed the blast. By sacrificing himself, he saved the lives of his comrades. PFC Langhorn's extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.'' Madam Speaker, PFC Langhorn's sacrifice half a world away remains a credit to the Riverhead community, which is proud to celebrate his achievements on the 40th anniversary of his death. May his example continue to inspire all those who aspire to service ``beyond the call of duty.''

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join the Port Jefferson Volunteer Ambulance Corps in celebrating 50 years of dedicated service to our community. An historical shipbuilding town renamed in honor of our third President, Port Jefferson is now a thriving village of nearly 8,000 residents, growing in the summer with the arrival of tourists from Connecticut on the Cross-Sound ferry. In the fifty years of its existence, the Port Jefferson Volunteer Ambulance Corps has expanded to meet the growing needs of the wider community, including the villages of Belle Terre and Mt. Sinai. Starting with a single ambulance, the Corps now operates three ambulances and a first-responder car, with 120 volunteers ready to answer the call 24 hours a day. Madam Speaker, ambulance volunteers embody the best aspects of the American spirit and play a vital role in keeping our communities safe and healthy. I am proud to represent the membership of the Port Jefferson Volunteer Ambulance Corps and to join them in marking fifty years of service to their neighbors. I wish them the best as they continue their important, frequently life-saving mission.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of the late Senator Claiborne Pell, who passed away last week after an inspiring career as a Senator from Rhode Island and as a strong advocate for higher education. Most famously, Senator Pell authored legislation in 1972 that created the higher education grant program that bears his name and that has allowed millions of low- and middle-income students to attend college. Senator Pell was known as a modest man, and he often shied away from the attention he received for creating the Pell Grant program, originally entitled the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, and that was modeled after the GI bill. Senator Pell believed that the fastest way for Americans to prosper was through education and that making education accessible was essential. While grant awards under Senator Pell's program have risen since it was first enacted, they have not kept pace with the rising cost of attending college. Despite the efforts of the 110th Congress through the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act to raise the Pell Grant maximum to $6,000 per year, many families are still burdened by the rising costs of higher education. In the 111th Congress, I hope we continue Senator Pell's goal of educating our youth by working to ensure adequate funding for all forms of student financial aid such as the Perkins loan program and SEOG. Funding for these programs will help to ensure that higher education is affordable and accessible to all students regardless of one's income or background.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a public servant of rare devotion and accomplishment. My constituent, Patrick R. Vecchio is marking his 30 year anniversary as supervisor of the town of Smithtown, a historic community on the shores of Long Island Sound. His tenure as supervisor is the longest in New York State's 231-year history, and has few rivals anywhere in the Nation. On October 23rd, I was proud to join the Smithtown Historical Society at its gala in St. James in the town of Smithtown, New York, at which it honored Supervisor Vecchio for his steadfast commitment and countless contributions to the people of Smithtown. Mr. Speaker, Supervisor Vecchio is a lifelong public servant, U.S. Army veteran and retired NYPD detective sergeant. During his tenure as supervisor, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and low taxes while protecting vital government services. His legacy is clear: Today, Smithtown is on solid financial footing and has the lowest debt level of the 10 towns in Suffolk County. Pat Vecchio is more than an exemplary public servant, he is a friend and a role model. You can always trust that the words that come out of Supervisor Vecchio's mouth will be the truth, to the chagrin of some. As someone who was new to public service when I was elected to Congress in 2002, I learned a lot simply by watching and talking to Pat. In 1655, an English settler, Richard Smith, struck a unique bargain with local Native Americans where he was entitled to settle all of the area he could ride around on his bull in a day's time. Smith's ride on his bull, Whisper, formed the boundaries of modern-day Smithtown. Richard Smith's ride is the stuff of legends. I don't know if Pat Vecchio ever rode a bull. But I know he has gotten into a boxing ring with a champion fighter; I know he has guarded the President of the United States; I know he has taken on organized crime and I know he has done it all without a hint of ego. In short, Mr. Speaker, Pat Vecchio's life is the stuff of legends. I am honored and humbled to help honor his lifetime of service to the town of Smithtown and our Nation.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one of Long Island's finest public servants, Frank C. Trotta, who recently left office after serving for a quarter century as mayor of the village of Bellport--a historic community, which, thanks in no small part to Mayor Trotta's leadership, has successfully preserved its character and identity. On October 30, I was proud to join the Bellport Chamber of Commerce in honoring Mayor Trotta for his steadfast commitment and countless contributions to the people of Bellport. This tribute was celebrated at the Bellport Country Club, which could not have been a more appropriate location considering that it was losing $35,000 a year when Mayor Trotta entered office. Today, the golf course generates more than $1 million a year in revenue for Long Island's economy which is one of the main reasons that village taxes are among the lowest on Long Island. During his tenure, Mayor Trotta demonstrated a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and low taxes while protecting vital government services. His legacy is clear: Today, Bellport is on solid financial footing and has been recognized by CNN and Money Magazine as one of the best places to live on the east coast and is 1 of the 10 ``hottest'' Zip Codes in New York State. I have been privileged to know Frank Trotta for nearly 35 years, long before either of us entered public service. We attended graduate classes together in the summer of 1974 at Southampton College and I am proud to say that we have been friends ever since. I watched with great pride as Frank's career blossomed. As someone who was new to public service when I was elected to Congress in 2002, I learned a lot simply by watching and talking to Frank. Although Frank and I do not belong to the same political party, we share a common philosophy, which is that you always put the needs of the community first. There must always be a place in public service for a man like Frank Trotta who understands that political partisanship has no place in village government and we should all treat one another with courtesy and civility. For anyone who has ever walked with Frank during Bellport's Fourth of July parade, it is plain to see how much he loves his community and how much that community loves him. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to help honor my friend, Frank Trotta, for his years of service to the village of Bellport and our Nation. On behalf of New York's First Congressional District, I wish him continued success, happiness and good health in his future endeavors as a private citizen and one of Long Island's favorite sons.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, earlier today I was detained by a previously scheduled commitment in my district. Due to my absence, I request unanimous consent for the record to reflect that had I been here, I would have voted in the following manner: Rollcall vote No. 600, I would have voted ``nay''; Rollcall vote No. 601, I would have voted ``nay.''