Timothy Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and recognize Captain William Henry Mulligan for his extraordinary career and accomplishments as he plans to step down as president of the Suffolk County Police Superior Officers Association (SOA). Bill Mulligan was raised in the great town of Hempstead, NY. He proudly served our country in the United States Navy, from 1961 to his honorable discharge in 1964. Bill joined the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) in August of 1967 as a patrolman, and his commitment to law enforcement led to numerous promotions within the department and the Suffolk County Superior Officers Association (SOA). Among the police department, Bill was known for his dedicated work as an officer and as a lover of sports. Bill managed and played for the SCPD softball team which won medals in the New York State Police Olympics and gained national notoriety for its outstanding play. In 2005, Captain Mulligan was named president of the Suffolk County SOA. The SOA is responsible for representing the labor interests of its members in the Suffolk County Police Department. The organization acts as the exclusive majority representative in negotiating for improved wages, hours, working conditions, welfare and job security, as well as for all other aspects of collective bargaining. As president, Captain Mulligan represented over 500 supervisors and administrators in the Suffolk County Police Department and he has held the position with distinction for the last 3 years. Today Bill lives in the town of Riverhead, NY with his wife of 42 years, Janet, and their three beautiful daughters, Janine, Elizabeth and Michele. I am proud to honor Captain William Henry Mulligan for his service to our country and our community. Madam Speaker, on behalf of all New Yorkers, it is with great pride that I recognize and thank Captain Mulligan for a truly distinguished career. We wish him and his family the best in the future.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is all too rare when we in the majority and the President arrive at a consensus. So it's welcome news that we agree on relief Americans need in today's economy should come in the form of a stimulus bill. Targeted tax breaks and short-term measures to help the middle class can salvage our economy from plummeting home values, savings and market conditions. We should insist upon including expanded unemployment benefits and food stamps, in addition to tax rebates. These benefits will be spent immediately by those who need our help most in this economy. In fact, for every dollar spent by the government on food stamps, there is a $1.60 return to the economy; and for every dollar spent on unemployment benefits, the return is $1.90. The tax rebate should be targeted to the middle class and include those low-income workers who didn't earn enough to pay income taxes but still pay into Medicare and Social Security through payroll taxes withheld from their paychecks. This is the prescription middle-class Americans need to cure the ills of today's economy. Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to do their part to help us towards that end.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2768, the S-MINER Act. Over the past year the Education and Labor Committee, of which I am a member, has held several hearings on the topic of mine safety. During those hearings, witness after witness asked that the Federal Government take stronger actions to protect the health and safety of miners. Hearing their call to action, we are here today to pass landmark legislation that will save the lives of countless miners. H.R. 2768 builds upon the MINER Act to boost prevention efforts, improve emergency response and reduce health risks. The MINER Act, which passed during the last session of Congress in response to the Sago mining disaster, made important steps in protecting miners, but implementation has been slow, and more needs to be done. Sadly, since H.R. 2768 was introduced, miners have been seriously injured or killed while on the job. That is why it is crucial for this Congress to act now and pass this legislation. This Congress has been entrusted with the responsibility to make sure that all workers are protected at their workplace. We take that responsibility seriously. And I am proud to support this bill which will take the necessary steps in safeguarding the health and safety of America's miners. I want to thank and commend Chairman Miller for introducing this legislation and moving it so quickly to the floor. And I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2768.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to call upon my leadership to address an urgent need in my district that is affecting other areas across the country as well. Two weeks ago, the cap on H-2B immigration visas for seasonal workers was reached. Consequently, many family-owned businesses that depend on such employees will be without the workforce they need to stay in business. I support raising the cap on H-2B visas permanently and incorporating this change into broader immigration reform. Regrettably, partisanship blocked reform in the Senate last year. We must resolve to enact these smaller scale remedies we can agree upon today to alleviate the burden our broken immigration system imposes upon businesses as we continue to address economic and security challenges required to enact broader reform. In the absence of such a consensus, and although I would prefer a vote on broader reform, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act and related measures that would relieve business owners of the immediate threat caused by the freeze on H-2B visas. We cannot leave small businesses that want to do the right thing with the unacceptable choice of going out of business or hiring illegal workers.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker. I rise to congratulate the extraordinary efforts of the William Floyd High School Varsity Football Team, for yet another flawless and record-setting season. It was around this time last year that I rose to recognize the William Floyd High School team for an undefeated season and for winning the Long Island High School Championship, along with the coveted Rutgers Trophy. One full season later, and the Colonials are enjoying a winning streak of 33 consecutive games. This is a historic and unprecedented achievement in the 126-year history of Long Island high school football. The William Floyd Colonials have been a dominating force for 3 consecutive years of perfect 11-0 seasons, Their exploits have garnered even national recognition, as a recent Sports Illustrated poll ranks the powerhouse team 25th in the entire country. I am honored to represent William Floyd High School athletes who not only display great athletic prowess, but also a commitment to winning with class and sportsmanship. Competitive athletics teaches our students a host of valuable life lessons and I have long been an advocate of sports and extracurricular activities, as they complement, and contribute to academic excellence. It is an honor to read the names of Coach Paul Longo's team into the Record. First his coaching staff: Gil DeCicco, Pete Friedman, Robert Jackolski, Pete Lesiewicz, Brian Babst, Ernie Villatore and Mike Agostino. Now the players who make up one of the most feared lineups in Long Island football history: Mat Golden, John Amato, Jarel Johnson, Krys Valentin, Nick Sidaras, Ricky Kruger, Joe Sidaras, Luke Miller, Matthew Vigliotta, Rey Marcano, Brian Zippel, Steven Murphy, Nick Verderosa, Keith McCormack, Rahmel Cook, Marcus Muelthaler, Kevin Lacey, Tom Antinucci, Vaughn Magee, Jonathan Romeo, Brandon Walsh, Jon Ilernandez, Brock Jackolski, Fernando Vasquez, Malik Green, Tom Penney, Jonathan Elbedawy, Jon D'Amico, Billy Keane, Chris Mocera, Pablo Ortiz, William Melin, Nick Astore, Wayne Magee, Dom Buffa, Anthony Hernandez, Sam Feerer, Tom Mocera, JJ Santiago, Joe Johnson, Calvin Forbes, Chris Cordovano, Brendon Turril, Brandon Clark, Andrew Giovine, Andrew Incantalupo, Dan Bayer, Nick DiGiorgi, Brandon Fardella, Guy Loomis, Matt Seib, Andrew Lingg. Mike Presseison, Alex Winters, Tom Lindley, Stephen Diaz, Donald Strand, Joe Miranda, Jon Korn, Eric Koenigsdorf, Nico Gonzalez. Jesse Kelley, Orion Folborg, Joe Mensch. Ricky Stoner, Robert DeSilva, Tim Cork. The entire William Floyd community is justifiably excited and proud of the achievements of this team. These young student athletes represent what is good about high school sports, and it is my privilege to serve as their Congressman. Go Floyd.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of stepping down as the American Legion's junior county commander of Suffolk County, NY, I rise to honor and recognize a good friend, Mr. Paul R. De Vaul, for a lifetime dedicated to serving our Nation and the First Congressional District of New York. For the past year and a half, Paul has worked alongside me in my Long Island office, serving my constituents capably and with steadfast dedication. In addition to his casework responsibilities, Paul has served four 1-year terms as junior county commander. I commend him for achievements during his tenure and thank him for his contributions to improving the lives of Long Island's veterans. As a member of my New York office staff, Paul's tireless efforts and dedication are invaluable to our constituent service operation. Paul is known for going the extra mile to help my constituents, particularly veterans. Paul is a lifetime Long Island resident and currently lives in the town of Bay Shore, Long Island, with his wife, Terri, of 31 years. They have six children, many of whom have followed in his footsteps to serve in either the military or public service. Paul served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1964 and was decorated with the Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the NYS Conspicuous Service Cross. After working 32 years for Keyspan Energy Corporation, Paul retired in 1999. He joined the American Legion, Bay Shore Post 365 and served as the post's commander for 2 years before first being elected Suffolk County commander in 2002. In May 2006, Paul brought his knowledge of and experience with veterans' advocacy to my staff. We have benefited from his dedication and work ethic ever since. He has earned our deepest respect and gratitude. Madam Speaker, on behalf of my entire staff and New York's First Congressional District, I thank Paul R. De Vaul for his lifelong commitment to veterans and public service. I congratulate him for his many contributions and wish him and his family continued success, good health, and the best of luck.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a respected and important landmark in the First Congressional District, the Smithtown Library. Since 1907, the Smithtown Library has been a dynamic center for continuous learning, with a multitude of resources and programs for the Long Island community. The library ranks as the seventh largest system in the State of New York. Its main building and three branch libraries serve over 115,000 residents in the town of Smithtown. The Smithtown Library was first housed in the former chambers of Judge John Lawrence Smith, which still stands today east of the present main library building on Middle Country Road. In May 1952, the library was granted an absolute charter by the State of New York and became a town library under the direction of the town of Smithtown. The library is home to ``The Long Island History Collection and the Richard H. Handley Collection of Long Island Americana,'' a unique collection of priceless artifacts dating back to the 1600s that includes nearly 8,000 books, over 750 maps and 130 boxes of written documents. No other institution on Long Island has a collection this large available for public viewing and scholarly research. In November 2001, Smithtown residents voted that the library become independent and the name was changed to the ``Smithtown Special Library District,'' but it is still affectionately known as the Smithtown Library by the community. On Friday, November 30, the library celebrated its 100th anniversary with a gala centennial celebration. Madam Speaker, I'd like to quote John Quincy Adams, this great country's sixth President, who said, ``To furnish the means of acquiring knowledge is the greatest benefit that can he conferred upon mankind.'' Indeed, the Smithtown Library is a welcoming place for knowledge, dedicated to excellence and to enhancing the quality of life in Suffolk County, New York. I am proud to honor its 100th anniversary.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start Act. I represent part of Suffolk County, New York, where over 20 Head Start and three Early Head Start centers have been serving the community since 1966. I am also proud to say that my wife's first teaching job was as a Head Start teacher, and that she remains today an early childhood teacher. Parents, teachers, and many of my colleagues can all agree that Head Start is one of our Nation's most prominent and successful early education programs. This bill continues to build on Head Start's success by ensuring that kids are prepared for school, by improving teacher and classroom quality, strengthening the focus on school readiness, increasing accountability, and boosting coordination. Research has found that children who attend Head Start enter school better prepared than their low-income peers who do not attend the program, and that children who do attend Head Start make significant learning gains. If we are serious about achieving the goals set forth by NCLB, then passing Head Start reauthorization is a down payment on achieving these goals. I was proud to offer an amendment during the Education and Labor Committee's consideration of this bill to allow Head Start programs to use up to 10 percent of their quality improvement funds for transportation costs. This amendment was in response to concerns brought to me by my constituents, as many Head Start programs are being forced to choose between providing transportation to children or sacrificing the quality of their program. This is a decision that no Head Start program should have to make. With this amendment, and with so many other worthwhile improvements to Head Start, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this balanced reauthorization for the benefit of our children and future generations of Americans.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to Mr. Baca of California. (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of my colleague from New York if he has any additional speakers.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H.J. Res. 62 into the Record.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 62) to honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the United States, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in recognition of the 150th anniversary of San Jose State University. San Jose State University was established in 1857 as Minns Evening Normal School, for the sole purpose of training teachers, as California's population grew. As California's population has grown, San Jose State has grown into the largest university in the region with an enrollment of more than 30,000 students. The school has also expanded its programs to offer 134 bachelor's or master's degrees. San Jose State is an extremely diverse school, with an enrollment of 23 percent of its students being Asian, 15 percent of its students being Hispanic, and 5 percent of its students being African American. This diversity has also led San Jose State to rank 10th in the Nation in total number of graduating minorities. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to see another outstanding educational institution continuing to serve all those who wish to advance their education. I would like to thank and congratulate my colleague, Mr. Honda, for bringing this resolution to the attention of the House of Representatives. I urge my colleagues to resoundingly pass this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 365 into the Record.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 365) honoring San Jose State University for its 150 years of commitment to public higher education, as amended.

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

Mr. BISHOP of New York. We have no additional speakers.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).

Mr. BISHOP of New York

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

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4153) to make certain technical corrections and transition amendments to the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, as amended.

Mr. BISHOP of New York

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 709) recognizing and honoring the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum on October 9, 2007, and for other purposes.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 709 into the Record.

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 709, a resolution to recognize and honor the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum on October 9, 2007. Sam Rayburn is a legend to many of us in this House, having served as Speaker of the House for a record 17\1/2\ years. Born Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn, he served the people of Texas as an elected official for 55 consecutive years. Sam Rayburn spent 48 years here as a Member of Congress from the Fourth District of Texas and also served in the Texas House of Representatives. He was perhaps destined to become the Speaker of the House because he certainly had the experience for it. Prior to coming here, he was also the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and he served as Speaker of this House on three different occasions: from 1940 to 1947, from 1948 to 1953, and then again from 1955 until his death in 1961. During Speaker Rayburn's time of service to this great Nation, he presided over the enactment of the Marshall Plan, expansion of Social Security, and passage of the first pieces of major civil rights legislation since Reconstruction. Throughout the House campus, we have an array of memorials to the Speaker. The largest House office building which houses Members and committee offices is the Rayburn House Office Building built in 1965. His likeness stands in the entrance to that building, and there is also the Rayburn Room, which has hosted many negotiations and meetings across from the House floor. Texas has also honored its native son with the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum, located in Speaker Rayburn's hometown of Bonham, Texas. It recently had its 50th anniversary and is celebrating the completion of phase one of the museum's restoration program. This restoration program will help protect the valuable collections stored at the library. This anniversary year has been a busy one for the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum. In January, it hosted the annual celebration of Speaker Rayburn's birthday and has featured three new exhibits. The Sam Rayburn Foundation also honors high school seniors from the Speaker's home of Bonham and Fannin County. Speaker Rayburn, despite his busy congressional schedule, was actively involved in every step of his library's planning, construction, and dedication. The library and museum was his way of paying tribute to the people of Fannin County. This resolution also honors the supporters and contributors who have helped make this library such a success. I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting this resolution, and I urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.