Joe Crowley

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 10 seconds. I am still waiting for a bill to keep American jobs in America and not export them overseas through the Tax Code. I will continue to wait for that bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. No disrespect to the sponsor of this bill whatsoever. I have great admiration for her, as she knows, but I believe that this bill could have been taken up on the consent calendar, quite frankly, with all of this discussion about the support on both sides. The reality is, though, that we are using precious time here on the floor on an issue that, as I say, could have been on the consent calendar. We are not addressing the real issue of concern to the American people, which is of the continuing loss of jobs here in America because of our Tax Code, which we refuse to fix, that is shifting jobs and American corporations overseas to inversion and also shifting American jobs overseas because of those inversions.

Mr. CROWLEY. I yield myself an additional 15 seconds. Mr. Speaker, we are not having a hearing on this. We are not doing anything here on the floor to address this issue. Instead, we are taking up issues that, quite frankly, could have been on the consent calendar. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I believe this should be the beginning and not the end of a discussion on how to best plug the giant corporate loopholes that are allowing companies to skip out on paying the same taxes that all of our constituents have to pay. This is one of the many major issues this Congress should undertake; but, instead, we are all too busy governing by press releases. This Congress has done nothing to address the Zika virus, which could be a threat to all women who are pregnant or who are looking to become pregnant; but we have this consent bill here on the floor for debate. This Congress has done nothing to address the crisis of lead in our drinking water--a crisis vividly on display in Flint but one that lurks in the pipes of hundreds of cities and towns across our great land; yet we have this consent bill here on the calendar for debate. This Congress hasn't even attempted to pass a budget for our country--the majority has not proposed a budget for our country--which is one of the most basic functions we can do as an institution to make sure we make the necessary investments possible while also getting our economic house in order; yet we have what I would consider to be a consent calendar bill here on the floor today, taking up an hour's debate. But we will always have time for message bills. Sure, they don't create a job for an unemployed person in New York or in Flint or in Houston or in L.A., and they don't increase the take-home pay of any underpaid worker or make college more affordable for middle class kids or strengthen Social Security for our seniors of today and tomorrow, but they will sound great on talk radio tonight and over the weekend-- we are going after the IRS again. They don't even deal with the Tax Code even though this bill is advertised as the Republicans' idea of tax reform. It does not reform the Tax Code in any way, shape, or form, but that is what they portray it as. Let me explain something about the Tax Code to my Republican colleagues. Our Tax Code is inefficient. You see that when large corporations are paying less tax than the employees who work for them. It is overly complicated. You see that when multinational corporations avoid paying the same taxes as our constituents back home have to pay simply by their hiring expensive lawyers that our constituents, quite frankly, cannot afford. It is unfair. You see that when corporations can dodge paying their fair share of taxes by simply switching their post office boxes to foreign countries--something our neighbors back home, if they attempted to do, would be arrested for, for tax evasion, but not corporations. Individuals, if you do that, you are arrested for tax evasion, but not an American corporation; yet my Republican colleagues continue to refuse to address this issue. Maybe more importantly than anything else, it does not promote job growth here in the United States. You see this when Congress refuses to repeal the tax breaks for companies to fire their workers here and move their jobs overseas. This Congress must tackle these serious issues, but we are not doing that today. We continue to wait for legislation--for a hearing--on these important issues. Democrats stand ready to work with you all, my Republican colleagues, on commonsense legislation that plugs the corporate tax loopholes that are literally draining the funds our country needs in order to function properly. Democrats stand ready to work with you to fix the Tax Code that is not only inefficient, not only complicated, not only unfair, but that does not promote job growth here in the United States. That is something we want to work with you on in a bipartisan way. Unfortunately, we have to continue to wait for another day before the majority is serious about working together, in a bipartisan way, to make our tax system fairer for all working men and women in the United States. Let me be clear, once again, that the American people will not wait any longer. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of the remarkably talented Robin Williams, a man who gave the world one of the greatest gifts of all--laughter. The following poem was written in his honor by Albert Caswell: Laugh Until You Die in Memory of Robin Williams (By: Albert Carey Caswell) Laugh Laugh until you die Wipe those tears from your eyes Laugh, laugh until you die Because life is far too short to ever ask why Robin Williams, was a shooting star so way up high So out of this world and in his mind, as to new heights he would climb So brilliant and so bright, soaring ever higher with his mind as he took flight Was he really from another planet in time? This comet that we called his life Laugh until you dies As he brought so many smiles While, living with his own pain the while A man of style and such grace With that smile upon his face Laugh until you die, Cherish every moment we're alive As his was a special place, As none will take his place or reside With his laughter bringing us to tears in our eyes Robin Williams was such a genius none will deny As everywhere he went, His life was filled with the kindness so spent With his warm heart as he to tried Laugh, yea laugh until you die Live life like it's your last night And smile with delight so all inside For Robin's gift was to bring joy and laughter into peoples lives And the ``DEAD POETS SOCIETY'' wasn't really just an act, it was the closest thing to real Robin Williams you will find Yea, let's laugh until we die Yes, he was one heck of a shusbut, so Morked out all in time So out of this world with his special comedic mind So brilliant we can't deny Reaching higher than most of us will ever attempt to fly So fast and so far and so high A natural born comic reacting with his gut in time And there wasn't any DOUBTFIRE about Robin being a charming guy For he traveled at light speeds all in his need to entertain us in time And if you ever thought you could catch up to him, You were out of your mind Because his mind was always in a race, Towards laughter at such a pace So interstellar, so extraterrestrial as time he did not waste So out of this world, as he added new meaning to Area 51 with his design All in the days of our lives, When things seemed filled with sadness and strife Robin gave the world what she so needed in time LAUGHTER, is the best medicine you will find Making us forget about our worries and our cares, as we laughed until we cried with him there And laughter,

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, on April 12, 2016 I was absent for recorded vote Number 139 and Number 140. I would like to reflect how I would have voted if I were here: On Roll Call Number 139 I would have voted yes. On Roll Call Number 140 I would have voted yes.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, Democrats don't want to default. We believe we should get our deficits under control now and not at the moment of default. I believe my Republican colleagues continue to run from deadline to deadline, creating great anxiety. I don't know if you all noticed how the markets are reacting today with the situation in Europe and in China. We are not doing so well, yet we continue this notion of bringing back before the people, before the world, the notion that we will have a default someday and we will prioritize the payment of default, creating the notion or the idea that somehow the U.S. Government might even default on its bills someday. That in and of itself is very destabilizing, and we will have an amendment coming up a little later on this afternoon. In fact, this President--our President--has a proposal in his budget to cut an additional $3 trillion from our Nation's deficit on top of the $4 trillion in deficit reduction that has already been enacted into law. In fact, this President--President Obama--cut the $1 trillion Bush deficit in half--in more than half--in 4\1/2\ years. America is moving forward. But the underlying issue is the Republicans are afraid that if they allow the White House to come here to the Hill in the form of a budget director to testify on the budget, these pesky little facts will become more commonly known to the American people. I only have last year's Republican budget to go by--I wait with bated breath for the 2016 budget to come out--but all I have is the 2015 budget. Although there is some transparency that would make cuts in order to balance the budget--they make cuts in Social Security, they make cuts in Medicare, they make cuts in Medicaid and other health-- they would entirely eliminate the Affordable Care Act. We all know what complications come with that--no pre-screening; if you are under 26, you would no longer have your parents' insurance; those who already have preexisting conditions would be discriminated against by insurance companies. We know all the bad things that you all want to see come to fruition. But then you also have another less transparent line that says: other mandatory cuts, to the tune of $1.1 trillion. You don't spell out what that means. But I would imagine--and I have to assume--it would mean making mandatory cuts to our veterans, to military personnel, and to Federal employees, just to name a few. To get $1.1 trillion in additional cuts, those are where the cuts would come from. That may be your platform--you want to make cuts in veterans, in military personnel, and in Federal employees. Those are cuts you are going to propose. You should just make it more transparent. The American people are looking for transparency. They want the debate. We know the cuts you are ready to propose right now in terms of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. Let's be honest, you want to cut military and Federal employee pensions, but you are not spelling it out here. I wonder how the folks nearby in Virginia or in Maryland feel about the cuts you want to make in Federal employee pensions. You don't actually spell it out in your budget. You call it ``other mandatory cuts.'' The American people should assume what that means. We are just trying to give a little more transparency to what your cuts actually mean. They mean cuts to military and Federal employee pensions. Just a little honesty, just a little transparency. That is what the American people are looking for. Democrats oppose the GOP plans of threatening default or the Pay China First Act bill, which means no Social Security checks, if that were to go into effect, no doctor reimbursements from serving Medicare patients, and it calls into question the paying of our troops. What it really does, though, is it calls into question what we have prided ourselves on as Americans, and that is that we pay our debts. We don't even create the suspicion. Alexander Hamilton is rolling in his grave today because you are even creating the suspicion that you would not pay the American people's debts. We have an obligation to do our work, to do our business, not for shenanigans, but to get the people's work done. Mr. Chairman, I would suggest that this bill doesn't really further or advance getting the people's work done. It is just creating more bureaucracy and more time on the floor taking up more precious time in debate, but that is where we are at. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. At least they detail these cuts, such as ending Medicare as you know it. Even more sinister, their budget--which every one of them brags about supporting--includes $1.1 trillion in spending cuts that are not even detailed, except to say they will go after retirement programs for Federal employees, military personnel, and veterans. They very cleverly hid those cuts in a footnote in their budget. I am wondering on what page of their phony budget they create unicorns, because everything else in their so-called budget is one big, giant fairy tale. So, Mr. Chairman, let's not fool the American people. They know what exactly is going on here. They want to have it both ways: they want to call the White House on the carpet and say they want to discuss the Nation's deficit, and, at the same time, this very week, give the Budget Director an invitation to come before the Congress and talk about the budget and the deficit. The American people are asking: What is going on? They know exactly what you are doing. Once again, you are using rhetoric, but not addressing the real problems of everyday Americans. Mr. Chairman, we need to get down to the American people's business and get the answers we need and that they demand.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, the issue of the Nation's deficit is a real concern, but let's be honest: the issue of the country's deficits are of greater concern to our constituents at home than they appear to be to many people in this Chamber. Our constituents understand and support some government spending is necessary to keep our country going strong. Our constituents understand that some debt is needed. Like government, they incur debts, too: a mortgage, a car loan, a student loan, credit card debt, a small business loan. They also get alarmed when they see deficits that are too high. So, that is why it is the job of Congress and the President to develop a budget and raise and spend the necessary revenue to operate the government while also meeting the demands of our constituents. This week, President Obama submitted his budget plan to the Congress for review. Within that budget is a plan to sensibly cut the Nation's deficit by $2.9 trillion. I think there are some good ideas in the budget. Maybe others disagree. But Congress should at least discuss it. Yet, earlier this week, they refused to allow the White House to come to Congress and discuss the budget and the deficit. We are spending time and taxpayer money to debate a bill to mandate the White House come to Congress and discuss the budget and the deficit when, earlier this week, these same folks refused to allow the White House to come to Congress and discuss the budget and the deficit. It is a telling action by my Republican colleagues, as they want to look like defenders of the taxpayers' money by demanding answers on how to reduce the deficit--which is a good thing--while blocking the ability for us to actually get any answers on how to reduce the deficit. Because they refuse to invite the White House Budget Director to discuss the budget, let me share with you a few things that White House officials would have said if they were invited to speak before the Congress on the budget and the deficit. Do you remember the $800 billion TARP funds paid to the Nation's largest banks by the Bush administration? The banks have repaid the money--with interest--under President Obama. Those trillion-dollar annual deficits that started under President Bush's administration, in part due to the TARP fund and in part due to the Republican recession of 2007-2009, are gone. More Americans are working now than ever in the history of the United States, with private businesses adding over 14 million jobs under the policies of Democrats. One of those policies was supporting the U.S. auto industry. When my Republican friends wanted to destroy and bankrupt Detroit, Democrats voted to save the U.S. auto industry. Today, the American car industry is on fire and has added over 645,000 American jobs since 2009. Now, Republicans will argue they are pushing forward to eliminate annual deficits and not increase the debt. But that simply is not true. The Republican budget, while theoretically balancing in 10 years, increases the national debt by $3 trillion in that time period, which necessitates an increase in the debt ceiling. Therefore, Republicans, despite their claims and their rhetoric, have to increase the debt ceiling or risk the U.S. being in default. So, Republicans claiming they won't raise the debt ceiling are either not being honest about raising the debt ceiling, not being honest about their budget, or they want the U.S. to not pay its bills and be in default. Which is it? Additionally, the Republican budget eliminates $5.5 trillion in spending on programs like student loans, unemployment insurance, child support programs, as well as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I have three children. I hate it when they come to me on Sunday night and say: Dad, I have a paper due tomorrow, can you help me out with it? In many respects that is how I feel my Republican colleagues are treating government today. They are like children that need to be forced to do their homework, forced to do their job, and they are doing it always at the last minute. In many respects, some of the amendments we are talking about today are memorializing the notion of running government from deadline to deadline. We really shouldn't be doing that. You don't make good judgments. I dare say that my children's papers aren't as good when they wait until the last minute to do them, and I suspect that maybe we don't run government when we go from deadline to deadline. We shouldn't run our government this way. Democrats have taken the action to lower the deficit and restore the economy. Democrats don't want to default. I believe we should get our deficit under control now and not the moment of default. I know I may sound a little bit like the gentleman running for President, Mr. Rubio, because I am going to be repeating myself a little bit here, but I think some of the facts bear repeating. That is where the President again has proposed $3 trillion in deficit reduction on top of the $4 trillion in deficit reduction that has already been enacted into law. Again, this President cut the $1 trillion Bush deficits by more than half in just 4\1/2\ years. America is moving forward. America doesn't need to be great again. We already are great. We have the ability to deal with our fiscal problems if we stop doing it from deadline to deadline and address them in a smart and healthy way. The underlying issue is Republicans are afraid that if they are allowed to bring the White House again here before us today to testify on their budget that they have proposed, that again pesky facts will get in the way. I will just point them out again. We have a little yellow line going through it here. Other mandatory cuts in the Republican budget are to the tune of $1.1 trillion. Again, I don't know exactly what they are, but I can only assume that those cuts are to the military personnel's and veterans' pensions and to Federal employees' pensions. I don't know how many fellow employees who live in the Virginia area, for instance, are paying attention to the debate today or how many of those who live in Maryland are paying attention to the debate today. I suspect, if they are, they are a little concerned about this one line that is highlighted, because it would include, under the Republican budget for 2016, mandatory cuts to veterans', to military personnel's, and to Federal employees' pensions. I just think we need to be more open about what those cuts would be to balance the Republican budget. Mr. Chairman, I have nothing personal against the person who is offering the amendment. Again, I just think it further moves forward this notion that we are going to continue to operate the government deadline to deadline. The American people are sick and tired of the government's operating in this way. They want a more thoughtful government. This is not an answer to that. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chair, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chair, once again, I would suggest that my Republican colleagues need to be more clear, more transparent. The gentleman just mentioned transparency. The Republican budget is begging for transparency. The American people want to know exactly what is meant by ``other mandatory cuts to the tune of $1.1 trillion.'' Where do those cuts end up being made? Again, I can only suggest it is to veterans', to military personnel's, and to Federal employees' pensions. People living in the greater Metropolitan Washington, D.C., area, those who live down by Norfolk, Virginia, and other heavy military as well as governmental personnel areas, have to question--and I hope they are questioning--what the Republicans mean by those mandatory cuts. I believe it means veterans', military personnel's, and Federal employees' pensions will be cut if the Republican budget is enacted into law. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I remind the gentleman from New Jersey that there is no such thing as a gazillion dollars. Having said that, we are talking real money here. We are talking trillions of dollars in debt, no doubt. I think the gentleman made reference, as well, to the Constitution and spelled out that we shouldn't even hint at the notion of not paying our debt; yet that is exactly what this amendment would do, similar to legislation that passed here last year and the year before that that would suggest that maybe the United States won't pay its bills. That is not going to happen. Even in your own budget, you would raise the debt ceiling by $3 trillion in order to pass your budget. So you know you are going to raise--if you had your druthers, you would raise the debt ceiling as well. I think the gentleman from Wisconsin also had to understand that these are debts that are already owed, not future debts. They are debts we already owe that we have to pay back to make sure the world understands the U.S. pays its debts.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, we are talking about brinksmanship once again. I think this is a very unhealthy debate we are having because this is the not the way we should be running government anyway, from deadline to deadline. As I mentioned earlier, we should be sitting down and working these issues out and not having the world on the precipice of seeing the Nation default. No good will come of it, and absolutely no good comes from talking about it because it will never happen. We will not do it. We will not allow our country to default. They continue to talk this way because it is the way they are running government, whether it is the government shutdown or the debt limit or the highway trust fund or the Export-Import Bank or the FAA, which we are going to be taking up soon. I am sure that that will go to the last second before we will ever actually act. They will probably do a delay and do it a little later on in the year because that is the way we operate around here. It is unfortunate. Mr. Chairman, I point out there is a reason why the President has proposed a $3 trillion cut in the deficit on top of the $4 trillion that has already been enacted into law. It is to lower the national debt. We are working toward it. In fact, this President cut the trillion-dollar Bush deficit in half in less than 4\1/2\ years. One last time, I want to point out that we see the Republican budget. We understand the clarity in terms of the cuts you would make to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. There is one portion here, ``other mandatory cuts,'' and I suspect we know what they are as well. They are cuts to veterans', military personnel's, and Federal employees' pensions--veterans' pensions, military personnel's pensions, and Federal employees' pensions. I suspect people who live around Richmond, Virginia, or down by Norfolk would be very concerned about those cuts you may propose, as well as those folks who live in Virginia and Maryland surrounding Washington, D.C. A lot of Federal employees work around here. I know there are a lot of military employees as well. I think they are concerned about their pensions, the ones that you want to cut in the Federal Republican budget. Mr. Chairman, I am just looking for a little more transparency. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman speaks of burying one's head in the sand. I think an example of that is not asking the OMB Director to come up to the Hill to talk to the Congress about the President's budget. As I mentioned before, the President's budget proposed $3 trillion in additional cuts to the Federal deficit. I may not agree with all the cuts the President is proposing, but I think it is a healthy thing for the President's representative, the Director of the OMB, to come before the Congress and speak about that; yet the other side of the aisle has refused to allow the OMB Director to come speak to the Congress to talk about these issues. So there is hypocrisy and then there is hypocrisy. Talk about putting your head in the sand. There is not enough sand for you all to put your heads in. The facts are the facts. Reductions are taking place. Accept it. They may not be pretty. The President is proposing them. At least listen to him before you totally disregard it before he has an opportunity to speak to you all. That is what has happened. Again, I know what the Republican budget says. It says cuts to veterans' pensions, military pensions, as well as to Federal employee pensions. That is what your budget does. Be honest about it. You talk about Social Security cuts. You make a lot of cuts, but at least talk about the other miscellaneous mandatory cuts, which really hurt people. I am not going to support that. You all may. It is in your budget. I am not going to support that. Democrats are not going to support that. You all may support that, but you have to respond to your constituents when you force these cuts down their throats. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, on February 9, 2016 I was absent for recorded vote Number 64. I would like to reflect how I would have voted if I were here: on Roll Call Number 64 I would have proudly voted yes, expressing my support for the National 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center Act.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of The National 9/ 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center Act. This legislation would designate the site of the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center as a national memorial--providing it the national recognition and support it deserves as a lasting symbol of the lives we lost and the resilience with which our nation came together and pledged to emerge stronger in search of a more peaceful world. Like many New Yorkers, I know and have felt firsthand the lasting impacts of September 11, 2001. Among the almost 3,000 lives we lost that day was that of my cousin, John Moran, a second-generation firefighter and FDNY Battalion Chief. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my cousin and of the thousands of family members and loved ones we lost that day. But I also bear in mind each day the vow we made as a nation to never forget what happened and to protect the spirit of camaraderie that emerged from the attacks. The 9/11 Memorial serves as a place where we can remember and honor the brave lives we lost, as well as that spirit of unity and overcoming with which we moved forward as a nation. Because of the place the events of September 11, 2001 hold in our collective national history, the federal government should play a role in preserving this space and keeping what it represents at the forefront of our collective memory. By recognizing the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center as a national memorial, federal resources will be available to ensure the maintenance, security and accessibility of this site so that all people will have the opportunity to remember and honor our heroes. It is our duty to ensure that this sacred site and tribute receives the national upkeep and recognition it deserves. September 11th changed our lives as individuals and as Americans. We must actively seek to remind our nation of the resolution and sacrifice of the survivors, the victims, their families, and of our first responders. And we must also enshrine the courage and strength with which we stood up to hatred. Acting in a bipartisan manner to designate the 9/11 Memorial as a national memorial is an important step in this direction.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce, along with Congressman Keith Ellison, the ``Making Your Retirement Accessible Act,'' also known as the ``myRA Act,'' to help address the savings and retirement security crisis in America. Here are a few startling facts: According to a 2015 Federal Reserve Report, 31 percent of non-retired individuals said they have no retirement savings or pension whatsoever. Among workers who do not participate in a 401(k) or other defined contribution plan, 42 percent say that is because their employer does not offer one. For part-time workers, it can be even more difficult, as a 2015 BLS Economic Release found that 62 percent of part-time workers don't have access to a retirement plan at work. To address this looming crisis, the Obama Administration recently launched the myRA program to help workers who face obstacles to saving, such as by not having access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan or not having enough in personal funds to purchase and contribute to their own IRA. The myRA program allows workers to open their own retirement savings account with as little as $1, and gives them the ability to make automatic payments every pay period. Employers would only be responsible for setting up a payroll deduction for employees to create and deposit funds into their individualized myRA accounts. myRA accounts not only encourage workers to build a nest egg for their future, but also give workers peace of mind that they can access these funds in emergencies. Under the myRA program, participants can withdraw funds from their account tax-free and penalty-free--so these funds can be used as an emergency rainy-day fund as well as a future retirement account, further breaking down a barrier against savings. The funds invested go solely into U.S. Government savings bonds, ensuring these accounts remain stable, not at risk in the market. Further, the accounts do not have any associated maintenance charges or fees, which means every dollar that is invested will be returned-- plus interest--to the account holder. Recognizing most Americans will have a number of jobs in their lifetime; myRA accounts are also portable, allowing employees to change jobs while still being able to easily maintain their accounts. The Administration has taken an important step forward by using their existing legal authority to create this program. I salute them for their actions in creating this program. The myRA program represents an important saving tool, and as such it should be welcomed as more than just an administrative program--it should be codified into law. Today, Congressman Ellison and I are taking that next step to ensure this worthwhile program can continue, allowing everyone in our country to plan ahead for a secure retirement for themselves and their families.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, on February 1, 2016 I was absent for recorded vote Numbers 46 through 47. I would like to reflect how I would have voted if I were here: on Roll Call Number 46 I would have voted yes, and on Roll Call Number 47 I would have voted yes.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, the James Zadroga Act, the 9/11 Victims Health and Compensation Act, is up for renewal, surprise to everyone. It passed 5 years ago with a 5-year limit to be reenacted in this Congress. What has happened? Absolutely nothing. We keep waiting. We were told that the 9/11 victims compensation bill, the Zadroga Act, would be on the transportation bill. It was mysteriously withdrawn at the last moment. We don't know when this bill will pass. What has happened to this place? What has happened to the spirit of bipartisanship to get this bill passed? How can you, on the Republican side, go so low as to use this bill as grease to pass other legislation? That is what is being done right now. The 9/11 Victims Act is being used as grease to pass other bills. It is outrageous. It is disrespectful to the men and women who gave all to serve this country, people who have stage 4 cancer today and are dying. It gives them no more solace to know that their country is not standing by them. We continue to say ``never forget,'' yet we continue to forget in this Christmastime, in this holiday season, those who are suffering. Give them peace of heart and mind, and pass this bill.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the winner of the 2015 Veterans Day essay contest from New York's 14th Congressional District. Krushi Patel, a student from I.S. 61 in Corona, Queens submitted the winning essay on the topic, ``What Veterans Day Means To Me.'' Krushi's essay reads as follows: Veterans, whether they are in the army, navy, or marines, put their lives at stake for the safety and security of others. These people spend day and night away from those they love, just so that we can be close to those we love. They are on the border and in battle so that we can live a life with peace and freedom. They do so much for us, that it would be impossible to pay them back. That is why we should honor all veterans for their heroism and determination on Veterans Day. We should tell them that we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they took to keep us and our country safe; that they will always have a special place in our hearts. It's not easy to be away from your family, for months and years at a time. The thought of it brings tears in our eyes. However, for the security and honor of our nation, they put their families one step behind. These people do what may seem unimaginable for most people. These people volunteer themselves for the nation they were born in. That is why we salute them. Last year, on December, 15, 2014, my class went to a Veterans' Organization. We met various former soldiers from wars like World War II and the Vietnamese War. These people were so inspiring. They told stories. These people were a primary source of these historic wars. We got to learn from people who had been eyewitnesses. They became idols to me. They had fought for our country with persistence and bravery. However, they didn't ask for anything in return. They had no stove or TV. These people were so delighted to see us. We sang Christmas carols. We didn't really want to leave. We were years apart in age, but that didn't get in the way of us having a good time. Veterans Day is a time to thank all former and current veterans, a time to thank them for fighting for our freedom and peace. It's a day when I spend some of my time to respect and look up to those who put themselves in danger for the benefit of strangers. That is why we tell them that they are true heroes. Veterans fought for peace and freedom in this world. We must thank and salute these people. Veterans Day is a time to be proud of being an American. Veterans Day is about the love and devotion you have for the country that you are willing to cut your life short for it. The respect veterans have for our country and its people is why they are willing to leave their family behind for service. The love that bums inside of them for this nation is so great. ``Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don't have that problem.''--Ronald Reagan