Rodney Frelinghuysen

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 1000, the Pension Security Act of 2003. I believe the time to update Federal pension law is now! I also believe this legislation could have prevented the tragic financial consequences of the Enron collapse, which is why I strongly support H.R. 1000. This legislation will help ensure the safety of the American workers' pension fund savings through the following ways: First, this legislation holds businesses to a higher standard of accountability. Specifically, it clarifies that company pension officials who do not act in the best interests of pension beneficiaries, can be held liable for breaching their fiduciary duty. Thus, this legislation ensures that America's CEOs, do not get rich at the expense of the American workers' pension fund savings. Second, this legislation empowers the American worker by protecting employees against future abuses by giving them more control over their investments. Specifically, the American worker is empowered with the right to diversify employer stock contributions and the option to sell company stock three years after receiving it. Third, this legislation also empowers the American worker by increasing their access to quality investment advice and by providing them with more information about their pensions. Specifically, it encourages employers to make investment advice available to their employees; it allows workers to use a tax-free payroll deduction to purchase investment advice on their own; and it requires companies to give quarterly reports that include account information, as well as their rights to diversify. Notably, the Democrat's alternative for pension reform does not address the current shortcomings in the pension system. Instead, the Democratic alternative increases mandates and regulations that will result in increased costs, which will ultimately discourage employers from offering retirement plans altogether. Finally, this legislation will help restore confidence in America's pension fund system. A generation of American workers have enjoyed a safe and secure retirement. By passing H.R. 1000 today, we will ensure future generations enjoy the same safe and secure retirement.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor William Mecklenburg Polk, Headmaster of the Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts for twenty five years of dedicated service as Headmaster. Like his illustrious predecessors John Crocker and Endicott Peabody, Bill Polk has left a remarkable legacy at the school and has touched the lives of thousands of young men and women who attended Groton over that span of time. In his own words, ``everyone who has attended Groton or entrusted their children to its care knows that Groton is a small, singular school. Today, in a society that seems increasingly to prize celebrity over character and self over service, Groton puts character, intellectual rigor, values, and service first.'' Mr. Speaker, from his days as a Groton student, Bill Polk has epitomized Groton School values in all his academic, athletic, religious and pedagogic pursuits. Appointed Headmaster in 1978, Bill Polk has made it his business, in his own words, to see that ``Groton creates opportunities to cultivate individually students' minds and characters (and) as a church school, it inevitably challenges students to discover their own moral and spiritual values. Groton's insistence on the highest academic standards would matter little if its graduates, to borrow Walker Percy's line, `earned straight A's in school but flunked life.' '' Mr. Speaker, and colleagues, please join me in saluting Headmaster Polk's stewardship and that of LuAnn Polk, his better half, for all of their years of service and love of the young, education and life.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2, the Jobs and Growth Tax Act. It is clear our Nation's economy needs a spark, and I believe H.R. 2 will provide that needed spark. The President said that we need more demand for goods and services so more Americans can find work, and I agree. The best way to encourage demand for goods and services is to let taxpayers keep their hard- earned money. Our economic growth plan calls for speeding up the historic tax relief we passed in 2001 so individuals and families get the benefits of those tax cuts today, when we need it most. Under the House plan, nearly every American who pays income taxes will get much needed tax relief. This tax relief will help small business men and women expand their businesses. The job growth measures contained in this bill means an average of nearly 20,000 jobs will be created in New Jersey, each year for the next 4 years--with 25,000 jobs created in 2004 alone. It will also mean for nearly 800,000 parents in New Jersey, a check-- this year, within weeks of the bill's signing--for up to $400 for each eligible child who qualifies for the increased child tax credit, which under current law stands at $600 per child, but under the bill we passed today would be increased to $1,000. Ninety-two million American taxpayers would receive, on average, a tax cut of $1,083 in 2003--putting nearly $100 billion back into the economy over the next 12 months. Three million moderate-income families would see their income tax burden eliminated entirely. The marriage tax penalty would be reduced for working couples this year, instead of waiting until 2009. In New Jersey, this means relief for nearly 1.2 million married couples. America has made tremendous strides in the strengthening of our national security, and now we must take steps that are just as bold to protect our economic security. Tax relief that will help create jobs, let taxpayers keep more of the hard-earned money and immediately inject millions into our market-based economy is the answer. For those reasons and more, H.R. 2 is an important step on the path toward renewed economic growth and job security for all Americans. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 2.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I rise in strong support of this supplemental appropriations to pay for Operation Iraqi Freedom and to advance and expand homeland security. As those of us who have seen war know, freedom is not free. It is paid by the sacrifices of those who serve literally on the ground now in Iraq and Afghanistan as we speak and debate here on the floor today. Their courage is our inspiration. We wish them Godspeed, swift victory, and a safe return. Now that we are liberating the Iraqi people and better protecting the safety of the American people, Congress is acting decisively today to ensure that our soldiers, sailors, and airmen and women, that they have the resources they need to win the war against the regime of Saddam Hussein. This bill essentially contains over $62 million to support our military, to pay for the troop deployment that they are presently in, to replenish essential munitions and smart munitions and supplies. And this bill provides critical humanitarian needs on the ground in this war-torn nation. And most importantly, this bill also recognizes the ongoing war on terror by strengthening America's first line of defense, our first responders, our local police and firefighters. This supplemental deserves our strong support.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 104. The security of our Nation and the freedoms we enjoy will not be held hostage by a brutal dictator or terrorists whose only aim is to destroy our way of life. We will not live in fear. The very real threat of an attack on America by terrorists who would use weapons of mass destruction cannot be left to chance. This risk is too great. In the face of such threats, our current military action in Iraq, with our allies, is warranted. As many of my colleagues have said before me this evening: Saddam Hussein must be stopped. His arsenal of terror must be eliminated. The terrorist networks with whom he allies himself must be destroyed. America must and will lead the free world to disarm Saddam Hussein and stop terrorism. We have a duty to protect our people, and this we will do with courage and conviction. This is the call to action our young men and women in uniform have heard, and for their sacrifices, we owe them our gratitude, our prayers and all of America's support. Our Commander in Chief has given our brave, young soldiers their orders. They are following those orders with precision, professionalism, compassion and courage. At the end of this battle, the world will be a safer place without Hussein, his anthrax, toxins and nerve gas, or the terrorists he aids and abets. Our troops now go into battle to defend our Nation and protect our children's future. As those of us who have seen war know, the price of freedom is paid for by the sacrifices of those who serve. Their courage is our inspiration. We wish them Godspeed, swift victory, and safe return.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this House Joint Resolution 2, the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal 2003. At the outset, I'd like to recognize the valiant efforts of the Chairman of our full Appropriations Committee, the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Young. The Chairman has provided energetic and stalwart leadership throughout this unusually long appropriations cycle and this House owes him a debt of gratitude. The Conference Report before us is a better piece of legislation today for his efforts and those of the rest of the Subcommittee Chairmen. I want to thank our House Conferees and thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I will support this Conference Report. In doing so, I echo the comments of many of my Colleagues. There is much to be proud of in this bill. We provide: Another $10 billion for intelligence and defense activities, the immediate need of which is self-evident; $825 million for our first-responders--those on the homefront we task to help our citizens in time of need; An additional $3.1 billion over the President's request for education--to keep our commitment to the No Child Left Behind Act; And the single largest program increase in the bill goes to NIH--the agency on the cutting edge of medical research and thus better support he collaborative efforts for basic research with our colleges and universities;. No, this bill is not perfect. Given sole responsibility to draft this $397 billion package, we all would have rearranged priorities a bit, taken out some of the legislative riders and redrafted others. But, my colleagues, we cannot let ``the perfect'' be the enemy of ``the good.'' We have a responsibility to govern. We have a responsibility to lead. And at a time when this nation is waging a war on terror, defending our homeland and possibly preparing to send our young soldiers into harm's way, we should pass this bill and get on with the business of governing and reviewing the President's new proposal for FY 2004. Once again, I thank Chairman Young for his leadership. I urge adoption of the Conference Report.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, every year, more high school seniors from the 11th Congressional District trade in varsity jackets for Navy pea coats, Air Force flight suits, and Army brass buckles than most other districts in the country. But this is nothing new--our area has repeatedly sent an above average proportion of its sons and daughters to the nation's military academies for decades. This fact should not come as a surprise. The educational excellence of our area is well known and has long been a magnet for families looking for the best environment in which to raise their children. Our graduates are skilled not only in mathematics, science, and social studies, but also have solid backgrounds in sports, debate teams, and other extracurricular activities. This diverse upbringing makes military academy recruiters sit up and take note--indeed, many recruiters know our towns and schools by name. Since the 1830's, Members of Congress have enjoyed meeting, talking with, and nominating these superb young people to our military academies. But how did this process evolve? In 1843, when West Point was the sole academy, Congress ratified the nominating process and became directly involved in the makeup of our military's leadership. This was not an act of an imperial Congress bent on controlling every aspect of the Government. Rather, the procedure still used today was, and is, a further check and balance in our democracy. It was originally designed to weaken and divide political coloration in the officer corps, provide geographical balance to our armed services, and to make the officer corps more resilient to unfettered nepotism that handicapped European armies. In 1854, Representative Gerritt Smith of New York added a new component to the academy nomination process--the academy review board. This was the first time a Member of Congress appointed prominent citizens from his district to screen applicants and assist with the serious duty of nominating candidates for academy admission. Today, I am honored to continue this wise tradition in my service to the 11th Congressional District. The Academy Review Board is composed of six local citizens who have shown exemplary service to New Jersey, to their communities, and to the continued excellence of education in our area--many are veterans. Though from diverse backgrounds and professions, they all share a common dedication that the best qualified and motivated graduates attend our academies. And, as is true for most volunteer panels, their service goes largely unnoticed. I would like to take a moment to recognize these men and women and to thank them publicly for participating in this important panel. Being on the board requires hard work and an objective mind. Members have the responsibility of interviewing upwards of 50 outstanding high school seniors every year in the academy review process. The nomination process follows a general timetable. High school seniors mail personal information directly to the Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy once they become interested in attending. Information includes academic achievement, college entry test scores, and other activities. At this time, they also inform my office of their desire to be nominated. The academies then assess the applicants, rank them based on the data supplied, and return the files to my office with their notations. In late November, our Academy Review Board interviews all of the applicants over the course of 2 days. They assess a student's qualifications and analyze character, desire to serve, and other talents that may be hidden on paper. This year the board interviewed over 50 applicants. Nominations included 19 to the Naval Academy, 15 to the Military Academy, 2 to the Merchant Marine Academy and 7 to the Air Force Academy--the Coast Guard Academy does not use the Congressional nomination process. Congressman Frelinghuysen then forwarded the recommendations to the academies by January 31, where recruiters reviewed files and notified applicants and my office of their final decision on admission. As these highly motivated and talented young men and women go through the academy nominating process, never let us forget the sacrifice they are preparing to make: to defend our country and protect our citizens. This holds especially true at a time when our nation is fighting the war against terrorism. Whether it be in Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf or other hot spots around the world, no doubt we are constantly reminded that wars are fought by the young. And, while our military missions are both important and dangerous, it is reassuring to know that we continue to put America's best and brightest in command. Academy Nominees for 2002 11th Congressional District New Jersey Air Force Academy Mark C. Domogola, Short Hills, Millburn H.S.; Mark Cavanaugh, Flanders, Mt. Olive H.S.; Michael D. Fitzsimmons, Andover, Lenape Valley H.S., Hannah Minchew, Mountain Lakes, Mountain Lakes H.S.; Andrew J. Moreno, Chester, West Morris Mendham H.S.; Don N. Smith, Sparta, Sparta H.S., Joseph E. Ziega, Sparta, Sparta H.S. Merchant Marine Matthew J. Pulitano, Randolph, Morris Catholic H.S. Donald G. Maye, Bridgewater, Bridgewater-Raritan H.S. Military Academy Lee W. Barnes, Mendham, Rutgers; Duane W. Clark, Bloomingdale, Butler H.S.; Robert Connelly, Brookside, West Morris Mendham H.S.; Phillip A. Durkin, Sparta, Pope John XXIII H.S.; John R. Fiddes, III, Long Valley, Delbarton Andrew D. Filauro, Denville, Morris Knolls H.S.; Allison T. Gaydosh, Bridgewater, Bridgewater-Raritan H.S.; Edward Gibbons, Chatham, Chatham H.S.; Timothy Kuppler, Basking Ridge, Ridge H.S.; Jason C. McKay, Bridgewater, Bridgewater- Raritan H.S.; Timothy Nagle, Bridgewater, Bridgewater-Raritan H.S.; William C. Nordlund, Mendham, St. Georges School; John R. Rashap, Randolph, Randolph H.S.; Todd R. Stawicki, Bridgewater, Rutgers; Paul R. Wistermayer, Denville, Morristown Beard School. Naval Academy David S. Bellomo, Whippany, Whippany Park H.S.; Gregory D. Butler, Bloomingdale, Bulter H.S. Joseph L. Caprio, Denville, Morris Knolls H.S.; Shannon E. Clancy, Califon, West Morris Central H.S.; Michael J. Coffey, Succasunna, Roxbury H.S.; Benjamin B. DeWitt, Mendharm, Hill School; Christopher T. Dibble, Somerville, Somerville H.S.; Thomas K. Gallant, West Caldwell, James Caldwell H.S.; Joshua Haba, North Caldwell, West Essex H.S. Bryce C. Holden, Sparta, Sparta H.S.; Richard L. Kilcoyne, III, Essex Fells, West Essex H.S.; Paul S. Kim, Kinnelon, Kinnelon H.S.; Emily A. Laraway, Long Valley, West Morris Central H.S.; Daniel M. Leahey, Morris Plains, Morristown H.S.; Matthew F. Minor, Kinnelon, Kinnelon H.S.; Gregory A. Pappianou, Chester, West Morris Mendham H.S.; Erin C. Reeve, Madison, Madison H.S.; Christopher C. Smith, Succasunna, Roxbury H.S.; Craig G. Wilson, Sparta, Sparta

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill. I would first like to commend the chairman from Louisiana and the ranking member from Michigan, as well as the gentleman from Massachusetts, for bringing this important piece of legislation to the floor. As we have heard, this bill will give the Federal Trade Commission the authority to collect fees from telemarketers, long overdue, to implement and run the national do-not-call list which was created by the amendment to the telemarketing sales rule effective December 18. The FTC has got it right. Something has to be done to protect consumers from the many annoying calls telemarketers place at all hours of the day and night, 7 days a week. These calls are indeed an invasion of privacy, not to mention that many of these callers are unscrupulous and prey on older Americans. The Federal Trade Commission's national do-not-call list is a one- stop shop for consumers who are fed up with annoying and often intrusive telemarketing calls. Consumers by registering their telephone number with the FTC's list will eliminate, we hope, about 80 percent of all telemarketing calls. Madam Speaker, I would also like to thank the FTC for working closely with me to include provisions of my ``Know Your Caller'' legislation which makes it illegal for telemarketers to block their numbers on caller ID devices. Consumers pay a monthly fee to subscribe to the caller ID service because they want to protect their personal privacy and their pocketbooks; but until now they have had little recourse to protest intrusions on their privacy because most telemarketers intentionally block their identity from being transmitted to caller ID devices. Madam Speaker, as a Member of Congress and, more importantly, as a consumer, I applaud the FTC's amendment to the telemarketing sales rule; and I applaud and thank the committee for sponsoring this bill.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise in support of this resolution, because there is nothing more frightening and the prospect of Saddam Hussein or any terrorist using poison gas, germs, or radiation bombs against innocent people in freedom-loving nations. The stark reality is that Saddam Hussein has committed these horrific acts before, and he may do so again without warning. Such a catastrophe or the threat of such terror against humanity is what the President says in his own words is ``a permanent condition with no nation being immune.'' We may need to act against Iraq now to prevent such a nightmare and lessen the potential for another attack on our fellow Americans here at home. Madam Speaker, there is no more important task before this Congress and our President than the responsibility to help defend America and protect our citizens. This is our charge to keep. Nothing else we do here matters unless our children and future generations are assured of a safe, secure Nation where there is freedom and justice and where we can be free of fear. As our President has said, ``We refuse to live in fear.'' Even without the passage of this historic resolution, we are a Nation at war, engaged in a global battle to rid the world of terrorism. This is a critical fight and one we are resolved to win. But as your young men and women in uniform continue to make us proud, serving in the war against terrorism, our President has asked our Nation and this House to consider very seriously the prospect of war with Iraq, part of the terrorist network. Our President's request is not taken lightly. It is serious. There is no more solemn duty given to a Member of Congress than considering the President's request for authority to send our troops to war, if he eventually decides to do so. As a veteran, I am keenly aware that wars are fought by the young. Indeed, we have called upon our young men and women in uniform to wage and win the war against terrorism. And if we go to war against Iraq, and we may not, our future and freedom will rest again on their shoulders. After September 11, we were a changed Nation. We have grieved together. We have also risen together to meet the many challenges our Nation has faced and will continue to face. As a country that loves freedom, we have been reminded that liberty, our way of life, and those we love must be protected, because they can be so easily taken away from us. As Americans, we have renewed our historical obligation to fight to protect our citizens and our American values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These values are endangered by Saddam Hussein. In Saddam Hussein, our Nation faces another grave challenge. He is armed and very dangerous; and, like other terrorists, his regime is a threat to our everyday existence. We cannot trust him, and it is this distrust that may compel us to act. We must do everything possible to ensure our children do not grow up in a Nation and in a world that fears his weapons of mass destruction. Iraq persists in violating United Nations resolutions on almost a daily basis. Saddam Hussein, as the world knows well, is a barbarian who has used nerve gas against tens of thousands of his own people, innocent men, women and children; and we have seen the pictures, as horrible as they are. He has waged war against his neighbors, launched missiles at countries in the region, and has given safe harbor to terrorists. Madam Speaker, to my colleagues and to those I represent, there are some cold, hard facts about Iraq, its capabilities, and its deception: In recent years, Baghdad has diverted some of the $100 billion worth of humanitarian goods contracted under the Oil for Food program for military use and has actively sought materials and ingredients that are going towards the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction. He has retained a cadre of nuclear scientists and technicians and capability to constitute nuclear weapons programs.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I thank the gentleman for yielding time and for his good work. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 524 which urges the Senate to vote on House legislation to repeal the death tax. Mr. Speaker, Americans get overtaxed virtually every day of their lives. As an employee, one's salary gets taxed. As an investor, one's earnings often get taxed twice. As a consumer, one's purchases get taxed. After getting taxed at every stage of one's life, why should one have to be taxed again during life's final stage? It is not right. On June 6, in an effort to right this wrong, the House successfully passed H.R. 2143 which would permanently repeal this unjust death tax. However, the Senate has not acted on this permanent repeal of the death tax, and many of the family business owners in New Jersey wonder whether their family business will survive when their aged parents who started these businesses die. If the repeal of the estate tax is not made permanent, the tax will be reinstated in 2011 as it existed under current law. To avoid destroying many small businesses and savings accumulated after years of hard work by this death tax, I strongly urge the support of this resolution and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, today as a Nation we are reunited by a sense of common grief. One year ago today, America witnessed the unspeakable when our Nation was attacked and more than 3,000 innocent lives were cruelly taken from us at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. From my home State of New Jersey, we lost over 700 people, and God bless their families. It was also a day when horror was met by heroism and the worst of humanity was overshadowed by the best of America. In reflections on this day, we remember the bravery of those who responded on September 11, our police, firefighters, our first aid squads, people who never gave up hope and rallied our Nation. They who responded came from all over America and across the Hudson from New Jersey. We are grateful as well today for the service of our young men and women in uniform who, fighting in our war against terrorism, are resolved to bring justice to those who attacked us. They are fighting to right this terrible wrong in honor of the memory of those who perished and to protect our children and grandchildren, ensuring that they inherit a Nation free from further terror.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, as the National 4-H Progam celebrates its 100th Anniversary, I rise in honor of this, great milestone. Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, today's 4-H program began as a series of clubs for boys and girls in rural America, originally aimed at teaching youngsters skills related to agriculture with a learning-by-doing approach. While the program has grown in scope to encompass a wide array of subject matter, hands-on leaming remains a core curriculum of the 4-H. In New Jersey, 4-H clubs are administered on a county government level through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office. Each club has a particular project area that they concentrate on. Operating on the same four principals the 4-H was founded on: head, heart, hands and health, the organization has provided opportunities for thousands of young people in my district, and millions across the country, to gain knowledge, skills, and compassion as they grow into the men and women that will be our future. On the 4-H's centennial birthday I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge three outstanding programs in my district: Morris County, Somerset County, and Sussex County programs. In Morris County over 400 youth are involved in over 30 clubs which focus on over 25 project areas. With a very active alumni base, the Morris County 4-H has over 100 volunteers that help to reach the young people in the community through club leadership, and event staffing. The Morris County 4-H will celebrate the centennial anniversary at the 32nd Annual Morris County 4-H Fair, which will take place July 26 to 28, with activities for children and adults alike. The Somerset County 4-H is home to over 1,200 children with over 600 volunteers leading clubs and planning the annual 4-H fair. Focused on reaching as many youths as possible, the Somerset 4-H offers a variety of school enrichment programs based on science and the environment as well as a summer adventure day camp that runs two weeks each summer. This year's fair celebrates the centennial of 4-H in America with the theme ``One Hundred Years of 4-H--A Thousand Reasons to Celebrate'' and will take place August 14 to 16. Over 750 youths in 67 clubs make up the Sussex County 4-H Program, not to mention the 5,000 youngsters that the organization reaches through school enrichment programs and camping trips. Every year the program participates in the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show, where this year they will celebrate this anniversary on August 2 to 4. Mr. Speaker, as the 4-H celebrates its 100th birtbday I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this program which continues to exemplify the best of our youth and our nation.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen) for his work on this bill. In my home State of New Jersey, the most densely populated State of the Nation, the preservation of open space is a top public priority. That is why I am especially grateful to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen) and the members on the committee for supporting a number of our New Jersey priorities. At my request, this bill contains continued funding for the preservation of New Jersey's highlands, one of New Jersey's most threatened and important watersheds. This bill provides, through the gentleman's efforts, $6.3 million in critical funding for land purchases within this area. It also builds on our past successes at the Morristown National Historic Park and the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. I thank the gentleman for his support and the committee's support for the New Jersey priorities.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5118, the Corporate Fraud Accountability Act of 2002. You've heard that expression, ``crime doesn't pay?'' Well, Mr. Speaker, for too long, for some business executives in America, crime has paid, and is has paid them well! We've got to put an end to this now--punishment for corporate crimes should be paid by those who break the law, not by those who have invested their hard-earned incomes, or worked for years, only to see their jobs, pensions, health care and retirements disappear as some CEO's absconded with millions! For months now, we've seen company heads testify before this Congress only to invoke the Fifth Amendment. Why? For fear of incriminating themselves. To my mind, Mr. Speaker, these executives should be scared. They should fear jail time for lying to employees and investors, and for betraying our market-based economy. And jail time is exactly what corporate criminals will get under the bill we now consider, the bill we must pass to provide the ``teeth'' behind the President's strong message of corporate responsibility. These tough new criminal penalties and enforcement provisions to punish those who refuse to ``play by the rules'' and threaten to undermine the integrity of our financial markets will do what every American believes to be fair, just and necessary. The Corporate Fraud Accountability Act, increases the penalties for mail and wire fraud, strengthens laws that criminalize document shredding, grants emergency authority to the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate securities, pension and accounting fraud guidelines, closes loopholes by which corporate officers can use bankruptcy laws to discharge liabilities based on securities fraud, increases the criminal penalties for those who file false statements with the Securities Exchange Commission and requires corporate executives to certify their company's financial statements, freezes extraordinary payments to executives while the company is under SEC investigation, and finally it bans company executives who clearly abuse their power from serving in any corporate leadership position. H.R. 5118 builds upon our efforts to hold corporations accountable contained in H.R. 3762, the Pension Security Act, and H.R. 3763, the Corporate and Auditing Accountability, Responsibility, and Transparency Act, passed by the House last April. Specifically, the bipartisan Pension Security Act, H.R. 3762, bars company insiders from selling their own stock during ``blackout'' periods when workers can't make changes to their 401(k)'s, give workers new freedoms to sell their company stock within three years of receiving it in their 401(k) plans, fixes outdated Federal rules that discourage employers from giving workers access to professional investment advice, empowers workers to hold company insiders accountable for abuses, and requires that workers be notified 30 days before the start of any ``blackout'' period affecting their pensions. The Corporate and Auditing Accountability, Responsibility, and Transparency Act, H.R. 3763, recognizes the need for corporate leaders to act responsibly, and holds them accountable if they fail to do so. It seeks to restore confidence in accounting standards, increases corporate disclosure and responsibility, better protects 401(k) plan participants, and reduces analyst conflicts of interests. These legislative reforms, and the President's plan for corporate responsibility, will benefit small investors and employees and will help strengthen faith and confidence in the corporate community in our own backyard. In New Jersey, I am mindful of the personal tragedy encountered by countless citizens who have lost their jobs, investments, pensions and even health care benefits. And poor management decisions at companies like Lucent have resulted in millions of investors and 401(k) plans having catastrophic losses. Furthermore, we must remember those employees whose pension benefits decreased when employers, like AT&T and others, transitioned from a traditional pension plan to a cash balance pension plan. While these transitions were within current legal boundaries, such moves have had devastating effects on long-time, dedicated workers, especially those who thought themselves secure in their retirement. Clearly, not all companies or their executives fall into the ``bad apple'' categories about which there's been so much news recently, To those who, without stricter rules and reforms, have lived to the highest standards of ethical behavior, I commend you. But to those who have ventured from the truth, and who have been overwhelmed by greed, the party's over.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. (Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the bill and to oppose this amendment and particularly to thank the chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), for their work with me, as well as the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), on finding a proper replacement for the Crusader. I want to thank the gentlemen and staff for all their work in protecting those technologies and the brain trust that goes with those jobs. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Fiscal Year 2003 Defense Appropriations bill. I thank Chairman Lewis and Congressman Murtha, the ranking member, as well as their staff, for their work. We are still a nation at war, and our first and foremost priority at this time must be to the men and women we have called upon to fight. Rightfully, this is the first of the regular FY03 Appropriations bills that this body will consider, and that it should be the first of the FY03 appropriations bills to be sent to the President's desk for his signature. Since the tragic events of September 11, we have asked a great deal of our military. And Congress has acted to provide them with additional funds to purchase ammunition and equipment, to pay them better wages, and to make sure their families have a decent place to live, access to health care, while their loved ones are fighting for our freedom in Afghanistan, the Balkans, South Korea, the Middle East and around the globe. But while it is important that we continue to meet the immediate needs of our armed forces, we must begin to look ahead at their future needs, and focus on what investments are truly worthy. When it comes to war, we want overwhelming superiority in every way. We want our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, along with their guard and reserve components, to have the most advanced, most revolutionary, most lethal systems possible. I am pleased that this bill contains $57.7 billion for research and development on the next generation of fighter jets, ammunition rounds, communications equipment, unmanned aerial vehicles and other critical weapons. This is $4 billion over the President's request and $8 billion over last year's level. However, this bill does not contain funding for one critical R&D project--the Crusader Self-propelled Howitzer, which Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld proposed terminating. This system would have brought revolutionary technologies to the battlefield and provided a true ``leap ahead'' from the currently fielded Paladin. While this bill on the floor today meets the administration's objective of terminating the Crusador program, this committee has recognized the need for ground-based indirect fire support capabilities, and it supports a large leap ahead toward developing the Army's next generation of these systems. I want to take this opportunity to thank Chairman Lewis and Mr. Murtha and his staff for working closely with me and Mr. Sabo to shape the direction of the Army's replacement for the Crusader. They have put in long hours, and I believe they have crafted a compromise which keeps the Crusader's ``brain trust'' intact while moving ahead with the development of a lighter, more mobile, more lethal system. Air superiority alone cannot win all our nation's future wars. We must maintain robust ground warfare capabilities, including a range of direct and indirect fire support systems. Our soldiers on the ground need direct and indirect fire support systems that can hit their targets, day or night, rain or shine. One system that will fill that need to provide ground-based fire support is the Lightweight 155mm Towed Howitzer, which the committee has fully funded. This joint Marine Corps and Army program will provide a means for our soldiers to fire the Excalibur precision munition round. The importance of getting this system in the hands of our soldiers and Marines, sooner rather than later, is more critical given the cancellation of Crusader. Further, to address future indirect fire support needs, the Committee has provided $368.5 million to begin development of a future Army objective force vehicle. These funds include $195.5 million for the maturation and transfer of indirect fire support capabilities from the Crusader, as was requested in the President's recent FY03 Budget Amendment. Additionally, the Committee provided $173 million for the integration of revolutionary cannon technologies onto a new, lighter platform. As a result of the language so carefully crafted by the chairman and his staff this will allow us to harness the ``brain trust'' behind the development of Crusader's revolutionary technologies--the liquid-cooled cannon, automated loading mechanism, crew compartment and software--and imbed them in a lighter, more mobile, more lethal replacement system. Many of the scientists and engineers responsible for developing these revolutionary Crusader technologies work for the Program Manager for Crusader at Picatinny Arsenal in my district. I am confident that Picatinny's ``brain trust'' is up to the challenge of developing a system that possesses the capabilities and advances that Crusader would bring to the battlefield in a package that is half the weight, and can become part of the Army's arsenal within the next six years. Also contained in this bill is funding for a broad range of projects at Picatinny in areas as diverse as homeland defense, smart munitions, nanotechnology and environmental remediation, which I support because they provide our soldiers in the field with the tools they need to win. I urge my colleagues to stand in support of the men and women who are fighting on behalf of our nation, and to vote for this bill.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this ruling which found our Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional. The Pledge of Allegiance is a sacred oath all Americans take to uphold the values of freedom and independence for which so many veterans have fought and died. It is an outrage that today as our brave men and women are overseas defending our great country against the threat of terrorism, these words that represent the very core of the American values come under attack. I ask my colleagues and the American people again to show our independence and protest the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision by joining together as ``one Nation under God'' to recite the Pledge of Allegiance on that day we celebrate soon, 226 years of independence, on July 4. I ask all Americans to stop what they are doing on that day this July 4 and with hand over heart recite the Pledge that has reminded millions of schoolchildren each and every day of why America is the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) and other Members of the House for their support of protecting this very famous English Elm. Mr. Speaker, as the House of Representatives works to protect the U.S. Capitol building and all symbols of our democracy, we need to be mindful that such changes must be reasonable and respectful of our history. Our Capitol continues, as it always has been, to be accessible to millions of people who visit each year. It is estimated that nearly 20,000 visitors up to September 11 entered the building daily, and Congress has addressed the new security and safety demands of this many people visiting, especially during the construction of a new Capitol visitor's center to facilitate their entrance into the Capitol proper. This center project has already resulted in changes to what Frederick Law Olmsted, the Landscape Architect of the Capitol, a very famous American, envisioned and implemented back in 1874, where lawns, trees, and shaded walks were first put into his plans. Many trees have already been removed. Some have been saved for the new center. But I join with the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) and other colleagues to focus our attention in Congress on one particular tree, an English Elm, the oldest tree on Capitol Hill, on this campus, that some here, as the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) has said, would like to cut down to make room for a construction site, for use of the construction materials, or a temporary parking lot for Members of Congress. This oldest tree, a rare English Elm, is reputed to be over 150 years old. It was never slated to be removed. In fact, an earlier assessment by the Davey Tree Company employed by the Architect of the Capitol said it should be preserved. Reports now that the tree is dangerous seem to have little factual foundation, other than a more recent report by Davey. Furthermore, there are other old trees on the Capitol campus that are no more or less dangerous than this elm. As the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) has said, there is news that the contractor for the visitor's center would dig a 60-foot hole at the base of the tree. This would virtually kill the tree. This is a tree that deserves to be preserved and protected. We urge all Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats and citizens, to urge the Capitol Preservation Committee to direct the Architect of the Capitol to save the tree.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Borough of Essex Fells and its residents on the occasion of its Centennial celebration. Essex Fells, which was incorporated as a municipality by the New Jersey State Legislature on March 21, 1902, is the smallest municipality in Essex County, measuring a mere 1.6 square miles. Despite its size, the borough is home to some of the friendliest people, the loveliest homes, and gardens in New Jersey. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the wooded hills and valleys that now comprise the municipality were sparsely settled, with only seven or eight farms located along what is now known as Roseland Avenue. The expansion of the railroad system and improvements in other forms of transportation brought about the development of real estate in areas surrounding large cities. This resulted in the development of a community that would come to be known as Essex Fells. Anthony Drexel, a prominent developer and planner from Philadelphia, had a vision and dream to build a unique community with beautiful homes situated in a rustic area of New Jersey. In 1888 he sent his representative, Charles W. Leavitt, to survey the situation around the extension of the railroad service in the Caldwells. Following a report that the location seemed ideal for use as a high- level residential community, Mr. Drexel formed the New York Suburban Land Company in 1889 and purchased one thousand acres of land south of Caldwell. Included in part of the purchase were the land and the historic home of General William Gould, which became the home of the land company's new president, Mr. Leavitt. The majority shareholder in the corporation was John R. Fell, Mr. Drexel's son-in-law. The hilly and rocky terrain made an imaginative and skilled approach to the planning necessary. To lay out an over-all community concept, Mr. Drexel hired well-known landscape architect Ernest W. Bowditch. As this new area began to be developed and built, it was fortunate enough to be able to install such technological advances as electricity, in-door plumbing, and telephones, conveniences that are commonplace one hundred years later--but were true innovations then! Essex Fells was given its name in honor of the county in which it was developed, Essex, and because the word ``fell'' suggests a rolling, hilly area, although Mr. Fell must have had some input into the name Essex Fells! Throughout the past one hundred years not much about the character of Essex Fells has changed from the original concept of a residential rustic community. Today, the municipality is home to over 2,100 residents, a very small number by New Jersey standards, the Essex Fells Water Company, a public elementary school, a post office, and a park. Mr. Speaker, this weekend the fine neighbors of Essex Fells will be joining together for a parade and community picnic to celebrate this auspicious occasion. I urge you and all of my colleagues to join Mayor Edward Abbot, Borough Council members James N. Blake, Rupert Hauser III, James W. Irwin, Julianne H. Rose, Thomas St. John, and, Lynda Youngworth, and the Citizens of Essex Fells in wishing them well during this special anniversary year.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 4019, to make the good work we did in bringing relief from the Marriage Penalty Tax to 21 million married Americans last year, permanent. As I travel across New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, I am constantly reminded of the need for prompt tax relief. I hear it when I get my coffee and paper in the morning, at my local barbershop, at any one of my weekend town meetings, and at the pancake breakfasts I attend on Sunday mornings. Americans scored a major victory last year when Congress and President Bush addressed one of the most unjust provisions of the tax code by reducing the Marriage Penalty Tax. We increased the basic deduction from $7,350 to $8,800 for married couples, and nearly one million married couples across New Jersey, and closer to home, 72,000 married couples in my Congressional District, have benefited from our good work to provide relief from the Marriage Penalty Tax. Unfortunately, these provisions are scheduled to expire at the end of 2010, because of a ``sunset'' provision that was included in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act. If H.R. 4019 is not enacted, then beginning in 2011, the standard deduction for married couples will be reduced, forcing 21 million married couples to pay more taxes. The Marriage Penalty Tax is inherently unfair. The Federal Government should not force working couples, through an unfair, archaic Tax Code, to pay higher taxes simply because they choose to be married. The Marriage Penalty Tax weakens the foundation of one of society's most sacred institutions: marriage. We cannot turn back the clock after making such great strides in providing this sensible, meaningful tax relief, and in the year 2011, force working couples to pay higher taxes simply because they choose to be married. So today, I urge my colleagues to build on our ongoing efforts to provide tax relief for all hard working Americans. Let's pass Marriage Penalty Tax relief for the millions of working couples who should not be penalized by the IRS just because they are married.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, as we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day and to honor those who fought our Nation's past wars, as well as those who are, as we speak, fighting the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and around the world, we should be thanking these men and women for their courageous service on behalf of our Nation by acting on their behalf; and the best way to thank them is to pass this supplemental appropriations bill. There are many reasons why we should pass this bill and send it to the President for his signature quickly. First and foremost, we should support this bill because it provides $7.8 billion for the Department of Defense to pay for the costs of the war, including the salaries of those who are serving, as well as the ongoing cost to train, equip, and prepare them for battle, and to protect the 270,000 soldiers who are serving abroad on this Memorial Day weekend as we debate this bill. We should support this bill because it also provides $4.3 billion to pay for the call-up of National Guard and Reserve personnel, the men and women who have put their lives on hold to answer our Nation's call to serve; and there are 85,000 of those on reserve that are now on active duty. We should also support this bill because it provides $500 million to purchase high-priority munitions to replace those already used in this war; to buy unmanned aerial vehicles, which have proved their value, and to purchase equipment for our Special Forces on the ground in Afghanistan and elsewhere. We should also support this bill because it provides $93 million to replace Special Operations helicopters destroyed during Operation Enduring Freedom. We should also support this bill because it provides $1.5 billion for homeland defense and to strengthen our Nation's intelligence-gathering efforts. As someone who represents a district in a State that was directly impacted by the tragic events of September 11, we should support this bill because of the additional funding it provides to help rebuild New York City. Members of Congress from New York and New Jersey have worked together to provide our State governments with the necessary resources to rebuild critical transportation and other infrastructure that was destroyed in these attacks. As previous congressional actions have tried to help, and they have, many families have lost loved ones. Mr. Chairman, we should be standing on this floor tonight united in support of our men and women in uniform, united in support of the war on terrorism, united in our gratitude for those who have served our Nation bravely in the past. Instead, we fight one another. Let us remember why we are here. Let us pass this bill, let us give each and every one of our men and women in uniform the tools they need to fight and win our Nation's war.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and honor 46 outstanding high school artists from the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey. Each of these talented students participated in the Annual Congressional Arts Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery,'' and they were recently honored at a reception and exhibition at the Schering Plough Corporation in Madison, New Jersey and their works are exceptional! Mr. Speaker, I would like to list each of them, their high school, and their contest entries for the official Record. We had 46 students participate. That is a tremendous response and we would very much like to build on that for next year's competition. This year, Mr. Speaker, the winner of ``An Artistic Discovery'' was Victor Coghlan from Boonton High School for the work entitled ``My Friend Joseph.'' Second place went to Audrey Kruse from West Morris Mendham High School for ``Just Call Me Doty.'' Third place also from West Morris Mendham High School went to Kelsey Dahlin Dugan for ``Three.'' The Viewer's Choice Award was given to Michael Mule of Boonton High School for ``Doorway.'' Honorable mentions were awarded to Meredith Klein of Livingston High School for ``Tin Foil Study,'' Christina Tammera from Madison High School for ``Soda Shop,'' Kara Kasch from Morristown High School for ``Narcissus,'' Andres Rivera from Mount Olive High School for ``Can I Change Myself If I Try?,'' Megan Bornstein from Randolph High School for ``You Are What You Eat,'' and a self portrait by Dana Kalfas of Montville High School. Excellent art work was also submitted by Boonton High School with ``Ryan Bradely'' by Laura Schafnict, Milissa DiSalvo with ``My Sneakers,'' Michael Mule with ``Doorway.'' Dover High School contributed ``Nature at its Best'' by Shirley Velasquez, ``Ode to Monet'' by Megan Franchak, ``Falling Into Being'' by Leah Huss.'' Livingston High School submitted a self-portrait by Amy Heuer, Tiffany Wong with ``Beware'' and ``Forbidden Passage'' by Johnathan Lee. Madison High School contributed ``Travel Photo #46'' by James Weber, ``City at Sunset'' by Adrienne Heller, and ``Sunflowers'' by Lorriane Ewan. Montville High School submitted, ``Italian Breakfast'' by Kristina Pennetta, ``Laura'' by Laura Croce, ``The Raven'' by Marissa Herrmann and a self-portrait by Dana Kalfas. Morris Knolls High School entered ``Appearances can be Deceiving,'' by Kyle Schuster, ``The Devil in Me'' by Benjamin Kurfverst, ``The Transformation'' by Daniel Murphy, and ``My Wonderland'' by Mercedes Irisarri. Morristown High School offered a self-portrait by Michelle Miller, ``Afternoon Light'' by Triana Collins, and ``Dusk'' by Gary Reinhard. Mount Olive High School contributed ``Turning Leaves'' by Andres Rivera, and untitled works by Timothy Quirino and Ariel Hahn. Randolph High School entered ``Digital'' by Michel Sun and ``Pulsating Time'' by Anthony Lee. Ridge High School submitted an untitled work by Seung Eun Lee, ``Four Square'' by Emily Slapin, ``Reflect'' by Meghan Musso, and ``Genesis'' by Gina Caruso. West Essex High School offered ``Illuminated'' by Sherry Lewkewicz, ``Tropical Island'' by Julian Osis and untitled works by Elyse Agnello and Francesca Barcia. West Morris Mendham High School entered ``The Blue Blowl'' and ``The self'' by Robert Douglas Fritz, III. Each year the winner of the competition will have an opportunity to travel to our nation's capital to meet Congressional leaders and to mount his or her art work in a special corridor here at the U.S. Capitol, with winners from across the country. Members of Congress and thousands of visitors to the Capitol have a chance to view these works of art firsthand. It is a fantastic reminder that there is vast talent in our young men and women. Indeed, all of these young artists are winners, and we should be proud of their achievements so early in life. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating these talented young people from New Jersey's 11th Congressional District.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, May 8, 1 voted to make Yucca Mountain, a remote location in the desert of Nevada, our nation's depository for high level nuclear waste. I based my support for Yucca Mountain on a $19 billion taxpayer investment over 24 years of some of the most comprehensive scientific investigation ever conducted by our nation. We promised the public back in 1982 in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act that the Federal government would provide a single national repository for the quickly accumulating radioactive waste. This day has been a long time coming, and we can wait no longer. Since the dawn of the nuclear age in the 1940s, nuclear waste has been accumulating, and it has been stored in temporary locations across the country--131 temporary sites in 39 states, including New Jersey. Temporary storage of highly radioactive nuclear waste is dangerous-- there's no two ways about it. We need a single, safe, secure location to contain spent nuclear fuel and our nation's dismantled nuclear arms. Quite simply, it is a matter of public health and safety, and it is in the best interests of our national security. Yucca Mountain is located in the Nevada desert, some 1353 square miles of land, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. It is remote, and had been used as a nuclear test site. I have visited Yucca Mountain, since I serve on the Energy Appropriations Subcommittee which has been responsible for overseeing the funding of this critical project. During my inspection of the site, I was taken inside the mountain for almost five miles. I also learned that when nuclear waste is contained inside Yucca Mountain, it will be stored in tunnels 1000 feet below the desert floor. Yucca Mountain is so safe, scientists and engineers have determined that with its arid and geologically stable setting, even under the worst scenario, Yucca Mountain would meet EPA standards for radiation for 10,000 years! Clearly, Yucca Mountain will pay dividends, and then some, on the taxpayers'investment. Nuclear energy has been proven to be an effective, safe, clean energy source. In fact, in New Jersey where there are two nuclear sites, nearly half of our state's electricity is produced by nuclear power. Nationwide, it is now the second largest source of electricity. While nuclear energy continues to have its supporters and its critics, the fact is it is here to stay. As such, we need to deal with it, most especially radioactive waste. Yucca Mountain is the answer. 161 million Americans live within 75 miles of radioactive nuclear waste. Do we leave radioactive waste to decay in temporary storage units at hundreds of locations across the country? Do we wait for highly radioactive toxins to possibly seep into our groundwater? Do we put our national security at risk by leaving spent nuclear fuel in temporary containers? No, we side with science. Yucca Mountain, from the standpoint of protecting the nation's health as well as our security, represents the best, most comprehensive option for containing America's nuclear waste. We can no longer afford to wait.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this joint resolution which endorses the Department of Energy and the President's finding that Yucca Mountain is the best choice for a national nuclear waste depository. As we know, Yucca Mountain is on a Federal nuclear test site in the Nevada desert that encompasses almost 1,300 square miles, or an area bigger than the State of Rhode Island. Like Chairman Callahan and other Members in this House, I have visited this site. I have been inside the mountain, five miles into it. I have seen it firsthand. From a New Jersey perspective, this siting decision is long overdue. We live in the most densely populated State in the Nation with 49 percent of our power generated by nuclear energy. For many years now, those wastes have been stored on the grounds of our two nuclear reactor sites, supposedly on a temporary basis. The time has come for the waste to be sent to a single national repository as was promised in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and for which New Jersey taxpayers have contributed millions of dollars in their energy bills. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution. I urge my colleagues to do so as well.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Borough of Lincoln Park, County of Morris, NJ. The history of Lincoln Park dates back to the founding of our Nation, with settlers first taking up residence as early as 1690. Originally referred to as Two Bridges and later as Beavertown, the town's current name was adopted in 1872. In April of 1922 the residents established the Borough of Lincoln Park as a separate town from the Township of Pequannock following the passing of a referendum. Today Lincoln Park is home to 10,930 proud citizens and has been voted by the State of New Jersey as its ``Third Kindest Town.'' As the Borough of Lincoln Park commemorates its 80th anniversary its residents also remember those that were lost on September 11, 2001, with a memorial service and the dedication of a ``Living Memorial'' near the railroad station. In September 2001, Lincoln Park suffered the loss of three of its residents, Peter Wallace, Catherine Nardella, and Mark Zangrilli. Despite the tragedy, the Borough banded together and raised $20,000 for the World Trade Center Fund at its annual Lincoln Park Day on September 22. ``By serving causes greater than ourselves,'' the men, women, and children of Lincoln Park are helping to defeat terrorism with the ``Best of America,'' as President Bush has urged us all to do. Mr. Speaker, for the past 80 years, the Borough of Lincoln Park has played a significant role in helping to create the cultural fabric of our State and the municipality will certainly continue to do so in the years to come. I congratulate the citizens of the Borough of Lincoln Park on their special anniversary year, and urge all my colleagues to join me in wishing them well.