Rodney Frelinghuysen

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor The Essex Troop for their dedicated service as they celebrate their 125th Anniversary. The Essex Troop was established at a meeting on June 3, 1890, with the goal of creating a cavalry troop. For one hundred and twenty-five years the troop has been working hard to serve the military needs of the State of New Jersey and the United States of America. At the founding meeting, officers were elected to lead the newly established troop. Colonel James E. Fleming, Second Lieutenant R. Wayne Parker, First Sergeant Charles Heath, Quartermaster Sergeant Frederick B Young, and First Lieutenant Frederick Frelinghuysen were elected. The troop was originally composed of forty members including the officers. Colonel Fleming immediately began training the troops to protect and defend the state and the nation. Originally, the Essex Troop operated out of a privately owned armory. By 1903, however, the Troop outgrew this facility. It was then the Troop moved into its current location. The Armory, which was designed by a member of the Essex Troop, sits on 30 acres of land in West Orange and was furnished entirely by the Troopers themselves. It was here that they became renowned for their equestrian abilities, regularly hosting horse shows and polo matches that eventually gained national attention. The Troop also hosted a number of balls here over the years. This Armory is still in use today, and is where the members of the Essex Troop keep their traditions alive. The Essex troop has responded to several riots and natural disasters that have occurred in New Jersey as well as other states throughout the nation. They have participated in many events and ceremonies, including parades, escort services, marches, and statue dedications. On June 18, 1902 the troop reported for active duty in response to the textile strikes in Paterson, New Jersey. The strikes had gotten out of hand and the troop patrolled for ten days, walking the streets during the evening to ensure law and order. During World War I, the troop was called into duty to serve our nation. They have also had the responsibility for guarding the Mexican border. The troop served as the personal escort for President William McKinley's Vice President, Garret A. Hobart of Paterson, New Jersey. They were also charged with transferring President Ulysses Grant's tomb to New York City. The troop served as the honor guard and escort for Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. At the inauguration ceremony for each Governor of New Jersey, the Essex Troop serves as part of the honor guard. Mr. Speaker please join me in honoring the Essex Troop and its members for their one hundred and twenty-five years of service and dedication to the State of New Jersey and the United States of America.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Morristown Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as they celebrate their 120th Anniversary. Due to the exclusion from men's organizations that were formed to express patriotism for our nation, a group of women took it upon themselves to create an organization that was exclusively for women and their love for this country. Thus, on October 11, 1890, the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution was born right in our nation's capital. Shortly after the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was founded, New Jersey organized its own State Society of the DAR on April 29, 1891. The Morristown Chapter was created four years later in 1895, making it one of the 47 chapters located in the state of New Jersey. In 1999, the Short Hills Chapter of DAR merged with the Morristown Chapter. The Morristown DAR Chapter house played an important role in our country's history. The Schulyer-Hamilton House, originally known as the Jabez Campfield House, was built in 1760 in Morristown. The Campfield House is where the surgeon general of the Continental Army, Dr. John Cochran, quartered and is where founding father Alexander Hamilton also courted his wife Betsy Schuyler in 1780. Schuyler was the niece of the surgeon general. In 1923, the Campfield house was bought by the Morristown Chapter of the DAR and the members decided to name their new Chapter House in honor of Betsy Schuyler and Alexander Hamilton. The DAR is a non-profit, non-political volunteer organization. They focus on promoting patriotism, preserving American history and future, and supporting education for children. On a national level the DAR host various summer camps for youth. That educates them on topics such as, the textile industry. They also provide citizens of all ages with a lecture series called Tuesday Talks. The Morristown Chapter has been devoted to keeping up with these objectives as well. Throughout the community the Morristown Chapter of the DAR has volunteered at the annual Morristown Fall Festival and local DAR schools. They provide numerous opportunities for the advancement of children including but not limited to, The Christopher Columbus Essay Contest, scholarship for high school seniors in New Jersey, and the Betty Bradbury Vail Scholarship. Additionally, to carry on their commitment to honoring all veterans in the Morristown area, the Morristown chapter of the DAR will host a luncheon on Saturday, November 14, 2015 to celebrate their 120th Anniversary as well as the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War. Mr. Speaker, I urge you and all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Morristown Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution, New Jersey as they celebrate their 120th Anniversary.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, Members of this House come from all backgrounds, walks of life, and political philosophies. We are truly a diverse group. However, each and every one of us has at least one thing in common--the desire to provide quality service to the hundreds of thousands of constituents who call us ``Representative.'' My predecessor, the late Representative Dean A. Gallo, established a well-earned reputation for prompt and accurate constituent service, helping thousands of New Jersey residents over his two decades of service in Congress. I would like to think that I have been successful in emulating Dean's stellar record. There is no mystery about this continuity and I would like to identify and pay tribute to a ``common link'' between the staff of Congressman Gallo and my New Jersey District Office staff: Mrs. Pamela Thievon of Long Hill, New Jersey. For over two decades, Pam has provided tireless service to the people of New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. As my current District Director, Pam leads a team of caseworkers and field personnel. In this important capacity, she has helped thousands of families, taxpayers, veterans, citizen organizations and service groups in their daily struggle to work through the federal bureaucracy. I take casework-- resolving your problems with the federal government--very seriously and work enormously hard to get you the answers you deserve. Pam helps me to ensure that constituents are heard and are given an adequate response in a timely manner. In addition, over the past two decades Pam has mentored dozens of caseworkers and field staff, making an indelible impression on their careers and, indeed, their lives. Just as important, she has provided responsible and sound advice to me as I work to serve the diverse communities of the 11th Congressional District. Of course, retirement itself is a great gift. After decades of selfless effort, Pamela Thievon will retire at month's end. She certainly earned this new chapter in her life. We will miss her, but hope she will enjoy her ``golden years'' surrounded by family and friends. I am confident that my friend, Dean Gallo, would join me in uttering a heartfelt, ``thank you'' to Mrs. Pamela Thievon.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise and report the bill back to the House with sundry amendments, with the recommendation that the amendments be agreed to and that the bill, as amended, do pass.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the motion to recommit.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Before speaking on the motion to recommit, Mr. Visclosky and I would like to thank our consummate professional staff that put this bill together for all of us, headed up by our clerk, Rob Blair; Tim Prince; Paul Terry; Walter Hearne; B.G. Wright; Brooke Boyer; Adrienne Ramsey; Megan Milam; Collin Lee; Cornell Teague; and Sherry Young; of my staff, Nancy Fox, Steve Wilson, and Katie Hazlett; minority clerks Becky Leggieri and Taunja Berquam; and from Mr. Visclosky's staff, Joe DeVooght. Mr. Chairman, over the years, Members of Congress have agreed that the Defense Appropriations bill is no place for partisan politics. Our national security is far too important. This week, the leadership of the other party has decided to throw that tradition out the window, and their timing couldn't be more unfortunate. As we gather here this afternoon, over 200,000 men and women in uniform do the hard work of freedom across the globe--in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Sinai, Eastern Europe, along the DMZ, and other faraway places. These members of our Armed Forces and their comrades who serve here at home and their families all deserve our admiration and untiring gratitude. This bipartisan bill before you delivers for them. I urge a ``no'' vote on the motion to recommit and ``yes'' on final passage of this bipartisan bill that recognizes and honors their service. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I oppose the amendment. This amendment would strike, as he said, the waiver that is used by the Secretary of Defense and also the Secretary of State. I think it would affect our national security. We need the cooperation of the Pakistanis. If we don't have any, we lose insight into the actions of those who would do our country harm. I oppose this amendment as potentially damaging to our national security, and I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the ranking member.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I thank the gentleman for his remarks and concerns and for his own military service. I share his concern. The gentleman is correct. The Navy has been struggling to maintain its shipbuilding program for many years. Despite a requirement for 306 ships, the Navy's fleet has seemed to reach a plateau of about 285 ships for the last several years. It is our responsibility to work with you and the Navy to ensure that our sailors and marines have the finest ships and equipment this Nation can provide.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I thank the gentleman for his passion and his remarks. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Yes, I absolutely agree with the gentleman from Alabama that this deployment is vital to our missile defense, and the United States should be grateful for strong allies like Poland. Nothing in the bill today will in any way impact the one-time deployment of the European Phased Adaptive Approach Phase III.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman raising the issue. Obviously, he is a wonderful representative of the Mariana Islands. However, given the way this amendment is written, it is unclear to me the impact that this may have on our military's future ability to train. So, regretfully, I must oppose this amendment, but I look forward to working with the gentleman to address his concerns. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. The committee is prepared to accept your amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. We are prepared to accept your amendment.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky) to finish his remarks.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Rather than repeat myself, I think the Department of Defense excess property program does provide some very valuable equipment to local law enforcement. Of course, it is invaluable if it is used properly and with care. As a consequence, I oppose the gentleman's amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.