Rodney Frelinghuysen

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 5293, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise to present the Appropriations Committee recommendation for the fiscal year 2017 Department of Defense Appropriations bill. I would like to begin by paying tribute to those who are not with us today--our men and women in uniform--all volunteers--who serve all across the globe defending our freedom. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines provide the mantle of security that allows us to meet in settings like this every day, and they should never be far from our minds. Mr. Chairman, they, those who serve in uniform and their families, deserve our heartfelt thanks for their personal sacrifice. I also want to thank Chairman Rogers and Mrs. Lowey for their support during the process, and special thanks to my counterpart, Pete Visclosky, for his partnership in this effort. I thank him for his assistance and collaboration. Mr. Chairman, our Defense Subcommittee conducted 11 formal hearings and had numerous briefings to help shape this legislation. These meetings allowed us to look in great detail into our national defense posture and the capabilities of our adversaries and our partners, and we are very concerned by what we see. Over the past several years, we have largely focused on the dangers posed by Islamic terrorist organizations--al Qaeda, barbaric ISIS, al- Nusrah, and others. They remain a clear and present danger. But in recent years, new threats have emerged: a more aggressive and capable Russia, an expansionist China, emboldened states like Iran, and rogue nations like North Korea. At the same time, we are dealing with fiscal constraints imposed by sequestration and budget caps. So, looking today at our Department of Defense and intelligence community, we note that our readiness levels are alarmingly low for our soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen; our decisive technological edge over our adversaries is eroding; and our adversaries' resolve and their capability are only growing. The bill before you begins to reverse these trends by providing more money for national security. This measure includes a total of $575.8 billion for the Department of Defense for functions under our subcommittee's jurisdiction and $58.6 billion for overseas contingency operations/global war on terrorism funding. Our recommendation mirrors the funding structure that the House Armed Services Committee and this House approved a few weeks ago and shifts roughly $16 billion from the President's request for OCO operations into critical investments in our personnel, training, and equipment, while providing a bridge fund for our overseas operations through the end of April of 2017. By that time, our new Commander in Chief will be able to assess our defense posture, reevaluate readiness levels and recapitalization efforts, and request a targeted supplemental to support our troops. Congress did a similar maneuver in 2008. I am confident that Members of this House will work in a bipartisan way to ensure that this essential supplemental appropriations legislation is passed when that time comes. Rest assured that we will never let our troops down. By providing a bridge fund to next April, our bill is able to make targeted investments in additional manning for the Army, Marines, and Air Force, more training, as well as the equipment they rely upon--all designed to repair the worrisome readiness gaps we see across our Armed Forces. We currently have the lowest manning level in the Army since before World War II, and this legislation boosts Army and Marine Corps end strength. Despite the Secretary's assurances that we are on our way to a 300- ship Navy, we now have 273 in our fleet, which is smaller than at any time since before World War I. This bill funds a significant increase in shipbuilding. Our Air Force is flying the oldest planes in its entire history, and the bill before you boosts the modernization of our fighters, bombers, tankers, and other aircraft. We are also able to increase funding by $9.6 billion for equipment the service chiefs have requested in their unmet needs list. Our investments will allow our military services to fully meet critical training requirements, such as flying hours, steaming days, depot maintenance, ground training, facilities improvement, and base operations. I also want to note that our legislation again includes $500 million to continue improvements for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for our combatant commanders. They need it; they will welcome it. Mr. Chairman, as I close, I want to make an observation about this year's debate. The President's spokesman and Secretary of Defense were quick to criticize the funding structure of the National Defense Authorization bill and, indeed, this proposal, and issued a veto threat against our bill this morning. The White House and Secretary Carter have suggested we are, in their own words, ``gambling'' with our troops' mission in the Middle East and that our approach is somehow ``irresponsible'' or, in their own words, ``dangerous.'' But what was really ``gambling,'' ``irresponsible,'' and ``dangerous'' was the administration's decision to pull all of our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan--against the advice of our military leadership--and not anticipate that the resulting vacuum would be filled by ISIS, the Taliban, and other terrorist groups. What was ``gambling,'' ``irresponsible,'' and ``dangerous'' was--and is--the constant changing of the military rules of engagement to meet political objectives. What was ``gambling'' and ``irresponsible'' was ousting Qadhafi in Libya without any plan whatsoever for the aftermath. Indeed, it is ``gambling,'' ``irresponsible,'' and ``dangerous'' to believe that Iran would not violate any aspects of the Geneva Agreement. And surely it was a ``gamble'' to believe that the American people would ignore the capture and provocative treatment of 10 American sailors seized by the Iranian regime last January; and surely it was a ``gamble'' that the American people would not pay attention to increased military operations in Syria and Iraq and, yes, the tragic deaths of American service personnel, if the President refused to call them ``combat operations.'' There is more happening in the Middle East today than the airstrikes against ISIS, and we need to thank those warfighters on the ground that are there as we gather here this afternoon. They are risking their lives right now--every day--and their families are dispirited because their sons and daughters are in combat and do sustain injuries while the administration hides behind semantics of ``no boots on the ground.'' There are boots on the ground. Further, it was ``gambling'' and ``dangerous'' to establish a poorly thought-out and poorly executed ``train and equip'' scheme in Syria, or to conclude that Russia and China would not cease their aggressive challenges to American superiority around the world. My friends, one thing we can all agree upon is that the last 2 years of budget cuts, constant deployments, and new crises have only eroded our military's readiness and capabilities. The bill before you does not gamble. It is highly responsible. Rather, our proposal wisely invests more money for our troops, more training for our troops, more modern equipment, expanded cybersecurity, more intelligence-gathering capabilities, and better healthcare outcomes for our troops and their families. Mr. Chairman, it deserves your support; it deserves our support. I reserve the balance of my time. [[Page ERR58*H3788]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH14JN16.001 [[Page ERR58*H3789]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH14JN16.002 [[Page ERR58*H3790]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH14JN16.003 [[Page ERR58*H3791]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH14JN16.004 [[Page ERR58*H3792]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH14JN16.005 [[Page ERR58*H3793]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH14JN16.006 [[Page ERR58*H3794]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH14JN16.007 [[Page ERR58*H3795]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH14JN16.008 [[Page ERR58*H3796]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH14JN16.009

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the full committee chairman.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Graves), a vital member of our Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chair, how much time remains on both sides?

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), the vice chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chair, the committee recognizes the important role of the Reserve, including the Army National Guard, as well as the Air National Guard, as a flexible and ready force that contributes to our cyber preparedness. I thank the gentleman from Washington for raising this important issue, and I look forward to working with him as we move forward with this bill.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack), a great member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), a key member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to join with Ranking Member Visclosky in taking a moment to thank the hardworking and effective staff of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. These are truly professional men and women who work on behalf of our national security and do remarkable things for our military that serve around the world and look after the needs of our intelligence community throughout the country and throughout the world. Led by our clerk, Rob Blair, and our minority staff member, Becky Leggieri, the House owes both of these individuals a deep debt of gratitude for their hard work. Along with Mr. Visclosky, I also want to recognize, the work of others on the staff: Walter Hearne; Brooke Boyer; B.G. Wright; Adrienne Ramsay; Megan Milam; Allison Deters; Collin Lee; Cornell Teague; Matt Bower; the indispensable Sherry Young, who has been upstairs and downstairs at various points doing some incredible work on behalf of the committee; and Chris Bigelow. I recognize my own staff: Nancy Fox, Steve Wilson, and Katie Hazlett. And I know that we give a shout-out to Joe DeVooght, who is dedicated to the whole process and works very closely with the ranking member. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), a key member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rooney), a member of the authorizing committee, the Armed Services Committee. We thank him for joining us this evening.

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

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, on Monday May 16, my return to Washington, D.C. was unavoidably delayed. As a result, I missed two recorded votes. On Roll Call Vote Number 194, H.R. 4743--National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act; On Roll Call Vote Number 195, H.R. 4407--Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act; Had I been present, I would have voted Yes.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 4901, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Reauthorization Act. Members of Congress, believe that together--the key to the future of our great nation is the quality of the education we provide our children. We all know the story of some District of Columbia public schools: Low graduation rates, high dropout rates, low math and reading scores. And, we can all agree that the children in the District deserve a first class education. A decade ago, I had the honor to Chair the District of Columbia Appropriations Subcommittee. In that capacity, we worked to create a program to give a `hand-up' to children in Washington, DC. We built a `three-sector' approach: public schools, charter schools, and the latter, the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program, which provides parents with funds to send their children to private or parochial schools. The bill before us today will reauthorize the three-sector approach to school reform in the District of Columbia--including the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program--through FY 2021. The DC Opportunity Scholarship Program is a huge success. Last year alone 3,246 students submitted applications to participate in these scholarships and the program accepted 1,244 students. 88 percent of high school graduates in 2015, who were Opportunity Scholarship recipients, enrolled at a 2- or 4-year college. Congress should listen to the voices of parents and students and continue to work to ensure that this not only survives, but grows. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this critical legislation.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the County College of Morris (CCM), located in Randolph, New Jersey, for its remarkable record as an institution of higher learning. Since its foundation in 1968, the County College of Morris has been a model of success, and has represented the standard of the academic excellence associated with the great state of New Jersey. CCM offers more than 50 associate degrees and more than 25 certificate programs, in addition to a wide selection of career and professional programs. The institution has one of the highest graduation and transfer rates among community colleges in New Jersey. The County College of Morris has a diverse campus and enriching academic and social environments that have created a culture ripe for personal and academic growth. CCM has become a place for students to reach their true potentials, as well as a community resource for those seeking to further their careers through additional education. In the classroom, students at the County College of Morris have repeatedly excelled in every department, from the math and sciences, to business, to the liberal arts. Graduates have pursued respected careers, going on to become doctors, engineers, nurses, teachers, and civil servants. CCM's dynamic academic programs have challenged students, and pushed them to produce high-level work. Students at CCM are not limited to just academic success. With more than 45 active student organizations, nine intercollegiate varsity sports teams, and countless community service opportunities, students have demonstrated excellence outside of the classroom. The County College of Morris is home to two award-winning student publications: its newspaper, The Youngtown Edition and its graphic arts and literary magazine, The Promethean. In the performing arts, students have the opportunity to participate in high-quality musical theater and drama productions, or can join CCM's acclaimed Dance Theatre troupe. Under the exceptional leadership and vision of its president for 30 years, Dr. Edward J. Yaw, CCM has continued to modernize and has become one of the finer academic institutions in New Jersey. The college ensures that its students have all of the necessary resources to develop the skills crucial for success in the world beyond the classroom. Since its founding, CCM has been a driving force in the lives of thousands of successful students who have passed through its halls. Graduates over the years continue to serve as leaders and role models in their communities all over the country. Thanks to the work of its renowned faculty and staff, like Dr. Yaw, CCM will continue to offer a first class education to those who seek to pursue higher learning. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in honoring and recognizing the achievements of the County College of Morris and those who devote themselves to its continuing success as an institution of higher learning.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 65th Anniversary of The Florham Park Memorial First Aid Squad, located in Florham Park, in Morris County, New Jersey. Over the years, the squad has responded to various types of emergencies including: motor vehicle collisions, fire, plane crashes and have cared for victims of crimes. They have also been in attendance at countless parades, gazebo concerts, football games and graduations. For fifty years the squad has functioned as a free-of-charge service, relying upon donations from residents and businesses in order to cover their expenses. As time has passed, the borough's population has increased, causing a raise in the number of calls they receive. In their first year, they had fifty-eight calls, while in 2000, there were 962. They have racked up more than 350,000 miles on a total of fourteen ambulances. In 1951, first aid squads were considered an innovative idea. Only a few surrounding towns had them and there were only one-hundred and thirty squads operating in New Jersey. On January 15, 1951 the Florham Park Volunteer Fire Department decided to form their town's squad as a separate non-profit corporation. At the start, firemen served as advisors and trustees. The concept of dialing 9-1-1 was not used until the early 1990s by Florham Park. When the squad first formed, a local storekeeper, Carmen Kursino, fielded calls during the day and the police department answered at night. In 1955, technology had advanced and an answering service in Madison dispatched calls. During this time, not many families had two cars, so in order to assist the volunteers the ambulance would pick up the crew on the way to the call. In 1965, calls would be broadcasted to volunteers over radio receivers called Plectrons. These were later upgraded to battery-operated units which allowed the crew to travel around town freely. They currently use Minitor II technology. In order to be able to staff weekday shifts, Florham Park became one of the first squads in New Jersey that allowed women to join. An article written in the Newark Sunday News on October 2, 1955, echoed the feelings of that day. It stated, these women ``may have to drop their brooms, forsake the washing or leave the dishes to rush to the squads headquarters'' in order to receive a call. Originally, their ambulance was stored in the Brooklake firehouse. However, after the fire department purchased a second fire truck, the squad was forced to find a new home. On February 20, 1953 they purchased a garage next door to their old location. They dedicated the building to the late Captain C. Howard Collins on Memorial Day 1953. In 1964, the town suggested the squad move to Felch Road. They listened and ended up purchasing a building costing around $40,000. The squad continues to update their equipment and training in order to keep up with advancements in emergency care. They are still the primary providers of first aid care to residents and workers of the borough and provide trusted aid to the surrounding communities. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the Executive Board, members and volunteers of the Florham Park Memorial First Aid Squad of Florham Park, New Jersey for all of their service to their community.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of Boy Scout Troop 8, located in Chatham, Morris County, New Jersey. Troop 8 is one of the earliest chartered troops of the Boy Scouts of America in the eastern United States, founded in 1916. For one hundred years, Troop 8 has held an integral part in the Chatham community, fostering civic values, compassion, and a sense of moral aptitude in the young men who have filed through its ranks. Troop 8 is sponsored by Ogden Memorial Church, located within Chatham Borough. The troop currently possesses an enrollment of one hundred young men of various ages. Throughout the year, the group partakes in a variety of community service events, aimed at improving the overall standard of living within Chatham and the surrounding area. The troop also organizes outings for members, such as camping trips and group hikes. Both these outings and trips strengthen the bonds of fellow scouts and build individual character. Examples of past community service events are numerous and deeply impactful on the community. Scouts have cleaned up various Chatham parks, created campsites, and traveled as far as New Mexico in the name of community service. Troop 8 is home to over 150 Eagle Award recipients. This award, one of the highest honors bestowed on a scout, requires active involvement in the troop, a minimum of 21 merit badges, a clear leadership role in the troop, and an original service project that benefits the community in some way. Past projects have included improvements to local churches, creating an outdoor reading center at the Chatham Library, and discovering and implementing a way to prevent flooding from Milton Pond. The completed projects, as well as the high volume of Eagle Award recipients within Troop 8, are a testament to the Boy Scout's dedication to serving the community. Boys who have passed through the program have gone on to become successful adults, upholding the ideals instilled during their time as Boy Scouts. The life skills provided by Troop 8 are invaluable in preparing these young men for future roles and responsibilities. Moreover, the Chatham community is extremely thankful for the time and effort these young men contribute to improving their neighborhoods. Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking the members of the Boy Scout Troop 8 of Chatham, New Jersey for all of their service to the community, and in congratulating them and their scout leaders on their Centennial Anniversary.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Green Hill Retirement Community located in West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey. Green Hill Retirement Community is devoted to providing personal care to older Americans of lifestyles ranging from all levels of need. Green Hill continues to preserve the vision of its founders set 150 years ago by working to adapt to the changing needs of their community. Established in 1866, Green Hill is a nonprofit facility dedicated to providing compassionate care to seniors and their families. Originally founded by the Society for the Relief of Respectable Aged Women in 1866, following the end of the Civil War with just 13 residences, Green Hill currently continues to expand and innovate new ways of living such as the launch of their Green House Homes development in 2011. Though the world has changed greatly since 1866, the need for selfless personal care continues to grow. Additionally, Green Hill provides families of elderly loved ones with all of the necessary resources crucial in the transition to a senior living community. Green Hill provides the tools and services required to evaluate the level of need for each prospective resident, determine what financial resources are available to them, and explore their different lifestyle options at Green Hill. Green Hill understands that transitioning to a senior living community can be stressful for both the prospective resident and their family; therefore Green Hill is dedicated to all efforts helping to ease the process. In addition to the quality care that Green Hill provides to seniors on both ends of the need spectrum, including those independent and ``on the go'' as well as those who require full-time assistance, Green Hill also offers an immense selection of recreational, educational, and social activities. These programs increase the comfort of living in the convenient metropolitan location of Green Hill. Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking the members and supporters of the Green Hill Retirement Community of West Orange, New Jersey for all of their service to the community, and in congratulating them on their 150th Anniversary.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, once again, I come to the floor to recognize the great success of strong local schools working with dedicated parents and teachers. I rise today to congratulate and honor a number of outstanding high school artists from the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey. Each of these talented young men and women participated in the 2016 Congressional Arts Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' Their works of art are exceptional. Sixty six participated. That is a wonderful response, and I would very much like to build on that participation for future competitions. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the winners of our art competition. First place was awarded to Jane Lee from Wayne Valley High School for her acrylic painting entitled, ``Chrome Still-Life.'' Second place was awarded to Emma Jang from West Morris Mendham High School for her acrylic painting on canvas entitled, ``Tenacity.'' Tyler Harker received third place for his etching titled ``Opal.'' Honorable Mentions were awarded to: Connor Sokol of Sparta High School for his photograph titled ``Freedom's Flight,'' Jasmine Shaw for her photograph entitled ``There's No Place Like Homeland,'' Camila Rosario for her colored pencil sketch entitled ``Stressed Out,'' and Leonela Moyoli of Boonton High School for her acrylic painting entitled, ``Tyran Moore.'' Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize each artist for their participation by indicating their high school, their name and the title of their contest entries. Boonton High School: Alexis Manfredi, ``The Lorax'' Leonela Moyoli,``Tryan Moore'' Theodore Perri, ``Phelps'' Elizabeth Sayles, ``Elizabeth'' Chatham High School: Jane Ewald, ``Teddy'' Connie Han, ``Like Father Like Son'' Phoebe Nichols, ``Eliza'' Amanda Leyens, Untitled Delbarton School: Joseph Gambetta, ``Patriotism'' Santiago Robertson-Lavalle, ``Girl in the Archway'' Hanover Park High School: Samantha Wingerter, ``Sam I Am'' Jefferson Township High School: Skylar Lewis, ``Moonlight Serenade'' Melanie Rodriguez, ``Reflections'' Nina Thogulura, ``Hues of Contemplation'' Kinnelon High School: Samantha Flayderman, ``Miss Believer'' Patrycia Glowiak, ``Shadows'' Ava Lutz, ``Aviary Reflection'' Amanda Pita, ``The Old Man by the Sea'' Livingston High School: Lanie Esralew, ``July in Manhattan'' Yana Sang, ``Around the World'' Jasmine Shaw, ``There's No Place like Homeland'' Julia Zeman, ``Passionate Polaroid'' Jennifer Zheng, ``Where to Next?'' Mewe Art Academy: Siyu Cao, ``2011/07/01 Shanghai'' Montville High School: Kristen DiGiacomo, ``Lost'' Destinee Garrido, ``Style'' Alexander Tullo, ``Back Street Lot'' Morris Catholic High School: Patrick Green, ``Sunset Over the Marine Corps War Memorial'' Roxana Ponce, ``Reminiscence'' Haoming Zhu, ``Zi Tai [Posture]'' Morris Knolls High School: Austin Braddock, ``Censored'' Jenna Ford, ``Fractured Self-Portrait'' Adam SanGiovanni, ``Stephanie, the Free Soul'' Ryan Sullivan, ``Hypnotized'' Mountain Lakes High School: Joy Xie, ``Worn Out'' Nutley High School: Barbara Benda, ``Relief in the Farm of Nusty Pages'' Jacob Michels, ``Bridge'' Omar Morsi, ``Making the Best of a Rainy Day'' Gregory O'Connell, ``Smooth Criminal'' Parsippany High School: Christine Li, ``Don't Burst My Bubble'' Parsippany Hills High School: Karoline Xiong, ``The Joy of Sunrise'' Passaic County Technical Institute: Christopher Cortez, ``Norma'' Jamie Loverdi, ``Candice Swanepoel'' Passaic Valley High School: Claudia Barone, ``Piano Keys'' Melanie Capalbo, ``Fall Foliage'' Andrew Fucntet, ``Fear in Clouds'' Santiago Gomez-Vargas, ``All the Dry Peaches'' Randolph High School: Nicole Gehan, ``Brave'' Sparta High School: Brandon Ancis, ``Unspoken Wisdom'' Katlyn Connelly, ``Father and Son Bonding'' Mitchell Coyle, ``The Dream Within Us All'' Connor Sokol, ``Freedom's Flight'' Wayne Valley High School: Jane Lee, ``Chrome Still-Life'' Olivia Lozy, ``Stained Hands'' Chelsea Pitti-Fernandez, ``Hedgeworth'' Camila Rosario, ``Stressed Out'' West Morris Mendham High School: Tyler Harker, ``Opal'' Emma Jang, ``Tenacity'' West Orange High School: Victoria Chi, ``Harper'' Genesis Guedes, ``Titans'' Harper McVey, ``Fury'' Vanessa Wapples, ``Still Waiting . . .'' Whippany Park High School: Nasim Bibi, ``Beyond the Looking Glass'' Michelle Duong, ``Morendo: Diminishing in Time'' Ana Ramil, ``Pride'' Lisa Romano, ``1,000 Words'' Each year the winner of the competition has their art work displayed with other winners from across the country in a special corridor here at the U.S. Capitol. Thousands of our fellow Americans walk through the exhibition and are reminded of the vast talents of 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, I rise today to honor the Jersey Battered Women's Service located in Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey as it celebrates its 40th Anniversary. The Jersey Battered Women's Service, or JBWS, began as a hotline for victims of domestic violence. However, after the murders of two callers by their husbands, the small group of female pioneers responsible for the original hotline recognized the dire need for a greater service for domestic violence victims in New Jersey. In 1978, the Jersey Battered Women's Shelter opened its doors to those requiring refuge from violence at home. Today, it operates as a full-service, private, not- for-profit domestic violence agency. The Jersey Battered Women's Service is a multi-faceted operation, focused not just on providing protection to survivors, but also on helping these individuals rebuild and restart their lives. JBWS is heavily involved in raising awareness for domestic violence, specifically through providing education services on the consequences of domestic violence and how it can be prevented. The organization is notable for its domestic violence advocacy efforts and its mission to improve the rights of survivors. The shelter aims to empower the women who seek its safety, transforming them from victims to survivors. Ultimately, the goal of the Jersey Battered Women's Service is to create a community culture that refuses to tolerate partner and family violence of any sort. Alongside staff, the over 120 Jersey Battered Women's Service volunteers dedicate their time and energy to combating domestic violence. Services JBWS offers include legal assistance, victim services and shelter, counseling for friends and family members of survivors, batterer's intervention, child services and protection, and teen dating abuse protection and prevention services. These services, and the efforts of volunteers, have been crucial in helping survivors and their families rise above the abuse. The 40th Anniversary of the Jersey Battered Women's Service is marked by the grand opening of the Morris Family Justice Center. This comprehensive center combines various organizations to provide counseling, protection, legal and immigration assistance, and children's services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, all conveniently in one location. For forty years, the Jersey Battered Women's Shelter has provided protection and support for survivors of domestic violence. The organization has made incredible strides in increasing domestic violence awareness and strengthening education about relationship and familial violence. I commend the Jersey Battered Women's Service for the remarkable contributions they have made to New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in honoring the Jersey Battered Women's Service as the organization celebrates its 40th Anniversary.