Rodney Frelinghuysen

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the Borough of Madison, County of Morris, New Jersey. The first residents of the borough of Madison were Lenape Indians with small villages located near rivers and streams. In 1715, when the first European settler, Barnabas Carter, reached what would become Madison, the Lenape had already left the area. The Presbyterian Church of South Hanover acquired a piece of land from Carter and built a meetinghouse on it. This place, known as ``Bottle Hill,'' became a center for Presbyterianism. When the Revolutionary War began, the 20 families who resided in Bottle Hill joined the Morris County militia. The group was led by Reverend Azariah Horton, a Presbyterian minister. Bottle Hill provided a direct route to and from Morristown. The town served as a camp for the largest Continental Army in the Revolutionary War during the winter of 1777. Officers took up quarters in Bottle Hill, and General George Washington was offered hospitality in homes that are still located on Ridgedale Avenue today. Once a part of South Hanover, Bottle Hill was divided between Morris and Hanover Townships until 1806 when the village joined with Florham Park, Chatham Township, and Chatham Borough to create one Chatham Township. Bottle Hill was the name originally given to Madison, and there are two beliefs surrounding this moniker. One idea is that the name is derived from the bottle-like shape of the town's original land, which was formed by two hills. The other, more likely idea, comes from a tavern that was once located on top of a hill at the meeting of Park and Ridgedale avenues that advertised by hanging a bottle-shaped sign outside. The nickname is also used for Madison's annual ``Bottle Hill Day'' street fair. In 1834, to pay tribute to James Madison, the fourth President of the United States and father of the U.S. Constitution, Bottle Hill's name was changed to Madison. In 1889, Madison seceded from Chatham Township to create the Borough of Madison. In the mid-1800s, Madison was nicknamed ``The Rose City'' during a time when Madison was a popular destination for wealthy families from New York City seeking fresh-air and an area on which to build their country homes. So as to ornament their estates, these families wanted fresh flowers every day. Thus, they used individual greenhouses to grow roses for themselves and, later in 1856, for the commercial market. The growth of Madison's rose production was made possible by the Morris and Essex Railroad service that began in 1937. Roses and rose shows in Madison became internationally known, and working-class immigrants from Germany, Italy, and Ireland were attracted to Madison because of jobs in the rose industry and on the estates there. The descendants of these ancestors that still reside in Madison make it the diverse municipality that it is today. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating with the residents and the officials that represent the wonderful Borough of Madison on the occasion of their one hundred and twenty- fifth anniversary.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I stand with Israel. There are certain principles that govern the conduct of nations that are so basic--so fundamental--that the world should never have to be reminded of them. The most fundamental of these is simple and straightforward: a nation has the right and the obligation to defend its people and its territory from attack. Unfortunately, however, this fundamental principle does not bear repeating tonight because too many around the world seem to have forgotten it or too many seem to think it only applies to every nation but one--the State of Israel. Make no mistake. It applies to Israel just as it applies to every nation on the face of the Earth. Every nation--every one--has the right and the obligation to defend its people and its territory. The thousands of rockets launched against Israel by the terrorist group Hamas are a deliberate attack on the State of Israel and the Israeli people. I stand with Israel's right to exist in peace and to protect itself. I stand with Israel in terms of its efforts to defend itself, and I support the very important Iron Dome, Arrow program, and David's Sling program, which keep the Israeli people safe. I stand with Israel in its effort to destroy the ability of Hamas' to attack Israel's people and its territory. Mr. Speaker, I stand with Israel.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would reduce the amount available for the National Security Council staff by $4.2 million, or by approximately one-third. The National Security Council staff is the President's staff. They serve solely to provide advice to the President on national security matters. They have no authority to manage programs. They have no authority to allocate funds or otherwise decide spending levels. And they have no authority to determine or dictate congressional access to classified information involving sensitive military matters or operations. As the President's staff, it is appropriate that they are accountable to him, just as our staff is only accountable to us. Therefore, they are not subject to congressional questioning nor other forms of oversight. Over the past few years, the size of the National Security Council's staff has grown, and it appears that they have moved beyond their Presidential advisory role to involve themselves in decisions which are not in their purview. Over the last few months, we have had several instances in which the National Security staff has mandated that the Department of Defense and other agencies selectively withhold information from congressional oversight committees. While the President has constitutional authority as Commander in Chief to provide for the Nation's defense, this Congress was vested exclusively with the constitutional authority to fund that defense, a constitutional authority that is vested in the Appropriations Committee. Mr. Chairman, it is important that all appropriate oversight committees are not restricted from the information they need to have to do their jobs. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Let me thank Chairman Crenshaw and Ranking Member Serrano for this opportunity to propose this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I am happy to yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw), the chairman of the committee.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the time to recognize the Borough of Ogdensburg in Sussex County, New Jersey as it celebrates its Centennial Anniversary. This beautiful community was originally part of Sparta Township until it became its own self-governing community in 1914. Ogdensburg acquired its name from its first settler, Robert Ogden. When the borough first formed, the population was less than 1,000 citizens. Now, Ogdensburg is home to more than 2,000 citizens and stretches across 2.3 square miles of land. New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Ogdensburg 27th in its 2008 rankings of the ``Best Places to Live'' in New Jersey. Ogdensburg provides public education from Kindergarten to eighth grade through the Ogdensburg Borough School District. For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Wallkill Valley Regional High School, which also serves students from neighboring boroughs. The National Register of Historic Places recognizes multiples locations in Ogdensburg. The Ogdensburg Railroad Arch, also known as the ``Backwards Tunnel,'' was built in 1871 on Cork Hill Road. Its beauty is only matched by its historic value. The double arch tunnels extend over half an acre and were designed by architect Justin Arnold. The tunnel was nicknamed the ``Backwards Tunnel'' because it was thought that the tunnel should have been wider over the road than over the river. Another recognized site in Ogdensburg is the Sterling Hill Mining Museum This historic zinc mine provided minerals and jobs to the people of the region until it officially closed in 1986. It now serves as a reminder of Ogdensburg's history and prosperity and as a destination for tourists. The people of Ogdensburg are equally as notable as its sites. Some of the residents go above and beyond the call of public service. Among them was Joseph ``Muzzie'' Masar, a recently deceased decorated World War II veteran, who will be remembered by the people of Ogdensburg as a dedicated member of the community. He worked as an Ordinance Engineer at Picatinny Arsenal, was a founding member of the Ogdensburg First Aid Squad, and served as a member of the Ogdensburg town council. Mr. Masar was also a member of the VFW Post 10152-Ogdensburg and a proud firefighter for the Ogdensburg Volunteer Fire Department. Residents such as Joseph Masar exemplify the truly proud and civic-minded people of the borough. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Borough of Ogdensburg as it celebrates its Centennial Anniversary.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension during the centennial year of the Smith-Lever Act. On May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Smith-Lever Act, creating the Cooperative Extension. The Smith-Lever Act established a partnership among federal, state, and county governments, as well as the United States Department of Agriculture and land-grant universities, in order to provide educational opportunities for youths and adults concerning issues of agriculture. A state-by-state network of extension educators brings to the people science-based knowledge and research in areas such as agriculture, sustainability, environment, health, and nutrition. The Rutgers Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension uses this science-based knowledge and education to help New Jersey residents improve their lives and communities. The Cooperative Extension provides several programs for both young people and adults in areas such as healthy lifestyles, food safety and nutrition, environment and natural resources, and economic growth and agricultural sustainability in Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and other counties in New Jersey. One of the areas focused on by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension is 4-H Youth Development programs. Through educational outreach, Rutgers faculty and staff along with volunteers, bring their knowledge and expertise to the young people of New Jersey from kindergarten through high school and one year beyond. Among the 4-H programs are 4-H clubs, overnight camping trips, and afterschool child care education programs. In addition to 4-H youth development, the Cooperative Extension also delivers assistance, information, and consultation to businesses, residents, and government agencies through the Department of Agricultural and Resource Management Agents. Two of the department's major programs are Rutgers Master Gardner and the Environmental Stewards Program. The Rutgers Master Gardner program accepts volunteers and trains them to help the Cooperative Extension in its efforts to spread information to the public about horticulture. The Environmental Stewards Program trains and educates people so they can contribute in the effort to find solutions to environmental issues facing New Jersey communities. The Department of Family and Community Health Sciences is another branch of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Its mission is to promote healthy lifestyles for individuals, families, and groups in New Jersey. Through workshops and other resources, Family and Community Health Sciences bring information about nutrition, exercise, wellness, and family development to those communities that are involved. One major program run by this department is, ``Walk Point to Point NJ.'' Through this, the Cooperative Extension encourages young people and adults in New Jersey to walk, or do other physical activity, that would be the equivalent of traversing the entirety of the state. Through its many programs and divisions, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, in conjunction with the Cooperative Extension network, provides assistance, research, education, and involvement opportunities for New Jersey residents so that they may be healthier and better informed about agriculture, sustainability, environment, health, and nutrition. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension during the centennial year of the Smith-Lever Act.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Veterans of Foreign Wars Stuart E. Edgar Post 493 Women's Auxiliary located in the Township of Nutley, Essex County, New Jersey as it celebrates its 90th anniversary. The Veterans of Foreign Wars is a national organization, established in 1899, that supports and honors veterans and their families across the United States. Throughout the organization's history, the VFW has played a large role serving American veterans, including its strong support for the establishment of the Veterans Administration, creation of the National Cemetery system, and the passage of legislation for veterans, such as the G.I. Bill for the Twenty-First Century. In 1996, the VFW launched Operation Uplink, a program that allows deployed service members to call home, free of charge, on three designated days each month. The Women's Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign War was established in 1924 and brings together the mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters of veterans in order to celebrate those who have served in the military. In 2010, the Post 493 Women's Auxiliary found itself in serious financial trouble. However, through the dedication of its members, coupled with help from local community, the Auxiliary was able to raise the funds to allow the organization to continue and flourish. Today, VFW Post 493 and the Women's Auxiliary continue to bring together about 100 men and women from the Township of Nutley, as well as the Township of Belleville. In addition to advancing the broader mission and goals of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 493 and the Women's Auxiliary carry out a number of duties throughout the year. These duties include marching in local parades as well as performing services at war memorials on holidays such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day. They also hold events to raise funds for scholarships, services for veterans, and other goals of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 2010, through the Adopt-A-Unit program, Post 493 sent packages of goods to two Army units--the Second Battalion, 113th Infantry of Newark and First Battalion, 102nd Cavalry of West Orange. Twice a year, members host parties and serve dinner to patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in East Orange, New Jersey. The Auxiliary's efforts and contributions have made an enormous impact on the community, local veterans, their families, and the VFW at large. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Veterans of Foreign War Stuart E. Edgar Post 493 Women's Auxiliary as it celebrates its 90th anniversary.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Hillside Hose Company #1, located in the township of Morris, County of Morris, New Jersey, as it celebrates its Centennial. The Hillside Hose Company #1 was founded in 1914 by local citizens as a ``not-for-profit'' volunteer organization. The Company now serves as Station 3 of the Morris Township Fire Department, protecting more than 22,000 residents. When needed, it also helps other municipalities' with mutual aid. Along with fighting fires, their dedicated volunteers also conduct neighborhood safety patrols and ensure safety for events such as the July 4th fireworks, graduation ceremonies, or other permitted events. Recently, Hillside Hose Company received a Unit Citation from the Morris Township Committee for exemplary service during the natural disaster of Hurricane Irene. Hillside Hose Company also provides community programs to their residents by hosting events for children at Halloween, and Christmas. Some of their most successful events include the Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween costume parade, and the annual Christmas tree fundraiser sale. These events are open to the public and have a high attendance of children that love to participate every year. A considerable amount of the Hillside Hose Company #1's budget supports scholarships for local students; youth sports teams, and donations to numerous charitable causes. Hillside awards $1,500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who pursue higher education. The Company takes pride in educating the residents they serve about the importance of smoke detectors and safety evacuation plans. They offer important information about when to change the batteries in the detectors and teaching children what to do in the event of a fire. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating everyone that is associated with the Hillside Hose Company #1, and as they celebrate their Centennial.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on further consideration of H.R. 4870, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Chair, as we move towards the finish line and consider the last amendments to our Defense Appropriations bill, large thanks should be extended to the remarkable staff that make up the Defense Subcommittee. I know I join with my ranking member, Mr. Visclosky, and wanted to take time to thank the bipartisan staff of our committee: our clerk, Tom McLemore, whose counterpart is Paul Juola on the minority side. Recognition and thanks go to all of our staff: Tim Prince, Sherry Young, Jennifer Miller, Walter Hearne, Paul Terry, B G Wright, Brook Boyer, Adrienne Ramsay, Megan Rosenbusch, Maureen Holohan, Collin Lee, and Becky Leggiere; from my personal office: Nancy Fox, Steve Wilson, Katie Hazzlett; from Mr. Visclosky's office: Joe DeVot and Jake Whiteside; and all the Appropriations staff and House staff that have made this bill move so smoothly. I also want to thank all of the Members of the House for their active participation and patience over the last few days. We do not always agree on the substantive issues, but I appreciate the spirit in which all of us debated a variety of issues. In this regard, I know Mr. Visclosky and I would like to extend our thanks to three members of the Defense Subcommittee who are working on their final bill with us: Mr. Owens of New York, Mr. Kingston of Georgia, Mr. Moran of Virginia. Their service and contributions have been enormous and their assistance has been deeply appreciated.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Well, sir, you indeed are a gentleman, too, and it has been a pleasure to work with you. We are blessed with a remarkable staff that has met the needs of every Member of Congress, regardless of political party. We have considered their amendments, and to the extent that we could, we have acted upon them. Thank you so much for your support and all of us. We appreciate the work of our great staff. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment Offered by Mr. Rohrabacher

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Chair, the gentleman is correct in one respect: the House does not have, nor does our bill show, any specific amount for Pakistan, but we anticipate the administration will come forward with a figure which may be similar to last year. There are good reasons that we have invested in what is called the Coalition Support Fund. It allows the Secretary of Defense to reimburse any key cooperating nation for logistical and military support, including access, specialized training to personnel, and procurement and provision of supplies and equipment provided by that nation in connection with the U.S. military operations in Enduring Freedom. Pakistan is one of those nations. Receipts for reimbursements are submitted by Pakistan and other cooperating nations and are fully vetted by the Pentagon and follow strict criteria to meet the standard for reimbursement. All payments are made in arrears and follow notification to Congress as to what the money has been spent for. Specifically regarding Pakistan, the Coalition Support Fund remains a critical tool to enable Pakistan to effectively deal with the future challenges emerging from the U.S. drawdown. There will be challenges, no matter what the troop number, and the President has set a troop number at approximately 9,500. It would be cost-effective. It is a cost-effective tool for the U.S. to remain engaged in the region. We can't turn our back on Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly because Pakistan is a nuclear-capable nation. We need to keep a functioning relationship with Pakistan. That is essential. I would be pleased to yield to my ranking, Mr. Visclosky, for any comments that he might make. This money is essential, and Pakistan has been an ally in getting after some of the worst terrorists in certain parts of Pakistan. They need that assistance, and we should, I think, continue to give it to them.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Chair, we need to keep a relationship with Pakistan. There are some issues that have divided us. When Mr. Visclosky and I were in Pakistan earlier this year, we made it quite evident that we were concerned about some of the things that occurred, including the holding of that doctor whose assistance helped us kill one of those who killed so many of us. But we need to recognize that holding Pakistan close to us as an ally gives our troops some extra protection, and we need to have that access to Pakistan to make sure that our deployed troops and others there get the assistance they need. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment and yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Chair, I insist on my point of order.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Chair, I make a point of order against the amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an appropriation bill and, therefore, violates clause 2 of rule XXI. The rule states in pertinent part: ``An amendment to a general appropriation bill shall not be in order if changing existing law.'' The amendment imposes additional duties. I ask for a ruling from the Chair.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Chair, I insist on my point of order.