Rush Holt

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Chairman. I would like to express my support for an amendment offered by my two colleagues, Representatives Inslee and Horn, regarding the Bureau of Land Management hard rock mining rules. New mining regulations were put into place at the end of the Clinton Administration, after a four-year period of intense public comment, hearings, and Congressional input. These new regulations are a vast improvement over the old BLM rules under the 1872 Mining Law. The old rules did not protect the public from the financial burden of failed mining ventures--leaving a legacy of thousands of abandoned mines, and the risk of a further billion dollars for potential clean up of ongoing operations. Furthermore, the old regulations did not protect the public from the massive pollution potential at modern large-scale mines. The new mining regulations provide these protections, and I believe that they ought to be preserved. They require mining companies to pay the full cost of environmental cleanup, rather than shifting the cost to the taxpayer. The new rules put into place standards to protect surface and ground water from harmful mine drainage. EPA estimates that 40 percent of the western watersheds are polluted from mine drainage and leaching. Finally, the new rules prevent mining companies from staking a claim on public lands without regard to environmental and archeological resources or consideration of local communities. The Inslee/Horn amendment will protect public lands and local communities by ensuring that the new mining regulations are kept in place. We can not afford to retreat on environmental and public health safeguards by weakening protective standards. The values of the 1800s no longer apply to the mining industry of today and the old rules do not offer the protection that is needed. Too much is at stake for us to allow mining companies to contaminate our water supply or lands. This amendment is the best way we have to protect our communities from outdated and harmful practices. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Chairman, I would like to express my support for an amendment offered by my colleagues from Florida, Representatives Davis and Scarborough, to prohibit oil and gas exploration and development off the coast of Florida. The issue at hand is the sale of Lease Sale 181 in the Gulf of Mexico, although offshore drilling threatens all coastal communities, including those of New Jersey. We in New Jersey thought we had put to rest the idea of drilling off the New Jersey coast, but recently we have begun to wonder. Sale 181 contains 5.9 million acres of an offshore area in the Gulf, in water ranging from 108 to over 10,000 feet deep. The sale is scheduled for December, 2001. Although both the past administration and the present governor of Florida support a ban on oil and gas development within 100 miles of the coast of Florida, part of Sale 181 come to within 15 miles of the Alabama coast. I see this sale as a potential threat to the economy and environment of the gulf states. Although cleaner than in the past, oil and gas exploration cannot be done without threatening our natural resources, commercial fishing industries, tourism, and marine ecology. Nearly 90 percent of the reef fish resources of the Gulf of Mexico are caught on the West Florida Shelf. Oil and gas development would threaten the shallow, clean water marine communities found on the Florida outer continental shelf. Ecology and environment are central to the economy of Florida. Damage to the environment would threaten the tourism industry upon which much of their economy is based. Furthermore, there is no evidence that drilling in Lease 181 would have a significant impact on our energy supply. Increased conservation and efficiency would do more to meet our country's energy needs than drilling off of the coast of Florida, and the impact of conservation would be immediate with little environmental cost. I endorse this amendment as a strong message to Secretary Norton to maintain the moratorium on offshore drilling and not to sacrifice our marine ecosystem in an attempt to satisfy our energy demands. I strongly support this amendment to prohibit the sale of the Sale 181 area and I urge my colleagues, particularly those who represent coastal states, to join me.

Mr HOLT

Mr HOLT. Mr. Chairman, I support the amendment offered by my colleague from the state of West Virginia, Congressman Rahall, to protect National Monuments from energy and mineral development. National monument status designation has been used to protect some of our most unique and significant natural and historic areas. In the last 95 years, 122 national monuments have been designated through the use of the Antiquities Act. Clearly, presidents from the time of Theodore Roosevelt have realized the wisdom of protecting sensitive public lands, already owned by the public, from natural resource exploitation. The designation of national monuments follows a serious and deliberate process, including extensive study and involvement by the public. The process relies heavily on the input of local officials and citizens, those who will be most directly affected by the designations. Impacts are weighed in light of the benefits that will be enjoyed by the American public and the fact that a natural resources legacy has been created for future generations. Some coal, natural gas, and oil does underlie a number of our national monument lands. However, the significance of these resources when compared to our overall energy supply was part of the consideration before the monument status was bestowed. Ninety-five percent of the public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management already is open to energy leasing. This amounts to millions of acres of federal land. We should be focused on doing a better job managing and developing fuels from the lands already available for leasing rather than looking at the remaining five percent for further exploitation. The high cost of electricity and the rising costs of gasoline and home heating oil will not be reduced by drilling on national monument lands. The amount of energy resources on these lands is only a small fraction of what is available elsewhere. Our monuments must be protected against the forces of commercialization that would use them to enrich a few at the expense of the many by sacrificing our most spectacular and prized natural landscapes and historical sites. I urge you to join me and support the Rahall amendment.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support this amendment to add much-needed funds to the National Endowment of the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute for Museum Services. The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities play crucial roles in American cultural life. Since 1965, the NEA has provided over 111,000 grants for projects ranging from theater and film festivals, to poetry readings and workshops, to radio and TV broadcasts, to museum exhibitions, to city design and downtown renewal. NEA funds often help to bring excellent performances and exhibitions beyond big cities to small towns and rural areas throughout the United States. Also, together with the state arts agencies, the NEA provides some $30 million in annual support for more than 7,800 arts education projects in more than 2,400 communities. The NEH serves to advance the nation's scholarly and cultural life. The additional funding contained in this amendment would enable NEH to improve the quality of humanities education to America's school children and college students, offer lifelong learning opportunities through a range of public programs, and support new projects that encourage Americans to discover their wonderful American heritage. The IMLS supports museums, including art, history, science, as well as zoos and aquariums. Increased funding in this area would help reinforce museum's educational role, encourage public access, and enable museums to care for our national treasures. In central New Jersey, the NEA has supported arts opportunities for local residents in places like Lambertville, where a grant is helping support the annual New Jersey Teen Arts Festival and in New Brunswick where the NEA is helping the George Street Playhouse stage writing workshops for seventh to 12th grade students in local schools. The NEH and the Institute for Museum Services help support other important cultural opportunities for citizens throughout the state of New Jersey. As a former teacher, I can tell you, arts education helps children be better students and helps them learn critical thinking skills. This is a long overdue, modest funding increase to build programs that use the strength of the arts and our nation's cultural life to enhance communities in every state of America. I urge my colleagues to join me in support the Slaughter amendment.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of the 21st Century Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act, I am pleased to see the House of Representatives taking this action today. More than 21 million veterans have been able to get a college education with the help of the government since the original GI Bill in 1944. By the time the last American World War II veteran graduated in 1956 with the help of this program, the United States was richer by 450,000 engineers; 238,000 teachers; 91,000 scientists; 67,000 doctors; 22,000 dentists; and more than a million other college-trained men and women. It was a landmark idea that paid off for our nation, and helped to catapult the United States into its position of post-war prominence. Today, by updating the Montgomery GI Bill, we are taking a step that will help many more men and women achieve the goal of a college degree and a brighter future for themselves. This bill will implement a historic funding increase in the Montgomery GI Bill education benefit. The legislation goes a long way toward closing the gap between current GI Bill benefit levels and the rising cost of a college education. This legislation will increase the monthly education benefit from its current level of $650 per month for 36 months to $1,100--the largest hike ever enacted. When fully phased in, the new education benefit will bring the total GI Bill benefit to $39,600, an amount roughly equal to the estimated cost for a student at a four-year public college. Today, these benefit levels total only $23,400, an amount that is far below what it takes to afford a degree in most institutions. The bill makes these increases over a three year period in responsible steps, increasing to $800 the first year, the second year to $950, and finally to $1,100 per month in the third year. As a Member of the House Budget Committee, I am pleased that the Budget Resolution our Committee constructed included provisions allowing for this much-needed benefit increase. This is an important step to honor our veterans. Increasing benefit levels will also help to recruit young, talented people to our nation's armed forces. And, like the original GI Bill, it will help pay dividends for our nation, in college-educated young people who will go on to make contributions to their neighborhoods and our nation. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to day in recognition of Mr. Robert Levine, the newly elected president of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs (FJMC), for his commitment to and accomplishments on behalf of the educational and social well being of Central New Jersey's Jewish community. Bob has helped the FJMC contribute to the health of our nation's Jewish community. On July 14, he will assume the office of president of the FJMC. Bob Levine is a long-time resident of Central Jersey. A former Middlesex County College computer science professor and independent training consultant, he has a distinguished career which has paralleled his nearly three decades of affiliation with the East Brunswick Jewish Center. Bob has served as president of both the Men's Club of East Brunswick Jewish Center and of the FJMC's Northern New Jersey Region. He has also served as the Vice President and First Vice President of the FJMC, and has been responsible for overseeing a number of the Federation's many programs and committees. Bob Levine's entire life has been characterized by his devotion to his family, faith and community service. I congratulate Bob Levine on his many accomplishments. I ask my colleagues to join me in praising his many contributions to our society.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of this legislation, I rise today to talk about an issue that concerns me greatly--the recent actions of the Taliban regime. I visited Afghanistan nearly 25 years ago. I was impressed by the resilient independence of its people. I deeply lament the destruction of art and the censorship of literature. The giant statues of Bamiyan, which I had the privilege of seeing and admiring long ago, have been demolished. All of this is very lamentable, but the recent violations of human rights and religious freedom must be condemned as crimes of a higher order. Last month, the Taliban Islamic militia imposed a rigid new social code requiring Hindus in Afghanistan to wear a distinctive yellow piece of cloth identifying them as Hindus. The similarities between this recent action and those of pre-war Nazi regimes are disturbing. Even more disturbing are the other similarities between pre-war Nazi Germany and the Taliban militia. From what we have seen, the government of Afghanistan is waging a war on its certain members of its populace--particularly women and religious minorities. Before the Taliban took power in 1996, the women of Afghanistan had relative freedom: they could work, even as professionals, dress generally as they wanted, and drive and appear in public alone. Under the Taliban, women have lost not only these ``privileges'' but also all their rights as persons. Now, the women of Afghanistan must ensure that not even an inch of their flesh shows; they must screen the windows of their homes so they cannot be seen, or see. Women can no longer work and are forbidden to go out in public without a male relative. Even in their own homes, they are not allowed to be heard; they must wear silent shoes and obey and serve silently. The slightest violation of the Taliban law is punishable by beating and stoning, often to death. And now the Taliban regime has the turned its hatred toward religious minorities. Recently, the world watched in horror as the Taliban militia destroyed ancient Buddhist statues, simply because they were of another religion. And now, we are witnessing the Taliban's policy to mark its religious minorities. I fear what this action will lead to. We already know what it can lead to. Calling the Taliban's actions a ``human rights violation'' is a gross understatement. We must--the world must--condemn it. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution which not only condemns the Taliban's use of Nazi tactics, but it also demands that the Taliban regime immediately revoke its order stigmatizing Hindus and other non-Muslims in Afghanistan and conform its laws to all basic international civil and human rights standards. We must not be silent on these atrocities.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts, and I commend him for setting aside some time this evening to talk about it because every one of us in this room has an obligation to talk about this important issue. Polling data shows that the public does not feel well informed about what could be the most expensive defense ever deployed and one that has serious flaws. The President is trying to sell his magical mystery shield to the allies today. As the gentleman's cartoon shows, it is a used car with no guarantee. The problem with the missile defense, quite simply, is it would be costly to deploy, easily circumvented, and it would be strategically destabilizing. In other words, it would actually detract from our national and international security. One does not need to read a lot of history to be reminded of the-- Maginot line, the so-called impenetrable wall that has become the symbol of misguided defense policy. The proposed missile defense shield probably would not work as designed and wishing will not overcome the physics. It could be confused with decoys as the gentleman from Massachusetts mentioned a moment ago. I am a physicist by background, but one does not need advanced physics to understand that a Nation that would be capable of building an intercontinental ballistic missile, that could deliver a weapon of mass destruction could also deploy decoys by the hundreds, by the thousands. In the vacuum of space, a balloon travels just as well as a rocket. Without the resistance of air, it is easy to inflate a balloon. You could inflate dozens or hundreds of balloons. One of them might contain a warhead, others would look identical. They could all travel at thousands of miles per hour, many thousands of miles per hour, miles per second. I have spent some time looking at the physics of the detection systems, and I am convinced that it would be very difficult to determine the decoys from the actual warheads. But putting that aside, a Maginot-type missile defense system, designed to defend an entire continent, or as the President has suggested defend all nations from weapons coming from any nation, well, it could be bypassed with suitcase bombs or pickup trucks or fishing trawlers or sea-launched missiles, and so it would be billions of dollars down the drain. But the real tragedy is it would not be just a diversion of precious resources that we would not have available for health care, for smaller class sizes, for modern school facilities, for securing open space, for taking care of America's veterans, for all of those things that make America worth defending. No, it would be worse than a waste of money, because simple strategic analysis will tell us that provocative, yet permeable, systems are destabilizing and they lead to reduced security. Think of it this way: we say we are building a defensive system. Some potential enemy says, well, you are going to prepare an offensive strike, and then you will use your defensive system to prevent us from retaliating. And we say, no, no, no, it is only a defensive system. And they say, sure, we believe you. Well, if they believed us, they would not be our enemy. In fact, this is a weapon system in search of a cooperative enemy, an enemy that would not try to spoof us with decoys, an enemy that would not wonder what is going on behind that shield. We have all read stories of the knights of yore. When knights carried shields, they did not carry the shields around the house; they used those shields in battle, to thrust and parry from behind the shield. That is why, as counterintuitive as it may seem, a defensive system becomes a destabilizing offensive threat. So this would undo decades of arms control. And, in fact, the President has said he would use such a missile defense to go beyond the anti-ballistic missile treaty; in other words, to abrogate the treaty, to break the treaty, to throw it away. This system, or any imaginable system, is not going to be a substitute for cooperative arms control. This is not something where technology will overcome cooperation. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to understand that technology will not solve this fundamental problem. In fact, the President has said that whereas some years ago President Reagan presented his program, the Strategic Defense Initiative, as something to render nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete, President Bush says he understands that will not happen. So that even with an international missile defense such as he is proposing, it would still be necessary to maintain the option of massive retaliation; in other words, mutual assured destruction. Well, this is not a technological solution to our strategic predicament. This is not an answer to weapons of mass destruction. The United States has not been able to develop a workable missile defense system after 40 years of trying. We have had the Nike Zeus, the Sentinel, the Safeguard, the Strategic Defense Initiative, and actually there was SDI-I, which was a space-based laser, or directed energy system, known as Star Wars colloquially, and then there was Strategic Defense Initiative II, which was kinetic kill vehicles, or Brilliant Pebbles, and there was G-PALS and National Missile Defense; and now President Bush has extended this to international missile defense. Well, after all of these years of trying and tens of billions of dollars spent, we are still nowhere close. My colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney), referred to the study that the Pentagon had undertaken of the system. And essentially they said that not only have there been no successful intercepts, but that simulations that would give confidence that this would work do not exist, and that the current state of test facilities is immature. We are not close to deployment. And maybe we can take some solace in the fact that we are not close to deployment, because once this is deployed, it will set off a series of dominoes of the arms race around the world where countries that might feel threatened by it, say China, would increase their arsenals and in turn threaten other countries, say India, who in turn might build up their arsenals and threaten other countries, say Pakistan. Now, that is certainly not our intention. This is purely defensive. But that is the way it would work, and it will not get us out of our nuclear predicament. Again, I thank my colleague from Massachusetts for setting aside this time. We have an important and difficult job to do over the coming weeks to make sure everyone in the country understands the choice that is before us here.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize today a group of very special young men and women from Central New Jersey. One of the most important duties of a Member of Congress, as well as one of the most enjoyable, is nominating students to the United States service academies. In an age when media portrayals of young people are increasingly negative, getting to know students through the nomination process is an important reminder of the patriotism, sense of purpose, dedication to service and excellence of America's youth. From a pool of over 40 students from my district who went through the rigorous and time-consuming process of applying for a Congressional nomination, I am very proud to say that twelve young women and men from Central New Jersey will be enrolling in America's service academies this year. They are the very best of an exceptional group, and I was proud to nominate them. Five young men from the area will be attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, to be commissioned as officers in the United States Army. I would like to recognize Kenneth Elgort of Montgomery, Ivan Eno of Interlaken, Chris Larsen of Princeton, Eric Schlieber of Raritan, and Balint Simsik of Ringoes. Four young people from Central New Jersey will be attending the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, to be commissioned as officers in the United States Navy. I would like to recognize Brant DeBoer of Monroe, Brandis Kemp of Pittstown, Brian Richards of Sergeantsville, and Joshua Wort of Tewksbury. One young man from my district will be attending the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, to be commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force. I would like to recognize Bryan Kelly of South Brunswick. Two young women from Central New Jersey will be attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy. I would like to recognize Lindsay Elgart of Middletown and Victoria Millar of Princeton. Mr. Speaker, I hope the House joins me in noting the accomplishments of these young men and women, and in wishing them the best of luck at the service academies and in their careers.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 150, which commends Erik Weihenmayer for climbing Mount Everest, and recognizes that visually impaired individuals and others with disabilities have great potential. Climbing Mount Everest is a feat in itself, given that only about 1,000 people have been able to do so, and well over 100 have died trying. Yet the fact that Erik is the only blind person to ever climb Mount Everest makes the accomplishment all the more remarkable. I could spend the rest of my time talking about just this one accomplishment and how he did it. Yet, Erik's mountain climbing experience is not limited to Everest alone. His list of outdoor achievements reads like a wish list that many able-bodied mountaineers would like to have. He has never let his inability to see obstruct his passion for travel and for mountaineering. He has hiked the Inca Trail in Peru. He has trekked in Pakistan and Tajikistan, including a traverse of the Baltoro Glacier, from which rise ten of the world's 30 highest peaks. He has crossed the jungles of the Irian Jaya, near Carstan's pyramid, and the highest peak of Australia. In 1995 he climbed the 20,320 foot summit of Denali. In August of 1996, he made it to the top of El Capitan, the first blind person to do that. Erik has also climbed Mount McKinley, Aconcagua in Argentina, Vinson Massif in Antarctica, and the Polar Circus, a 3,000 foot ice waterfall in Alberta. Interestingly, even his wedding took place at 12,700 feet en route to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Erik represents the reality that all people, regardless of their physical disabilities, can achieve amazing accomplishments. To quote Erik Weihenmayer, ``My message is much greater than go out and climb a mountain. It is to have passion for whatever you do in life.'' Few people can match the passion that Erik has shown for life. Through his feats, he teaches us that individuals can overcome their personal challenges, large or small, in reaching their goals and succeeding in life. Erik has also wisely said, ``Someone told me that blind people need to realize their limitations. But I think it is much more exciting to realize my potential.'' This resolution recognizes Erik's potential and the potential of all of us humans, and it deserves the support of all of my colleagues today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), who continues to inspire us with all that he has accomplished, and I might add, the sponsor and author of this bill.

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to thank the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) for his inspiring remarks about another inspiring individual. I think there is a lesson for everyone here, especially those who do not intend to scale the highest peaks in the world, the highest physical mountains in the world, but scale, surmount other difficulties that they face. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Flemington, New Jersey-based Boy Scout Troop 194's twenty-fifth anniversary. Troop 194 was originally chartered with St. Magdalen's R.C. as its sponsor. In 1988, the troop was re-chartered at the Flemington Baptist Church. Currently, Troop 194 enrolls approximately 100 scouts, as participation in its summer camp program continues to increase. Throughout its existence, Troop 194 has boasted a number of accomplishments. These include a dramatic increase in the troop's size, as well as the honoring of some twenty-two young men with the rank of Eagle Scout since 1981. Troop 194 has also undertaken various projects, which include cleaning up nearby Morales Park, working at local churches, and volunteering with the local Food Pantry. The troop continues to thrive as it continues to welcome new scouts and to contribute to the health of the surrounding community. Once again, I congratulate Boy Scout Troop 194 on its accomplishments, and I ask my colleagues to join me in praising the scouts' record of achievement.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize retiring Sergeant Thomas M. Hendley of Oceanport, New Jersey's police department and of his twenty-six year long commitment to serving the people of Oceanport a distinguished law enforcement officer. A native of West Long Branch, New Jersey, Thomas served in the Air Force from 1963 to 1967 before working in various capacities for Jersey Central Power and Light between 1967 and 1974. Sgt. Hendley's career in law enforcement began when he attended the 9lst State Trooper Recruit class in 1974, a program from which he was later forced to withdraw as a result of injury. In 1975, Sgt. Hendley was hired by the Oceanport Police Department. In 1980, five years after graduating from the Monmouth County 6th Municipal Police Class as the class's Academic Leader and Proctor, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. During his tenure with Oceanport's police department, Sgt. Hendley became certified as both a Firearms Instructor and a Supervising Firearms Instructor. He has also served as the department's training officer since 1994 and has received numerous awards and commendations for Honorable Service, Exceptional Duty, Life Saving, and Educational Achievement. Sgt. Hendley has further served our community as a member of the Oceanport First Aid Squad and a life member of the Police Benevolent Association. After his retirement, he plans to spend more time with his family in addition to serving as an umpire and part-time charter bus driver. I applaud Sgt. Thomas Hendley on his many years of service to the people of Oceanport and ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing his invaluable contributions to our society.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Tinton Falls Library Association's 40th anniversary, which marks a milestone in the Borough of Tinton Falls' ongoing commitment to promoting literacy and to encouraging reading among borough youth. The library's ongoing service to the local community over the past four decades has truly been an invaluable asset to many residents of my district. When the Tinton Falls Library first opened its doors in June of 1961, its total holdings amounted to a mere 2,000 volumes. Today, the library houses over 35,000 items, including a multimedia collection comprised of numerous videos, periodicals, and books on tape. Six computers (two with Internet access) are also available for public use. For the past four decades, the library has also been committed to active service to the community of Tinton Falls. Its many programs include five-times daily Story Hours for children aged two to third grade, regular provision of books on Tinton Falls schools' Summer Reading Program lists, a Vacation Reading Club for children, as well as a group for teens that encourages community service, leadership, literacy, and volunteerism. Tinton Falls Library has also been host to a variety of borough cultural events and meetings held by local organizations. The library's success is due to many reasons, but the main reason is the good, dedicated work of the staff and volunteers who make it work. Once again, I would like to congratulate the Tinton Falls Library Association on its 40th anniversary. I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding its many accomplishments and efforts in service of our community.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize today Mr. Sam Goldberg for his continued demonstration of the strong sense of civic duty that characterizes the true spirit of American citizenship. Sam, the newly named Person of the Year by the Homeowners of Covered Bridge has, through his membership in a number of local organizations, distinguished himself as a pillar of the community of Covered Bridge, Manalapan Township. Sam began his life in the Bronx as the eldest of three children. After his graduation from Morris High, Sam briefly attended City College. In 1951, he left college to join the Army. After being discharged from the armed forces in 1953, Sam married his current wife, Esther, a Brooklyn native. The couple settled in Brooklyn, where they raised two daughters and where Sam went on to a career in the U.S. Post Office's payroll division. In 1988, after he retired from the USPS, Sam began a brief stint in the Brooklyn District Attorney's payroll office. Throughout his career, Mr. Goldberg remained active in civic organizations, including the Knights of Pythias, and the Concerned Citizens of Canarsie. After moving to Covered Bridge, Sam continued his long-time association with the Knights of Pythias. He also volunteered with a number of local associations, including SCAT, Deborah, and the Jewish War Veterans. In addition to serving as the First Vice-President of the Homeowners of Covered Bridge, Sam sings with the Covered Bridge Chorale and volunteers at both the Lyons Veterans Hospital and CentraState Hospital. Sam Goldberg's life has truly been one of dedicated community service. I applaud Sam's continued efforts and ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing his many accomplishments.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Robert Inglis and his continued commitment to the young people in my district through his nearly seven-decade long affiliation with Lawrenceville, New Jersey's Boy Scout Troop 28. Bob's years of dedicated community service have made him a valuable contributor to our society whose efforts are to be applauded. Bob's relationship with the Boy Scouts began in 1932 when he joined Troop 28 at the Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church. At this time, Bob, a resident of the Trenton-Lawrenceville area for most of his life, also became affiliated with the Mounted Troop 112 Field Artillery at Eggerts Crossing Road. Since his childhood, Bob has maintained his ties with Troop 28 as a Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, or assistant. Outside of his various official duties, Bob has also volunteered his time whenever the need arose. One of the highlights of Bob's youth was his participation in the MacGregor Arctic Expedition of 1937-38 as an assistant surveyor. During his time with the expedition Bob had the opportunity to assist in groundbreaking polar magnetism experiments. After his graduation from Rutgers University in 1943, Bob became the first scout in Troop 28 history to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. During a two-year stint in the army from 1944 to 1946, which took him to France and later to Germany, Bob served as an army machine gunner. Bob's postwar life included marriage and a 38-year-long career with both New Jersey and Lawrence Township's Department of Health. Robert Inglis' generous support of the Boy Scouts and his brave service to the United States have been exemplary. Once again, I applaud Robert Inglis and ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing his steadfast commitment to our community.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and celebrate the achievements of the 24-high school students of the United States Physics Team. This is a wonderful opportunity to extol the best in American education, which these students represent. They inspire us as they learn to ask the questions of science to explore, investigate, and discover. Let us keep these students and their accomplishments in mind as was we discuss the future of American education in the coming months. I am proud to be the Representative of two of the members of the team--Daniel J. Peng of Englishtown, N.J. and Jennifer H. Hou of Plainsboro, N.J. Daniel, who is a senior at Manalapan High School, is an avid debater as well as a strong science student. Jennifer, a student at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, is also a talented musician. She plays both the piano and the violin. Both students have won countless awards and honors. I am proud to know that Daniel and Jennifer represent the future faces of science. I hope that my colleagues in the House will join me in extending our congratulations to the United States Physics Team and wish them well as they travel and compete in the International Physics Olympiad this summer. On this day as we celebrate the scientific achievements of our students, I would like to direct the attention of my colleagues to the policy statement of the Physics Olympiad, which has been signed by 18 scientific societies representing more than half a million people. It states: ``As Congress considers the future of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and other education legislation this year, we urge Congress to maintain support for programs which benefit K-12 science and math education, particularly professional development programs for teachers and the preparation of new teachers.''

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Ranney School's dedication of its recently constructed Middle and Upper School Academic Complex, which marks a significant step in the school's ongoing expansion effort. The school's achievements in helping to educate Central New Jersey's young people throughout its forty-one years of existence have truly been exemplary. The Ranney School, based in Tinton Falls, New Jersey and enrolling 650 students in grades pre-K-12, began as the Rumson Reading Institute. As the school grew, it moved out of the basement of its founders private home and into the 60-acre campus that it currently calls home. In spite of the significant changes during the past four decades, Ranney's mission has continued to emphasize the development of each student's character and sense of scholarship. As a result, many of the school's graduates go on to attend the nation's top colleges and universities. The completion of the first phase of Ranney's expansion and modernization program will be marked on June 2, as the Academic Complex, comprised of a 40,000 square feet of classroom and laboratory space, will be officially dedicated. The new complex is certainly a testament to the Ranney School's continued commitment to maintaining the highest educational standards for its students and faculty. Once again, I applaud the Ranney School and its contribution to our community. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the institutions steadfast commitment to the education of hundreds of our nation's young people.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. America's schools are in a State of disrepair, and that is interfering with the education of today's students. On average, schools were built about 50 years ago to meet the oncoming demand of the baby boom generation, and they are now in disrepair. The General Accounting Office reports that now one-third of our public schools are in need of extensive repair or replacement. Nearly 60 percent of schools need new roofs, walls, plumbing and heating systems or electric and power systems. Over half pose environmental concerns, such as poor ventilation, flaking paint, crumbling plaster, and nonfunctioning toilets. Leave no child behind; is that the phrase the President has appropriated for his use? How can we expect to reform education and improve student achievement when so many schools are crumbling? Why do we keep ignoring this growing problem? We cannot relegate it to the back burner. We must ensure that our schools are safe and modern and that we have modern technology. Too often I hear the argument this is a problem for the local school districts to handle. Mr. Speaker, too often I hear the argument that this is a problem for the local school districts to handle. However, local school districts cannot handle this problem alone. Property tax payers are beleaguered by the costs of a growing student population. The repairs are just too expensive. According to the GAO, the cost of needed repairs is on order of $127 billion. Mr. Speaker, with this motion to recommit, we are asking for merely a fraction of that amount, $2 billion to help our schools most in need. This will not kill the bill. That is not our intent. Mr. Speaker, I am a strong supporter of the bill and intend to vote for final passage; but, I urge my colleagues to support this very important motion to recommit so we can deal with this pressing national problem.

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for yielding the time to me, and I commend him and the distinguished Members from California and Michigan, as well as the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for their sincere effort to put together a bipartisan bill. We are looking back now over the years of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Congress has amended, expanded, streamlined, revised the ESEA eight times creating programs to help migrant children, neglected and delinquent youngsters, limited English proficient students, and other special children. Programs have been launched to enhance math and science instruction and rid the schools of drugs and violence. Smaller ESEA programs have been created to advance school desegregation, stimulate educational innovation and achieve other important purposes. However, the face of American education has changed in many ways over the past 30 years. One way it is changing right now that has been addressed earlier but cannot be emphasized too much is that over the next 10 years, we will need to recruit, train and hire 2.2 million new teachers, 2.2 million, just to keep up with attrition and retirement. Mr. Chairman, I would also say that success in the information age depends not just on how well we educate our children generally, but how well we educate them in math and science specifically. The majority of these new teachers will be called on to teach math and science. I am proud to have served on the National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching chaired by former astronaut and Senator John Glenn. The Glenn Commission calls for major changes in the quality, quantity, and professional work environment of our math and science teachers. Although not on the same scale as in the bill that the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) and I produced from the Glenn Commission, this bill includes new math and science partnerships that mirror what we set out to do in the Glenn Commission. It is an excellent start on focusing the attention on math and science education. The gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) and I, also in committee, put together a bipartisan amendment to strengthen math and science partnerships. Going farther, one of the main recommendations of the Glenn Commission was to establish regional academies that would recruit talented, mid-career professional and recent graduates in math and science teaching. Unfortunately, that recommendation is not in this bill, and the rule did not allow that and many other important areas to come for debate.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, every year thousands of Americans open their homes to children without permanent families in order to provide these youngsters with stable and caring upbringings. Because of this, adopted children, who once had no one to turn to, find themselves surrounded with unconditional love and devotion. Adoptive parents not only unselfishly decide to share their homes with a child but also choose to share their hearts and lives so that their children can grow in happy, nurturing surroundings. However, adopting a child is difficult in part because the cost of adoption continues to increase. A family can spend upwards of $20,000 just to make it possible to provide children with a loving home. These families should not be financially burdened by the exorbitant costs of adoption. Thousands of individuals want to give a child a loving home but cannot due to the huge expense. Adoption costs should not be an insurmountable obstacle for these individuals. We have a responsibility to these men and women to open the doors to adoption, not shut them. And we have an even bigger responsibility to help a child find the family he or she needs. The Hope for Children Act exemplifies how Congress can help these families and how we can provide more children with the opportunity to live happier, successful lives. This important legislation would increase the tax credit each adoption to $10,000 and make the process more affordable for middle- class families. Present law only provides a $5,000 tax credit per adoption and a $6,000 tax credit for the adoption of a special-needs child. The current tax credit is far below the actual cost of adopting a child. Furthermore, the Hope for Children Act would index the credit for inflation and increase the earnings limit, expanding eligibility for the tax credit. The Hope for Children Act would also make the adoption tax credit permanent law, repealing the sunset, and exempt the beneficiaries of the credit from the Alternative Minimum Tax. This will ensure that parents receive the full benefit of this credit. Children who are without permanent families should not be penalized, and families who want to open their homes to these children should not have to struggle financially. Let us provide these families with the opportunity to open their hearts and homes to a child in need. Let us pass the Hope for Children Act.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time, and I rise in opposition to the rule. Let me just give one example of how the promise to have debate on the floor has been broken. Science education. Science is not just another subject, it is fundamental, like reading and math. For the past year, the National Commission on the Teaching of Math and Science, the so-called John Glenn Commission, met and made a number of recommendations. Some of those recommendations, such as one that would call for a network of national academies, training academies for science teachers around the country, were included in the report, but were not allowed for debate in the committee because, they said, we were told it would be allowed on the floor. This is critically important. We face a crisis in science and math teaching. The title of our report says it well: before it is too late. Senator Glenn, the head of Intel, the head of State Farm insurance, a number of other leaders in industry, education and business around the country say that we need these recommendations. We should at least have a debate on them on the floor.