Steve Israel

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Frank Pellegrini, who passed away on March 25, 2010. Frank touched the lives of people all over Long Island and he will be remembered as a man who showed grace and humility in all aspects of his life. For 40 years, he worked at Farmingdale State College where he served thousands of students and teachers through his roles as an Organic Chemistry teacher and then the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Frank also served for 35 years as the Chief and Commissioner of the Dix Hills Fire Department where his heroic efforts touched the lives of countless members of the community. Frank possessed extreme bravery and a passion for helping others. Frank Pellegrini will be remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know him and his memory will remain a fixture in both institutions where he served for so long.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Walter Hessling who passed away on November 27, 2009. Walter was one of many courageous men who chose to serve his community as a firefighter. He was a Captain of the Dix Hills Volunteer Fire Department and served his community valiantly for 32 years. To all of those who knew and loved him, his untimely death will forever be a reminder of his selflessness. His last heroic moment in the line of duty saved the lives of others who he never met. As time passes, the pain will fade, but the memory of Walter will always remain a shining example of truth and goodness to all of those whose lives he touched. It is at this time we remember Walter Hessling for his bravery and kindness and for his dedication and service to the Dix Hills Fire Department.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding individual in our community, Julianna Marie Petrone. Julie's dedication to serving veterans and active duty military personnel was evident when she first began her career in the federal service at my Congressional District Office in 2002. Julie served the veterans and military personnel of New York's 2nd Congressional District with such passion and determination that she gave new meaning to the phrase ``above and beyond the call of duty.'' Julie has worked tirelessly to ensure that these veterans and military personnel have received their medals and benefits with the dignity and justice they deserve. Julie is now taking her call to serve our nation to the highest level. On Sunday May 30, 2010, Julie will be commissioned as 1st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and will be serving at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base following Officers Training. Julie has touched the lives of veterans on Long Island, and now she will touch the lives of the citizens of our entire nation as she steps into her new leadership role as 1st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. I congratulate Julie upon her tremendous achievements and wish her the best in her next step of service.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, 30 years ago President Carter declared the moral equivalent of war on foreign oil. We have done two things in those 30 years: we have slashed Federal investments in research and development for energy efficiency and renewables by 85 percent; and we have doubled our imports of oil. In the past 2 years, we have corrected our top down investments. We are investing more in energy efficiency, but we have missed the most critical three words in the debate: return on investment. We need to find ways to make it easier for people to purchase energy efficient windows, to retrofit their homes, and that is exactly what this bill does. It gives consumers rebates of up to $3,000, it lowers utility bills, and it creates jobs. It creates jobs by allowing people to go to their stores to buy their windows and equipment. That means somebody is going to need to manufacture that equipment and install that equipment. This is a way of creating jobs and enhancing our energy security. It is a way of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. This is a critically important bill from a national security perspective and an economic security perspective. I support it wholeheartedly.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a unique group of young musicians from my district, the Michael Jazz Trio. The Michael Jazz Trio is comprised of three brothers from Central Islip, New York: Matthew, David and Jordan Godfrey. These young men have shared with the Long Island community not only their extraordinary talent, but also their passion for philanthropy. On Saturday, May 1st, 2010, they performed at Central Islip High School to raise money for the American Cancer Society. I am proud to honor the Michael Jazz Trio for sharing their musical gift with the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Community Development Corporation of Long Island. CDC has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. CDC's continuous acts of selfless efforts are admirable. I am proud to honor Community Development Corporation of Long Island for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Youth Enrichment Services, Inc. YES has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless acts of those involved with YES are admirable. I am proud to honor Youth Enrichment Services, Inc. for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Safe Harbor Mentoring, Inc. Safe Harbor has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. Safe Harbor's continuous acts of selfless efforts are admirable. I am proud to honor Save Harbor Mentoring, Inc. for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Saunders Omnipresent Network Inspiring America's Youth, Inc. S.O.N.I.A.Y. has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. S.O.N.I.A.Y.'s continuous acts of selfless efforts are admirable. I am proud to honor Saunders Omnipresent Network Inspiring America's Youth, Inc. for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, PRONTO of Long Island. PRONTO has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless efforts of those involved with PRONTO are admirable. I am proud to honor PRONTO of Long Island for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Parents for Megan's Law. Parents of Megan's Law have demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless acts of Parents for Megan's Law are admirable. I am proud to honor Parents for Megan's Law for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Mercy Center Ministries, Inc. Mercy Center Ministries has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. Mercy Center Ministries' continuous acts of selfless efforts are admirable. I am proud to honor Mercy Center Ministries, Inc. for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Educational & Assistance Corp. EAC has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless efforts of those involved with Education & Assistance Corp. are admirable. I am proud to honor Educational & Assistance Corp. for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, United Way of Long Island. United Way has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless efforts of those involved with the United Way of Long Island are admirable. I am proud to honor United Way of Long Island for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Family Service League. Family Service League has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless efforts of those involved with Family Service League are admirable. I am proud to honor Family Service League for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Health and Welfare Council of Long Island. Health and Welfare Council has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. Health and Welfare Council's continuous acts of selfless efforts are admirable. I am proud to honor Health and Welfare Council of Long Island for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Long Island Advocacy Center. Long Island Advocacy Center has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. Long Island Advocacy Center's continuous acts of selfless efforts are admirable. I am proud to honor Long Island Advocacy Center for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Marvin Avery Palmore Center for Hope, Inc. Center for Hope has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. These organizations' continuous acts of selfless efforts are admirable. I am proud to honor Marvin Avery Palmore Center for Hope, Inc. for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Adelante of Suffolk County Inc. Adelante has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. Adelante's continuous selfless efforts are admirable. I am proud to honor Adelante of Suffolk County Inc. for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Huntington Enrichment Center. Huntington Enrichment Center has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless efforts of those involved with Huntington Enrichment Center are admirable. I am proud to honor Huntington Enrichment Center for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. Coalition for the Homeless has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless efforts of those involved with the Coalition are admirable. I am proud to honor the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Long Island Latino Teachers Association. LILTA has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless efforts of those involved with LILTA are admirable. I am proud to honor Long Island Latino Teachers Association for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Long Island Immigration Alliance. Long Island Immigration Alliance has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless efforts of those involved with the Long Island Immigration Alliance are admirable. I am proud to honor Long Island Immigration Alliance for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Nassau Suffolk Law Services. Nassau Suffolk Law Services has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless efforts of those involved with Nassau Suffolk Law Services are admirable. I am proud to honor Nassau Suffolk Law Services for their extraordinary work in the community.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a nonprofit organization that serves my district, Urban League of Long Island. Urban League has demonstrated an overwhelming amount of commitment to serving the Long Island community. My constituents rely on our nonprofits for the vital services they offer. The continuous selfless efforts of those involved with the Urban League of Long Island are admirable. I am proud to honor Urban League of Long Island for their extraordinary work in the community.