Paul Kanjorski

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Austin J. Burke, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, recipient of this year's Americanism Award from B'nai B'rith Amos Lodge 136 in Scranton. The Americanism Award honors outstanding community leaders for their dedicated public service. Mr. Burke was selected for this honor by past Americanism Award recipients and representatives of various service and community organizations including the United Way of Lackawanna County, Scranton Rotary and Lions Clubs and UNICO. Mr. Burke has worked in the community development arena since 1972. He was named president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce in 1981. At the Chamber, he has worked with area leaders to craft responses to community needs with programs like Skills in Scranton and Leadership Lackawanna. Throughout the country, Austin is recognized as one of the most successful economic development leaders, and we are indeed fortunate that he chose to dedicate his career to serving Greater Scranton. He was an incorporator of Montage Mountain Inc. and worked to bring Steamtown National Historic Site to Scranton. He has participated in national convocations including the White House Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber Business Civic Leadership Conference and the American Assembly: Retooling for Growth. Mr. Burke is also a board member of the International Economic Development Council, Commonwealth Financing Authority and the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority. He is the chairman of the Lackawanna County Workforce Investment Board, a past chairman of the Scranton Area Foundation and a member of the board of trustees of Marywood University. He is also a former trustee and chairman of the Facilities Committee of the University of Scranton which awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1998. A veteran of the United States Air Force, Mr. Burke received his bachelor's degree in economics from Dickinson College where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He is a graduate of the Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management. On a personal note, let me express my appreciation for the extraordinary friendship that Austin has extended to me over the years. I am grateful for his partnership in service to Northeastern Pennsylvania. A resident of Archbald, PA, Mr. Burke resides with his wife, Marianne. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Burke on this auspicious occasion. Mr. Burke's extraordinary contributions to his community have earned him a reputation as a leader among leaders and his efforts have greatly improved the quality of life throughout the northeastern Pennsylvania region.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my distinguished colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Anna Cervenak and Max Bartikowsky, recipients of the Anti-Defamation League's Distinguished Community Service Award. This award is presented to persons who are dedicated champions of human rights and have distinguished themselves by civic, philanthropic and other extraordinary activities. Max Bartikowsky was born and raised in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. His celebrity began at an early age, being the impish inspiration for a shoeshine boy character called ``Little Max'' created by the famous cartoonist, Ham Fisher, who originated the ``Joe Palooka'' comic strip once syndicated in over 900 newspapers nationwide. Fisher was also a native of northeastern Pennsylvania. Bartikowsky graduated from Wyoming Seminary after which he attended the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and Wilkes College. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955. He went on to complete the Gemological Institute of America's Diamond Grading Class after which he took an active role as the third generation in the Bartikowsky family jewelry business. Today, he is president and CEO of Bartikowsky Jewelers, currently celebrating 121 years in business. Bartikowsky has been especially active with the Jewish Community Center (JCC) where he has served as president, a member of the board of trustees and the board of directors. He is a supporter of the JCC's Fitness Center, JCC Camp, JCC Basketball Banquet and the JCC 5:30 Club. He also serves on the board of Temple Israel where his grandfather was the first president in 1924. He is a past president of the Wilkes- Barre Lions Club and Jewish Family Services and has been a member of Masonic Lodge 655, Caldwell Consistory, and Irem Temple for 50 years. He is also a supporter of Wyoming Seminary. Bartikowsky has been honored by the Knights of the Saber, JCC 5:30 Club, Wyoming Valley Family Service Association and the Jewish Family Service. He was also featured in articles in the Outlook and Pennsylvania Heritage magazines. Anna Cervenak graduated from Forty Fort High School and College Misericordia where she earned a bachelor of social work degree. She went on to Marywood University where she earned a master's degree in social work. A member of Alpha Sigma Lambda, Social Work Honor Society, she was elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Cervenak started her career at Bell of Pennsylvania while still in high school. She worked as an operator, in engineering, employment and as the company's public speaker. When she retired from Verizon in 2007, she was Director of Community Relations/Public Affairs. A past president of Junior Achievement, she is currently a member of its board of directors. She is also a member of the board of directors of Penn's Northeast, Great Valley Technology Alliance, Pittston Chamber of Commerce, Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, Athena Award Committee, Victim's Resource Center, Catholic Youth Center, Catholic Social Services, King's College President's Council, Luzerne County Community College Foundation, Penn State-Wilkes-Barre, Step-By- Step, Boy Scouts of America, Blond Association, Circle 200 and the Mountain Laurel Center for the Performing Arts. Ms. Cervenak also chaired the Blue Ribbon Committee to save Tobyhanna Army Depot, Burn Foundation and the Jewish Family Service Advisory Board. Her awards include Athena Award, Top 50 Business Women in Pennsylvania, Top Business Women in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Arthritis Foundation Community Leader of the Year, Susan B. Roebling Distinguished Citizen Award, Wyoming Valley Woman's Pathfinder Award, NEPA Boy Scouts Woman of the Year Award. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Bartikowsky and Ms. Cervenak. Their extraordinary community service to northeastern Pennsylvania is both legendary and inspiring. They have clearly made a significant contribution to the improvement of the regional quality of life and, for that, we are all grateful.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Thomas G. Gallagher Jr. who is being honored by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, for 25 years of faithful service. Mr. Gallagher has a long and distinguished history of service to his northeastern Pennsylvania community. Mr. Gallagher was the President of the United Way of Lackawanna County from 1986 until his retirement in June of 2002. A graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, Mr. Gallagher received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame and a masters of social work degree from Fordham University. He also completed post graduate work at the National Academy of Volunteerism in Alexandria, Virginia. Prior to his work with the United Way, Mr. Gallagher served as a caseworker for the Lackawanna County Institution District's Bureau of Aging and Bureau of Children's Services. He also served as assistant director of the Planning Council for Social Services and Associate Director of the United Way of Lackawanna County, In addition, he also served as a lieutenant senior grade in the United States Public Health Service at the National Institute of Health. Mr. Gallagher serves on the board of directors of St. Francis Kitchen and the Margaret Briggs Foundation. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Scranton and he is a past president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Gallagher on this special occasion. His exemplary performance in the area of community service has improved the quality of life for all and is well deserving of this honor. Indeed, his example is an inspiration for future generations to emulate.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to U.S. District Court Judge William J. Nealon who was chosen to receive the President's Award from the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. On December 15, 2007, Judge Nealon celebrated his 45th year as a United States District Court Judge. Appointed to the Federal bench by President John F. Kennedy on December 15, 1962, he was the youngest Federal judge in the country. Judge Nealon served the Middle District as Chief Judge from 1976 until 1989. He has served on this court longer than any other judge in the history of the Middle District. Today, he is the third most tenured federal judge in the nation out of 1,100 federal jurists. The proud product of Scranton Public Schools, he later served in the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1945 where he held the rank of first lieutenant. He received a bachelor of science degree in economics from Villanova University in 1947 and was awarded his Juris Doctor degree from the Catholic University of America in 1950. Prior to being appointed to the Federal bench, Judge Nealon served on the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County. In 1983, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, a professional society of more than 50,000 trial lawyers, named Judge Nealon the ``Outstanding Federal Trial Judge in the United States.'' He has been the recipient of numerous community awards and has served as chairman of several local boards, including the University of Scranton, Mercy Hospital, and the Catholic Youth Center. Having served as president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County some 44 years ago, his dinner in 1964 was regarded as one of the most memorable the society has ever held. Robert F. Kennedy, the United States Attorney General, made his first public appearance that evening just 4 months after the tragic assassination of his brother, President John F. Kennedy. Judge Nealon today is the most senior of distinguished past presidents of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Judge Nealon on this auspicious occasion. Judge Nealon's faithful service to his community and to his Nation is well known throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania and has been an inspiration to all whose lives he has touched.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to recognize my wife, Nancy Kanjorski, for her dedication and outstanding work with the Lackawanna County Federation of Democratic Women. As her husband, I could not be more proud to note that her peers recognized her efforts in support of Democratic candidates and policies by naming her the organization's Woman of the Year for 2008. Nancy was born in Apopka, Florida, to Norman and Margaret Hickerson. She graduated from the University of Florida. We met while I was visiting Florida and we then married in 1962. Nancy and I moved to Pennsylvania, where she taught school in Carlisle and Wyoming Valley. Over the course of our time living in Pennsylvania, Nancy has always played an active role in my campaigns and many other Democratic campaigns. She constantly participated behind the scenes in grassroots efforts, from setting up phone banks to organizing literature drops. She has always been willing to help with any aspect of the campaign to make it run more smoothly. It is for her dedication, care, attention to detail, and many other reasons that Nancy will receive the award of Woman of the Year from the Lackawanna County Federation of Democratic Women. Nancy has also been a member of various community organizations and boards. Among these, she was a particularly active member of the Lawyers' Wives Association, where she chaired multiple committees. Nancy has also been an avid tennis player. Nancy is an essential part of our family, always willing to assist family members, from aiding those during times of illness to gladly babysitting our nephews and nieces. We have one daughter, Nancy Kanjorski Bradley, Ph.D., who is married to Chris Bradley, Ph.D. They live in New Mexico. On March 8, 2008, Nancy will receive the award of Woman of the Year at a brunch hosted by the Lackawanna County Federation of Democratic Women. The members of the organization elect the person to receive this award who they feel has done an outstanding job as a Democratic leader in the community. On a personal note, I would like to acknowledge that Nancy has continuously given all that she can to help the Democratic Party. She has always been an active, devoted, and vital part of my campaigns, not just an essential component of the team for my staff, but of course for me as well. I am incredibly proud that she will receive this award, as it is very much deserved. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Nancy Kanjorski for her award of Democratic Woman of the Year from the Lackawanna County Federation of Democratic Women.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to William P. Burke, of West Pittston, Pennsylvania, who is the 2008 recipient of the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Achievement Award. He graduated in 1956 from St. John's High School in Pittston and later from the Wilkes-Barre Business College where he majored in finance and accounting. Mr. Burke served in the U.S. Army, First Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from 1961 to 1963. Mr. Burke has been an active member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for 52 years. President Harry S. Truman was guest speaker at the first Friendly Sons banquet Mr. Burke attended. Mr. Burke is a sustaining member and past president of the organization. He was the recipient of the Man of the Year Award in 1991. Mr. Burke is a charter member of the Wolfe Tone Luzerne County Division I Ancient Order of Hibernians and is presently chairman of the standing committee. He is a member of the President John F. Kennedy Council 372 Knights of Columbus and its Fourth Degree, serving as comptroller for the past 40 years. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus Choir. Mr. Burke is a member of St. Casimir, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Joseph Parish, Pittston, where he serves as an usher and a senior altar server. He is also a member of the parish finance council. Mr. Burke has been a baseball coach in the West Pittston Little League and a basketball coach for the Wyoming Area Catholic High School. He has served as chairman of the West Pittston Democrat Organization and he is a former member of the Luzerne County Democrat Executive Committee. He also served as parade chairman for the Pittston Tomato Festival. Mr. Burke is a member of Fox Hill Country Club and the West Side Social Club, Avoca. After 37 years of employment with Pope and Talbot Company, he served for several years as director of purchasing for Luzerne County, a post from which he retired in 2006. Mr. Burke and his wife, Nora, are the parents of three children. They also have nine grandchildren. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Burke on the occasion of this special honor. Mr. Burke's dedication to family and community has improved the quality of life and highlighted the value of service above self.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Attorney Joseph M. Cosgrove, a native of Pittston, PA, who has been honored by the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick with the W. Francis Swingle Award for 2008. Attorney Cosgrove is a graduate of St. John's High School and the University of Notre Dame and its law school in South Bend, IN. He received a master's degree in theology from Notre Dame's graduate school and a master of arts degree from Marywood University. Attorney Cosgrove was admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and the Federal court system including the United States Supreme Court. In 2005, he was appointed to the Lawyers Advisory Committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on the nomination of the Honorable Max Rosenn. He serves as conflict counsel for the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas and is engaged in the private practice of law with offices in Forty Fort, PA. Attorney Cosgrove served two terms as president of the Luzerne County Law and Library Association and is immediate past president of the statewide Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. As president of the county bar, some accomplishments include recognition of the importance of a local case that made history through a U.S. Supreme Court decision 70 years ago. The case, Erie v. Tompkins, involved a railroad accident in Hughestown where local resident Harry Tompkins was injured. Through Attorney Cosgrove's efforts, the Luzerne County Bar and the New York City Bar will conduct a special seminar in New York in September. In addition, Attorney Cosgrove created ``Maysie's Bike Program,'' based on Harry Tompkins' promise to his niece, Maysie Cochran. In honor of that promise, the bar now awards bicycles to locally needy children and is establishing a children's pro bono representation project in Maysie's name. Attorney Cosgrove has also worked extensively in the local educational field, having served on the Pittston Area School Board for one term and is currently a member of the board of trustees for Marywood University in Scranton. In addition to this, Attorney Cosgrove has been an adjunct faculty member at King's College for more than 20 years and is currently a member of the selection committee for dean of the Wilkes University Law School initiative. He also serves on the ethics committee at Misericordia University. Attorney Cosgrove is a former chair of the Luzerne County Election Board where he served three appointed terms. He is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild, AFL/CIO, and has appeared in several motion pictures. He also had a recurring role on NBC-TV's hit show, ``The West Wing.'' While an undergraduate student at the University of Notre Dame in the late 1970s, he served as ``The Leprechaun,'' the university's sports mascot. During his tenure, the ``Fighting Irish'' were football national champions, and their basketball team reached the ``Final Four.'' Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Attorney Cosgrove on this auspicious occasion. The W. Francis Swingle Award is intended to honor those who distinguish themselves by honoring their Irish heritage and who commit themselves to a high level of community service. In that context, Attorney Cosgrove's selection for this award is indeed well deserved.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Dr. Patrick J. Kerrigan, D.O., of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, who was named 2008 ``Man of the Year'' by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Greater Wilkes-Barre. Dr. Kerrigan's contribution to the field of medicine in northeastern Pennsylvania has been truly impressive. Since 1986, he has been engaged in the private practice of family medicine in Wilkes-Barre. He is a provider of geriatric medical care at several nursing homes in the greater Wilkes-Barre area. He is also active in sports medicine, having served as team physician at the little league, high school and college levels. Dr. Kerrigan has also been active in medical education with the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. For 2 years, he served as a member of the board of directors for the Luzerne County Medical Society. Dr. Kerrigan has also lectured extensively over the years at nursing homes, institutions of higher learning and before the general public on topics that included AIDS, managed care, common orthopedic injuries, heart disease, preventive medicine and physician career choices. Dr. Kerrigan was appointed medical director of the Heritage House, a skilled nursing facility, in 2003. In 2006, he became medical director of Erwine's Home Hospice Group. Dr. Kerrigan was named president-elect of the medical staff of the Wyoming Valley Health Care System in January, 2007, where he also serves as chairman of the medical executive committee and as a member of the board of directors. In 2006, Dr. Kerrigan was awarded the ``Key to the City of Wilkes- Barre'' for 20 years of community service. Dr. Kerrigan is a member of the Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and American Medical Societies. He is also a member of St. Mary's of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church where he served as a lector. He is also a former member of the board of directors of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Greater Wilkes-Barre. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Dr. Kerrigan on this auspicious occasion. Dr. Kerrigan's determination and commitment to benefit his home town is entirely evident in the vast contributions he has made over the years to improve the quality of life for his fellow citizens. His selection as ``Man of the Year'' is a well deserved honor.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Jay Delaney, of Hughestown, Pennsylvania, who was selected as the 2008 ``Man of the Year'' by the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Mr. Delaney is a lifelong resident of the Greater Pittston community and is a leader in business, civic, and government affairs. He presently serves as executive assistant to Pennsylvania State Senator Raphael Musto, a post he has held since 1994. Mr. Delaney was associated with Wilson Foods Corporation from 1952 to 1994, retiring as regional sales manager for the northeastern United States covering eight States including Washington, DC. He was named manager of the year in 1987 after he earned a place in the ``General's Club'' of Wilson Foods in 1982. Also in 1987, he became president of the prestigious Wilson Foods Ring Club. Mr. Delaney was mayor of Hughestown borough from 1982 to 1989. He served as a member of Hughestown borough council from 1969 to 1977. He was also chairman of the Hughestown Democratic organization for 4 years and successfully chaired the special election to the 11th Congressional District in 1980 on behalf of then State Representative Raphael Musto. He is a member of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Hughestown; a former member of the Earth Conservancy Land Use Planning Committee; former member of the American Heart Association and former member of the Luzerne County Democratic Executive Committee. He has received national recognition by the American Cancer Society, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and St. Jude's Children's Hospital. He has served on the board of directors of the Harvey's Lake Yacht Club and is a charter member of the Nutty Buddy Club of Greater Pittston. He is a life member of the John F. Kennedy Council 372, Knights of Columbus and its Fourth Degree Assembly; the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick; life member of the Hughestown Hose Company; and a member of the Salvation Army advisory board. Mr. Delaney and his wife, Dorothy, to whom he has been married for 51 years, are the parents of four children and seven grandchildren. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Delaney on this special occasion. Mr. Delaney's service to family and community is extraordinary and an inspiration to all. His selection for this honor reflects the respect with which he is held by his neighbors and peers.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3521, the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act. This legislation works to provide flexibility to public housing agencies as they make the transition to the new asset management system. As we are working to enact this legislation, I am pleased that we incorporated provisions to ease the potential burdens for many smaller public housing authorities, including many in my Congressional district. I am also pleased to see that the Manager's Amendment we are considering includes language that reaffirms current Federal law and ensures that illegal immigrants do not receive public housing benefits that should only go to those who rightfully deserve them. Mr. Chairman, in closing, I would like to express my appreciation to Mr. Sires of New Jersey for introducing this legislation and to Chairman Frank for working to include language in the Manager's Amendment pertaining to illegal immigration. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3521, the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Serento Gardens Alcoholism and Drug Services in Hazleton, PA, for more than three decades of counseling and drug prevention work throughout the greater Hazleton area. Edward Pane, president and chief executive officer of Serento Gardens, has always maintained that it is their mission to provide education, prevention, treatment, and support to all those affected by addiction. The gravity of the substance abuse addiction problem was recently underscored when a study committee, chaired by Mr. Pane, discovered that 93 percent of addicts began their use before the age of 17. Sixty- three percent began before the age of 14. And, alarmingly, 80 percent of those in prison in the United States are there for drug-related offenses. Serento Gardens is the sole provider of drug and alcohol counseling and prevention services to children, teens, and adults in the greater Hazleton area. In 2006, the agency's programs reached more than 22,000 individuals in Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District. In its 30- year history, the agency has directly benefited hundreds of thousands of individuals in northeastern Pennsylvania. In 2007, Serento Gardens was named the Pennsylvania Counseling Agency of the Year by the Pennsylvania Certification Board in Harrisburg. The PCB is the body which certifies all substance abuse counselors and educators in the Commonwealth. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Serento Gardens for the invaluable work that is done to prevent people from succumbing to the ravages of addiction and to rescue those already addicted so they can return to a productive life. The work being accomplished by Serento Gardens has improved the quality of life for thousands of people and has earned it the respect of a grateful community.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation to the House Democratic and Republican leadership and to our colleagues in the Senate for the bipartisan effort that has produced timely, targeted, and temporary legislation to stimulate our Nation's slowing economy. I am also pleased that the legislation we are about to consider ensures that our Nation's senior citizens and disabled veterans are not left out of this worthwhile package. Because of my concerns that the bill we considered last week did not include low-income seniors and disabled, I led the effort in the House to ensure that those who depend entirely on their Social Security checks were included in the final version of this legislation. I am very pleased that the Senate agreed and expanded the economic stimulus package to provide these Americans with much-needed relief. I urge my colleagues in the House to do the same. Our Nation's seniors and disabled veterans are facing difficult economic times. For years, these men and women have been forced to survive on less and less as their costs continue to increase and their incomes remain the same. These Americans need cash rebates just as much as the individuals originally included in the stimulus package. I am also pleased to see that the legislation we are about to vote on includes language that would ensure that illegal immigrants do not receive cash benefits that should only go to those who rightfully deserve them. This language mirrors legislation that I introduced in the House today. Finally, the bill before us contains an important provision that I helped to craft as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets. Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises. This reform will temporarily increase the conforming loan limits of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to enhance the liquidity of our mortgage markets. I support this short-term change. Madam Speaker, once again I wish to applaud the efforts of both the Members of the House and Senate in crafting legislation that will spur our economy, provide rebates to those that need them most, and ensure that those ineligible for federal benefits do not receive them.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation to the House Democratic and the Republican leadership and to our colleagues in the Senate for the bipartisan effort that has produced timely, targeted, and temporary legislation to stimulate our Nation's slowing economy. I am also pleased that the legislation we are about to consider ensures that our Nation's senior citizens and disabled veterans are not left out of this worthwhile package. Because of my concerns that the bill we considered last week did not include the low-income seniors and the disabled, I led the effort in the House to ensure that those who depend entirely on their Social Security checks were included in the final version of this legislation. I am very pleased that the Senate agreed and expanded the economic stimulus package to provide these Americans with much-needed relief. I urge my colleagues in the House to do the same. Our Nation's seniors and disabled veterans are facing difficult economic times. For years, these men and women have been forced to survive on less and less as their costs continue to increase and their incomes remain the same. These Americans need cash rebates just as much as the individuals originally included in the stimulus package. I am also pleased to see that the legislation we are about to vote on includes language that would ensure that illegal immigrants do not receive cash benefits that should only go to those who rightfully deserve it. This language mirrors legislation that I introduced in the House today. Finally, the bill before us today contains an important provision that I helped to craft as the chairman of the Subcommittee of Capital Markets, Insurance and Government-Sponsored Enterprises. This reform will temporarily increase the conforming loan limits of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to enhance the liquidity of our mortgage markets. I support this short-term change. Madam Speaker, once again, I wish to applaud the efforts of both the Members of the House and the Members of the Senate in crafting legislation that will spur our economy, provide rebates to those that need them most, and ensure that those ineligible for Federal benefits do not receive them. Further, Madam Speaker, I have great pride today that the Congress of the United States could bring this most important legislation in this very short time in a very bipartisan way, and we should all have that pride as we vote on this package today.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to applaud the President and the bipartisan House leadership for quickly coming to an agreement to stimulate the economy through legislation that is timely, targeted, and temporary. The bill before us today contains an important provision that I helped to craft as the chairman of the subcommittee of jurisdiction. This reform will temporarily increase the conforming loan limits of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to enhance the liquidity of several local mortgage markets. I support this short-term change. I would, however, also like to take the opportunity to encourage the Congress to expand the economic stimulus plan to include cash benefits for those citizens whose only source of income is Social Security. Our Nation's seniors and disabled individuals are facing difficult economic times. For years these men and women have been forced to survive on less and less, and their costs continue to increase and their incomes remain the same. In my home State of Pennsylvania, home heating prices are up 19 percent in the last year. Gas prices are up 86 percent in 5 years. Food prices continue to rise. And seniors continue to struggle with high prescription drug costs. Low-income senior citizens and disabled individuals are forced to make terrible choices to try to cope with these realities. These Americans need cash rebates just as much as the individuals currently included in this stimulus bill. Mr. Speaker, once again, I applaud the bipartisan effort that brought this economic stimulus package to the floor. We should also work to ensure that our Nation's seniors and disabled individuals are included in this worthwhile legislation.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to recognize Robert C. Hay, CRB, e-PRO, GRI, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, for achievements in the real estate industry in Pennsylvania and his appointment as the 85th president of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors' on January 15, 2008. Mr. Hay has been active in the real estate industry for more than 28 years. At the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors', he chaired many committees and task forces including Grievance, Strategic Planning and the Convention Committee. Mr. Hay also served as a Realtors' Political Action Committee trustee for many years, and he is Federal political coordinator. Mr. Hay served as president of his local association, the Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors', in 1982, 1983, and 1999. He chaired most committees in the association, and he was named Realtor' of the Year in 1982, and again in 2000. This award is given annually to a local member of the association in honor of his or her distinguished and unselfish service while displaying outstanding leadership, vision, and ability. Mr. Hay promoted the consumers' best interests in the real estate market while strictly following the code of ethics. About 4 years ago, Mr. Hay created his own company, Bobhay.com Realtors', where he is the broker and owner. Because of the changing nature of the real estate industry, Mr. Hay saw the desire for home buyers and sellers to obtain real estate information through the Internet, and he created a real estate Web site. Mr. Hay previously worked at RE/MAX before he decided to develop his own company. Mr. Hay is also active in his community of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, and I cannot begin to calculate the number of hours that Bob and I have spent together while working on important community projects. In 2006, he served as the chairman of the board of the Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce. He continues to work diligently to try to restore the passenger rail service from northeastern Pennsylvania to New York City as the chairman of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority. On a personal note, let me mention how much I have enjoyed getting to know Bob and his wife, Beverly, over the years. They represent the community spirit that makes places like northeastern Pennsylvania great areas to live. Mr. Hay is a veteran of the Vietnam war. He lives with his wife, Beverly, in Mt. Pocono. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. Hay for his distinguished career in the real estate industry and his inauguration as the 85th president of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors'.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2761, now known as the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007. Terrorism insurance plays a critical role in protecting jobs and promoting our Nation's economic security. This bill will extend the terrorism insurance program for 7 years. This length is more than double the duration of the program to date. This length is also in line with my original position of a 6- to 8-year extension. Seven years is both long enough to provide greater certainty to the marketplace and short enough to encourage the private sector to develop our own solutions to the problems posed by conventional terrorism. Importantly, the legislation eliminates the distinction between foreign and domestic terrorism. Terrorism, regardless of its cause or perpetrator, aims to destabilize the government. This change, therefore, has much merit, and the terrorism insurance program will now protect against these losses. This Chamber has worked diligently and thoughtfully throughout this year on legislation to extend the terrorism insurance program. I am disappointed at the end of the day we are unable to incorporate some of the provisions that we initially agreed upon before. This final product, for example, fails to provide stronger coverage for nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological terrorism events. TRIA currently provides a backstop to insurers for these losses, but only if insurers cover the losses. Our Nation needs to better plan for a potentially devastating act by NBCR means by putting in place an explicit program rather than an implicit promise now or a chaotic response later. Instead of taking action, as I would have preferred, the legislation before us requires a study and a report on the availability and affordability of insurance coverage for these losses. We will have a study. I look forward to it. I hope when we receive that study we will then get to work on this proposition. Members of the Senate, however, have supported this provision, but it was not included in the final package, and that provision is the coverage for group life insurance. Nonetheless, I include this letter by four Members of the Senate, sent to the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, for the Record. U.S. Senate, Washington, DC, December 12, 2007. Chairman Christopher Dodd, Senate Banking Committee, Dirksen Building, Washington, DC. Ranking Member Richard Shelby, Senate Banking Committee, Dirksen Building, Washington, DC. Dear Senators Dodd and Shelby: The risk of terrorism is a persistent and evolving reality that we will be required to confront for many years to come. It light of this reality, we greatly appreciate your efforts to pass an extension of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act before it expires. Congress created the TRIA program in the aftermath of September 11th to ensure the viability of our nation's property and casualty insurance market in the event of another catastrophic terrorist attack. Without reinsurance through TRIA, these carriers could be forced to restrict the availability of the coverage they provide, or face losses that could undermine their ability to honor their policy commitments. Unfortunately, our economy remains vulnerable due to the current exclusion of group life insurance from the TRIA program. Nearly 170 million Americans receive nearly $8.3 trillion in group life insurance protection through their employers. For many, group life coverage is the only form of life insurance they have. But because of the concentration of employees at insured worksites, the companies which provide group life coverage are especially vulnerable to the catastrophic losses which could result from a terrorist strike. In this respect, group life insurance resembles workers' compensation insurance, which is a TRIA-covered line. Before September 11th, group life insurers were able to purchase catastrophe reinsurance to protect against such losses. Since those attacks, the decreased availability and increased costs have made private reinsurance more difficult to obtain. We believe that the inclusion of group life coverage in TRIA is prudent to ensure that life insurance benefits for American workers are not jeopardized by a terrorist attack. We understand and appreciate your efforts to secure a timely extension of the TRIA program, and respectfully request your support for inclusion of group life as the Senate resolves its differences with the House on this crucial legislation. We thank you for your consideration of this matter. Sincerely, Susan M. Collins. Olympia J. Snowe. Tim Johnson. Ben Nelson. U.S. Senators.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to recognize David J. Williams of Scranton, PA, for his lifetime accomplishments and his extraordinary contributions to the vaccine industry in the United States. On January 16, 2008, after 30 years of service, David J. Williams will retire as the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Sanofi Pasteur. Mr. Williams, born in Scranton, PA, received his accounting degree from the University of Scranton in 1973 and joined Connaught Laboratories in 1978 as the manager of financial services. As a member of the executive team, Mr. Williams distinguished himself as a leader willing to make courageous decisions to build the vaccine industry, and he was named chief operating officer of Connaught Laboratories in 1989. Mr. Williams successfully steered the company through several mergers and acquisitions. As an organization that began with just 100 employees and sales of just over $5 million in 1978, Connaught eventually merged with today's sanofi pasteur, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer with 11,000 employees and more than $4 billion in sales in 2007. Under Mr. Williams' guidance, more than a billion doses of Sanofi Pasteur's lifesaving vaccines were administered to more than 500 million people around the world each year, representing more than 25% of the global vaccine market. Mr. Williams encouraged innovation and he has been at the forefront of the development of many of the world's vaccines, including the world's first licensed conjugate and combination vaccines, vaccines to protect against meningitis and Haemophilus influenza type B, and most recently, a vaccine to combat avian influenza. Mr. Williams recognized his company's ability to address current and future public health needs by investing in a robust research and development program and an ambitious production plan for pandemic preparedness in the event that a public health emergency strikes the United States. Mr. Williams has been a visionary in the vaccine industry, building the domestic infrastructure necessary to protect millions of Americans from deadly diseases and showing a commitment to vaccines that goes beyond his own company to the broader industry and to public health around the world. Mr. Williams, in his dedication to the larger immunization community, created the Vaccine Policy Committee of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and is a founding member of the Partnership for Prevention, a leading organization of public and private sector representatives who focus on preventative health care policies. Mr. Williams served as the first liaison member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which sets immunization policy in the United States. Mr. Williams also served on the board of directors of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and on the Board of Regents of the University of Scranton. He is also one of the founding Board Members of the Medical Education Development Consortium. Mr. Williams cultivated a culture of community involvement at sanofi pasteur and demonstrated a commitment to philanthropy through the company's contributions to United Way and donations of vaccines through UNICEF, the Global Alliance for Vaccines Immunization, GAVI, the World Health Organization's Global Polio Eradication Initiative and various humanitarian relief efforts. Mr. Williams has been committed to the economic growth and development of Northeastern Pennsylvania and to expanding the campus in Swiftwater to maintain a domestic manufacturing base for many vaccines, including influenza. Under his guidance, sanofi pasteur grew to become the largest private employer in Monroe County and a purchaser of over $145 million in goods and services from Pennsylvania-based vendors. It has been a pleasure working with Dave over the years as his company expanded not only in Monroe County, but also in Scranton, his hometown. He has made an enormous contribution to his community, and on behalf of all my constituents, I would like to express my gratitude. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. Williams for his distinguished career and extraordinary leadership as chairman, president and chief executive officer of sanofi pasteur and for his tireless efforts toward the advancement of immunizations and the eradication of vaccine preventable diseases.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Robert Uguccioni, who is retiring after an illustrious career with the Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau where he served for more than 40 years as its executive director. Mr. Uguccioni spent several years early in his life in the Lake Wallenpaupack region. After graduating from Hawley High School, he entered the United States Air Force where he served 4 years supervising a material control department in Japan. Upon returning to the Pocono Mountains, he was hired as public relations director for the Lake Wallenpaupack Association and then the Pike County Tourist Promotion Agency. In 1967, he became executive director of the Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau which spans four counties including Monroe, Pike, Wayne, and Carbon and is the largest tourist promotion agency of its kind in Pennsylvania. Mr. Uguccioni represents nearly 800 members and associate members in promoting the Pocono region as a travel destination. He represents the area nationally and on the State level working toward favorable tourism legislation, government-sponsored advertising programs for tourism as well as in all facets of the tourism industry affecting the Poconos and the State. Mr. Uguccioni serves or served on a host of boards of directors of tourism related organizations and is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus. On the national level, Mr. Uguccioni is involved with the American Bus Association, the American Culinary Association, the American Hotel and Motel Association, the American Society of Association Executives, the National Tour Association, the Travel Industry Association of America, National Travel Marketing Task Force, the Federal Administration Tourist Advisory Council and he is a national member of the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Uguccioni for many years of service to the travel and tourism industry and in extending to him best wishes for a well-deserved retirement. Mr. Uguccioni's contributions to the travel and tourism industries have made a major impact on our regional, State, and national economies and have helped to create many job opportunities that have improved the quality of life in northeastern Pennsylvania as well as the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to former Pennsylvania Gov. William W. Scranton who is being honored as this year's recipient of the Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan Cornerstone Award. This prestigious award honors an individual who best exemplifies the spirit, leadership and service of Msgr. Andrew J. McGowan as a catalyst for social, cultural and economic growth, and to promote the charitable ideals of philanthropy and collaboration in northeastern Pennsylvania. The Monsignor McGowan Cornerstone Award was designed through the efforts of the nonprofit organizations throughout northeastern Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region that benefited from Monsignor McGowan's participation as a board member and a mentor for community improvement. Governor Scranton has distinguished himself in so many ways throughout his eventful life. In 1941 he interrupted his law school education at Yale to enter the United States Army Air Corps where he served as an Air Transport Command pilot during World War II. Following the war, he completed his law school education and began private legal practice as well as participation in several businesses. In 1959, he was appointed by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower to serve as special assistant to U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles. A year later, he ran and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 10th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. In 1962, he was elected governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and, during his term, he signed into law sweeping reforms in the State's educational system including creation of the State community college system, the State board of education and the State Higher Education Assistance Agency. In addition, he created a program designed to promote the State in national and international markets and to increase the attractiveness of the State's products and services. In 1967 and 1968, Governor Scranton participated in the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention and helped write a new constitution for the State. Since then, he has served on the boards of directors of some of America's most influential companies including A&P, IBM, the New York Times, Pan American Airways and the H. J. Heinz Company. He also served as president of the Northeastern National Bank and Trust Company. In 1976, U.S. President Gerald R. Ford named him U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations where he served with distinction until his retirement. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Governor Scranton for the contributions he has made to the northeastern Pennsylvania community he cherishes so much and to this Nation which owes him a profound debt of gratitude for his years of service and his remarkable achievements. And let us also recognize the late Msgr. Andrew J. McGowan who labored tirelessly to improve the quality of life in his beloved community and to inspire others to share in the joy of service to mankind. It is indeed fitting that the first Monsignor McGowan Cornerstone Award be presented to an outstanding Pennsylvanian who shares the same zeal for community service as the man for whom this award is named.

Mr. KANJORSKI

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. KANJORSKI. I thank the ranking member and the ranking lady of the subcommittee. What a pleasure it was to work on this. I want to say to all my colleagues that may be listening to our discussion today, this is a perfect example of how this House can find bipartisan support for a very complicated issue. This amendment sounds like an amendment, but it's a 44-page bill standing on its own, which we are hoping to attach to Mr. Frank's bill so that we solve all of the major problems remaining that can be solved today and then move on to mitigation of loss in the future. I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Chairman, I've long said that predatory lending is a complex problem that requires a comprehensive solution. The adoption of my amendment will make this bill more complete. This amendment is based on the Escrow, Appraisal and Mortgage Servicing Improvements Act, H.R. 3837, which the Financial Services Committee approved last week on a voice vote. In brief, this amendment would improve mortgage servicing, better escrowing practices, and enhance appraiser oversight. I am pleased that several Members of both sides of the aisle have joined me to put forward this worthwhile amendment. This proposal also has the support of many outside of this Chamber, including the Appraisal Institute, the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, and the Center for Responsible Lending, to name a few. While there are many components to this proposal, I would like to highlight three of its key provisions. First, it would mandate the establishment of escrows for those borrowers who meet certain tests to protect them from tax liens and costly force placed insurance. We have learned that the subprime borrowers are substantially less likely than prime borrowers to have escrows, even though they are more likely to need help in budgeting for these substantial expenses. Secondly, the amendment reforms mortgage servicing by mandating swifter response times to consumer inquiries. This change ought to help ensure that those homeowners who need help in the coming months will receive expedited assistance from their mortgage servicers. Third, the amendment would establish enforceable national appraisal independence standards with sufficient penalties. The appraisal field is one that demands reform, as evidenced by 90 percent of the appraisers reporting pressure to inflate values. Appraisals verify the value of the collateral for the buyer, the seller, the lender, and the investor. Protection from pressure is, therefore, vital. Two other issues in this amendment that deserve mention today include the prompt crediting of payments by servicers and providing borrowers with timely access to all appraisals. Going forward, we will work to polish the wording of the former. We will also conform the language of the latter to the existing standards of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. In sum, Mr. Chairman, my amendment should be part of the legislative response to improve lending practices and enhance accountability. I encourage every one of my colleagues to support this. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire what time we have left.

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Hodes).

Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).