Tom MacArthur

Mr. MacARTHUR

Mr. MacARTHUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding young man from my district, Samuel Wang. Samuel was selected as a member of the 2015 National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, which is a great accomplishment. The National Youth Orchestra, hosted by Carnegie Hall, is a competitive opportunity for 16 through 19 year old musicians from across the country. Samuel is a young violinist from Medford, New Jersey, who stood out among his peers and earned the high honor of being chosen to participate in this year's orchestra. The young men and women selected will perform at Carnegie Hall this summer, then tour seven cities in China. On their trip, they will have the opportunity to serve as cultural representatives of our country, share in the exchange of art and music, and collaborate and gather with young Chinese musicians. I am honored to represent bright young people in South Jersey like Samuel, and I am excited to hear from him when he returns from his trip this summer. Best of luck, Samuel, and congratulations.

Mr. MacARTHUR

Mr. MacARTHUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a great man in my district, Jim ``Libby'' Liberatore, who passed away this month at the age of 60. Mr. Liberatore was a former Burlington Township fire chief, and dedicated his life to emergency services and caring for his community. It is not often that we come across public servants who not only embody the spirit of service, but who approach that service with passion and excitement. Libby was truly one of those men--he began his career as a volunteer firefighter in 1971 and went on to fill countless positions and duties over the next 43 years. He spent six years as fire chief and received the State Firefighter of the Year Award in 1992. His friends and colleagues describe him as the key individual responsible for bringing people together. Mr. Liberatore organized educational trips to conventions, encouraged a spirit of healthy competition, and led fundraisers for the fire station. His devotion to those around him never went unnoticed, and the South Jersey community is greatly improved because of his life and work. It is my sincere hope that Libby will continue be an inspiration to those who knew him, and that we can all strive to reflect the same values of service, love, and dedication he personified. May he rest in peace.

Mr. MacARTHUR

Mr. MacARTHUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today with so many of my colleagues to not only reaffirm our friendship with the State of Israel, but to express my deep appreciation for it. Our two countries share an unbreakable commitment to the democratic ideals of individual, religious, and economic freedom. Israel stands as a beacon of democracy in a region characterized by political repression. For that, she should be honored and protected. Our friendship with Israel should not be a political talking point. It shouldn't be a friendship of convenience. We can't settle merely for maintaining the relationship between our two countries. We must strengthen it. Too often, we talk about the threats to Israel or what is in Israel's interest. Madam Speaker, a threat to Israel is a threat to us. Israel's interest is our interest. As our closest ally in a highly unstable part of the world, Israel faces countless threats and challenges to her very existence. Without qualification or hesitation, the United States must stand by Israel's right to defend herself against terrorism and aggression by those who would do her harm. The rise of the Islamic State and the growing instability in the region remind us that we cannot take our ally for granted. We must stand against a nuclear-capable Iran, as we have heard tonight, a very real and imminent threat that would jeopardize not only our ally, not only this region, but the freedom Israel deserves and the stability of the world. The partnership between the United States and Israel is strong. Our shared history of cultural exchange and collaboration has enriched countless lives. Our open lines of trade have benefited not just Israel, but both of our great countries. This is a friendship that will endure for generations, but we have to commit ourselves to it. If we continue our robust military aid and cooperation to Israel to ensure her security in the region, then the United States and Israel will continue to stand together as shining examples of democracy and freedom in the world.

Mr. MacARTHUR

Mr. MacARTHUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 1st Sergeant Richard Pinter of New Jersey's Third Congressional District, and to express my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Sgt. Pinter served our country as a 1st Sergeant in the Army and is well known in our district as the ``Lone Bugler'' for honoring fallen soldiers and veterans at their funerals. Sgt. Pinter served as a bugler in the Army for thirty-eight years and eventually rose to the position of Commander and Enlisted Bandleader of the 267th Army Band in Philadelphia. Sgt. Pinter has also given much of his time to his community as an active member of the American Legion of Bordentown Township, Association of the National Guard, Vietnam Veterans Association and the American Hungarian Civic Association. Mr. Speaker, the people of New Jersey's Third Congressional District are tremendously grateful for Sgt. Richard Pinter's service to our nation and unique place in our district's culture. It is my honor to recognize his life and achievements before the United States House of Representatives. May he rest in peace.

Mr. MacARTHUR

Mr. MacARTHUR. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month, I rise to recognize a prominent leader in my district who has gone above and beyond to help better our community. That man is Mayor Oscar Cradle from South Toms River. Through his work and his life, Oscar has greatly improved our community for his neighbors, friends, and all those who are lucky enough to know him. Mayor Cradle has been a resident of Ocean County for sixty years. Growing up in South Toms River, Oscar was a member of youth choir and Sunday school at Wells Chapel AME Church. After graduating from Toms River High School, he enrolled in Hampton Institute and studied mathematics. After facing issues with addiction, Oscar overcame his struggles and decided he wanted to focus on helping others in his community battle this terrible disease. Oscar became involved with several different organizations in South Toms River. With his own journey in mind, he helped create the South Toms River Alcoholics Anonymous, the South Toms River Narcotics Anonymous, and the South Toms River Neighborhood Watch Committee. But his work didn't stop there--he recently founded the South Toms River Historical Society to help preserve the history of this great town. At Wells Chapel AME Church, Oscar has been ordained as a Reverend and helped to create the church's Community Outreach Center. Additionally, Oscar has served his community as an elected member of the South Toms River Borough Council for seven terms and was elected as the town's mayor on November 4, 2014. Oscar's dedication to improving the lives of those around him is remarkable. Mr. Speaker, we are all blessed to know Oscar, and are grateful for the impact that he has made in our community. South Toms River would not be the same without him.

Mr. MacARTHUR

Mr. MacARTHUR. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. MacARTHUR

Mr. MacARTHUR. Mr. Speaker, on October 29 of 2012, Super Storm Sandy battered the coast of my State, New Jersey, leaving behind a wake of devastation and interrupting the lives of many, many thousands of people in our communities. We are still recovering from this. It was the second-costliest hurricane in United States history. Yet, out of that destruction, our communities came together. Neighbors took each other in, people looked after each other, families started over, small businesses slowly started to rebuild, and there was hope again in New Jersey. My heart goes out still to the many friends and neighbors who are still trying to put their lives back together again. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has had a vital role in our recovery. Disaster assistance came through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA. Nearly 183,000 disaster victims were awarded $1.3 billion in disaster assistance--money to rebuild homes or to find new ones, money to help people get their lives back again. That is why it is so upsetting for these victims to now, 2 years later, be receiving letters from FEMA demanding the repayment of those aid grants. I am referring to a process called ``recoupment,'' and it goes like this: FEMA receives an application for aid. It makes a determination, it gives a grant, and it later changes its mind. It could be for fraud or applicant error, in which case FEMA has my full support, but sometimes FEMA just changes its mind. The application is correct. An examiner evaluates the claim, makes the payment, and then, later, a supervisor can change his mind and say: ``We don't think you got this one right,'' and a letter goes out months--even years--later, demanding repayment. Mr. Speaker, I worked for 30 years in the insurance industry. I started as a claims adjuster. I had the privilege at the end of my career of running a large insurance service company, and sometimes errors did get made. Sometimes a supervisor disagreed because there was just a difference of opinion. I might have even made a few errors myself. But in the private sector, companies can't just reach out and demand those funds back again and, in the case of the Federal Government, demand with an ``or else.'' An ``or else'' from the long arm of the Federal Government is a serious matter, indeed--wage garnishment or worse. Mr. Speaker, by October 31 of 2014--2 years after Sandy--1,200 of my fellow New Jerseyans had received letters demanding that $8 million be returned to the Federal Government. These are people who used these funds to rebuild their homes, to find new places to live, to repair what was broken, to replace the clothes on their backs, and begin again. Now the government wants to take it back. It is a terrible blow to these dear people, our fellow citizens, whose lives were overwhelmed in just a few short hours. It is something that could happen to every one of us. That is why I have introduced the Disaster Assistance Fairness and Accountability Act of 2015. Like it says in the title, it is about bringing fairness and accountability back to this process, and it does it, Mr. Speaker, in a few simple ways. First, fairness. It allows FEMA to recoup funds if there is an applicant error or if there is fraud, but not if FEMA just changes its determination on an application that was accurate and later just subjects itself to a change of opinion. It applies the same standard to FEMA that applies to the private sector, and it is fundamentally fair. Accountability. My proposed act requires FEMA to prove that the applicant was guilty of error or fraud instead of the other way around. It shifts the burden of proof from the individual to the government, which is where it should be. Only at FEMA are you guilty until proven innocent. That is fundamentally un-American and something my bill will change. Where there is fraud or applicant error, FEMA has full authority to recover funds so that the hardworking taxpayers of our country are getting a fair shake as well. Lastly, the bill is reasonable. It imposes a 3-year statute of limitations on FEMA for these recoupment actions. Now there is no limit. They can reach in many years after if they choose to. Nearly every other law in the United States is subject to a statute of limitations, and this should be no different. Mr. Speaker, there are many ways that we can help the survivors of Superstorm Sandy, and they need and deserve our help. This bill is just a start, but this bill will also help victims of future disasters. I think one of our most important responsibilities as legislators is to listen to our constituents and to find ways that we can improve this government on their behalf. This is an important step in that direction. I am hopeful that we can work together, Republicans and Democrats, and bring this bill to a successful vote to bring some fairness and accountability back to this one small part of the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MacARTHUR

Mr. MacARTHUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kalman Gurzo of New Jersey's Third Congressional District, and to express my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Mr. Gurzo served our country as a radio operator for the United States Navy. He defended our freedom in the Pacific Theater of World War II. His service showed his tremendous courage, and he was a member of our country's Greatest Generation. After his distinguished service in the Navy, Kalman was a small business owner before retiring to Berkeley Township, New Jersey. The son of Hungarian immigrants, Mr. Gurzo passed away at the age of ninety one on January 23, 2015 in Toms River. He is survived by his daughters Kathy Sciscione and Mary Ellen Tramutolo, his son Michael Gurzo, his brother Paul Gurzo, and his seven grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, the people of New Jersey's Third Congressional District are tremendously grateful for Mr. Kalman Gurzo's service to our nation. It is my honor to recognize his life and achievements before the United State House of Representatives. May he rest in peace.

Mr. MacARTHUR

Mr. MacARTHUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Navy veteran Daniel Frieson of New Jersey's Third Congressional District, who passed away this week, and express my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Chief Warrant Officer Frieson served our country for twenty-two years as a member of the United States Navy, and rose to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 upon his retirement. He was stationed aboard the USS Pennsylvania during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. At the time of his death, CWO Frieson was among the last surviving Pearl Harbor veterans in New Jersey. CWO Frieson went on to serve aboard the USS Burke, and ashore at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst. After his retirement he settled in Marlton, New Jersey and became an active member of the community. CWO Frieson will be remembered for his involvement in his local church and as a Commander of VFW Medford Post No. 7677. Mr. Speaker, South Jersey is tremendously grateful for Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Frieson's service to our nation. It is my honor to recognize his service and achievements before the United States House of Representatives.