Donald Norcross

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere condolences and honor the memory of Bellmawr, New Jersey, Councilman David Duncan for his exemplary life of service to the Bellmawr community. In addition to being a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Mr. Duncan was a resident of Bellmawr for almost forty- five years and spent his time giving back to his city. Mr. Duncan was an experienced insurance agent and a member of the Union Ironworker Local #399 for 35 years. For years, he led the effort to get out the labor vote on Election Day. As Councilman, David oversaw the Department of Public Safety, and Department of Health, and served as the Planning Board Liaison. In addition, Mr. Duncan was active in many Bellmawr organizations. He served on the executive board of the Bellmawr Democrat Club, as president of the Bellmawr Lions Club, and as a member of the Bellmawr Men's Club. Mr. Duncan was also a veteran of the United States Navy, as well as a dedicated member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, one of the largest organizations for combat veterans in the world and I thank him for his service to our great nation. Mr. Speaker, David Duncan was an incredible man, dedicated to his family, community and country. He leaves behind a great legacy and I join the Bellmawr community and the entire state of New Jersey in honoring the achievements and the life of this great man.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere condolences and to honor the memory of ``John'' Arthur J. Howarth for his achievements, contributions, and service to his community as a loving husband, father, grandfather and pillar of civic engagement. John Howarth spent his life serving his community for 40 years as an electrician for the International Brothers of Electrical Workers (IBEW), putting the needs of others before his own. John was also active as a member of his local union, serving as Recording Secretary. In addition to imparting the importance of citizenship to his children and grandchildren at an early age, he served as an inspiration to IBEW members. He taught them the value of a day's work and to appreciate life's gifts and opportunities. John also served as general foreman on some of the largest projects in South Jersey. I had the privilege of working under him on the Garden State Park Race Track. He had a passion for passing on his trade to the next generation and I was privileged to be among the many IBEW members to benefit from his years of experience. Mr. Speaker, John Howarth was an incredible man, devoted to his family, and dedicated to his community. He leaves behind a great legacy and I join my IBEW brothers and sisters and the entire state of New Jersey in honoring the achievements and the life of this extraordinary man.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of fallen officer Corporal Steven Levy of the Washington Township Police Department in Gloucester County, New Jersey, for his extraordinary sacrifice and exemplary service to the citizens of New Jersey and the United States. Corporal Levy was a decorated officer of the Washington Township Police and a volunteer member on the Gloucester County Critical Incident Team. Serving as a police officer is an admirable quality in itself, but answering the call of CIT duty requires a superior level of dedication. On October 21, 1999, Corporal Levy was killed in the line of duty while responding to a call about a domestic standoff in Woodbury, NJ. His untimely death left behind his beloved wife, Mrs. Janeen Levy and two children, Kevin and Jessica. I have the pleasure of knowing his son, Kevin, who is following his father's example of public service and interning in my office this summer. It is because of Kevin, and the families of fallen public safety officers like his, that I decided to cosponsor The Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act, which makes the children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS workers, and fire police who died in the line of duty eligible for the maximum available Pell Grant. Mr. Speaker, public safety workers like Corporal Steven Levy dedicate their careers to serving their communities, putting their lives on the line every day to protect us. The loss of these selfless men and women is a devastating loss for our communities, but no one suffers more than their families. Although nothing can replace the loss of a loved one, we owe it to local heroes, like Corporal Levy, to honor their memory by taking positive action on behalf of their families.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. You bring up a good point. The one issue, the preapprentice program is giving an opportunity to those who might not normally look into it: Women, minorities, and those who haven't been exposed to the trades. And I think that is a great point. Do you want to be out there when it is in the middle of the summer? Do you want to be out there in the cold? So the preapprentice program exposes them to all the different crafts to see if this is what they want to do. It is a great opportunity to make it in America. I thank you for the time.

Mr. NORCROSS. Well, it is interesting you are bringing that up. There are 15 different craft unions. And the fact of the matter is sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees. They are the largest training--$1.9 billion a year, privately funded, not through any government funds--through the apprenticeship training program of those 15 different craft unions. It is so important because it is in place. That means that, when they are working, they are putting that next generation of people to work. We need people to be in the STEMs, the engineers. But these apprenticeship programs, over 900 sites around the country, are training carpenters, plumbers, cement masons, laborers each and every day, and they have been doing it. The way we can help them make it in America is to start the infrastructure up so that they can start that next generation of folks because an apprenticeship program only works when the journeyman is teaching the apprentice.

Mr. NORCROSS. Thank you. Certainly, we appreciate what you are doing here today, and that is highlighting what is going on in America. In south Jersey, where I am from, born and raised, a half century ago, we knew what it was like to Make It In America. I live in the Victor building, where the Victrolas used to be made. We are not making Victrolas anymore. The Victrola turned into RCA and then went on from there. My father's first job was in the building I now live, which means they are not manufacturing Victrolas there anymore. During the heyday, we built ships at New York shipyard. In fact, New York shipyard was where the very first nuclear-powered merchant ship was made. Campbell Soup, who is still in our city, made soups, which now are known around the world. But we look back over the last half century and see how things have changed. Many of those jobs have moved out because of bad trade deals. I had many, many empty warehouses and manufacturing plants where once thousands of people worked. But we are on the rise again. And I just want to highlight a couple of items that are going to help us make it in America again. We have a startup company by Dr. Singh, who was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, and he is now going to make SMR, small modular reactors, unconditionally safe, clean, carbon-free. He was looking for a place to make them. And he literally could have gone anywhere in the world, where many of his products currently go. He is coming to Camden, New Jersey, here in America. Why? Because of the educational system. Because those men and women that are going to be trained there are here in America and understand that. Because we know in education not one size fits all. Most parents--and you hear it day in and day out, that they want to send their children to college. Well, the fact of the matter is not everybody wants or needs to go to college. We have those who are serving in the military, those in our trade programs. And we take a look at those trade programs, they are the backbone of what is going to be happening in the next generation of making it in America. Because Dr. Singh is going to start out with 400 new employees and go to 1,000 after a few years, creating these new SMRs, which is high tech, but very labor intensive, whether it is arc welding, electricians, carpenters. And they all have to have an education. Not all of them have to go to college. Those who are going to engineer this obviously do. But working with your hands is a noble trade. I like to tell people, as I started out as an electrician, that I am still an electrician. I just wear a tie. But that adult learning and having a flexible way to learn, whether-- we heard a few moments ago about the community college system, which I firmly believe is the most affordable quality education that somebody leaving high school can go to. You know, not everybody understands when they get out of high school where they want to go. But having that educational system, whether it is through the community college or through an apprenticeship program, is the way you can make it in America. Now, when we take a look back over the last 50 years, we have had our ups and downs in America, but we always know the best social program is a job. When you have a job, many of those other issues that you are facing when you are unemployed tend to go away. And when you have that job, you can make it in America. I would like to thank my colleague from California for having us down here today and talking about this very important issue. Making it in America is about having a job. And when we stay focused on that here in Congress, America will win.

Mr. NORCROSS. It is interesting you brought that up. Today I spoke in front of the Building & Construction Trades Council. They have a program called Helmets to Hardhats, which is taking those veterans who are returning home and looking for an opportunity. And those opportunities aren't always there, but those building trades in New Jersey alone over the last 4 years have taken 500 veterans into their apprenticeship programs. So it is taking an existing program, giving not a handout, but just an opportunity to those vets. And they are some of the best apprentices that we have ever had, and it works extremely well.

Mr. NORCROSS. Certainly. And I appreciate you yielding. When we look at the educational system, apprenticeship programs have been around since the beginning of time, whether it was the shoemaker or the carpenter. When I started out, it was a 4-year apprenticeship program. Today it is up to 5 years plus, depending on what specialty area you would like to focus on. But those are the jobs that, when you are working, you are going to school, you are paying your taxes. When you are not working, you are not paying your taxes, and the system is a drag. You can't find a better life. So when I say the best social program is a job, it is good for America. It pays the taxes. That means you are going to afford to send your kids to college if they want to go to college. I have three children. Two of them wanted to go to college. One wanted to become an electrician. They each value what they do so much, and they are proud of what they do.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Madam Speaker, here we are once again. I rise to ask my colleagues to pass a long-term--a long-term--reauthorization to the highway trust fund before it crashes into a dead end, to the very worst that can happen to America. This is about the dysfunction of Washington. It is what everybody detests: the lack of predictability; we will just kick the can down the road a little bit further. This is exactly what hurts our economy. Nobody can plan for what is going to happen in the next few months, let alone the next few years. This is our country. Don't shut it down. Don't put a sign that says, ``Closed due to lack of construction.'' This is killing our economy. This is killing jobs in America, and I ask for us to pass a long-term bill. I know in Washington long term might seem a day or two. We are just asking for 6 years, to give predictability so our highways are the best that they can be, that we can have our commerce.

Mr. NORCROSS

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

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This is a very simple amendment that would increase funding for the Superfund with the intention the money go specifically to the cleanup program account. Superfund cleanup is right for the environment and certainly right for the U.S. economy, which is right for the U.S. I come from New Jersey, the Garden State. We have great tomatoes, corn, and it is blueberry season. But what we also have, particularly in the southern half of the State, is a history of heavy industry. New Jersey found out the hard way that you just can't take those resources after they are finished and dump them into the backyard. We have more than 200 sites in New Jersey listed as being in serious violation of at least one of four Federal environmental laws. The company offenders, they are gone, and left the constituents, my constituents, holding the bags. My predecessor, Representative Jim Florio, back in the early eighties, was the author of the Superfund bill. He had the vision of what we have to do to protect our citizens. I just want to tell a quick story, two of them. The first one is one site, $1 billion, and it is about a quarter of a mile from where I live. It is the Welsbach & General Gas Mantle in Gloucester City, New Jersey. As part of that process of making gas mantles almost a half century ago, radium, the substance that was used to make it glow brighter, was dumped throughout the city. This material is now sitting there. Radium has a half-life of 1,600 years--1,600 years. The process started in 1996, and it is about two-thirds finished. There is no company to go back to. The second story is Sherwin Williams in Gibbsboro, which was a gorgeous spot. But as we all know, years ago, that lead paint is now in the water system and impacting that area horribly. The site includes Kirkwood Lake. The soil under the lake is contaminated. They can't use the lake. These are two very simple stories. I have 15 Superfund sites in my district--15. It is our responsibility to protect our citizens. There are no companies to go back to. That is why I offer this simple amendment. The damage is already done, and we must continue to protect our citizens by funding this amendment correctly. I want to thank the chairman, with the understanding that this amendment will be ruled out of order. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment with the hope that we continue to work on this important issue in a very bipartisan way to protect our citizens.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Edwin D. Hill on his retirement from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Mr. Hill's nearly six decades of service will have a lasting impact for generations to come. I would like to join my IBEW brothers and sisters in applauding him for this lifetime of service. Edwin Hill is a visionary leader whose legacy can best be seen in those who have joined the realm of public service because of Ed's encouragement and support. As the first Business Agent to serve in the People's House--the U.S. House of Representatives--his influence and legacy have impressed on me personally, but it does not end there. Ed was a pioneer and activist in his field. Mr. Hill joined IBEW in 1956 as journeyman and a wireman. By 1964, he was elected Vice President of his local and became active in larger labor movement issues. Ed's success led the Brotherhood to elect him as president in January of 2001 and Ed easily won re-election for five consecutive terms. With his leadership, Mr. Hill laid the foundation for IBEW's future success and growth. As President, Ed improved jobsite productivity, increased IBEW membership and oversaw an expansion of training programs. One of his many contributions was the ``Code of Excellence,'' which streamlined union contract language. The program was so successful that it eventually became the universal code used by the electrical industry. An innovator, Ed was always in search of new ways for members to address the changing economic environment and for IBEW to raise the working standards and overall quality of electrical construction. I join my IBEW brothers and sisters in wishing him a happy retirement and thank him, once again, for his outstanding contributions to the industry.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. They call it a trade bill because they are trading jobs. You lose your good job that has a pension, benefits, and a good wage that can take care of your children, for a job, after you go through the wringer, that pays less than half. Yeah, we might have more jobs, but they are at the bottom end. They are not the kind that would help raise that. So this body, if we worked as hard as we are on this bill for a transportation and infrastructure bill, those are jobs that are here today and are for our future and make our country stronger.

Mr. NORCROSS. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I certainly appreciate it, and talking about these three bills, how they are linked together. But if we look at a couple of them, in particular, the trade adjustment is the equivalent of an execution, but you are getting to choose your last meal. But the end result is you are dead or, in this case, you are losing your job. I am an electrician with a tie. That is where I started my career. Day in and day out I heard those struggles. I can take you to my district and show you those empty buildings from the failed promises of a trade agreement. I joined this body on November 12, coming out of the worst economic times, and the first thing we are going to do is kick the American worker, kick him when he is down. We have empty plants, as I mentioned before. Trade adjustment helps you get a job for lower pay, less benefits, less wages. They call it a trade bill for a reason. You are trading good jobs in here in America for trade jobs----

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Rev. Dr. Britt Armando Starghill, a man who inspired South Jersey through his words and his selfless actions. Motivating youths to pursue academic careers and serving his church for 19 years, Armando was undoubtedly a champion for Camden, NJ and he will truly be missed by all. Over the course of his career at Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church, Rev. Starghill's visionary leadership transformed practical ministry and his community. By connecting the church with area youths he was able to serve as a vital mentor to the community through services like hosting the Baccalaureate mass. He dedicated his entire life to serving others. Encouraging young adults in the city of Camden to attend college, Armando viewed education as the ultimate liberator for Camden's youth. Rev. Starghill began preaching at the age of 13 and dedicated his entire life to service. After graduating from Virginia Union University, he went on to earn his doctorate from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Rochester, NY. He then pursued a religious career and answered the call to serve wherever that led him. A social justice advocate, Rev. Starghill began a non-profit community development corporation to improve the socio-economic environment for Camden's citizens. By working on the Nehemiah Project, the Reverend attempted to combine a spiritual belonging in the Baptist Church with a sense of responsibility and pride in Camden's revitalization efforts. Rev. Starghill was also a devoted husband and father. He was also revered by his parents, who are still living in Detroit, and he will be sorely missed by his sisters, brothers, and a host of other relatives. Mr. Speaker, Reverend Starghill was an incredible man, devoted to his family and dedicated to his community. He leaves behind a great legacy and I join the Camden community and the entire state of New Jersey in honoring the achievements and the life of this extraordinary man.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere condolences and to honor the memory of Elijah ``Sonny'' Singleton, Jr., for his achievements, contributions, and service to his community as a loving father and pillar of civic engagement. Elijah Singleton spent his life serving his community as a teamster, putting the needs of others before his own. Elijah was also active as a member of his local union, imparting the importance of citizenship to his children at an early age. He taught them the value of a day's work and to appreciate life's gifts and opportunities. His monumental example was the inspiration for his son, Troy, who now serves in the New Jersey General Assembly. Pursuing a life of service and following the lessons of his father, Troy once remarked that his father never looked for short cuts because true success only comes as a result of hard work and diligence. Mr. Speaker, Elijah Singleton's dedication to family, community, and public service was evident. As a family man, he constantly surrounded himself with those he cared for, and no one worked harder or loved more passionately than Elijah. He is survived by two devoted sons, Troy and Derrick, and six adoring grandchildren. I join the South Jersey community and the State of New Jersey in honoring the life and accomplishments of this great man.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Chairman and my colleagues from New Jersey, I stand in support of this amendment, and I appreciate the fact that Congressman MacArthur has kept in the forefront how important this is, not just for New Jersey but for our Nation as a whole. We are strategically located in that one area that makes it extremely efficient to refuel. More importantly, we have two ways of getting the fuel to those planes, which is so strategically important. It is over land and it is underground. That has been why McGuire-Fort Dix has been the place for this command to be joined together for years and years. I think this is not only strategically smart for our country, but this is an efficient way of spending the taxpayers' money to make sure that we get the best bang for the buck.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Sandra Vogelson, for her achievements, contributions, and her service to the people of New Jersey as a community leader and a health advocate. Mrs. Vogelson passed away at the age of seventy-three. Sandra was revered throughout her community and she will truly be missed. Sandra graduated from my alma mater, Camden County Community College, with a degree in Art, and dedicated her life to the community of South Jersey. She served as a member of Cooper's Ferry Development Association, where she was always seeking new ways to improve the City of Camden. Sandra founded a philanthropic event, ``Pink Roses and ``Teal Magnolias.'' This event raises funds to continue the fight against breast and gynecologic cancers. Over the years, ``Pink Roses and Teal Magnolias'' became a staple within our community, by raising tens of thousands of dollars for research and other clinical programs at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. Furthermore, she took a keen interest in the education of New Jersey's young people. In 1992, Sandra established the Camden County College Foundation, and served on the board for the next two decades. Her leadership provided critical fundraising efforts for the college, allowing it to expand and serve as an exemplary educational institution for the students of Camden. Mr. Speaker, Sandra Vogelson was a pillar of society who lived a life full of virtue service. She left a great mark on South Jersey, and is survived three daughters, five grandchildren, and eight great- grandchildren. I join the Camden County community and the state of New Jersey in honoring the achievements and the life of this extraordinary woman.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, the rule before us today allows for an amendment that touches on a matter very personal to me, an issue that impacts our Nation on the battlefield and for families struggling with an immigration system that is certainly dysfunctional. November 12, last year, right there in that seat, I was sitting by my grandson's side when I was sworn in as a Member of this House, one of the proudest days of my life. Certainly, my grandson was looking forward to it. If the Gallego amendment on DREAMers that we are debating here later today were in effect, my grandson wouldn't be here. My granddaughter wouldn't be here. My son was serving in the Army in South Korea when he met a girl who was serving our great Nation. They fell in love and got married. They moved back to Fort Hood, Texas, serving our country, where they had my first grandchild, one of the proudest days I have ever seen. They continued to serve our great country, raising their child, when I got a call late one night with my son crying, saying: ``They are going to deport my wife.'' We didn't know she wasn't an American. She volunteered to lay down her life for our country. My son didn't know she wasn't an American citizen; yet she is that DREAMer that we are talking about. She is the American Dream, one who comes to this country and decides to serve it. This brings us forward to today. My grandson is here; yet we are still debating. For the people that volunteer, the greatest thing they can do is lay down their lives for our country, and we are denying them an opportunity for them to serve our country. Where are we as a nation, that great melting pot? The strength that makes our country is where we all come from.

Mr. NORCROSS. My daughter-in-law only knew America. As far as her memory went, she was here. She went to school with all the other kids, as you heard other people speak about. That is why I am urging us to reject what I think is one of the most cruel things we can do to those who come to our country and want to be American citizens. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the amendment and not deny those people who want to serve our country that ability to serve.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk with my colleagues about passing a long-term reauthorization of the highway trust fund. If we don't do it now, it is about kicking the can down the road once again. It is because of this dysfunction that we have here in Congress that we can't get something done. People talk to us day in and day out about how disgusted they are. We can't do things. They are crying out for predictability. If you were only going to get two paychecks, would you be thinking about buying a house? Of course not. Industries that rely on our roads and bridges to move goods and services need that predictability, that funding, to make good business decisions. Otherwise, it would be foolish for them to do that. We all say we want to help our economy grow, and certainly I do. Let's give the job creators a reason to create jobs. Let's reauthorize the highway trust fund for the long term.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the One-hundredth Anniversary of the founding of the Borough of Magnolia in Camden County, New Jersey. On April 14, 1915, the citizens of the future Borough of Magnolia were formally recognized by the New Jersey Legislature as an independent borough out of Clementon Township. However, history for this small town did not begin in 1915. Settled in 1685, the area we know today as Magnolia, New Jersey has a deep history of rich involvement in the South Jersey community as one of the first settled communities of colonial New Jersey. The land that makes up Magnolia was once inhabited by the Native American Tribe of Lenni-Lenape who lived peacefully alongside Quaker farmers. William Penn, the future founder of Pennsylvania, worked diligently with this dedicated group of Quakers to settle in the southern section of colonial New Jersey. These settlers practiced a modest way of living based on agriculture and timber production. Over the next three hundred years, the community in the Magnolia area thrived, and in the past century, the population of Magnolia has quadrupled to over 4,000 today. Mr. Speaker, the Borough of Magnolia is small in size, but it is enormous in heart and community, a feeling that is best encapsulated through its motto: ``One Square Mile of Friendliness.'' This week, as the people of Magnolia celebrate their Centennial celebrations, I congratulate the citizens, Mayor BettyAnn Cowling-Carson, and council of Magnolia on their past one hundred years of experiences and accomplishments and wish them another hundred years of richness and good fortune.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 14th Annual Walter and Leah Rand Scholarship Dinner and to recognize this year's honorees, J. Mark Baiada, Louis Cappelli, Jr., and Thomas A. Isekenegbe. Founded in the year 2000 in honor of former New Jersey State Senator Walter Rand's legacy of public service, the Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs at Rutgers University serves as a research and public service center at the Camden campus. Each year, the institute awards members of the community whose tireless efforts improve the quality of life for South Jersey with the Walter and Leah Rand South Jerseyan of the Year Award. The private sector honoree, J. Mark Baiada--an alumnus of Rutgers University--is the president and founder of Bayada Home Health Care. Bayada Home Health care is a health care company, located in Moorestown, that employs nurses from throughout the state and provides outstanding health services to South Jersey. Mark has already expanded his company to over twenty-five states, offering the same high quality health care to people beyond New Jersey's borders. This year's public sector honoree, Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr., has brought his keen legal mind and innovative ideas to a lifetime of public service. As a resident of Collingswood, New Jersey, Louis has been a dedicated servant of his community. He began by serving on the Collingswood School Board and was later elected to the Collingswood Board of Commissioners, where he played an instrumental role in revitalizing the town. Louis was first elected to the Freeholder Board in 2003 and has since worked to transform county government, delivering services more efficiently to constituents while reducing the costs of doing so. The non-profit sector honoree, Dr. Thomas Isekenegbe, is the president of Cumberland County College, and has used his knowledge of higher education to increase enrollment and graduation rates at the college. Coming to America in 1981 from a small village in Nigeria, Thomas' passion for education and helping minorities succeed in higher education has been an inspiration. At Cumberland, Thomas has provided leadership for increasing enrollment, developing new academic programs, revising courses for a seamless transfer to four-year universities, and developing learning communities that lead to student success. Mr. Speaker, Mr. J. Mark Baiada, Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr., and Dr. Thomas A. Isekenegbe are the sort of inspirational and dedicated leaders that South Jersey needs and is proud to recognize. I join with the Walter and Leah Rand Institute for Public Affairs in honoring their talents and accomplishments that have made South Jersey an even better place to live.

Mr. NORCROSS

Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition of what is being called fast-track authority. The legislation would allow a deal, a deal that, regardless of its impact on American jobs, would go into effect with just a simple up-or- down vote. We have no other avenue for input, and I think we are seriously misguided. The best indication of that is history, where we have been. I started my career as an electrician, working up and down the Delaware River, in different plants that manufactured products for not only the United States, but around the world. Now, I go through what is now my congressional district, and I can see the empty boxes which used to be manufacturing, which used to put men and women to work. Since NAFTA, I have been involved in trying to educate the people of not only my area, but, certainly, of the rest of the country, that this is seriously misguided and that the rhetoric that we heard at the time ended up being the exact opposite. In my district alone, there have been 19,500 jobs lost and 59 employers who are no longer there. Those empty buildings that we used to call home, that used to pay for college educations, those are dreams erased. I was sent to Congress to create a climate for jobs here in America, and that is my focus. That is why I am so passionate about this issue. When we look around the country, we are just now coming out of the worst economic times since I have been alive--the worst times. Now, what we are seeing and what we are being asked to do is to grant authority to take those jobs--the ones that will take care of our families--and ship them overseas. They did it before, and it is going to happen again. Our job is to help create jobs here in America for all of the people, not just for the few who make and own the companies. I urge my colleagues in the strongest way I can to say ``no'' to fast track and to say ``yes'' to American jobs.