Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cathedral International's upcoming ``Stop the Funeral Weekend'' hosted by Bishop Donald Hilliard, Jr. from June 18-21, 2015. The ``Stop the Funeral Weekend'' aims to highlight the issue of violence in our communities and I would like to join with Bishop Hilliard in bringing attention to this important issue. Throughout his 32 years as Senior Pastor of Cathedral International, Bishop Hilliard has advocated for the end of violent behavior and injustice through improved community relations and engagement. He has seen the consequences of violence and the persistence of its existence in our communities. The ``Stop the Funeral Weekend'' will bring together community leaders, families and individuals to encourage open dialogue and the sharing of concerns, objectives and ideas. It will highlight Bishop Hilliard's mission to promote safe environments for our youth to live and grow. I commend Bishop Hilliard's leadership and his ongoing efforts to address the challenges facing our communities today. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in recognizing the importance of addressing the issue of violence in our communities and thanking Bishop Hilliard and Cathedral International for its efforts to bring awareness to this critical issue and creating a better environment for our youth.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chair, I rise today to express my support for the Vets4Warriors program, a program in my district that is operated by Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. This successful program has provided invaluable assistance to the military in their efforts to prevent suicide among veterans. The program ensures that those veterans who are struggling with depression or psychological concerns get the support they need: peer-to-peer. Sadly, the Department of Defense has terminated this program without any public notice. Our nation is now faced with a crisis: since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 3,000 active-duty personnel have taken their own lives. Programs like Vets4Warriors help us to combat this troubling trend. The Vets4Warriors program is unique and will be difficult to replace. It allows veterans a safe space in which they can find help apart from the DOD structure. Service members are often hesitant to reach out to their superiors regarding personal concerns like mental health. By integrating these programs into the Department's Military OneSource program, many service members will lose the sense of confidentiality provided by Vets4Warriors. We must fulfill our responsibility to care for those who put themselves in harm's way to protect our nation. It is my hope that the DOD will reconsider their decision so that we can assure our veterans have access to the best mental health resources possible.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, fixing our Nation's crumbling infrastructure to boost the economy and increase transportation safety should not be a partisan issue; yet Republicans in Congress continue to show neglect and indifference towards the Nation's infrastructure and transportation safety needs. The 2-month extension of the highway trust fund they offered in their unacceptable T-HUD appropriation bill is the latest example. The T-HUD bill shows a dangerous disregard for safety measures on America's highways at a time when we well know transportation safety should be a priority. It allows massive, double 33-foot tractor-trailers to travel at high speeds on America's Interstate Highway System, and it suspends Federal safety guidelines aimed at eliminating trucker fatigue, allowing long- haul truckers to work more than twice the average workweek for Americans. Mr. Speaker, the short-term highway trust fund does not solve the problem of deteriorating roads and bridges; it simply puts a Band-Aid on it. Republicans kicked the can down the road, but it got stuck in a pothole. Now is the time to fix the infrastructure in our counties, and we need to put people back to work in order to do it, but what we really need is a robust, long-term commitment.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Monmouth Conservatory of Music on its 50th anniversary this year. The Monmouth Conservatory of Music has been a premier music school in New Jersey and this milestone is truly deserving of this body's recognition. The only non-profit music school in Monmouth County, New Jersey, the Monmouth Conservatory of Music is a valuable and influential institution of the local arts community and an outstanding educational and recreational resource for the greater Monmouth County area. It focuses its efforts on reaching everyone in the community, including underserved populations, and works to make music education and experiences accessible to all, offering scholarships, lectures, programs and free public concerts. Its mission to introduce music to the general public and its positive impact on the community is commendable. Founded in 1964 by Felix and Jeannette Molzer, the Monmouth Conservatory of Music remains dedicated to fostering musical excellence in its students and imparting the importance of musical education and musical understanding to future generations. Its commitment to promoting music has contributed to the thriving cultural landscape of the community. Under the direction of Artistic and Executive Director Vladislav Kovalsky and Associate Director Irina Kovalsky, the Monmouth Conservatory of Music offers expert teachers and high standards for its students. It is committed to enriching its students and the community through music. Once again, I sincerely hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing the contributions and achievements of the Monmouth Conservatory of Music and honoring its 50th anniversary.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1335, the Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization before us today. Management of fisheries in the United States is extremely important, especially in my home State of New Jersey, where the fishing industry is an important economic driver of the State's economy, generating billions of dollars a year in revenue and supporting tens of thousands of jobs. This bill passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee without a single Democratic vote, and President Obama has threatened to veto it. This doesn't need to be a partisan issue. We should be working together in a bipartisan fashion to make commonsense reforms to Magnuson-Stevens. There are important fishery management reforms in this bill that I strongly support, such as the flexibility language and modifications to the annual catch limit requirements. However, I am troubled by the language in the bill that makes unnecessary changes to NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, and the Antiquities Act. This bill would vest much of the authority over these statutes in the fishery management councils instead of with the appropriate Federal agency. It is not appropriate to vest regulatory authority for these purposes in a body like a fishery management council. Fishery managers play an important role in crafting fishery management measures in consultation with NOAA fisheries. Yet, they lack the expertise to appropriately review and analyze the impacts and requirements of NEPA or the Endangered Species Act. The legislation, Mr. Chairman, does include specific language I authored on recreational data collection, and I would like to thank the authors for including this important section. The goal of this language is to ensure the fishery management councils are collecting the best information possible about recreational fishing. It would implement a grant program to allow States to improve recreational data collection and require the National Research Council to issue a report on improvements that have been made and need to be made with recreational fishing data collection and surveying. This will help us understand what is actually happening with fishing in any given year and ensure that we aren't needlessly closing healthy fisheries. Mr. Chairman, there are positive reforms to Magnuson-Stevens in this legislation, but unfortunately it weakens important environmental laws such as NEPA and the ESA in the process. I think that is unfortunate. I wish we could have had a bipartisan bill that actually reforms Magnuson-Stevens in a preferable way.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Monday I held a press conference at a bridge in Perth Amboy, in my district, to highlight the dire need to renew the highway trust fund before it expires at the end of this month. This bridge, like thousands of other bridges and roads throughout the country, is in dire need of repair. And let me be as clear as I can be: unless Republicans in Congress join with Democrats in our commitment to invest in our Nation's infrastructure, not only will our roads and bridges continue to deteriorate, jobs will be lost, and the economy will suffer. Ever since Republicans took control of the House in January 2011, they have shown neglect and indifference towards the Nation's infrastructure needs. In fact, since Republicans assumed the majority in January 2011, the Republican-led Ways and Means Committee has not held a single hearing on financing options for the highway trust fund. All this, despite the U.S. being ranked 16th in quality of infrastructure, behind Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and others, according to the World Economic Forum; and the country received a D-plus from civil engineers for our infrastructure nationwide. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues in Congress to quickly extend the highway trust fund. We only have another 6 legislative days. Jobs, economic strength, and the safety and health of our transportation system are at stake.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Dorothy ``Dot'' Peterson as she celebrates her 100th birthday this year. It is my honor to join with her family and friends in marking this incredible milestone and wishing her many more years of health and happiness. Born in Brooklyn, New York on May 15, 1915, Dot was the sixth of eight children. Her parents, Hannah and Kristian Nilson, had immigrated to the United States from Norway. In 1919, their family moved to North Long Branch, New Jersey where Dot spent most of her childhood. She graduated from Long Branch High School in 1931 and earned her teaching degree from Newark Normal School (now Kean University) in 1935. In 1939, Dot married her beloved husband Harold Peterson of Monmouth Beach, New Jersey. Together they had 6 children and lived in Long Branch for 11 years before moving to Monmouth Beach in 1950. In 2005, Dot and Harold moved from their cherished family home to Kensington Court in Tinton Falls, New Jersey where Dot still resides today. Dot's dynamic spirit and love of life is reflected in her family. She is proud of her children, eleven grandchildren and 15 great- grandchildren with which she can share her accomplished and fulfilling life. In addition to raising a beautiful family, Dot has always been an active member of her community, looking to improve the well-being of others. She taught first grade at the Broadway School in Long Branch for seven years and was a member of the parent-teacher associations at Monmouth Beach School, Long Branch High School and Shore Regional High School. She was also part of a group of women who helped create the first free-standing library in Monmouth Beach and she served as a long- time member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Monmouth Beach. Dot continues to remain involved and energetic at Kensington Court, participating in art and exercise classes, prayer group and the Resident Board. Dot is also an engaged, life-long member of Asbury United Methodist Church in North Long Branch, where she has served as president of the Women's Society of Christian Service (later renamed the United Methodist Women) and a church trustee. She was also involved with the Sunday School and played in the bell choir. Family, community and church continue to be of utmost importance to Dot and her remarkable involvement is truly admirable. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in honoring Mrs. Dorothy Peterson as she celebrates her 100th birthday.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of William G. Dressel, Jr. as he prepares to retire as Executive Director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities this year. Mr. Dressel has dedicated 41 years to the League and his achievements are to be celebrated. Joining the New Jersey State League of Municipalities staff in 1974, Mr. Dressel held various positions in the organization until being selected to serve as Executive Director in 1995. As Executive Director, Mr. Dressel has overseen a twenty member staff, an operating budget of over $3 million and five full-time lobbyists. In addition to his tenure at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, Mr. Dressel served on the National League of Cities Executive Board for two years. Mr. Dressel has been an effective voice for New Jersey's municipalities and his commitment to government is evident. He has fought on behalf of local government and helped advance their goals and meet their needs. Under his leadership, the League has grown, with all 565 New Jersey municipalities participating in the volunteer association for the past five years. Additionally, the League's Annual Conference is the largest of its kind, with nearly 20,000 attendees each year. Mr. Dressel holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from West Virginia University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Social Science from Elon College. He has been recognized over the years for his outstanding service, receiving the John G. Stutz Award for 25 Years of State League Service by the National League of Cities, the Rutgers Award for Public Service to New Jersey for Excellence in promoting and supporting municipal government and Preservation New Jersey's Sarah P. Fiske Award for his efforts to rehabilitate the Ferdinand W. Roebling Sr. Mansion as the League of Municipality's headquarters. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in congratulating William Dressel, Jr. on his retirement and thanking him for his service to New Jersey. Mr. Dressel's commitment to the betterment of our communities is truly deserving of this body's recognition.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the New Jersey State League of Municipalities on its 100th anniversary this year. This incredible milestone and the League's efforts to support New Jersey's local governments are truly deserving of this body's recognition. Born out of the need for a statewide alliance supporting and representing the common interests of local governments, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities was conceived and formally authorized by state statute Chapter 163, Laws of 1915. Trenton Mayor Frederick W. Donnelly served as the League's first president, along with three vice presidents, a 14-member executive committee (now known as the executive board) and an executive secretary (known today as the executive director). Over the years, the organization's structure has remained the same. In its 100th year, Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler serves as League President. Evidence of its success, the League has grown immensely since its formation. Begun with 51 charter member municipalities, today the voluntary association boasts a membership of all 565 of New Jersey's municipalities, representing more than 560 mayors and 13,000 elected and appointed officials. Its headquarters, moved from Princeton to Trenton in 1921, continued to expand and was housed in several buildings before settling in its current location in 2007. For 100 years, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities has evolved and grown to meet the changing, complex needs of local government. Through its legislative activity, the League continues to be the leading voice on municipal affairs and an effective advocate on behalf of New Jersey's communities. Its services, programs and resources, particularly its annual conference and monthly magazine, are invaluable resources to local officials, providing outlets to share issues, solutions and ideas. Throughout its history, the League has successfully fought for greater local autonomy, improved local governance and the protection of municipal rights. Its achievements and influence are immeasurable. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in recognizing the New Jersey State League of Municipalities as it celebrates 100 years of local government collaboration. The New Jersey State League of Municipalities continues to represent a commitment to good government.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 535, the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015. This is bipartisan legislation to promote energy efficiency that recently passed the Senate by unanimous consent. S. 535--sponsored by Senators Portman and Shaheen--is very similar to legislation reported last Congress by the Energy and Commerce Committee which passed the House with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote. The bill addresses three main areas: energy efficient buildings, the grid- enabled water heaters, and energy benchmarking and information disclosure for federal buildings. Title one is comprised of the Better Buildings Act, bipartisan legislation sponsored in the House by Reps. McKinley and Welch. Section 102 of the bill directs the General Services Administration to develop model leasing provisions and best practices to encourage commercial building owners and tenants to invest in cost-effective energy efficiency measures. It also ensures the model leasing provisions are available for use in federal leases and, along with the best practices, are available for state and local governments to also use. Additionally, Section 103 directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to study improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings through design and construction of separate tenant spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures. And, Section 104 directs EPA to develop a voluntary ``Tenant Star'' program within the Energy Star program to promote energy efficiency in separate spaces leased by tenants in commercial buildings and requires the Agency to establish an Energy Star rating system to recognize tenants in commercial buildings that voluntarily achieve high levels of energy efficiency in separate spaces. Title two establishes a separate energy efficiency standard for grid- enabled water heaters, which are used in utility demand-response and thermal storage programs. This is substantially the same language included in H.R. 906, legislation sponsored by Chairman Whitfield, Mr. Loebsack and others that was reported without dissent last week by our committee. In addition to establishing a separate standard for these water heaters, the provision requires those units to have a built-in activation lock to ensure their participation in such a program. Finally, title three is essentially the same as H.R. 1867, legislation sponsored by Reps. Castor and Kinzinger regarding energy information for commercial buildings. Section 301 requires federally- leased buildings without Energy Star labels to benchmark and disclose their energy usage data except in certain circumstances. It also requires DOE to complete a study of best practices regarding the impacts of state and local performance benchmarking and disclosure policies for commercial and multifamily buildings, as well as utility policies for providing aggregated information to owners of multitenant buildings to assist with benchmarking programs. In addition, it requires DOE to maintain a database to store and make available public energy-related information on commercial and multifamily buildings. S. 535 is a stripped down version of the Shaheen-Portman efficiency legislation that has taken far too long to pass either chamber. However, I am disappointed that--unlike the original Shaheen-Portman bill--the proposal before us does not contain provisions authored by Rep. Eshoo that would address the efficiency of federal data centers. This is an area where we can easily see a great gain in efficiency relatively quickly and easily and her proposal has good bipartisan support. So, I have to note with concern the fact that something as useful and bipartisan as that federal data center efficiency language could not make it into the final package, despite being something that enjoys support on both sides. I hope that is an anomaly and not a harbinger of things to come, because we need to look at both sides of the equation--demand and supply, consumers and producers--to construct an energy policy for the future, one that is both economically and environmentally sustainable. And we need the resources of both sides of the aisle, both chambers of Congress and all branches of government to get there. Today, the Obama Administration released the first installment of its Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) after a year-long, detailed examination of our energy needs. The QER is not exactly glamorous, but it is a serious, thoughtful and necessary look at how best to modernize America's energy infrastructure to create jobs and grow our economy in a manner that ensures our energy security and protects our environment. While I look forward to reviewing the complete report, I know that the progress updates we have received throughout the year have elicited positive and hopeful reactions from both sides of the aisle. That's why I'm particularly pleased that the Administration is releasing this now while our Committee and our counterparts in the other body are considering the components of a possible bipartisan energy bill. We must meet consumers' need for reliable, affordable and, just as importantly, clean energy--one of the nation's most pressing issues. The QER looks to the future of our economy to take full advantage of American innovation and the new sources of domestic energy supply that are transforming the nation's energy marketplace. Just like efficiency, energy infrastructure--particularly with regard to size, scope, volume and siting--is critical to that endeavor. So, too, is the makeup--not just the volume--of the jobs that are created in modernizing that infrastructure; they must be jobs that are long-term, well-paying, and a gateway to the American dream for a diverse range of women and men. As Chairman Upton, Chairman Whitfield, Ranking Member Rush and I continue to explore the potential for developing and moving a bipartisan energy bill during this Congress, I hope we will take advantage of the QER, as well as the best consensus ideas on both sides of the aisle here in Congress. That, to me, is the only successful path forward and it is the process embodied in the legislation before us today. I urge my colleagues to support both the legislation before us and continuing the effort to build a broad, bipartisan partnership on energy issues. Only through this kind of cooperation can we enact energy legislation that truly powers our economy and our future.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 471, the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2015. Millions of Americans rely on prescription drugs to treat and cure illnesses and improve the overall quality of their lives. Unfortunately, we also have a significant problem in this country with abuse of prescription drugs. H.R. 471 would help drug distributors, pharmacies, and others work with DEA to achieve the difficult balance between keeping controlled substance prescription drugs away from drug abusers, but not from patients who urgently need them. It would achieve this goal by making several changes to the Controlled Substances Act. It would provide definitions for the phrases ``factors as may be relevant to and consistent with the public health and safety'' and ``imminent danger to the public health or safety.'' It would require DEA to provide registrants an opportunity to submit an action plan to correct any violations for which DEA is considering revoking or suspending their controlled substance registration. And it would require FDA, in consultation with DEA, to submit a report one year after enactment to Congress on obstacles to legitimate patient access to controlled substances and collaborative efforts to benefit patients and prevent abuse of these substances. I want to thank Representatives Blackburn, Marino, Welch and Chu for introducing this bipartisan legislation and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Schrader).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself my 30 seconds remaining. I want to recognize one person in particular, Ira Burney, a career civil servant who, for more than 30 years, has worked tirelessly on Medicare issues at CMS. There is not one Medicare bill in this time that he has not been a part of. His hard work and technical knowledge have been instrumental in supporting our work here in Congress. So I want to thank Ira and all those on both sides of the aisle who worked so hard to make this day possible. This is an important and incredibly significant bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), our Democratic whip.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), our Democratic leader, and I thank her for what she accomplished here today working with the Speaker.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green), the ranking member of our House Subcommittee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. For more than 10 years, Congress has had to temporarily fix the flawed sustainable growth rate, SGR, nearly 20 times since it was enacted. Well, today is the last time I will have to talk about the broken SGR. The House has come together to fix it once and for all. This bill is the result of a lot of hard work by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees and our leadership. Many of our Members have made important contributions to this bill, and I want to thank them all for being so diligent. This bill not only repeals the SGR, it replaces it with a reformed system that pays providers based on quality and value. It rewards health outcomes. It allows providers to give more focus to their patients, and most importantly, it provides stability and predictability to the Medicare Program for years to come. This is good for doctors, and it is good for seniors. This bill also extends critical funding for programs that improve the health and welfare of millions of children, families, and seniors. It makes permanent the qualified individual program which helps low-income seniors pay their Medicare part B premiums. It makes permanent the Transitional Medical Assistance program, which allows low-income families to maintain their Medicaid coverage for up to 1 year as they transition from welfare to work. It includes $8 billion in funding for community health centers, the National Health Service Corps, and teaching health centers. This funding will help serve 28 million patients, and all three, together, strengthen access to primary and preventative health care in communities throughout America. The bill includes a fully funded 2-year extension of CHIP, maintaining all of the improvements in the Affordable Care Act, but this is not just a 2-year extension; it is a robust extension. It keeps the promise made to States by maintaining the 23 percent bump in Federal matching rates and ensures that States, in turn, keep their promise to CHIP kids by leaving maintenance of effort requirements for child enrollment through 2019 untouched. This bill is not perfect. I wish my Republican colleagues would have agreed to fund CHIP for 4 years. I also remain concerned about the provisions that affect Medicare beneficiaries, but such is the nature of compromise. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the work of my committee and of both of our leaderships. This agreement took courage from both sides, but what we have accomplished is truly significant. It is balanced and a thoughtful product, and I urge Members to support it. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, according to the CBO, the House Republican budget's cuts to SNAP would drive the poorest working families deeper into poverty and would increase hunger in our communities. The Republican budget would cut as many as 60 million people from SNAP, most of whom are working, and cuts of this magnitude would be tragic for millions of hard-working Americans and their families. Basically, the House Republican budget makes people work harder for less. Today, the Democrats introduced an alternative budget, and this Democratic budget works for hard-working Americans. First, it makes it easier to own a home; second, easier to send kids to college; third, easier to have a secure and enjoyable retirement. Once again, the difference between the two: House Republicans want Americans to work harder for less; Democrats, on the other hand, want to help hard-working Americans.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick as it prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary at a gala celebration on March 28, 2015. I would also like to join with the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick in congratulating its gala honorees, Mayor James Cahill, Richard Kaplan and Charlene Brown. Since its inception, the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick has striven to strengthen the minority populations of central New Jersey. Its efforts have created several programs and services to advance opportunities and improve the quality of life of all residents. Its focus on employment and housing services helps develop a foundation to better the well-being of individuals and families. Through its youth programs, the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick offers tutoring and enrichment activities to students and builds leadership skills. The Civic League of Greater New Brunswick continues to fulfill its mission of an equal society for all through the enhancement of our communities. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in congratulating the Civic League of Greater New Brunswick on its 70th anniversary and recognizing the outstanding efforts of the Civic League and the gala honorees.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Owens as he celebrates his 25th Pastoral Anniversary as Senior Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Metuchen, New Jersey. Pastor Owens continues to provide outstanding spiritual leadership to the Metuchen community. Dr. Owens attended New Hope Baptist Church as a child and in 1990 was called back to serve as its pastor. Under his leadership, the membership of New Hope Baptist Church has grown immensely. He has encouraged his congregants to practice faith in action, serving the needs of people through several worship and outreach ministries. In addition to his service to New Hope Baptist Church, Dr. Owens is also a leader in the Baptist church and an active member of the community. He has served as General Secretary of the General Baptist State Convention of New Jersey, Moderator of the Middlesex Central Baptist Association, Inc. and past president of the Metuchen/Edison Clergy Association. He is also the first Chaplain of the Metuchen Police and Fire Departments, where he continues to counsel, former Vice-Chairman of the Middlesex County Democratic Party and is a member of The Prince Hall Masons of New Jersey, among others. Dr. Owens is married to Sister Cheryl Owens, formerly Cheryl Jones, and together they are blessed with two daughters and four grandsons. An active member of her faith, Sister Cheryl Owens is also celebrating her 25th anniversary of First Lady of New Hope Baptist Church and I would like to join with the church and community in thanking her for her service. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in celebrating the 25th Pastoral Anniversary of Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Owens. His leadership, service and dedication to the church and community are truly deserving of this body's recognition.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Ruth Hyman as she is honored by the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group at their Ruth Hyman Spiritual Support in the Jewish Tradition Hospice Program Tree of Life Donor Wall Dedication. A lifelong resident of Long Branch, New Jersey, Ruth Hyman continues her philanthropic endeavors to improve the well-being of New Jersey's residents. As the recipient of a generous donation by Ms. Hyman, the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group has named its hospice program's special services for Judaic pastoral care in her honor. The Ruth Hyman Spiritual Support in the Jewish Tradition program will continue to provide important spiritual and pastoral care and comfort to individuals and their families. The Visiting Nurse Association Health Group's mission to make the community a better place reflects Ms. Hyman's passion for helping others. The largest non-profit visiting nurse association in New Jersey, the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group provides an invaluable service to our communities through compassionate home health care and support services. Its skilled health aides continue to meet the needs of over 120,000 individuals in the comfort and security of their homes each year. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in thanking Ruth Hyman and the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group for their immeasurable contributions to our community.