Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

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

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Nick Brown and Mrs. Tracy Brown for their immeasurable contributions to the community and congratulate them on their recognition by Count Basie Theatre at its summer gala, ``A Little Help From Our Friends,'' on June 20, 2014. Nick and Tracy's philanthropy and professional accomplishments should be celebrated. Both Nick and Tracy are active members of their community. Tracy currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Trustees of the Monmouth Medical Center Foundation as well as a member of the Prevention First Board of Trustees. She has served as co-chair for numerous galas for various organizations, including the Count Basie Theatre. Recently, Tracy and Nick co-chaired the 2014 Monmouth Medical Center Crystal Ball, which benefited the hospital's programs and services. In addition to his professional work as GFI Group Managing Director and Head of Financial Product Brokerage for the Americas, Nick also dedicates much time to charitable activities. He has been a board member of the Center to Prevent Youth Violence, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and HELP USA, and currently serves on the Count Basie Theatre Foundation Board of Directors. Mr. Speaker, please join me in leading this body in recognition of Nick and Tracy for their tireless efforts and dedication to philanthropy. It is with great pleasure that I am able to join with Count Basie Theatre in honoring their exceptional work for the community.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Middletown Township, New Jersey as it celebrates its 350th Anniversary this year. It is my honor to join the residents in celebration of this significant milestone. Middletown village is a National Register of Historic Places historic district. One of the oldest settlements in New Jersey, Middletown was established by English settlers from western Long Island and New England by the Monmouth Patent. It was settled on land acquired from local Native Americans and was one of three villages settled at the time, including Portland Point, which was unsuccessful, and Shrewsbury. In 1693, Middletown was one of the three municipalities organized into Monmouth County. Still one of the largest townships in New Jersey, Middletown has seen its borders change several times over the years, including the 1848 formation of Raritan Township, the 1887 secession of Atlantic Highlands and the 1900 secession of Highlands. The local neighborhoods of Port Monmouth, East Keansburg, Belford, Leonardo, Locust, New Monmouth, Navesink, and Lincroft have their own history and create Middletown's unique identity and character. In 1913 a high school built in the Leonardo section of Middletown was the first rural high school in the area. Also in 1913, Middletown's first library, the private Navesink Library, opened. The Middletown Public Library opened seven years later. The First Town Book in Middletown, dated 1667, marks the first formal records of the township. The New Jersey State Legislature approved a special charter in 1971 establishing the township's current form of government. In its 350th year, Middletown Township is governed by Mayor Stephanie Murray, Deputy Mayor Kevin Settembrino, and Committeemen Anthony Fiore, Stephen Massell and Gerard Scharfenberger. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in marking the 350th Anniversary of Middletown Township and celebrating its rich history.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Asbury Park-Wall Elks Lodge No. 128 on its 125th anniversary. As its officers and members gather to celebrate this milestone, I would like to join with them in honoring its history as one of the oldest Elks lodges in the United States. The Asbury Park-Wall Elks Lodge was originated as the Asbury Park Lodge of Elks number 128 on June 28, 1889. It is one of the five first lodges in New Jersey, among Newark, Patterson, Hoboken and Trenton. The lodge was housed in the Mikado Building on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park and consisted of 42 members in its first year. In its early years, the Asbury Park Lodge was led by several Exalted Rulers. Its first was John K. Parker, followed by John F. Hawkins, Samuel A. Patterson, and Harry J. Rockafeller. In 1893, Exalted Ruler William K. Devereux, who was also District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler for New Jersey at the time, presided over the lodge when it surrendered its charter due to decreasing membership among the limited population. Fourteen years later, interest in the lodge rebounded and it was reorganized on January 11, 1907 with a new dispensation. At the time, it was numbered 1047, but was later given the original number 128 again. Today, the Asbury Park-Wall Lodge No. 128 is one of 35 lodges in New Jersey and is part of the Southern District. Exalted Ruler Mary Ann Smith currently leads a membership of over 200. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in congratulating Asbury Park-Wall Elks Lodge on its 125th anniversary.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the life of former Bradley Beach Mayor Julie Schreck. Mayor Schreck passed away on May 4, 2014 after a life filled with numerous personal and professional accomplishments. Prior to serving as the first female mayor of Bradley Beach, Mayor Schreck worked in the corporate communications and training field for 25 years. She began her career in public service as a councilwoman for the Borough of Bradley Beach. After four years as mayor, she became the Admissions Director at Voyagers' Community School, where her daughter is a student. During her tenure as mayor of Bradley Beach, Mayor Schreck promoted her interest in the environment and the arts. Her administration focused on sustainability, community-building and equity and supported an open and accountable government. The daughter of Pat and Ray Schreck, Mayor Schreck was born in New Haven, Connecticut on July 27, 1962. She was a scholar and an athlete in high school and college, graduating Fordham University with a Bachelor's degree in English. Mayor Schreck leaves behind a loving family, including her husband Joseph West and 8 year-old daughter Molly West, her parents and siblings Rachel Schreck, Kristina Ellis and Rich Schreck. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in honoring Mayor Schreck for her dedication to her family, leadership to the Bradley Beach community and her commitment to each endeavor she undertook.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate William W. Wingard as he is honored as the Greater Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce 2014 Citizen of the Year. Mr. Wingard's contributions to the Spring Lake community are truly deserving of this award and this body's recognition. Mr. Wingard has been a resident of Spring Lake since his birth in 1927. He has been active in the Spring Lake community and government. He served as a Councilman for 9 years after being elected in 1980. He also served on the Spring Lake Board of Adjustment, the Planning Board and the Juvenile Conference Committee. In addition to his service to the municipal government, Mr. Wingard was also a 17-year member of the Spring Lake First Aid Squad (where he was also elected president), and an honorary member of the Goodwill Fire Company and Fire Company No. 1. Outside of his municipal commitments, Mr. Wingard was past president of N.J. Gravel & Sand Company and co-founder of the 200 Club of Monmouth County. He currently serves on the Jersey Shore University Medical Center Foundation. Mr. Speaker, once again please join me in recognizing William Wingard as he is honored by the Greater Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce as the 2014 Citizen of the Year.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs of the General Federation of Women's Clubs as its members gather for its 120th Annual Convention. The New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs (NJSFWC) was founded in 1894 as a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. With a membership of nearly 8,000 women among 220 clubs, NJSFWC is the largest women's volunteer community service organization in New Jersey. It also boasts the third largest state membership of all of the clubs within the General Federation of Women's Clubs. The 220 clubs of the NJSFWC are committed to fulfilling the NJSFWC's mission of making a difference in the community through projects and volunteerism. In 2012, the NJSFWC clubs completed over 35,500 community service projects and over 800,000 volunteer hours. The NJSFWC partners with other community-based organizations, such as The Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Autism New Jersey and Domestic Violence Shelters of New Jersey, among others, to help raise funds and organize projects. In addition to their volunteerism, NJSFWC members also advocate for policy issues fundamental to community improvement. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in recognizing the 120th Anniversary of the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs of the General Federation of Women's Club. The club's commitment to providing opportunities for women to engage in community service and improve the lives of others is truly deserving of this body's recognition.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask the Republican leadership to bring up the bill that would extend critical unemployment insurance. So far, the gentleman from Ohio, Speaker Boehner, is telling struggling Americans that they are out of luck and out of money. This bill was passed in the Senate on a bipartisan basis, 65-34, to move forward to help people who are unemployed, and yet the Republican leadership here still refuses to bring it up. It is also completely paid for. Still, the Republicans insist that there is no longer an emergency and that unemployment numbers are dropping, but the reality is just the opposite. Long-term unemployment, defined as being out of work for 27 weeks or more, has not been this high since World War II. And we know that anyone receiving unemployment benefits, when they get their check, the money goes right back into the economy. In fact, unemployment insurance generates $1.52 in economic activity for every $1 spent. So why does the Republican leadership simply not bring this up? Instead, they focus on issues like Benghazi or setting up a select committee on Benghazi. They should be focusing on job creation-- creating jobs--and helping the unemployed.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Virginia ``Ginny'' Treacy on her retirement as Executive Director of JNESO District Council 1 International Union of Operating Engineers AFL-CIO. Ms. Treacy has dedicated over 35 years of service to labor causes and her contributions and accomplishments are truly deserving of this body's recognition. Virginia Treacy has been an active labor member since 1977 when she organized her first campaign while a Registered Nurse looking for fair and equitable treatment. She began her labor career as a business agent for the New Jersey State Nurses Association's labor division and become Union Director in 1980. Five years later, she began an independent professional health care union under the name JNESO with the then 2,300 Registered Nurses from the New Jersey State Nurses Association. In 1992 JNESO became District Council 1--IUOE after affiliating with the International Union of Operating Engineers. Today, JNESO District Council 1--IUOE represents over 5,000 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and other healthcare professionals and technical employees in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In addition to her leadership of JNESO District Council 1--IUOE, Ms. Treacy is a member of the Gender Parity Council, the New Jersey Health Care Workforce Council. She has been recognized for her many accomplishments, being honored with awards from her union and other labor and nursing groups. A graduate of New York City's Beth Israel Medical Center School of Nursing, Ms. Treacy worked at various hospitals in New York and New Jersey before entering the labor movement. She is married, a mother of two daughters, a grandmother and an avid golfer. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in congratulating Virginia ``Ginny'' Treacy on her retirement and thanking her for her years of service.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Central Jersey Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. as its members gather to celebrate its 50th Annual Founders' Day. This milestone is truly deserving of this body's recognition. The Central Jersey Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC) was established in 1964 by 18 local women in the business community and other professional fields. Since that time, the Central Jersey Club has continued to advance the mission of the NANBPWC to promote the interests of African American business and professional women while striving to improve the quality of life for its fellow citizens. The 50 members of the Central Jersey Club represent and serve both Monmouth and Ocean Counties of New Jersey. They work to improve the social conditions of the community through volunteerism and community involvement. The Central Jersey Club provides resources to promote opportunities for local youth, through academic scholarships, mentoring and tutoring. In this endeavor, its members work closely with area schools, the Sisters Academy in Asbury Park and the Asbury Park location of the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County. The Central Jersey Club also serves as a member of Meridian Health's Partners in Health advisory committee for minority health and diversity issues. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in congratulating the Central Jersey Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc. on its 50th Anniversary. The Central Jersey Club has paved a successful path for its members and future generations of women in business and continues to provide outstanding service to its community.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. Since 1984, the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties has been providing resources to try to combat food insecurity in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and their efforts are truly deserving of this body's recognition. Since its opening, the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (the FoodBank) has grown immensely in size and mission. Started in a warehouse in Spring Lake with the help of volunteers and donated supplies, the FoodBank quickly began receiving food from hundreds of donors to assist residents of the Jersey Shore. Within 10 years, the FoodBank went from serving 25 charities with 100,000 pounds of food in 1985 to distributing almost 2 million pounds of food. In 2001, the FoodBank opened an expanded 40,000 square foot facility in Neptune to accommodate the growing demand and today serves 260 agencies with over 8.5 million pounds of food annually. Although its largest program is emergency food distribution, the FoodBank also began programs and resources to further assist local residents and increase efforts to create food-secure communities. The FoodBank offers residents a culinary training program, nutrition education, free tax preparation, SNAP application assistance and assistance with the Affordable Care Act through trained and certified Health Care Marketplace navigators. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in congratulating the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties as it celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The organization continues to provide outstanding service to the residents of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Chairman, the Progressive Caucus' Better Off Budget is optimistic. It is about investing in America in job growth by investing in infrastructure, public works, and education. By repealing sequestration cuts, restoring funding for SNAP benefits and unemployment insurance and investing in programs to hire police, firefighters, and health care workers, the Better Off Budget will create 8.8 million good jobs by 2017. It also embodies our American values by implementing comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship and protects our environment by addressing climate change. The Better Off Budget stands for our Nation's commitments by supporting veterans, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and implementing a fair tax system. I urge my colleagues, be optimistic about America. Make America better off by voting for the Progressive Caucus budget.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague. Madam Speaker, throughout this debate, Republicans have been claiming that they are champions of working people, but that is not the case here. This is not the Save American Workers Act; it is the Sabotaging American Workers Act. The Affordable Care Act is based on the premise that the large businesses can afford to offer health coverage to their workers, and they should do the responsible thing and offer coverage. That is only fair. Ninety-six percent of all businesses don't have to offer any of their workers coverage under the ACA, but for the 4 percent of businesses that have the means, the law says they need to do the right thing by their full-time workers and offer them health coverage. Republicans don't think businesses owe their employees anything at all. The Family and Medical Leave Act, Republicans say: that is not important. Equal pay for equal work, Republicans say: women don't deserve that. A fair minimum wage, Republicans say: absolutely not. And quality, affordable health care, Republicans say: Who cares? Well, I think bigger businesses should do the right thing by their workers, and that is what the ACA asks them to do. So what does this bill that is before us today actually do? This bill says big businesses could deny health coverage to someone working 39 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. That is not a part-time worker. Their employer should provide them health coverage. Five times more people work around 40 hours a week than work around 30 hours a week. That is why this bill will throw 1 million Americans off of their employer's health coverage. That is why it would result in millions and millions of workers seeing their hours cut below 40 hours a week. What is it--why are Republicans claiming people are losing hours right and left because of the ACA? But the Congressional Budget Office told them flatly, ``There is no compelling evidence that part-time labor has increased as a result of the Affordable Care Act.'' But I doubt that means much to my Republican friends because they do not look at the facts. We have added 8.6 million private sector jobs since the law passed, but Republicans simply ignore that. There are fewer part-time workers than there were before the law passed, but that doesn't get in the way of the Republican talking points. Madam Speaker, 7.1 million people have enrolled through the exchanges. Millions and millions more have signed up through Medicaid or directly with an insurer, but Republicans still claim people don't want health insurance coverage, or they claim the numbers are made up. The ACA is working. Millions are getting coverage for the first time. We are adding jobs to the economy. Giving big business a green light to drop coverage for their workers is not the way to move this country forward. Workers have the right to decent health care, and businesses should help them get it. That is the fair thing, that is the right thing, and this bill takes us in the total wrong direction. So I urge my colleagues, vote ``no.'' This is a very bad bill for America's workers. Don't let the Republicans kid you otherwise.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of S. 1557, the Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013. As every parent knows, it's very important to have a trusted doctor to turn to when their child gets sick. Since its inception in 1999, the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Program--known as CHGME--has helped to make sure that a doctor is there and prepared to diagnose any symptoms our children face. In fact, the program has been a true success. In the 1990s declines in pediatric training programs threatened the stability of the pediatric workforce. CHGME helped to reverse these dangerous declines. Even then, Congress, on a bipartisan manner recognized that if we didn't create and fund programs that would train doctors to treat these children, there won't be anyone left to take care of them. That is why, the House overwhelmingly supported reauthorization of the program in the 112th and 113th Congresses, passing standalone legislation in September 2011, including the reauthorization in broader legislation in December 2012, and approving standalone legislation one year ago. The legislation before us today--which has already cleared the Senate by unanimous consent--reauthorizes the program through fiscal year 2018 and makes two important changes to the program. First, S. 1557 allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to undertake a limited program expansion to include children's psychiatric hospitals and other freestanding children's hospitals that have been ineligible to participate in the program for technical reasons. Second, it gives the Secretary the authority to redistribute funding set-aside for the newly-eligible hospitals that is unused, based upon quality measures that are consistent with residency program accreditation criteria and that are developed in consultation with stakeholders. With this federal CHGME support, children's hospitals can play a key role in ensuring the continued growth of our nation's pediatric workforce. In 2012, the program supported the training of 6,015 resident physicians nationally. The program will also help to enhance hospitals' research capabilities and improve hospitals' ability to provide care to vulnerable and underserved children. I want to thank Congressman Joe Pitts, the Chairman of our Health Subcommittee, for working with me on the House bill. Together with his help and leadership, we advanced House CHGME legislation upon convening the 113th Congress. A special thanks to Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman for their support in addressing this critical program. I also want to commend Senators Casey and Isakson for their leadership on this legislation in the Senate and hard work to address concerns raised about children's psychiatric hospitals and other children's hospitals being excluded from the program in a fair and balanced way. Mr. Speaker, this program has proven results and it is past time that we finally reauthorize CHGME so that we can provide certainty to hospitals, doctors and their patients. Children in our communities are counting on this program to train a future generation of pediatricians. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 1557 and to send this measure to the President.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the Democratic whip.

Mr. PALLONE. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Democratic leader.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am sorry, but I simply cannot support yet another temporary SGR patch. This bill is bad for seniors, and it is bad for doctors. We want to achieve a permanent solution to this ongoing problem. This bill does nothing to achieve that goal. In fact, it sets back months and months of hard work. What we should be considering today is the bipartisan- bicameral agreement that my colleagues and I developed. That bill is what doctors' groups and patients' groups support. That bill can also be offset without robbing one provider to pay another provider. What is before us today doesn't fix the problem. It exacerbates it. We had a true opportunity to finally accomplish what our constituents have asked us to do for a decade, and that is to pass a permanent repeal of the SGR, but the Republican leadership is letting that opportunity slip away. I respect my colleague from Pennsylvania, but I don't believe that if we pass another patch that we are going to go back and do a permanent fix. My fear is, by doing this, we will lose the opportunity to do the permanent fix and that it will simply slip away. Two weeks ago, the Republicans brought to the floor our agreement, and they added a poison pill offset that they knew the President and the Senate would never accept, a delay of critical Affordable Care Act provisions. All that accomplished was wasting time, which has led us to this scenario of spending another nearly $20 billion on a patch. Meanwhile, this bill includes health policies that have never seen the light of day. Some have been used as offsets, others as sweeteners, to get Members to vote for it, but I am not falling for it. That is no way to govern. The Senate is actually poised to vote on our bipartisan agreement that is fully offset. It does so without cutting from the health care system, and that is the bill we should be considering here today. Seniors do not want us to kick the can again for another year. The doctor community spoke loudly and clearly yesterday--no more patches. So I say to my colleagues: let's not go down this road again. Instead, let's come together and pass a permanent solution. Let's get the job done. Vote ``no'' on this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), the ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee. (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PALLONE. At this time, I have one more speaker.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney), a member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. PALLONE. I have at least two left.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).