Bill Pascrell

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. I thank the ranking member. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3036, the National 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center Act, which was introduced by my friends Congressmen Tom MacArthur and Jerry Nadler--two sentinels of Americans' liberty and freedom. President Bush traveled to the site with Democrats and Republicans. I have never seen in my experience here no other effort close to it of how we were united. We accomplished so much when we were united, and we learned to respect each other even more. On that day, our lives, our country, and the world changed forever. In the aftermath, Americans came together for a common purpose--to rescue, to rebuild, and to remember those we had lost--friends and neighbors, many of them. They were from all faiths, all persuasions. This memorial and the museum at the World Trade Center were constructed so that we would never forget those brothers and sisters, children and parents, cousins and colleagues. We called them that at the time; yet the further we get from 9/11 we very seldom refer to ``sisters'' and ``brothers'' except for our relatives and our brave first responders who perished during one of the darkest moments in our Nation's history. Ensuring this Memorial site will be here for years to come will give millions of people around the world the opportunity to pay tribute to those who were lost and to find inspiration in how our Nation has recovered. As a proud supporter of our National Park Service, I know it will make sure the site remains a sacred place of healing and of hope as a national memorial. As a result, Mr. Speaker, I urge the swift passage of H.R. 3036 in order to solidify the memorial's standing, to honor the memories of those we lost, and to ensure future generations can learn about that tragic day.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Ranking Member, through the Chair, this is nonreconciliation if I have ever seen it. The Affordable Care Act pulling back from Medicaid expansion, do you know what that means? Have you examined what that will do? It will take away essential tax credits that the law provides to help the middle class and middle class families purchase health insurance. Here we are repealing the ACA for the umpteenth time. In addition to cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood, the new version of the bill which came back from the Senate would also prohibit Medicaid from paying for services at Planned Parenthood. Because Federal law strictly prohibits Federal Medicaid dollars from being used to pay for abortions, regardless of how you try to get that message out and convey this nonfact, that is not the fact. This addition would specifically prohibit payments to Planned Parenthood for healthcare services like preventive health exams.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I contend that that is un-American. Read my lips. Cancer screenings. I contend that that is un-American. And you have nothing in your budget, and you have nothing in your so-called plan--which dematerialized before it materialized--that would take care of these folks. And the subject of birth control, since you like to talk about it all the time, that, to me, is un-American. That, to me, reduces freedom in the greatest country on the planet. So what will we come up with? In a bill that came before us without regular order--you tout all the time that we need regular order, we have got to go through the process and get the bill in front of us-- this did not go through the process. This committee that you had was a joke. You know it and I know it. So what a spirit of reconciliation, what a horror--what a horror-- being projected on the American people. It is too bad. It is not a good way to start the new year, and I am not hopeful for the future.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, let's cut to the chase. I support this legislation. It wasn't an easy decision, but I believe that Democrats were able to get a lot of policies into the bill that are good for the middle class. It is going to help 16 million Americans out of poverty. In New Jersey, 435,000 children and 219,000 families will lose some or all of their working family tax credits if we don't do this. This package includes a bill introduced by my friend from New York, Tom Reed, and myself to help put people back to work. Our tax credit for businesses who hire long-term unemployed Americans--and we have abandoned them, let's face it--will help those families who haven't yet felt the effects of our economic recovery. Another bill the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert) and I co- authored supports our Nation's hardworking teachers. You heard him speak about it just several minutes ago. Both of these bills are part of the tax package before us today. And as the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) said, these things pass routinely anyway. Who the heck are we kidding? The enemy of the good is the perfect. Over and over and again we prove that here on this floor. An important provision allowing public safety officers to withdraw from their pensions when they retire early without a tax penalty is included in this package. There are provisions that support mass transit commuters, small businesses, low-income housing, families paying for college, economic development. The earned income tax credit and the child tax credit are our biggest forces against poverty in this country, in this Nation. I can't say enough about the significance of making these enhanced credits permanent. But when faced with the choice between these important priorities for families, for teachers, for public safety officers, I simply can't, in good conscience, vote against them to prove a point that not everything is in there, including the kitchen sink. The bill is far from perfect. And in conclusion, let me say this. I think this has been a civil debate, and that is healthy for us, all of us, regardless of what happens in the vote.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the achievements of an outstanding faith community, the Cedar Cliff United Methodist Church (UMC), which celebrated their ministry's 125th Anniversary of successful service to the community of Haledon on Sunday, December 6, 2015. Since December 7, 1890, when it first opened its doors, the church has stood in its current location, serving as a house of worship in the town of Haledon, on 18 Zabriskie Street. The church has its own unique piece of history, through their bell which was donated by U.S. Vice President Barret A. Hobart. Many members of the church have also served in the military since World War I. Cedar Cliff UMC is located in a neighborhood that is ethnically diverse and constantly changing. It has one traditional Sunday morning worship service. Current ministries within the church include the prayer shawl ministry, Bible study, Monday night yoga classes, a food pantry and joint fellowship events with a partner church that shares its facilities. The church has also been home to many Boys & Girls Scout troops throughout the years. The church has been a place where many babies have been baptized, a place where couples get married, and also a place where family members have laid their loved ones to rest in their sanctuary. But most importantly, many lives have been changed by the people that have called Cedar Cliff UMC home since 1890. The ministry has been a major part of the Haledon community and continues to serve all. The Church members and organizers have worked passionately to build many bridges between different groups within the faith community. The Cedar Cliff UMC has had many leaders throughout its years. Today, it is led by Reverend Pamela Grant James, who has inspired many to follow the path of faith and kindness. Reverend James has helped shape our society and is deserving of every bit of recognition for her selfless actions. It gives me pride to recognize the excellence of the Cedar Cliff UMC and I thank them for servicing the residents of Haledon. I am grateful to represent the Church and its congregation within the 9th Congressional District of New Jersey. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating the achievements of faith communities such as the Cedar Cliff UMC. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, and the Cedar Cliff UMC in celebrating their 125th Anniversary and recognizing their leadership, dedication and loyalty to serving the community.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for the ranking member's intellect and integrity, as well as the chairman, in working through this rule. But it is simply disgraceful that while the President of the United States, our President, was in Paris this week to unite the world against the growing threat of climate change, this House chose to take up this particular legislation that would undermine the transition to cleaner power sources. These irresponsible bills put the American people at risk by exposing them to the dangers of carbon pollution, further exacerbating the negative impacts of climate change and putting our natural resources in jeopardy. While some of my friends choose to deny solid scientific evidence, more than 12,000 peer-reviewed scientific studies are in agreement: Climate change is real, and humans are largely responsible by releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels to produce energy. But this is the most embarrassing part for our country: that this House is ignoring the scientific and national security community, which has long recognized the national security threat climate change poses for future generations. The longer term consequences of failing to act to address climate change may add further instability in regions that are already teetering on the edge of crisis. This could impair future access to food and water, damage infrastructure or interrupt commercial activity, and increase competition and tension between countries vying for limited resources. Now, as this body chooses to ignore our military leaders, we are faced with a choice. We can reject the continued calls to pull fossil fuels from the ground, or we can put our heads in the sand and pretend everything is fine, hunky-dory. While I may not be a scientist or a military expert, I don't think it is difficult to walk and chew gum at the same time. We can listen to the experts by investing our time and efforts in both short-term and long-term policies to keep the public safe.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I want to salute the Speaker of the House, and here is why I want to salute him. He defused the religious connotations when this was first brought up. He did that yesterday, and I salute him. Imagine, to have one line for Christian Syrians and another line for Muslim Syrians. What are we reduced to here? What message does that send to the rest of the world? You tell me. It is shameful. So I thank him for that. I don't impugn anybody on the other side. I don't question their motives. I don't think that this is a good idea. The commitment we have to public safety can be upheld even as we provide refuge to some of the world's most vulnerable people. When you sleep tonight, think about the world's most vulnerable people, and we can still keep America safe.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I have lived in Paterson, New Jersey, all my life, which has a large Syrian American population. In fact, when I came back from the service, I joined the American Legion. It was the John Raad Post, which was a Syrian American military organization. These are hardworking people here. The advantage of what we are doing, and over the past 4 years since the beginning of the Syrian war, the civil war, is that we are connecting refugees with Syrian American families. There are no harder working people in this country than Syrian Americans. Know the history of it. They didn't come here last week. So here is the chart. This is what you need to go through to get a refugee into the United States of America. I hope you looked at the chart. I hope you have examined every step, the 14 steps. Let's not get into one side wants to secure America more than the other side. I served in the Armed Forces. I was on the beginning of the Select Committee on Homeland Security. I don't like anybody telling me: You guys tried to do that in 2005, and you lost in 2006. Stay away from it. No one party is privy to protecting this country. We all want that. But we are not going to sacrifice what we, as Americans, are. We are not going to do this. When women and children who have nothing on their back--nothing--and 2 or 3 years, they could finally come to the gate of the greatest country in the world--yeah, you may smile over there, but I am very serious about what I am saying. This is a very serious moment in our history. I want to protect America. I want to be strong. I don't agree with all the President's Syrian policies, but I think that we are doing harm to ourselves and sending the wrong message.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I was proud to join my Ways and Means Committee colleague, my counterpart--Mr. Renacci of Ohio--along with several other Members, in submitting to the Rules Committee a modified version of our bipartisan bill to provide long-term, sustainable funding for our highways and bridges, which this bill does not do. Our proposal would have used the next 3 paid-for years to set up a task force to devise a plan to fund the remaining years of the bill. Continuity can ensure that construction projects and the jobs they provide don't come to a grinding halt when Congress fails to act. The fact that our bipartisan amendment to save the highway trust fund was shut out from floor consideration but that the devolution crowd gets a vote on their plan to dismantle the fund speaks volumes about how this leadership views the concept of an open process and regular order, to say nothing of the place for compromise and bipartisan solutions. Look, we have a diverse coalition of colleagues who is cosponsoring our plan. We have support from a broad coalition of business, labor, construction, engineering, and transit advocates. Let's be frank. Be it under Democratic or Republican control, this body has been loath to make the tough decisions needed on the issue of transportation funding. It is a disgrace that our bipartisan team was not given the chance to put the trust back into the trust fund. I urge my colleagues to send a message by opposing this bill.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. I thank the ranking member. Mr. Speaker, I have heard now twice this morning the term ``bipartisan.'' Many of my brothers and sisters on the other side wouldn't know bipartisan if it hit them in the head. I mean, to just throw this term out there like, you know, if you have one or two on this side of the aisle, it is bipartisan, technically, you are absolutely right. We should be crafting a long-term funding measure, Mr. Speaker, and replacing the damaging sequester cuts that have hurt our economy. And we are both responsible, both sides of the aisle, for that sequester. I don't point any fingers. We have also got to raise the debt ceiling. I mean, we talk about our budgets at home. Why don't we do the same thing in the Federal Government? I always thought, when I grew up, pay your bills. Pay your bills. That is as important as balancing the budget at home. This bill leaves intact automatic budget cuts which have threatened hundreds of thousands of jobs and cut vital services for children, for seniors, for people with mental illness, and our men and women in uniform. These harmful cuts have cut funding for thousands of first responders in our communities.

Mr. PASCRELL. They have cut vital services for children. They have cut funding for our first responders. They have eliminated jobs for 30,000 teachers--30,000. They have cut afterschool programs for nearly 1.2 million kids and eliminated more than 40 million meals for sick and homebound seniors. This is bipartisan. We should be replacing these harmful cuts and supporting vital services in our communities.

Mr. PASCRELL. Instead, we are here talking about holding government funding hostage in exchange for decimating the Affordable Care Act. Enough is enough. Remember when the guy threw the window up in that movie ``Network''? We are not going to take it anymore. The Republican budget would result in 16 million fewer Americans having health insurance and a 20 percent increase in insurance premiums. A vote for this bill is a vote against those 16 million Americans. A vote for this bill is a vote for higher premiums. On top of that, this budget doesn't even balance. After 2025, deficits under this budget would begin to skyrocket. It is not a balanced budget. This is a fake. Why don't we sit down and come up with a mutual plan instead of ``a bipartisan fraud''?

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 348 to support the right of the people of Ukraine to freely elect their government and determine their future, which was introduced by my friend, Representative David Cicilline. Citizens everywhere should be afforded the right to freely choose their leaders--and the people of Ukraine are no different. It is imperative that the American people stand with Ukrainians to ensure that the future of their government is determined freely and fairly. Russian troops began an illegal occupation of Crimea following the resignation of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in March 2014. In spite of economic sanctions, diplomatic efforts and successive ceasefires, we have tragically seen over 6,500 people killed in eastern Ukraine since Russia annexed Crimea. Russia's continued violations of the Minsk agreement by ignoring the ceasefire is simply unacceptable. Their actions betray their previous commitments and have derailed good faith efforts to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine. Russia's continued military aggression in Ukraine threatens peace and security in the region. Russia's aggression has also hindered the electoral process and disenfranchised voters in the troubled region. I support Ukraine's right to determine their own future, protect their territorial integrity and we must do all we can to prevent the slaughter of innocent lives.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Northern New Jersey's vibrant Korean American community. I would like to welcome the long awaited visit of South Korean President Park Geun-hye to the United States. I want to express my deepest condolences to President Park and the people of South Korea for the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, which infected 186 people and tragically claimed 36 lives. As we mourn this heartbreaking loss, I was encouraged to learn that the last South Korean patient previously diagnosed with MERS has tested negative for the virus and has showed a complete recovery from the disease. It is my hope that this visit will provide a venue for our countries to find new areas of cooperation in protecting our environment, improving global responses to health crisis, and for continued engagement on regional security that will bolster our nation's relationship in the 21st century. I am proud to represent one of the largest Korean American communities in Congress because they have made significant contributions to the success of our nation and have enriched our heritage through their unwavering patriotism, strong values and entrepreneurial spirit. I look forward to President Park's visit and will continue to be a strong advocate for my constituents so we can make New Jersey and our nation a better place for all.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the brave men and women of the Teaneck Fire Department who will celebrate 100 years of serving and protecting the residents of Teaneck this Sunday October 4, 2015. The first organized fire company in Teaneck was Defender Hook and Ladder Co., which was formed on August 12, 1895. It was not until 1915 that four of Teaneck's five companies were combined into the official municipal Teaneck Fire Department. As they were growing in the 1920s, a very tough basement fire occurred on Maitland Avenue. Future Deputy Chief Harry Davis, then working for the Department of Public Works, made numerous entries without a breathing apparatus, manning a 2\1/2\'' line. He passed out repeatedly, was revived, and continued to go back in until the house was saved. He is a great reflection as to how relentlessly the Teaneck Fire Department has attacked fires and how they continued to do so even today. The Teaneck Fire Department stays committed to self-assessment and innovation. Since the 1970s, brush fires have been reduced by 90% and building fires declined by about a third, with arson now much less of a problem. New apparatuses, the four stations being staffed 24 hours a day with an adequate level of staffing, strict proactive code enforcement, the advanced municipal fire system, and the aggressive fire investigation programs have proven effective in reducing fires. Beyond their roles in fire emergencies, the Teaneck Fire Department remains committed to serving the residents through their innovative Good Morning Check-Up Program. This program is designed for shut-ins and senior citizens who live alone and have no one to look in on them on a regular basis. The program provides subscribers with a telephone call seven days a week, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. If a resident is not-responsive to multiple phone calls then a firefighter is dispatched to the house to make sure all is well. This service has helped countless lives already. When terrorists flew planes into the North and South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2011, the brave members of the Teaneck Fire Department volunteered to help their colleagues across the Hudson River. Their sacrifices during and after the tragedy continue to inspire the Teaneck Fire Department today as well as those they serve. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I have had the honor of visiting and inspecting many fire stations throughout our great nation. Therefore it gives me pride to recognize the excellence of the Teaneck Fire Department and thank them for serving the residents of Teaneck. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues and me in recognizing the 100 year anniversary of the Teaneck Fire Department.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the first Children's Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month this month. The Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation, or CCF, is a non-profit group dedicated to raising awareness for the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in the young and helping to prevent tragic deaths. The Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation works to raise awareness for serious cardiac conditions and provides resources and supports to families struggling with the impossible reality of discovering that their young children have critical conditions. CCF's work to bring attention to this issue and encourage better detection, prevention, and treatment for patients is important, and I thank them for these efforts. I invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating this organization's lifesaving work. I invite my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 829, the Supporting Athletes, Families and Educators to Protect the Lives of Athletic Young Act, known as the SAFE PLAY Act. This legislation will provide school systems with resources to raise awareness for youth athlete safety, encourage the development of best practices to prevent, report, and address injuries, and educate teachers, students, and coaches on the risks of cardiomyopathy and other critical cardiac conditions. It will also allow students to learn CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator, or AED, to help prevent death in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. This legislation will increase school safety and help reduce the number of deaths from this condition on school property.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Raymond J. Kooman, who served bravely in World War II and survived as a prisoner of war in a German prison camp. Sgt. Kooman is being honored today at the 2015 POW/MIA Recognition Month Ceremony in Hackensack, NJ for his service. In 1942, Sgt. Raymond J. Kooman, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Kooman, enlisted in the service at the age of 19, serving in the United States Army, 28th Infantry Keystone Division. The red keystone, official emblem of the State of Pennsylvania, is the official shoulder sleeve insignia of the 28th Division which was originally a Pennsylvania National Guard organization. The Germans called it the `Bloody Bucket' because of the blood-red keystone insignia and vicious fighting tactics during the Normandy Campaign. It was the 28th Infantry that paraded through the streets of Paris after the city's liberation. The division traces its history back to Benjamin Franklin's ``Battalions for Associators'' organized in 1747. In October 1943, Sgt. Kooman was deployed to the European battlefront. He had been in action since D-Day and served with reconnaissance patrols, and in attacks on enemy strongholds. He continued to serve as a rifleman with the infantry in the European Theatre. On September 14, 1944 Sgt. Kooman was wounded when a German sniper shot him in the leg. He recovered quickly from his injuries and three weeks later he was sent back into action. After five months of fighting in France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, the 28th Infantry was deployed along a 25-mile stretch of the Our River, from northeastern Luxembourg to Wallenstein, Germany. On December 18, 1944, just three months after being injured, Sgt. Kooman was captured and taken prisoner by enemy German troops in Luxembourg. He was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and was eventually held as a POW in Stalag IV B in Germany. Sgt. Kooman weighed 155 pounds when he enlisted and weighed only 80 pounds when he was liberated by British soldiers. He also fell ill to dysentery, as had all prisoners. However, somehow, Sgt. Kooman found the will to survive. He still carries the prisoner identification tag he was forced to wear. Sgt. Kooman describes his experience as such: ``We had 3,007 prisoners in our camp. Everybody slept on the floor in this prison. There were no beds and no toilets. There was nothing to eat--35 men to one loaf of bread. I never took my socks off, yet walked 800 miles in 35 days, the death march. I buried a lot of people, a lot of soldiers. Every day, I buried them.'' After a year in captivity, he was eventually liberated by the British Army in 1945. His story of survival in the midst of so much agony is both inspirational and a snapshot of the true brutality of war. In recognition for his service in the U.S. Army, Sgt. Kooman received several military decorations: the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal--1st Oak Leaf Cluster, World War II Victory Medal, ETO Campaign Medal, and the Bronze Arrowhead--Omaha Beach Assault. It is an honor for me to recognize Sgt. Raymond J. Kooman, who hails from the Borough of Little Ferry, which I am proud to represent within the 9th Congressional District of New Jersey. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating the life and achievements of individuals such as Sgt. Raymond J. Kooman. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Sgt. Kooman's family and friends, all those whose lives he has touched, and me, in recognizing the life and service of Sergeant Raymond J. Kooman.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, with all the rhetoric invoked around this agreement, I am reminded of what President Ronald Reagan--since his name was used just a few moments ago by the leader--told Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in November of 1985 when they discussed the nuclear arms reduction. Go back to history and not have selective history. President Reagan said this: ``I bet the hard-liners in both our countries are bleeding when we shake hands.'' If that doesn't resonate, what will? And when the United States struck an agreement with the Soviet Union 2 years later to reduce the size of our Nation's nuclear arsenals, President Reagan received much criticism, including, as conservative columnist George Will put it, for accelerating--listen to this--``the moral disarmament of the West by elevating wishful thinking to the status of political philosophy.'' Almost 30 years later, we see that President Reagan's actions were not a capitulation to an entrenched enemy, but instead the underpinnings of a larger strategy that reduced the nuclear threat. This agreement should not be judged on its ability to curb Iran's hateful rhetoric or its role in destabilizing the Middle East, because that was never the goal of the agreement. No agreement can be perfect, but I am not convinced that a better deal--which exists only in the abstract at this point--will materialize if Congress were to reject the one before us. Rejecting this agreement, Mr. Speaker, would require the world's largest economies, who are party to this multilateral agreement, to follow our lead and reimpose sanctions.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Calvin Spann, who passed away this last Sunday, September 6, 2015 at his home in Allen, Texas. Lt. Spann was born on November 28, 1924 and grew up in Rutherford, NJ. While growing up near the local Teterboro Airport, he was inspired to fly. He learned about the physics of flying while a student at Rutherford High School, and at eighteen he volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps in the heat of World War II to pursue his dream of flying. It was in 1943 at Tuskegee, Alabama that Lt. Spann started his aviation cadet training. Not only did he withstand a brutal and rigorous training program, he overcame a selective quota system at a time when all branches of the U.S. Armed Services were segregated. He was determined and focused to earn his wings. Soon after, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He was sent to Italy as a replacement combat pilot and joined hundreds of other black men that would comprise the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Created in 1940, the all-black flying unit was a result of Public Law 18, which established civilian pilot training programs at 166 colleges and universities across the country. This law eventually led to the expansion of the Army Air Corps. Lt. Spann was a member of the elite 100th Fighter Squadron, part of the 332nd Fighter Group and piloted the powerful P-51 Mustang. His service as a fighter pilot included 26 combat missions over Nazi controlled Germany. He participated in the longest bomber escort mission in the 15th Air Force history: a 1,600-mile, round trip mission, from Ramitelli, Italy, to Berlin with the objective of destroying the Daimler-Benz manufacturing plant. As public opinion toward the Tuskegee Airman changed, Lt. Spann's accomplishments finally came to light. The discrimination he faced during training contrasted greatly with the praise he received from the bombers, whom he escorted. Through his service and the prestige of the Tuskegee Airmen, Lt. Spann was proud to have played a part in President Harry Truman's decision in 1948 to abolish segregation in all branches of the U.S. military. Lt. Spann returned home as a decorated war veteran. He received the Air Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Ribbon, and the European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon for his honorable and courageous service. After leaving active duty in 1946, Lt. Spann wanted to become a commercial pilot. However, he was confronted with racial discrimination in the airline industry and never received his chance to fly again. It wasn't until 1963 that the U.S. Supreme Court ordered major commercial airlines to hire African-American pilots. Lt. Spann was inducted into the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame at Teterboro Airport in 2006. In 2007, he was among the Tuskegee Airmen who were collectively given the Congressional Gold Medal by President George W. Bush. It is an honor for me to represent the 9th Congressional District of New Jersey, which includes Lt. Spann's hometown of Rutherford. He leaves a legacy that is truly a story of his times, a story of heroism and courage even in the face of his own countrymen who tried to keep him out of the air. In the end, Lt. Calvin Spann became a fighter pilot who defended our nation in its ultimate struggle, truly the epitome of our `greatest generation.' The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating the life achievements of individuals such as Lt. Calvin Spann. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Lt. Spann's family and friends, all those whose lives he has touched, and me, in recognizing the life of Lieutenant Calvin Spann.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Reclaiming my time, in the context of what we did a year ago and the context of what is now under the guise of accountability is very different to me. I read both bills, the one we voted on last year and this bill. There is important workplace protections that do not exist in this bill, and that is my position. We cannot start off by blaming unions, blaming the VA. We have been through this before. There are some bad actors there. We are trying to get rid of them, and I want to get rid of them faster than you want to get rid of them, but I don't want to take down the whole group. We paint with a very wide brush. We have done this with other Federal agencies. The reality is that the civil service protections available to these employees and all other Federal employees actually protect whistleblowers--that is in the law already--and allow them to come forward when they see wrongdoing, without fearing some retaliation. Whistleblowers were how we discovered the problems, Mr. Chairman, in the first place. That is how we found out about what was going on in Phoenix and in some other places. Correct me if I am wrong; I think you will agree with me. I agree that poorly performing employees have no place at the VA--or any other Federal agency for that matter. We agree on both sides of the aisle. We can't--as some have said, you guys are in favor of the vets, and we are not in favor of the vets. Come on. We are away from that. We did that 15 years ago. That didn't work. I agree that poorly performing employees have no place at the VA--or any other Federal agency, not just this one. This demonization of government employees that my colleagues are spearheading does not encourage productive work and, frankly, is just plain wrong. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation. We are not going to make these folks any more accountable by demonizing the work. By the way, just as you can't have community policing without police, you have got to understand, you cannot have service with thousands and thousands of positions being vacant because you don't want to spend the money. That is at one of the cores; it may not be the most fundamental reason. That is one of the reasons at least why we can't provide service.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, I want to start by saying I am in opposition to this accountability bill, but I want to commend the chairman and the ranking member and the rest of the members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I think you have done a good job--and I don't come up here and say that too often--because you have made it bipartisan. Now, what possessed you to bring this bill to the floor and use the word ``accountability,'' I am trying to figure that out because we want accountability. I am a veteran, and I have fought. I have got a record for 18 years, in the forefront, running point on veterans issues, from waiting for so darn long to get an appointment, to the latest problems we have had in the VA concerning addressing our TBI patients and our post-traumatic stress disorder patients. No one is more disappointed than me in what transpired in the VA last year. As a vet, I was proud to support the bipartisan VA reform legislation that became law in response, but this bill isn't about making the VA better or ensuring better care and treatment for our veterans. This bill is about trying to score some political points, an underhanded attempt to strip VA employees, and I don't think you really want to do that, but that is the result.

Mr. PASCRELL. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. PASCRELL. Yes, I did.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Agnes Fenton, who will be turning 110 years old this Saturday, August 1, 2015. Mrs. Fenton will be the oldest person living in the City of Englewood, New Jersey. Mrs. Fenton was born in 1905 on a farm in Mississippi. After her father passed away when she was only an infant, her mother raised her alone. Upon the age of 14, Mrs. Fenton moved to Memphis, Tennessee. It was in Memphis where Mrs. Fenton ran a restaurant called Pal's Duck Inn, which specialized in serving southern comfort food. Mrs. Fenton would be one of the first African-American women in the city to own and operate a restaurant. The days were long and the work was tiring, as she would often work from 6 a.m. to midnight on a regular basis, but Mrs. Fenton always kept her spirits high. During her time running the restaurant, Agnes got married to Vincent Fenton. But sadly after contracting pneumonia, Mr. Fenton passed away in 1970. Following many years of running her successful restaurant, Mrs. Fenton decided to get a new job in the kitchen of an Emerson, New Jersey company, and eventually worked for the Chapman family in nearby Oradell for many years afterwards. It was hard work and self-reliance that forged her into the strong person she has been throughout her life. Mrs. Fenton moved to Englewood in the early 1950's. She has resided there ever since, and is known to have a remedy for any health concern that you can think of. She is also well-known for her Lemon Ice Box Pies and Apple Lattice Pies, which she has given to her family and neighbors during the Christmas holiday seasons. Mrs. Fenton has always made room for God in her life, as she has been a member of the St. Mark's United Methodist Church in New York City since moving to Englewood. Mrs. Fenton was honored to be indoctrinated into the Centenarian Society, where she is an active participant in the New England Centenarian Study being conducted by the Boston School of Medicine. Although the study may credit Mrs. Fenton's 110 years to her genetics, she partly attributes this to her daily regimen of consuming a shot of Johnnie Walker and three Miller High Life's a day. Throughout her entire life, Mrs. Fenton has been able to live independently, even through hard times. She continues to cook her own meals and bake for her family and friends during the holiday season. Mrs. Fenton's life is one we can all look upon and recognize as one lived through hard work and sacrifice, but most importantly, a life filled with so much happiness and love. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating the life achievements of individuals such as Mrs. Agnes Fenton. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Mrs. Fenton's family and friends, all those whose lives she has touched, and me, in recognizing the 110th birthday of Mrs. Agnes Fenton.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I want to say to my brother, Peter King, we wouldn't be here except for you. We have talked about this thing for 10 years; more than that, Peter, through the chair, and we have insisted. I am proud to introduce this legislation with my friend, Congressman King. It is critical that first responders have access to stockpiled vaccines so that they can respond quickly and confidently in the event of a biological threat. Just weeks ago, we were reminded of the grave danger that anthrax poses and the need for an effective response--a strategy--when live anthrax was mistakenly shipped to dozens of labs all over the place. This is not a hypothetical danger, Mr. Speaker. Some of us remember when anthrax was mailed to some of our colleagues' offices in 2001. Several staffers were impacted. We shut down the Longworth House Office Building to decontaminate it. Packages were sent to other locations. Twenty-two Americans were infected; 5 were killed, and here we are, 14 years later. For over a decade, Congressman King and I have been fighting to develop a comprehensive national strategy to counter the grave threat that weapons of mass destruction pose to our Nation. According to the former chief medical officer and assistant secretary of the Office of Health Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, Alexander Garza: A successful anthrax attack could potentially expose hundreds of thousands of people, cause illness, death, panic, economic losses . . . making this a weapon of mass disruption as well as destruction. By passing this legislation, we will expand our national response capability by administering surpluses and expiring anthrax vaccines and antimicrobials to emergency first responders on a voluntary basis. Making expiring anthrax vaccines from the Strategic National Stockpile available to emergency first responders provides a cost- effective solution. It is important that we pass this legislation. I want to thank all of those who made it possible to get here today; and hopefully, in a few weeks, when we get back, we will have a big WMD legislation on this floor.