Bill Pascrell

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with immense pride and joy to recognize the Borough of Hawthorne as we celebrate its 125th anniversary. Since the city's incorporation in 1898, Hawthorne has evolved from a humble settlement into a vibrant and diverse suburban community that stands as a beacon of progress. This historic achievement is a testament to the resilience, growth, and unity that have defined the Borough of Hawthorne over the past century and a quarter. The Lenni-Lenape Native Americans are the earliest recorded inhabitants of the area situated in the Borough of Hawthorne. By the 1700s, Dutch immigrants settled in the area as pioneers in agriculture. The history of the Dutch settlers and the Native Americans remains an active part of the shared fabric in the Borough of Hawthorne with roads and landmarks named after them. The settlement emancipated itself from Manchester Township and incorporated as the Borough of Hawthorne following an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 24, 1898. Hawthorne attracted residents by promoting and establishing the municipal water system, electric grid with lit streets, and five public schools. As one of the current 16 municipalities of Passaic County, the Borough of Hawthorne successfully voted for the mayor/council form of government. The borough is organized in four wards, providing a representative in each area of the community as well as giving residents the right to directly elect their mayor. The first election held under this new form was in 1989. Today, there are nearly 20,000 residents that call the Borough of Hawthorne their home. The borough has a large immigrant population and is a melting pot evident through the array of multi-cultural businesses, restaurants, and community events. Throughout Hawthorne's history, community leaders and residents played a key role in shaping Hawthorne into the exceptional borough we celebrate today. One of Hawthorne's most notable figures is Mayor John V. Lane. His leadership and wisdom continue to guide the Borough of Hawthorne through all challenges, always emerging stronger. The industrious spirit of Hawthorne's residents is the driving force behind its success. From the early days of farming to the present, the people of Hawthorne have worked together to build a borough that fosters innovation, economic prosperity, and cultural diversity. Let us reflect on the rich history as we commemorate the quasquicentennial anniversary of the Borough of Hawthorne. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, friends, family, and the residents of New Jersey in recognizing the 125th anniversary of the Borough of Hawthorne. I take this opportunity to congratulate the residents of Hawthorne on this historic milestone. May this celebration serve as a moment to honor the past, revel in the present, and look forward to a future filled with continued growth and prosperity.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize hero, leader, and lifelong resident of New Jersey, Mr. Brian McDermott. Brian is retiring from his position as Fire Chief of the great City of Paterson, bringing his two decades of service as a first responder to a close. It is a pleasure and a privilege to honor Brian and highlight his impressive career. Brian's story begins in 1994. After deciding that college wasn't for him, Brian was looking for a way to combine his passion for helping others with his love of being on a team. Brian's brothers encouraged him to take the New Jersey Firefighter Exam and he scored exceptionally well. Within a year he was hired by the Paterson Fire Department. It did not take long for Brian to display exceptional heroism. On March 10, 1997, he and his colleagues in Ladder Company 3 responded to a call, arriving to a building engulfed in flames and smoke. Despite the dangerous conditions, Brian and his fellow firefighter Matthew Ganci entered the building and were able to locate and rescue the people inside. On this call and on countless others, Brian proved his steadfast commitment to serving his community. Over the years Brian rose through the ranks from Captain, to Deputy Chief and finally to Chief of the Department in 2018. Some of Brian's notable achievements as Chief include the implementation of a free smoke detector program for residents, the procurement of a fleet of electric vehicles for the Department, and the transition of the City's 9-1-1 network from an analog to a digital system. Brian was able to achieve so much as Chief because, no matter the position, he led with humility. Always focusing on his team's achievements and never his own, Brian's reputation as a leader is well known across New Jersey. His work lead to numerous regional leadership positions, including Deputy Fire Coordinator for Passaic County and Chairman of the Metro Urban Search and Rescue Strike Team. The people of Paterson were lucky to have a dependable leader like Brian when we faced one of our biggest challenges in recent history: The COVID-19 Pandemic. Leading the Department while protecting his staff from a deadly and rapidly changing disease was no small feat. Yet, Brian valiantly rose to the occasion in protecting over 150,000 residents of Paterson. Now, Brian will rise to the occasion once again. Retirement holds a lot for Brian: furthering his education, contributing to the fire service profession, and traveling with his wife Shannon. It is with great sincerity and appreciation that I wish Brian a long and happy retirement. So, from the bottom of my heart, and from the heart of our communities in Paterson and Passaic County, New Jersey, I take this opportunity from the People's House to thank Chief McDermott, and may God bless him.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a remarkable individual who dedicated his life to shaping our community and advancing our nation's energy sector. Joseph L. Fiordaliso, a true visionary and champion for renewable energy, passed away on September 6, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and progress that will continue to inspire generations to come. As President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities since 2005, Joseph was a fierce advocate for affordable and reliable utility service. In May 2023, President Fiordaliso was appointed to the Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Joseph Fiordaliso's passion for service has never wavered throughout his storied career of public service to the people of New Jersey. Beginning with his role as Student Council President at Newark's East Side High School, Joseph carried an innate passion for education and leadership. He served more than 18 years as an educator for the Bloomfield and Valisburg communities. As a teacher, Joseph enjoyed cultivating the talents of countless students and the thrill of catapulting his students towards true academic achievement. Shortly thereafter, Fiordaliso began serving his community of Livingston, New Jersey as Councilman for the Township. As a local leader, Joseph advocated for greater resources for seniors and revitalized the Livingston Arts Council. For 12 years as Mayor of Livingston, he formed long-lasting state and federal relationships by hosting Members of Congress, U.S. Senators, Governors, and Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Clinton in 1992. Through his steadfast advocacy for Livingston, Joseph Fiordaliso was able to coordinate and host an official stop of the Olympic Torch of the 1996 Summer Olympic games. Joseph Fiordaliso held leadership positions as a member of the Board of Directors of the United Way, the Board of Directors of the Livingston YMCA, the Board of Directors of the First Occupational Center of New Jersey, and was a proud member of UNICO, the largest Italian American service organization in the United States. Later, Joseph was honored as UNICO's Citizen of the Year in 2003. Now, as we honor Joseph Fiordaliso's memory as a prominent leader and public servant for New Jersey, we will always appreciate the tremendous progress in the transition to cleaner forms of energy. Joseph's signature windmill lapel pin served as a reminder for his vision of making New Jersey an offshore wind industry hub. His extensive work and legacy earned Fiordaliso due recognition as a national leader on utility and energy issues. Mr. Speaker, from the bottom of my heart, I ask that you join our colleagues, friends, family, and the residents of New Jersey in recognizing Joseph Fiordaliso for his outstanding work. I thank Joseph Fiordaliso. May God bless his soul and may his wife Marilyn, two children Joe and Dana stand proud.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, the enhanced Child Tax Credit enacted by Democrats in 2021 slashed childhood poverty in half. I repeat: in half. It is not hyperbole to call it one of the most successful policies ever passed by this Congress. And it is a tragedy its extension was blocked by the other side. Restoring some of our policy, as this bill does, will be a lifeline for millions of families. And that is vital progress. I do not love every element in this package. In committee, Republicans unanimously voted to defeat my amendment to add real SALT relief for middle class families. But this is a start, and we will keep pushing to bring back the full enhanced Child Tax Credit and enshrine it for good.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, on January 30, 2024, I missed four roll call votes. Had I been present I would have voted: No on Roll Call No. 22--On ordering the previous question; No on Roll Call Vote 23--On agreeing to H. Res. 980 Providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 5585) Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act; (H.R. 6678) Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act; (H.R. 6679) No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act; and (H.R. 6976) Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act; Yes on Roll Call No. 24--On Agreeing to Crockett Amendment to H.R. 5585; and No on Roll Call No. 25--On Final Passage of H.R. 5585.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, on January 29, 2024, I missed two roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: Yes on Roll Call No. 20, On motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 5528; and Yes on Roll Call No. 21, On motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 3427.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, protecting the privacy of the American people must be our priority. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this commonsense measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense measure today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1568, the bipartisan Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act. I believe that privacy is something we are going to be discussing on this floor for the next 10 years. We are trying to catch up to the electronics that exist in our lives, and we want to make sure that people are all respected. We know protecting privacy is a difficult and constantly evolving challenge. This is especially true in our modern world. Privacy is deeply important for all Americans, particularly our servicemembers abroad. Unfortunately, our troops are often victims of identity theft. For security purposes, U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires manifest sheets to document the cargo of incoming vessels. The Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act will ensure that personal data on cargo manifests cannot be abused. I am proud to co-lead this crucial and commonsense measure with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Waltz). In recent years, manifest data has been mistakenly exposed, enabling identity theft, credit card fraud, and unwanted solicitations. Our plan will protect Americans from having their personal information compromised. We must make sure information like names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and passport numbers can be removed from cargo manifests before they are disclosed. This is a no-brainer. We are talking about protecting people's privacy, including servicemembers and their families serving abroad. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two letters of support for the Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act: the first is from the New Jersey Warehouse and Movers Association; the second is from the American Trucking Associations and a coalition of supportive organizations. New Jersey Warehouse & Movers Association September 11, 2023. Hon. Bill Pascrell, Washington, DC. Representative Pascrell: As the leader of the New Jersey Warehouse & Movers Association, I have the privilege of representing moving and storage companies located across the Garden State. Thank you for your continued leadership, especially as a member of the US House Ways & Means Committee. Our members especially thank you for introducing, along with Representative Mike Walz, the bipartisan Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act (``MAPPA'' / HR 1568). As you know, this legislation would help protect the privacy and personally identifiable information (PII) of American servicemembers, federal employees, private sector workers, and their families who are returning to the United States after living abroad. With multiple defense and government installations, more than a dozen Fortune 500 corporate headquarters, globally recognized colleges and universities, and its status as a center for international trade, New Jersey residents frequently move overseas and then return to the US. This exchange plays an important role in our state's continued economic growth, and the moving industry is proud to support these individuals and their families. Unfortunately, current government policy regarding the security of their PII unwittingly places them at risk of identity theft, financiat fraud, and other crimes. The MAPPA would change this policy and require US Customs to remove the PII contained in vessel manifests from trade data that is provided to sale. Passage of legislation accomplishing the goal of the MAPPA has been a long-standing priority of the moving industry. We are thankful for introducing identical legislation in the House (HR 1568) and the Senate (S 758). The Senate passed S 758 in March 2023, making House approval the only step necessary before the legislation goes to the White House for the President's signature. As such, the New Jersey moving industry asks you to contact House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal and urge him to support the Committee, including S 758 as passed by the Senate in the next available markup, to approve the legislation without amendment, and for the House to consider the legislation under suspension of the rules. We also understand that Rep. Waltz is testifying in support of MAPPA during the Ways and Means Committee's ``Member Day'' hearing on September 14, 2023--joint testimony in support of the legislation or a letter of support for the legislation submitted for the hearing's record would be appreciated as we all work to enact this necessary and commonsense legislation. Thank you again for your leadership on this important issue. May 24, 2023. Hon. Jason Smith, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC. Hon. Adrian Smith, Chairman, Subcommittee on Trade, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC. Hon. Richard Neal, Ranking Member, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC. Hon. Earl Blumenauer, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Trade, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman J. Smith, Ranking Member Neal, Chairman A. Smith, and Ranking Member Blumenauer: Our organizations respectfully request Committee sign off for House consideration--under suspension of the rules as a stand-alone bill--the Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act (S. 758), as passed by the Senate on March 9, 2023. The legislation addresses a specific and unique issue and helps protect the sensitive personal data of servicemembers, federal employees, private sector workers. and families who are returning to the United States after living abroad. S. 758 was introduced on a bipartisan basis by Senators Daines, Peters, Stabenow, and Marshall and passed the Senate by voice vote. It has a bipartisan House companion (H.R. 1568) introduced by Representatives Waltz and Pascrell. The legislation is identical to the Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act (115th--H.R. 4403), which in 2018 the Ways & Means Committee reported out by voice vote, followed by House passage under the suspension calendar. The Congressional Budget Office and Joint Tax Committee have determined a ``zero'' score for the legislation. Each year, the U.S. military, federal departments, and private sector organizations relocate tens of thousands of Americans back home to the U.S. after posting overseas. Other Americans return home after time abroad for personal reasons. When shipping their personal household goods to the U.S., these individuals must include elements of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) on shipping forms which are made part of vessel manifests. The PII often contains Social Security numbers, Passport numbers, home addresses, and other sensitive data. Currently U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is required to make all commercial information from vessel manifests--often capturing the sensitive PII of returning American citizens--available to data brokers who package and resell this data throughout their subscriber network. Without concrete action to protect the PII, normally held under strict security by the U.S. Government, these elements can be exposed, placing Americans at risk of identity theft, financial fraud, and other abuses of their data. The Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act helps protect Americans from this risk by ensuring PII is removed from manifests prior to CBP providing and selling the commercial manifest information to data brokers. While it does not amend other provisions of the Tariff Act or in any other way modify Customs, authorities or trade policy, it does remove the U.S. Government from making sensitive PII of servicemembers and other Americans available to potential criminals as citizens move back home to the United States. Given the focused nature of this legislation and increase in identity theft crimes in recent years, we urge the Committee to agree to direct House consideration of the Senate-passed version of the Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act (S. 758) as a stand-alone bill under suspension of the rules. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, American Trucking Associations, International Association of Movers, Military Officers Association of America, Senior Executives Association, Worldwide ERC.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my brothers and sisters on behalf of more than 124,000 of my constituents in north Jersey in the Ninth District who rely on Social Security each and every month. They rely on it. To some, as in the entire country, that is their only means of income, of survival. That is how Social Security was established in the 1930s and implemented a few years later. Social Security is one of America's greatest success stories. I remember the first time I ran for Congress in 1996. I walked into a room prepared to deal with housing codes and public housing, but the only questions folks asked me: ``Where do you stand on Social Security?'' ``Do you want to privatize Social Security?'' Social Security is a success story. After nearly 90 years, it still stands as a monument to decency and dignity and the birthright of hardworking Americans, yet throughout its storied history, Mr. Larson, it has been under attack. Even in 1935, it was the subject of attacks and lies from day one. The Republican Study Committee, which represents three-quarters of House Republicans, proposed slashing Social Security benefits by $718 billion. The GOP leadership wants to create a so-called fiscal commission in our government funding bill. That is a wolf in sheep's clothing. I am proud to join my friend and colleague, Congressman John Larson, in a letter opposing this cynical ploy to slash Social Security and Medicare. Without aggressive action, Social Security lurches toward insolvency. Congress has a sacred responsibility to fight for its future. The same question asked 26 years ago is asked of me today. That is why I am standing with Mr. Larson on his Social Security 2100 Act, to ensure the long-term strength and solvency of Social Security. The Social Security 2100 Act provides paid-for benefit enhancements while not raising taxes on middle-class families. It is a no-brainer. Our bill ends the painful 5-month disability waiting period. Who can justify that in this day and age? It would ensure Americans suffering with permanent disorders like Huntington's disease get the help they need without red tape or delay. The bill eliminates the windfall elimination provisions so that firefighters, police officers, teachers, and others get the full benefits that they have earned. With the Social Security 2100 Act, we are fighting for our seniors who have worked their entire lives and rely on Social Security to make ends meet. We are fighting for working families so that no one who pays into the system over a lifetime ever retires in poverty. We must get this done for the American people, Mr. Speaker. There are no excuses.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, all fair-minded Americans must agree the rise in antisemitism is despicable and dangerous. Such hatred is against everything the United States stands for. I will never fail to use my office to stand against antisemitism. While I will vote for this resolution, I condemn House Republicans for politicizing our fight against antisemitism. Specifically, this resolution directly references an incident in Clifton, New Jersey on October 8, 2023. After checking directly with Clifton leaders and police, I found out this incident did not occur as described in the resolution. And while an investigation was conducted, no formal complaint was ever filed. We have seen a startling rise in antisemitism since the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023. There is no shortage of genuine examples to draw from, but Republicans included this unvetted falsehood anyway. The resolution also conveniently ignores how a resurgence in right- wing extremism has long been a major source of increased antisemitic violence. By turning the fight against antisemitism into one more partisan vehicle, House Republicans are threatening to render frivolous true acts of anti-Jewish hate.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I stand with the New Jersey delegation. I rise today to mark the passing of my predecessor and my friend, Congressman Herb Klein. Herb only served one term in this institution, but he was a giant for north Jersey. Our communities are tight-knit, hardscrabble, fiercely loyal, and Herb embodied those qualities. It was Herb who laid the groundwork for what Passaic County is today. He helped build it. Herb Klein was a brilliant lawyer and remarkable public servant and a great human being. He was always accessible and always available. Over the years, I cannot count the number of times I called on Herb for his wisdom. I will miss his counsel, and I will miss his friendship. We send our love and admiration to Herb's family, Roger, and all the kids and friends, in their time of mourning. I ask the House to join me in a moment of silence in memory of Herb Klein.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chair, during rollcall Vote No. 623 on amendment 2 to H.R. 4664, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``aye'' when I should have voted ``no.'' Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Grothman

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, surrendering to Russia. Weak on China. Are we serious about Israel? We are ignoring the humanitarian crisis which exists there. This is strong for millionaire tax cheats. These are the House Republican priorities. Madam Speaker, I am tired of listening to the attempts to divide us more. The last speaker is a perfect example. I have great respect for the gentleman, but it simply divides Americans more. I am sorry he left. He is saying that basically Republicans care about what happened on that terrible day when Hamas attacked; and that Democrats, where are they really? We have been very specific, and the Senate has been very specific. We have matters at hand. The catastrophe that happened affected so many Israelis and, as a consequence, many, many Palestinians. Very few belong to Hamas. But that is simply a footnote, right? House Republicans are using an international crisis, and I agree with the ranking member of the Rules Committee, but they want to pass a millionaires' tax break. The toxic political document would let rich tax cheats off the hook.

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, it will increase the deficit while our allies need help. That makes a lot of sense. Israelis and Palestinians need our help. Humanitarian and defensive aid is a bare minimum. Ukraine needs our leadership. Russian soldiers have been butchering women and children for almost 2 years. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record a BBC article titled: ``Whole family shot dead in Russian-occupied Ukrainian town.''

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, nine members of one family were killed because they would not give up their house to Russian troops so they could stay there. Yet, we are finagling and we are dividing while Ukraine burns. What are you doing for Ukraine? What are Republicans doing today? What would they tell the President of Ukraine if he were here today while they are sitting on their fannies and not doing anything about them. Ukraine needs our leadership. Russian soldiers have been butchering women and children for almost 2 years. House Republicans are acting like Putin's bodyguard by blocking Ukraine aid. This bill aids the PRC by ignoring the President's request to support Taiwan. The funding President Biden requested for nonprofit security grants to protect schools and houses of worship is nowhere to be found. That is disgraceful. I hope we think better of it. I hope we come together. I hope this tragedy can unite us.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, today I rise to recognize the 60th Anniversary of the State Troopers Fraternal Association (STFA). Established in 1963, the STFA represents brave New Jersey State Troopers. With a current membership of 1,700, the STFA has dedicated themselves to collectively bargain for improved working conditions and compensation for these courageous law enforcement officers. STFA has made great strides to improve working conditions for New Jersey State Troopers. The STFA established an efficient and fair process to settle grievances for and against its members. They also provide financial resources for members and families of members who have been tragically killed in the line of duty. These efforts have helped improve public safety across the State of New Jersey. During the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the STFA were asked to attend to the front lines of this massive medical crisis. They answered the call. New Jersey State Troopers helped protect the efficiency of our medical infrastructure so that patients across our state could receive the care they desperately needed. The STFA is a trusted resource for the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus in the United States House of Representatives. As this organization's longtime Co-Chairman, I count on the STFA to inform my decisions in making federal policy affecting law enforcement. President Wayne Blanchard exemplifies the leadership qualities paramount to the successes of the STFA. His vision for public safety has given countless New Jersey families peace of mind. I am pleased to call Wayne a friend. I ask every Member to join me in recognizing the outstanding work of the STFA, supporting the mission of State Troopers who willingly put their lives on the line every day in the spirit of honor, duty, and fidelity. The STFA remains dedicated to providing leadership to its members and the public. Here's to the next 60 years of the STFA.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, the people of Turkiye and Turkish Americans celebrate Turkish Republic Day every year on October 29th. This important date commemorates when Turkiye in 1923 became a republic thanks to the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. This October 29th is a special celebration because it marks 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Turkiye. While Anatolia, the home of the Republic of Turkiye, has been a cradle of civilizations for millennia, Turkiye has transformed from its ancient history to the modern skylines of Ankara. The progress the Turkish people have made over the past century is a testament to their resilience, determination, and spirit. The Republic of Turkiye has historically been a strong and reliable ally of the United States thanks to its founding principles of democracy, secularism, and equality. Turkiye boasts the second largest military in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and is allied with the United States on key issues of counterterrorism, energy diversification, securing the global supply chains, and drug and human trafficking prevention. I am proud to recognize the rich tapestry of Turkish-American contributions to the United States. Turkish-Americans have made important strides in several fields, including academia, business, medicine, arts, and culture. Turkish-Americans have enriched our society with their traditions, cuisine, and heritage. These contributions are especially ever present in New Jersey's Ninth Congressional district, with the largest Turkish immigrant community in the United States centered around the thriving Little Istanbul in South Paterson. The Turkish-American community is an important bridge to strengthen the understanding and friendship between our two nations. As I reflect on Turkiye's 100th Republic Day, I hope everyone will celebrate the shared values and interests that bind our nations. I congratulate, Turkiye, on their centenary, and I thank them, Turkish-Americans, for their enduring contributions to the United States.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, on July 26, 2023, I missed one roll call vote. Had I been present I would have voted: YES on Roll Call No. 369--On Passage of the Ryan of New York Amendment No. 1.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 150th anniversary of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Established in 1873, the IAFC represents the unified voice of the fire chiefs of career, volunteer, combination, and military fire departments worldwide. With a current membership of more than 11,000 strong, the IAFC has advocated for essential programs that keep our citizens safe from fires, hazmat incidents, structural collapses, acts of terrorism, pandemics, and other tragedies, both human-made and natural. The year 1873 was a momentous one in the history of the United States. Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received a patent for their famous jeans with copper rivets. The U.S. Naval Institute was established. And the IAFC was officially formed. Known first as the National Association of Fire Engineers, these brave firefighters were guided by a mission ``to bring forward an exchange of ideas and introduce new machinery that would facilitate the workings of fire departments.'' Later, with the addition of Canadian members, the name was changed to the International Association of Fire Engineers, and it finally became the IAFC in 1926. The IAFC has been a leader in developing important National fire service initiatives. In 1957, the IAFC petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to establish a 3-digit universal emergency services number. This decade-long effort resulted in the first 9-1-1 call being placed on February 16, 1968. In addition, the U.S. Fire Administration was created in 1974 in response to the landmark Report of the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. The IAFC is a trusted partner of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, of which I am a longtime Co-Chairman. When I led the effort to create the FIRE grant program in 1999 and 2000, I worked closely with the IAFC to bring the voices of thousands of fire chiefs to Washington to deliver federal dollars directly to local fire departments for the very first time to afford training, equipment, and fire prevention programs. In addition, the IAFC provided significant assistance to the Congressional Fire Services Caucus's successful efforts to create the SAFER grant program to support the recruitment and retention of career and volunteer firefighters. Today, the IAFC is a trusted voice to its members, the fire and emergency service community, legislators, and more. The IAFC remains on the frontline helping local fire departments prepare for wildland fires and emerging technologies such as lithium-ion batteries and autonomous vehicles. In addition, the IAFC is assisting fire departments in harnessing data, developing EMS programs, and recruiting diverse and inclusive workforces to better provide service to their communities. Fire chiefs are the backbone of our cities and towns, and that could not be truer than in my hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. Paterson Fire Chief Brian McDermott will retire in August after over 28 years of distinguished service in the Paterson Fire Department. His leadership has been instrumental for the public safety and security of so many residents of New Jersey. I ask every member to join me in recognizing the outstanding work of the IAFC. The organization remains dedicated to providing leadership, expertise, and integrity to its members, its federal partners, and the public. Here's to the next 150 years of the IAFC.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following article titled, ``The Glorious Return of Hinchliffe, Yankee Stadium of the Negro Leagues'' written by Eric Wills about Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey. [From GQ SPORTS, June 19, 2023] The Glorious Return of Hinchliffe, Yankee Stadium of the Negro Leagues (By Eric Wills) One of the last remaining Negro League ballparks was nearly lost to history. But professional baseball has now returned to the fabled stadium, which stands as a monument to generations of Black players once consigned to the periphery of our national pastime. Hinchliffe Stadium hosted some of the greatest Black ballplayers in history, including more than 20 future Hall of Famers. A Juneteenth game and ceremony will honor their legacy. Keon Barnum, a lefty first baseman who, at 6'5" and 225 pounds, makes everything around him look curiously out of scale, stepped into the batter's box at Hinchliffe Stadium. The full sweep of Paterson, New Jersey, unfolded before him: brick mill buildings and church steeples rising beyond the outfield wall, the city's thundering Great Falls just a long toss away. It was a Friday afternoon in mid-May. Barnum and his teammates from the New Jersey Jackals, a Frontier League team that had recently moved from nearby Little Falls, were taking measure of their new ballpark the day before their home opener. A majestic Art Deco number built in 1932, Hinchliffe had sat vacant for more than a quarter century, its concrete and graffiti-covered bleachers crumbling, the unhoused living in its locker rooms. Once the pulsing heart of Paterson, the stadium was reduced to a ruin, a heart- rending symbol of the city's decline. But now, following a $100-million-plus restoration, Hinchliffe once again glimmers anew--a restored monument to one of baseball's most mythical and complicated legacies. Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Barnum began launching moonshots into the sun-streaked ether--the glorious sound of baseball returning to Hinchliffe. ``It's an honor to play here,'' he later said, after joining a select lineage of Black ballplayers who once called the ballpark their own. In its heyday, Hinchliffe flourished as the home to a trio of Negro League teams--the New York Black Yankees, the New York Cubans, and the Newark Eagles--and host to dozens of other Black ball clubs. More than 20 future Hall of Famers once haunted its confines: the likes of Monte Irvin, the legendary outfielder for the New York Giants; Larry Doby, who grew up in Paterson and became the second man, after Jackie Robinson, to break baseball's color barrier; and Josh Gibson, the fabled bomber reputed to have hit nearly 800 home runs. The 1933 Colored Championship of the Nation between the Black Yankees, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, and the Philadelphia Stars unfolded at Hinchliffe, as did a 1935 no-hitter by Black Yankees pitcher Terris ``Elmer'' McDuffie. ``Jackie got all the publicity for putting up with it. He was first, but the crap I took was just as bad. Nobody said, `We're going to be nice to the second Black.' ''--Larry Doby, Hall of Fame outfielder for the Newark Eagles and Cleveland Indians Today, only a handful of Negro League players still survive from the era before Robinson broke the color barrier, in 1947; only a handful of stadiums where they played still stand. Of those that do--including Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama; Hamtramck Stadium in Michigan; and J.P. Small Memorial Stadium in Jacksonville--Hinchliffe and Rickwood retain most of their original grandstands and look much as they did about a century ago. Along with Wrigley Field, Hinchliffe is the only ballpark named a National Historic Landmark. You can read oral histories about the Negro Leagues, peruse statistics on the Seamheads Negro Leagues Database, an authoritative set of records compiled by a group of trailblazing researchers. To make a pilgrimage to Hinchliffe, however, is to foster a more intimate connection: to walk where the players themselves once did, to commune with the spirits of the athletes who helped build momentum for the Civil Rights movement. If Centre Court at Wimbledon can be considered hallowed ground, Hinchliffe is no less sacred. On Juneteenth, the Jackals will hold a game at Hinchliffe that doubles as a celebration of the Negro Leagues. In a rare tribute, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will bring its plaque commemorating Larry Doby from Cooperstown to the stadium as part of a ceremony launching the museum's forthcoming exhibition on the history of Black baseball. Doby was the first Black player in the American League, suiting up with the Cleveland Indians less than three months after Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was only 23, and unlike Robinson, got no time in the minors, going straight from the Newark Eagles to Comiskey Park in Chicago. In less than 24 hours he recorded his last Negro Leagues hit (a home run), and his first major league at bat (a pinch hit strike out). His reception from his new teammates was hardly welcoming; he nearly ended up in the stands in St. Louis, when a fan taunted him with sexual innuendos about his wife. ``Jackie got all the publicity for putting up with it,'' Doby said of the racial slurs. ``He was first, but the crap I took was just as bad. Nobody said, `We're going to be nice to the second Black.' '' After his playing career, Doby once again recorded a historic second, becoming the second Black manager in the majors after Frank Robinson when he took the job with the White Sox in 1978. But before all of that, he was just an 18- year-old kid who had come to Hinchliffe for a try out with the Newark Eagles, a Negro Leagues team, after the owner heard that ``there was a pretty good ballplayer out of Eastside High School,'' as Doby recalled at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony. ``And I played the rest of the summer with Newark''--the effective start of his long climb to Cooperstown. I first visited Hinchliffe in 2009, when the chances of its revival seemed remote. The Paterson Public School District, which owned the stadium, had shuttered it in 1997; demolition at one point appeared likely. My guide, Brian LoPinto, who had gotten his first varsity hit at the ballpark, had co- founded a group called the Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium that was rallying support to save the site. (The restored stadium, the product of decades of grass-roots organizing and political wrangling, will be reserved for school events and games 180 days a year.) Attempting to unearth Hinchliffe's storied past, I tracked down the man who was then the greatest living player with a meaningful connection to the site: Monte Irvin, who was teammates with Doby on the Eagles before he led the Giants to the World Series in 1951. He was then 90 and living in Houston. When I reached him by phone, he helped illuminate the meaning of an era I had only begun to understand, unspooling stories with a casual grace. He told me how, in the spring of 1937, he had stepped into the batting box in Hinchliffe as a 18-year-old high school star from nearby Orange with a .666 batting average. And how he had launched some 400-foot moonshots of his own over the left field fence during his try out for the Eagles. The sound caught the attention of two visiting players from the Homestead Grays, who were preparing for a game against Newark later that day: Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard (considered by newspapers at the time to be the Black Babe Ruth and Black Lou Gehrig, respectively, although who's to say Lou Gehrig wasn't the white Buck Leonard?). As Irvin recalled, ``Buck hollered out to William Bell, the manager, `Hey, who is that youngster?' '' ``Our games gave Black Americans hope all across the country. They said, `If these ball players can succeed under these very difficult conditions, then maybe we can too.' ''-- Monte Irvin, Hall of Fame outfielder for the Newark Eagles and New York Giants It was the start of an enduring friendship, and also of Irvin's professional career. His stories revealed hard truths: the assumed name (Jimmy Nelson) he played under to preserve his college eligibility; the meagerness of his starting salary (earning only $125 a month, he lived with his parents to save money); the long bus rides (Negro League teams sometimes logged 30,000 miles in a summer); the difficulty finding restaurants or hotels that would serve him and his teammates (players remembered staying at bed-bug- infested motels, even funeral homes, and with their $1-per- day meal money and challenges of life on the road sometimes subsisted on sardines, bologna, crackers, or ballpark hot dogs). ``Conditions were abominable, but we didn't know any better,'' as Irvin once recalled. ``We were young and strong, and we loved the game so much.'' Perhaps the greatest injustice was that segregation had robbed him of his prime. ``This should have happened to me 10 years ago,'' he once said of joining the Giants at age 30. ``I'm not even half the ballplayer I was then.'' (And what a player he was: With his grace and all-around game, many of his contemporaries thought he should have been the one to break the color barrier in the majors.) Yet Irvin expressed no abiding anger at his fortunes, and shared with me but one overriding regret, touching in its magnanimity: that the full sweep of the country hadn't seen the likes of Satchel Paige and Gibson, ``one of the greatest hitters who ever lived.'' Because almost none of the Negro League teams owned their own stadiums, they relied on brokers and agents to arrange games, often at major league stadiums, for a cut of the profits, of course. Conditions at cheaper and more accessible fields could be abysmal--rocky sandlots with peculiar dimensions, smoke wafting in from passing trains. But at Hinchliffe, the Black Yankees and New York Cubans found a reliable and dignified home base that afforded them a measure of freedom--and a chance to build their own community against the backdrop of segregation. Here, and across the Negro Leagues, they made the national pastime their own: a game of speed and stylish intelligence, one that elevated the bunt- and-run into an art form, say, or saw Paige handcuff batters with his hesitation pitch, later outlawed in the majors. Irvin had grown up watching the Negro Leaguers--``the way they looked, the way they dressed, the way they played, it was a great inspiration,'' he told me--and he remembered how his generation had played a similar role. ``Our games gave Black Americans hope all across the country,'' he once recalled, before his passing at age 96, in 2016. ``They said, `If these ball players can succeed under these very difficult conditions, then maybe we can too.' '' After a rainout, and two days after Barnum staged his batting-practice show, opening day finally arrived at Hinchliffe: the Jackals vs. the Sussex County Miners. One fact emerged from the start: It is a hitter-friendly ballpark. In the late afternoon glow, after LoPinto secured the first pitched ball for the museum that's being established at the stadium, the Miners' lead-off hitter went deep, recording the first of 10 home runs in the Jackals' 10- 6 victory. (``The ball just flies,'' Barnum said, after hitting one out.) Purists might wish the field were grass, not turf, or that home plate was positioned at the bottom of the horseshoe, as in the Negro League days, and not in the northeast corner of the stadium, where the school district later moved it. The right field line, listed at 327 feet, appears far shorter than that; a 40-foot-high net prevents line drives from leaving the park. But none of those quibbles overshadowed the thrill of baseball returning to Hinchliffe. Bobby Jones, the vice president and chief business officer for the Jackals, and a former left-handed pitcher for the Mets who grew up going to Kennedy-Eastside High School Thanksgiving day football games at Hinchliffe, helped broker the deal to bring the team to Paterson--a move he hopes will contribute to the city's economic revival. ``I thought coming here that we could be a positive light in a community that needed it,'' he told me. ``These kids who go to that school have never thought they'd get out of Paterson because they looked down and saw nothing but garbage. And now it's transformed their whole thinking. The possibilities are real to these kids. It's bigger than baseball.''--Harold Reynolds, former All-Star second baseman for the Seattle Mariners In March, Paterson, a majority Latino city with a 25 percent poverty rate, made headlines when police shot and killed a Black counselor from an anti-violence organization, which helped lead to the state Attorney General's office takeover of the police department. It's too early to say whether the Hinchliffe project, which relied on a significant infusion of state tax credits that helped fund the construction of affordable senior housing at the site, can help solve some of the city's most pressing problems (some local activists are skeptical). Or whether Jackals fans, a few of whom expressed their disappointment on social media at the team's move away from Yogi Berra Stadium, in Little Falls, will stay away (attendance on opening day was sparse). But at the stadium's ribbon cutting a few days earlier, Harold Reynolds, the former Seattle Mariners second baseman turned TV analyst, who's become an unofficial ambassador for Hinchliffe, told me the project has already had a positive effect on the students of Public School 5, which rises above the stadium's northwest side. ``These kids who go to that school have never thought they'd get out of Paterson because they looked down and saw nothing but garbage,'' Reynolds said. ``And now I was talking with the principal, and it's transformed their whole thinking. The possibilities are real to these kids. It's bigger than baseball.'' Reynolds has been lobbying MLB to host a Field of Dreams-style game at Hinchliffe (a game that will be held at Rickwood next year). ``The beauty of baseball is the folklore,'' he told me. ``The stories are what carry our sport.'' In 2020, MLB attempted to atone for its original sin by announcing that it was ``elevating the Negro Leagues to `Major League' status,'' and gave credit for the decision in part to the Seamheads Negro Leagues Database. Of course, it was the majors that needed elevating, and the often sublime players of the Negro Leagues who transformed the majors into actual major leagues. (Black baseball teams logged a winning record against major league and all-star teams between 1900 and 1948, according to research compiled by Todd Peterson in the book The Negro Leagues Were Major Leagues.) But because many games were lost to history, the box scores never reported, Negro League statistics will never be comprehensive (Gibson has but 240 reported home runs in Seamheads); they will never reveal the constraints that Black ballplayers faced, lack of coaching among them; and they will always have been generated independent of the majors, an injustice that can never be corrected. Hinchliffe invites you to consider difficult questions: consider if baseball had integrated a decade or two earlier, or if the game had never been segregated at all; consider if Paige, Gibson, Leonard, Oscar Charleston, Cool Papa Bell, and dozens of others had enjoyed their primes in the majors, what the record book might look like today, how different our understanding of the game would be. Consider also the fate of the Black players who never made it to the show because they came of age too soon or found themselves shut out of the game, unable to find a team, after the color line was broken, the leagues they helped build vanishing like a ghost ship into darkness. In a bittersweet twist, when Black fans flocked to see Robinson at Ebbets Field, the demise of the Negro Leagues soon followed, even as major league teams were slow to sign Black players: The Red Sox, for instance, took 12 years after Robinson's debut to integrate. And finally, consider the forces that kept baseball segregated, and how those forces persist today: Witness the declining percentage of Black ballplayers in the majors and the continuing struggle to diversify the coaching and front office ranks. In the thickening shadows of Hinchliffe, after the Jackals' victory in their home opener, I stood with Nilo Rijo, the team's second baseman, as he fielded questions from reporters. He attended high school in nearby Passaic and often drove by Hinchliffe on the way to his workout facility without recognizing the then-ruin as a ballpark. Like so many others, he has now started learning its history. Standing there in that repository of myths, I thought back to my chat with Reynolds after the ribbon-cutting. During his playing days he had befriended Buck O'Neil, the legendary first baseman turned manager from the Negro League's Kansas City Monarchs, who had passed along stories from his fabled career. And now, as members of the next generation step through the gates at Hinchliffe, they too can discover the history of the Black owners and managers who built the Negro Leagues, and the Black ballplayers who changed the sport. Reynolds, for his part, hopes that a trip to the ballpark will convey a simple yet transformative truth: ``that baseball was a Black sport.'' Eric Wills is a former senior editor at Architect magazine whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, Smithsonian, and GQ.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, on May 31, 2023, I missed one roll call vote. Had I been present I would have voted YES on Roll Call No. 243, On Passage of H.R. 3746--Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, as the longtime co-chair of the Law Enforcement Caucus, I am a staunch advocate for our law enforcement community. How the House is recognizing this Police Week is a disappointment. Before us are partisan messaging bills instead of measures that support our men and women in blue. This rule makes in order a pathetic resolution that ignores the service of federal law enforcement officers, including our Capitol Police. These brave men and women protected us when Donald Trump incited a mob of armed insurrectionists to attack our Capitol. The attack resulted in the death of five Capitol Police and MPD officers, and the injury of 150 officers. The resolution ignores the Republicans currently seeking to defund federal law enforcement agencies, like the FBI, ATF, and Homeland Security. And the resolution is silent on increasing funding for the Byrne JAG and the COPS Hiring programs. I offered 5 specific amendments to add these crucial elements to this resolution. But the Republicans did not make them in order. What are they afraid of? Armed officers can enhance public safety. But an officer in good standing is not defined in the Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act. We know an officer could be in good standing with their department but ineligible to carry a handgun. I offered two amendments to align this bill with New Jersey's interpretation of current law. Again, neither were made in order. Next Police Week let us take up actually make a difference for officers and their families. Not this partisan approach. God bless our police and God bless America.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Sungbae Ju in commendation of his time as the President and Founder of Bel Canto Opera, Inc., a United Nations non-profit that aspires to achieve international unity through music. On December 17, 1963, Dr. Ju was born in Busan, South Korea to Mr. Chang Ho Ju and Mrs. Hyo Won Park. While Ju and his four brothers grew up in Korea, Sungbae immigrated to the United States of America on January 17, 1990, pursuing an educational opportunity fitting for his musical aptitude. Dr. Sungbae Ju first attended the Manhattan School of Music and received a Master of Music. His educational journey, however, quickly combined with his international interests. Upon graduation, Dr. Ju pursued a higher level of education and received a Doctor of Literature from Canada Christian College and an Honorable Doctor of Music from the Universidad Cristiana de Bolivia. Dr. Ju quickly rose to prominence in the music community, both nationally and internationally. As a Classical Opera Singer, he performed in several renowned venues including Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center. While his career started in the Northeastern region of the United States of America, marked by performances with the New York Harmonic Orchestra and KBS String, Dr. Ju's talent warranted recognition from some of the industry's most famous judges. He was awarded 1st Prize at the Glenn Music Festival by legendary MET judges such as Virginia Zeani and Madam Licia Albanese. He later began performing for the public sector, winning not only an appreciation letter from the White House, but also the Presidential Lifetime Award for his achievements in both musical performances and the public sector. This unprecedented success served as a segway for Dr. Sungbae Ju's work on an international level. With over 200 performances for both state governments and the United Nations, Dr. Ju's international musical experience and outstanding public service record, he formed the Bel Canto International Society (also known as Bel Canto Opera, Inc.), Through his non-profit, Dr. Ju blended his musical talent with both his international pursuits and his public service record to aid individuals across the globe. Using music as his tool, he unified countless communities who lived without many of the luxuries that are often taken for granted. His work as the President of the Bel Canto International Society singlehandedly changed the lives of so many in under-privileged regions. Since 2019, Dr. Sungbae Ju stepped away from his non-profit and formed his own consulting agency, hoping to inspire and equip others with the means of making a global difference. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to working with and recognizing the efforts of individuals like Dr. Ju, who never fail to make the world a better place. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, friends, family, and the residents of New Jersey in recognizing Dr. Sungbae Ju for his outstanding work, as we celebrate his decades of distinguished service to the State of New Jersey. May Sungbae, his wife Hyo Im, and three daughters, Hannah, Sarah and Victoria stand proud.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I associate myself with Mr. Rutherford's words. Madam Speaker, I am always proud to stand in support of our brave law enforcement officers, those officers who suit up every day. That is especially true during National Police Week. Our heroes do not just protect the safety of us and our neighbors, they defend the institutions that are fundamental to the well-being of our great society. Thousands of law enforcement officers and their families are in Washington to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The names of 556 officers will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Among these fallen heroes are Matthew Vogel of the Hudson County Sheriff's Office in New Jersey and Robert Miller of the Clifton Police Department. Lieutenant Vogel and Sergeant Miller are missed tremendously in our north Jersey communities. I pray for their families, and I know my brother across the aisle feels the same way. As the longtime co-chair of the Law Enforcement Caucus I know the value of building trust between law enforcement and the communities that they serve. We cannot simply say we support law enforcement. Action is required. Last Congress, it was my honor to write two bills to fund the police that were signed into law: The Traumatic Brain Injury and Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder Law Enforcement Training Act and Protecting America's First Responders Act. The last 3 years have been difficult for all of us, especially for our brothers and sisters in uniform that are there every day. This Police Week, let's do right by the law enforcement community. Let's pass bills that actually support the police; not partisan messaging, but action. I hope we would have considered two bipartisan bills of mine this Police Week. The first bill, H.R. 1322, the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act, would guarantee Federal law enforcement officers receive their full retirement benefits. I think we all agree on that hopefully. The second bill, H.R. 1719, Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, would ensure our first responders who die or become disabled due to occupational cancer receive benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program. These bills would actually make a difference for officers and their families. It is time we focus on those on the front lines. I hope we can pass these bills this Congress. I will say this, also, I would ask my brothers and sisters on both sides of the aisle to consider what I have been talking about for 25 years concerning weapons in our neighborhoods all over the country. The best thing we can do for the police department is to protect it. I think that certain weapons are military style and do not belong out in the street. I think we would be doing a great service to law enforcement. We know not only do we need the personnel on the street, but we also need to protect them and give them the resources. This is why when I was in the State legislature in New Jersey many moons ago, we supported the first mass weapons bill banning those weapons. They have only one purpose, and that is in the military. God bless our police. God bless America. God bless the Congress folks who see beyond their nose and understand what is going on out there in the America. We need to protect these guys and gals who go out every day to protect us.