Bill Pascrell

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, my amendment would direct the Department of Defense to conduct a study on blast injury mechanics covering a wide range of primary blast injury conditions, including traumatic brain injury, in order to accelerate solution development in this critical area. As the co-chair and cofounder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, I have spent the last 14 years fighting for patients with brain injuries, both on and off the battlefield. We all know that TBI is the signature wound of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and while we have made great progress on ensuring our soldiers have the best care, there is still more work to be done. The DOD's peer-reviewed Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program conducts extensive research on TBI. However, little is known about a primary blast injury and its connection to TBI. Researchers still do not know the exact mechanisms by which a primary blast injury damages the brain cells and circuits. Understanding how a primary blast injury affects the brain is imperative to developing appropriate prevention measures, including ensuring proper equipment. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment in the en bloc.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, currently the IRS has not ruled on the tax treatment of State payments, instead allowing any dispute, as Mr. Paulsen just pointed out, to be resolved via what they call a private letter ruling. This bill will provide clarity and relief to surviving dependents, guaranteeing they are not forced to pay an excessive tax after their loved ones have given the ultimate sacrifice. So, Mr. Speaker, I think that we are together on this. I wish we were together on a lot of other things, but we are together on this because we will do anything to support our law enforcement officers in the United States of America, the greatest country in the world. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim the balance of my time.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank both Chairman Ryan and Ranking Member Levin of the Ways and Means Committee for allowing the bill coming to the floor today, and I thank my good friends Representatives Paulsen and Reichert, my co- chair, for presenting this bill with me and for their continued support of our law enforcement. Our public safety officers make extraordinary sacrifices to protect our communities by putting their lives on the line day in and day out. Members take an oath after we are elected. The first part of the oath, our chief priority, is to protect the country from foreign, but it also says domestic, foreign and domestic. That is our priority. That is the main reason why we are in the Congress of the United States. There are a lot of other reasons, but that is our primary oath to the people of this country. And that is why the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert) and myself--there isn't a day that goes by that we are not talking about how we could support police officers, not in word but in deed, those folks who put their lives on the line, be they trooper, be they sheriff officer, be they municipal police officer, be they an authority police officer, regardless. We heard the tragic numbers before in the previous bill. Officer Rafael Ramos, who died with Officer Liu, was sitting in a squad car. Officer Ramos was a 40-year-old married father who was studying to become a pastor when he was killed. His friends and family remember him as a selfless man of faith. He left behind a wife and two children. Officer Ramos loved playing basketball with his sons in the park, watching the Mets, and playing Spanish gospel music. It is families like these that we honor in this legislation. The last thing a family mourning their lost loved one who died in the line of service should be faced with is a tax penalty. We have a responsibility to take care of the families of the officers slain in the line of duty. It is a priority. When everything is a priority, nothing is a priority. We are saying in this legislation this is a priority of ours. This commonsense legislation ensures that the families of fallen public safety officers are not taxed on the death benefits they receive should a horrible tragedy occur and their family member be taken from them on the job. Mr. Speaker, I urge this legislation to be passed, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman. Anyone who listened to the gentleman from Washington State, Congressman Reichert, if they have any doubt as to the significance, not only of this piece of legislation and the other three pieces of legislation that we will pursue after this, I don't know what it is going to take because he was on the front lines. He doesn't have to conjecture. I personally thank Chairman Goodlatte. I personally thank Ranking Member Conyers and, of course, our brothers in the Senate, Senator Cardin, Senator Lindsey Graham. We had a press conference in April and introduced this legislation. At that press conference was Gina Miller. Gina Miller was the fiancee of a Washington State trooper, Tony Radulescu, who was shot at a traffic stop in Washington State and killed. He went to high school in New Jersey. He was a vet from the gulf war, as many of our police officers are. I promised Gina I would not take off the wristband she gave me until we pass this legislation. It is fitting in this month, when we honor all law enforcement, it is fitting that we move this through the House of Representatives. I am honored to stand with Mr. Reichert as we present this, and I am honored and thank you all for coming on this piece of legislation. We have heard the numbers about how many police officers were killed in the line of duty in 2013 and 2014. It is a grave reminder that these attacks are too common in our communities. Last year, we mourned the loss of Jersey City Officer Melvin Santiago, who was killed in the line of duty responding to a gang- related robbery. Officer Santiago's death set off a series of targeted threats against the Jersey police officers from the assailant's fellow gang members. The grave risk that our law enforcement officers face was tragically confirmed this past Christmas when on-duty New York Police Department Officers Ramos and Liu were murdered while simply sitting in their squad car. When threats like this occur, the rapid dissemination of critical, time-sensitive information is essential, and the national Blue Alert system would provide that in New Jersey and across our Nation. Regardless of what aspect you talk of about police work, law enforcement, talk must be followed by action. So cops, the police officers just don't need a pat on the back from us while we place our grandchildren in the back of the car to see what it is like to sit in a police car. They need our actions here in Washington to help communities throughout America. So I thank Chairman Goodlatte for putting this bill before us tonight and the other bills that will follow.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank Mr. Reichert for all the work he has done on this legislation to bring it to the floor this evening. We are talking about H.R. 2146. Law enforcement officers face physically demanding work day in and day out. Current law recognizes this by making Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters eligible to retire after 20 years and at age 50. By the way, if I may say something on this, Mr. Speaker, I don't particularly like this idea because it is a way to get rid of experienced police officers throughout the United States of America. If you dump on them the fact that what we are going to do is we are going to play games with their pension funds, you force even more out. We are not saving any money, and we are not saving any time when we push the most experienced officers off the payroll. A flaw in the system makes it impossible for many of these retirees to access their earned benefits in their fifties. Most Federal employees--we are talking about Federal here--receive retirement benefits through the Federal Employees Retirement System. This three- part system is made up of a defined pension plan, a defined TSP contribution plan, and Social Security. However, although Federal law enforcement officers can retire at 50 and access two-thirds of their retirement benefits, they face a 10 percent tax penalty if they withdraw from the defined contribution plans like TSP before the age of 59\1/2\. State and local law enforcement officers do not face the same penalty because Congress rightly recognized they should not be penalized after a physically taxing career protecting our communities. Federal law enforcement officers do not enjoy these same protections. This bill would bring equity to the men and women carrying out their sworn duty to protect and serve. It would address a fundamental unfairness in the U.S. Tax Code by removing Federal law enforcement from the 10 percent penalty provisions that currently apply to early withdrawals from government plans. Additionally, Mr. Speaker, the bill would ensure that the penalty- free withdrawals apply to both governmental defined benefit and defined contribution plans like the Federal Thrift Savings Plan. There is no justifiable reason that Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters from a diverse array of agencies and missions must wait up to 9\1/2\ years longer than their State and local counterparts before they can fully access their savings without incurring a penalty. The brave men and women who work in our law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and others who sacrifice themselves each day deserve equitable treatment under the Tax Code. Let's stand up for their fair treatment and well-deserved retirement benefits for the men and women who work so hard to protect us. The American Federation of Government Employees writes: On a daily basis, Federal firefighters, BOP correctional workers, Customs and Border Protection officers, and Federal law enforcement officers secure our Federal buildings' safety, handle the most dangerous offenders behind bars, and patrol our Nation's borders. When these Federal employees meet all of the established requirements for Federal retirement, they deserve full access to their government retirement plan. Let's honor the faithful commitment these officers have shown us by showing our commitment to them here on the floor of Congress. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. To me, when we get the taxes, this budget assumes that revenues remained unchanged from our current law. Someone needs to have a conversation with the chairman of Ways and Means, because he seems to be unaware. In fact, he stated explicitly that he doesn't think we should be using the current law baseline. He said it; I didn't. Two weeks ago, this same majority--and I end on this point, Mr. Speaker--we passed $294.8 billion in unpaid-for tax breaks for Paris Hilton and Ivanka Trump and the rest of that crowd and their fortune enough to be left a nice inheritance. Much of that money has never been taxed in the first place.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member. I rise in strong opposition to this budget. There is football and then there is fantasy football. Mr. Ranking Member, you were being very charitable when you used the word ``scam.'' This is a real lemon by any stretch--and you don't have to use your imagination. This is a formula for another 2007-2008. This will be a duplication. And the pain caused by that decade, that 8 years of the 21st century, the budgets from 2001-2008 when we cut taxes in 2001 and we cut taxes in 2003, and then 2007 and 2008 the world fell apart. Why? An enormous loss of jobs every month. Look at the numbers. You want to hold up charts, hold them up. This agreement uses gimmicks to balance the budget and does so on the backs of the poor and the middle class and senior citizens. It imposes its cuts on programs that assist low- and modest-income Americans even though they constitute--those programs--less than one-fourth of the Federal spending. The Republican plan would cause tens of millions of people to become uninsured or underinsured. I know how you are careful to even talk about that. In other words, if we are going to repeal the Affordable Care Act, make sure you put in a sentence about what we need to do about those people who have preconditions. Phony, phony, phony. You said it; we didn't. Slashing funding for education, for research, for infrastructure. Wait until the bridges fall down and more people fall into the water. Cuts to nutrition, cuts to health will only increase poverty. Your claims that this budget balances is a total farce--not a semi-farce, a total farce. Congressman Van Hollen produced a very strong, fair budget. It was a strong budget. It was dismissed. But I like it. I like it. Through the Chair to my ranking member, I like it when we are seen as irrelevant. We do our best work. So that is what you have got in front of you. This budget, while calling for a complete and total repeal of the Affordable Care Act, continues to assume the law's $2 trillion revenue. That is not a farce. That is fantasy football. How could you do that? The bill stinks, but we will use the money in the bill. Explain that one.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, as the United States continues to work with Japan to promote peace and prosperity throughout the Asia-Pacific region and the broader global community, it is my hope that Prime Minister Abe's visit next week will lay the foundation for healing and humble reconciliation by addressing the historical issue of the comfort women. I look forward to hearing from the Prime Minister for Japan is a close friend and ally, as is South Korea. We want to encourage our close friends and allies to communicate and to foster an ability to work together productively. That is why I am proud to cosponsor resolutions in the United States Congress to urge the Japanese Government to formally acknowledge and apologize for their Imperial Military's coercion of young women into sexual slavery during the thirties and forties. The recognition of these events by the Japanese Government, through the report released last year on the Kono Statement, takes a step backward in taking full responsibility for the immeasurable pain and incurable wounds suffered by the comfort women. As a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, I will continue to work every day to ensure that our children and our children's children will inherit a world where these types of atrocities are a thing of the past. Mr. Speaker, Mike Honda, who will be speaking in a little while, has kept this hope alive.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Richard Sponzilli who, after 30 years of support and service to his local community will be honored as the recipient of the prestigious Dean McNulty Award this Sunday, April 19, 2015 at the 15th Annual Dean McNulty Dinner in Paterson, NJ. Born and raised in the Stony Road neighborhood of Paterson, Mr. Sponzilli attended St. Bonaventure High School. At the young age of eighteen, he was drafted to Vietnam. During his military service he demonstrated remarkable courage and dedication to serving his country. Upon his return, he enrolled at Pace University for two years, and then transferred to William Paterson to complete his degree in elementary education. While attending college, Mr. Sponzilli worked part-time cutting grass and during his senior year decided to start a landscaping business of his own. Not expecting his small business to grow, Mr. Sponzilli decided to enroll in a Master's Degree program at William Paterson University to pursue a career as a school guidance counselor. After completing his Master's Degree, Mr. Sponzilli was unsure about leaving his business to pursue a career as a guidance counselor. After compliments from clients and advice from a friend, he decided to focus on his landscaping business. At the age of 28, Mr. Sponzilli had finally saved enough money to purchase his first office building in Totowa, NJ and since then he has expanded his business to what is now one of the industry's premier landscape design firms. In addition to being a successful businessman, Mr. Sponzilli has coached and been involved with many sports programs, beginning with the Hillcrest Boys Club, serving as Head Coach of the Manchester Regional High School boys' basketball team, and football programs at the Totowa Police Athletic League. Mr. Sponzilli continues to dedicate his efforts towards bettering his community and exhibits the qualities of an individual we all strive to be. He currently works with many organizations including Landscape Initiative, Morris Catholic High School, Sisters of the Poor Charity, and also finds time to operate basketball camps for children. Mr. Sponzilli has been recognized for his philanthropic efforts both within his community and outside. Because of these efforts, he was named the Italian American Man of the Year, National Kid Construction Club Man of the Year, was inducted into the Totowa Police Athletic League Wall of Fame, and was most recently awarded the William Paterson University Legacy Award. The Dean McNulty Award is yet another prestigious recognition of the outstanding work of Mr. Sponzilli. I have known Richard for many years now as well as have attended the Dean McNulty Dinner for many years and know that this is a well- deserved honor. His story has not only inspired me but has inspired many of those around him. I value Rich's friendship and, as his friend, am happy to see him acknowledged in so many ways. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating the achievements of individuals such as Mr. Richard Sponzilli. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Mr. Sponzilli's coworkers, family and friends, all those whose lives he has touched, and me, in recognizing the work of Mr. Richard Sponzilli.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I have heard better stories in the Bada Bing Club in New Jersey. I am listening to the accounts of all of these poor people. Let me tell you what we are talking about here. Do you see this big chart? That is 99.85 percent that get nothing out of this legislation in the United States of America. Here is 0.15 percent that get a $270 billion tax cut. Here, let me use the magnifying glass and get a better picture of how much we are talking about. You can all see that orange slash right there. You are telling me that this helps the common good? My friends on the other side of the aisle--and when I use the word ``friends,'' I mean it--recently have taken to talking about the lack of wage growth in this country, yet here we are today considering legislation that will add, Mr. Speaker, $294.8 billion to the deficit for people who don't work at all. This whole idea that the estate tax hurts middle class Americans in income that has already been taxed is simply not true. Much of this income has never been taxed. Repealing the estate tax in full would result in a massive tax cut for the wealthiest of the wealthy. It hits 5,500 households in this whole country--never mind Texas, the whole country--with estates worth more than $5 million. I mean, that is the law. I am not making this stuff up as I go along. This bill only further exacerbates our already upside-down Tax Code. Our Tax Code is already stacked against hard-working labor income, and this bill would make it even worse. I sit on the House Committee on the Budget as well as the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. PASCRELL. After sitting through 13 hours of our budget markup, I could tell you that this $294.8 billion goes a long way in making up for the devastating cuts that the other side of the aisle has inflicted on the middle class. It is also important to note that the budget does not assume, Mr. Ranking Member, the repeal of the estate tax. Where the heck are they going to get the $294.8 billion? It assumes a revenue-neutral--I like it when they say it--a revenue-neutral reform. It assumes that revenues will be exactly what CBO projects under current law for the next 10 years. We really have only two conclusions: either this bill is directly contrary to the budget, or it is not paid for today. Congress will, at some point, have to sit down and go down the road, pass a tax hike to pay for this massive deficit-financed tax cut. You have no choice. You can't have it both ways. I would like to hear from my good friend, the chairman, what his path will be to make up for this $294.8 billion. That is a lot of money, Mr. Speaker. Where the heck is it coming from?

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. I have got to say this to Chairman Brady and to our leader, Mr. Levin: you guys did a great job in keeping us together, and I think the words that I will take away are what Dr. Burgess said about this being a collaborative effort. Mr. Speaker, if someone came down from Mars today into this Chamber, he would be shocked by the camaraderie. This is great. This is a good feeling. You have got to admit it is a good feeling. I know it is before Palm Sunday, but I have got a good feeling today, on Thursday. This effort, I think, establishes a very good precedent for revitalizing the integrity of this Congress, of this institution. We here, Mr. Brady and Mr. Levin, got out of our echo chambers. We love to hear ourselves. You know that. It is part of the DNA of being a Congressperson. We got out of those echo chambers, and we actually listened to each other. That is shocking. If we can rise above our own attempts to be ideologues, we can accomplish a hell of a lot here for the people of the United States. They deserve no less. The repeal and the replacement of SGR ends the constant looming of deep payment cuts to Medicare physicians, which, as we have heard, jeopardizes the participation in the program and jeopardizes seniors' access to their doctors. As a result of this law, our Medicare payment system will finally be rooted in the quality of services provided as opposed to the quantity, results rather than fee for service. I must say, Mr. Speaker, that I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation. It is good for America.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, every day hundreds of thousands of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. Unfortunately, the grave risk that our law enforcement officers face was tragically confirmed again this past Christmas when on-duty NYPD officers Ramos and Liu were murdered while simply sitting in their squad car. Regrettably, attacks against our nation's law enforcement officials are too common. Just yesterday, we read the news about two more law enforcement officers, San Jose Police Officer Michael Johnson and a state trooper in Wisconsin, who were shot and killed responding to incidents. Every loss of life is tragic. Our communities are particularly heartbroken when the life of a law enforcement official is taken. But when the funerals are over and the news subsides, it is families and coworkers who must continue to cope with the tragic loss. Thankfully, many Americans did what they could to ease the burden of the family members that Detectives Ramos and Liu left behind. That is why I am proud to support the Slain Officer Family Support Act. This bill would provide those who have opened their hearts to the families of these slain officers with a corresponding charitable deduction on their 2014 tax returns. We must continue to honor and remember the sacrifice of these officers and support this legislation.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Thank you. Two hundred billion dollars more have been reported out of Ways and Means. And tomorrow, we are going to report out another $300 billion tax cut for Paris Hilton, Ivanka Trump, and others fortunate enough to be left a nice inheritance. That is what you are going to do tomorrow. My friend, the chairman, might just be assuming that your majority will shortly pass a trillion-dollar tax increase to offset these unpaid for tax breaks and abide by his budget's revenue assumptions. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote for this budget. It is simply not worth the paper it is printed on.

Mr. PASCRELL. Thank you, Mr. Ranking Member. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there is a stark choice to be made, there is no question about it, as I am quoting from the gentleman from California. Mr. Chairman, this is the stark choice. Look at this. This is what you tried to do to the American people after Bill Clinton left office. During his term, 21 million jobs were created. Then the next 8 years when we dropped the tax rate down from 39.6 to 35 percent for those most affluent, we didn't gain anything. In fact, we lost 463,000 jobs. You want to try this again? We are not going to try it again. You want to talk about dead on arrival? Those are your words. This is dead on arrival. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this budget. Forget about the trillions of dollars worth of cuts to programs that help people with low or moderate incomes. Forget about the tax increases that hit the middle class and working poor so that some millionaires and billionaires can squeeze a little more from the stone. Forget about repealing ObamaCare for the 56th time, taking affordable health care out of the hands of 16 million Americans, leaving them with nothing and not having the guts to tell them what is going on. Forget about all of that. The fundamental problem with this document is that even with all the draconian spending cuts and with all the tax increases I just described, at the end of the day, it still doesn't balance, as the ranking member, just a few moments ago, said over and over again. In fact, Mr. Ranking Member, it is not even close. This budget, while calling for the complete and total repeal of the Affordable Care Act, continues to assume that the law's $2 trillion revenue increases and Medicare savings--it assumes that. We will do away with the bill, but we will keep the money. I don't know another way to put it. When we get to taxes, the budget assumes that revenues remain unchanged for the current law. Yet you, yourself--you, yourself, Mr. Chairman, I have a great deal of respect for you, Doctor--you stated explicitly through the Chair that you don't think we should be using the current law baseline. You said that, I didn't. Last Congress, we passed $956 billion in unpaid-for tax breaks. You all voted for that. They weren't assumed in the current law baseline. This year, we have already passed $100 billion in unpaid-for tax cuts. Where is this money coming from? We are the tax-and-spend Democrats. You folks know better than that.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I want to state that on March 18, 2014, I missed one roll call vote. Had I been present I would have voted: NO--Roll Call Vote 125--H.R. 1030--To prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating regulations or assessments based upon science that is not transparent or reproducible. I would have cast my vote in opposition to this bill because it undermines the scientific integrity of the EPA's Science Advisory Board and hurt the agency's ability to use the best available science to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink when setting public health safeguards.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michael Graves, FAIA, a prominent and respected architect, who passed away last Thursday March 12, 2015 at the age of 80 at his home in Princeton, NJ. Mr. Graves was born in Indianapolis on July 9, 1934. Upon graduating from Broad Ripple High School in 1952, he went on to pursue a bachelor's degree in architecture at the University of Cincinnati. Enamored with design, Mr. Graves went on to obtain a masters degree in architecture from Harvard University, before teaching at Princeton University as the Robert Schirmer Professor of Architecture, Emeritus, a pursuit that would turn into a 40-year career. While at Princeton, Mr. Graves was an inspiring professor who taught architectural design and theory to thousands of undergraduate and graduate architecture students, as well as extending his reach beyond Princeton through serving as guest lecturer at over 1,000 public conferences. In 1964, Mr. Graves founded his own firm, now called Michael Graves Architecture & Design or MGA&D. in Princeton, NJ. Since its establishment, Mr. Graves has been tasked with designing everything from office buildings, resorts and retail stores, to hospitals, monuments and university buildings. Renowned across the country as one of the New York Five, a group that redefined modernism in architecture, Mr. Graves became among the most celebrated of the postmodernist architects in the 1980's. Mr. Graves designed more than 350 buildings around the world. Among his most notable projects are the Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in The Hague, the Walt Disney Co. corporate headquarters in Burbank, CA, the NCAA Hall of Champions, the Newark Museum, and an innovative design scaffolding for the Washington Monument Restoration here in our nation's capital. He and his firm have designed over 2,500 products for manufacturers and retailers. Mr. Graves received more than 300 awards and citations, including the National Medal of Arts presented by President Bill Clinton in 1999 for his exceptional achievements in architecture, design and education. In 2001, he was awarded the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the highest honor the AIA bestows on an individual whose body of work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture. Mr. Graves received 14 honorary degrees from various universities, including Rutgers, NJIT, Emory University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Miami. In his most recent project, Mr. Graves established the Michael Graves School of Architecture at Kean University in New Jersey and Wenzou-Kean University in China, where his architectural legacy will continue for generations to come. As a United States Congressman, it is my great honor to recognize and commemorate the life of Michael Graves. I am proud to say that he was from my home state--truly his impact was felt in New Jersey and throughout the world. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Mr. Graves' coworkers, family and friends, all those whose lives he has touched, and me, in recognizing Mr. Michael Graves.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, on today, March 16, 2015, I was unavoidably detained in my district and missed the three rollcall votes of the day. Had I been present I would have voted: ``aye''--rollcall vote No. 113--H.R. 647--Access to Life-Saving Trauma Care for All Americans Act; ``aye''--rollcall vote No. 114--H.R. 648--Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act; ``aye''--rollcall vote No. 115--H.R. 876--Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility Act. Personal Explanation

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Catherine ``Kay'' Santangelo Nest who will celebrate her 80th birthday and be honored for a lifetime of dedicated community service and accomplishments tomorrow, Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at the Fort Lee Senior Center in Fort Lee, NJ. Kay Nest was born and raised in West New York, NJ where she learned the value of community and fighting for a greater cause. Kay's father was an attorney who often donated his services to those who couldn't afford them and her mother worked for the West New York Board of Health for over 50 years. Kay's parents devoted much of their time volunteering for charitable and political causes and always lending a helping hand to those in need, so it does not come as a surprise that Kay has become the outstanding individual that she is today. I am proud to say that Kay and I share the same Alma Mater, Fordham University, where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. Soon after, she married her husband Richard A. Nest, the late Mayor of Fort Lee, and they had their first and only child Richard B. Nest. Kay has been a past president of UNICO, Palisades General Hospital Women's Auxiliary, the Friends of Fort Lee Public Library, and the Lions Club. She also served as a Trustee on the Board of Palisades General Hospital, the Chairperson of the Fort Lee Democratic Municipal Committee, Vice Chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, Chairperson of the Fort Lee Parking Authority, Director of Fort Lee Citizen Council, and Chairperson of Fort Lee Housing Authority. Moreover, while taking up leadership positions in different organizations Kay still found the time to help all people in need, regardless of their stature in society. Kay's love for helping others is what motivated her to enter life in politics. However, she did not intend to go into politics herself but rather, to make sure that those who were elected to office provided new programs that helped those who were less fortunate and served the people who elected them. Kay was the passionate voice that brought Fort Lee its first two Senior Citizen Housing Apartments and a fully operational Senior Citizen Center along with it, ensuring that the elderly receive the proper care they deserve. Kay exhibits the qualities of an individual we all strive to be more like. Her philanthropic work in her community has been recognized and led to her being named the 2006 Person of the Year by the the Fort Lee Rotary Club in honor of her dedicated and outstanding service to her community at large over the years. Kay is someone everyone in society can aspire to emulate. I have known Kay Nest for many years as a friend and as a fellow public servant. I have always admired Kay and she has truly brightened our world with her compassion and kind nature. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating the achievements of individuals such as Kay Nest. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Kay's coworkers, family and friends, all those whose lives she has touched, and me, in recognizing the work of Mrs. Catherine ``Kay'' Santangelo Nest.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Detective Sergeant Thomas Trommelen who, after 30 years of service to the City of Paterson as Supervisor of the Paterson Police Department's Special Investigations Unit, is being honored for his retirement celebration tonight on Friday, February 27, 2015. A native son of Paterson, Detective Sergeant Trommelen has devoted his career to serving the community that raised him, most notably serving as Detective Sergeant in the Special Investigations Unit. A graduate of Paterson's Don Bosco Technical High School, Detective Sergeant Trommelen first pursued his passion for public service as an emergency medical technician for Paterson's Fire Department. After displaying exemplary valor serving those in critical need, Detective Sergeant Trommelen was appointed as a Patrolman for the Passaic County Park Police Department and then, on November 4, 1985, found his true calling as a Patrolman with the Paterson Police Department. During his time as a Patrolman for the Paterson Police Department, Detective Sergeant Trommelen strived to uphold the department's mission, which is, ``to preserve the peace and to protect and serve all who live or work in, as well as those who travel through, our city and in so doing, make a meaningful contribution to the quality of life in our community.'' Detective Sergeant Trommelen's enthusiasm for public service and extraordinary work ethic in the Patrol Division prompted him to be assigned a permanent position to Paterson's Narcotics Division, a move that would greatly benefit the City of Paterson over the next three decades. Tasked with addressing the city's vice issues, Detective Sergeant Trommelen proved to be a formidable force within the department, receiving commendations, awards and respect amongst his colleagues and peers alike. He has also served at the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office as an `Expert Witness' in the area of narcotics enforcement working with the DEA, FBI and other Federal Agencies in combating the plague of narcotics in and around the City of Paterson. Residing in Clifton, Detective Sergeant Trommelen has been married to this wife Joann for 25 years and they have two adult children, Alyssa and Tommy. Detective Sergeant Trommelen and his family sustained a life changing event in December of 1997 when he lost his older brother John, a Port Authority Police Officer, to a heart attack. However, he took tragedy and turned it into a positive force through serving his community, the Knights of Columbus and St. Phillips the Apostle Parish, for many years. Just in the past few years, he has solicited the donation, managed the collection of and organized the distribution of thousands of jackets and pairs of shoes for Paterson's children. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, I am honored to acknowledge Detective Sergeant Trommelen who has been a tremendous leader, mentor, and public servant in my hometown of Paterson. There is no doubt, in the minds of his family, friends and colleagues that the civic minded Detective Sergeant Trommelen will continue to `Serve & Protect' for many years to come. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating the achievements of individuals such as Detective Sergeant Thomas Trommelen. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Sgt. Trommelen's coworkers, family and friends, all those whose lives he has touched, and me, in recognizing the career of Detective Sergeant Thomas Trommelen.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Father Kevin Corcoran who, after 16 years of support and service to the Department for Persons with Disabilities will be honored as Person of the Year on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at the 45th Annual Murray House Dinner Dance in Paterson, NJ. Father Kevin Corcoran is a native of Dover, New Jersey. In 1986, he graduated from Morris Catholic High School in Denville, and upon graduation dedicated the next four years of his life to serving in the United States Air Force. He demonstrated remarkable courage and dedication to serving his country, and would continue to exemplify core Air Force values: ``Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do''. During his time in the Air Force, Father Kevin was stationed in Texas, Colorado, and Korea. While in Korea, he received a Black Belt in Taekwondo from the University of Seoul. In 1999, Father Kevin answered the call to a vocation in priesthood, and enrolled in St. Mary's seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland. Specializing in theological studies, he received both a B.A. and M.A. in theology. His first assignment as a priest was at St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, where he served as a parochial vicar from 1999-2007. As such, Father Kevin carried out the functions of teaching, sanctifying and leading the people of St. Anthony's parish. He and his colleagues worked tirelessly to guide and lead the community of St. Anthony's through faith and fellowship. For several months in 2010, while assisting his mother who was ill, Father Kevin did priestly ministry at St. Mary's Parish, in Goldsboro, North Carolina. From 2007-2012, as well as 2011 to the present, Father Kevin has served as priest-secretary to Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli of the Diocese of Paterson, in addition to being Vice Chancellor and Master of Ceremonies for Episcopal Liturgical events. Father Kevin has had the privilege to work with Bishop Serratelli, who has shown exemplary leadership within his community, serving on multiple boards such as the Committee on Divine Worship and Chairman of the Ad hoc Sub-Committee for the Review of Scripture Translations. Through the Department for Persons with Disabilities, Father Kevin and Bishop Serratelli have greatly assisted adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing residential, vocational, spiritual, and social services. Their involvement has empowered persons with disabilities to become active, contributing, and valued members of their community, and have helped them to live life to the fullest with dignity and respect. The Department for Persons with Disabilities is an organization that is near and dear to my heart. I have attended the Annual Murray House Dinner Dance, and have had the privilege of watching their organization grow and flourish throughout the years. Father Corcoran is an exceptional man and I commend him on his achievements. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating the achievements of individuals such as Father Kevin Corcoran. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Father Kevin Corcoran's coworkers, family and friends, all those whose lives he has touched, and me, in recognizing the work of Father Kevin Corcoran.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, a five-alarm fire ripped through 240 apartments in Edgewater, New Jersey. The fire completely destroyed the complex and displaced nearly 1,000 residents. You could see and smell the flames and ashes for miles around. I rise today to extend my sympathies to the families and recognize and honor the brave men and women of the Edgewater Volunteer Fire Department who responded to this devastating blaze, as well as over 500 first responders from 35 municipalities who came to Edgewater, rescued victims, and battled flames that blazed for 7 hours. Under the leadership of Fire Chief Tom Jacobson, firefighters rescued people from three floors and miraculously managed to prevent any loss of life or severe injuries. Thanks to the quick response by the American Red Cross and other aid organizations, the more than 1,000 displaced people were able to take refuge in the Edgewater Community Center. On behalf of my constituents, Mr. Speaker, in Edgewater, I want to once again extend my gratitude to all the first responders who answer to the call every day and helped prevent further damage in this particular travesty.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Through the Chair, my friend from Texas--I call him my friend, I think, sincerely--I agree with him that we want results from what we are spending on health care. We want to see the results, results-oriented, absolutely. That is what health care reform and the ACA are all about. We are removing ourselves from the fee-for-service, which had made patients prisoners of hospitals. The gentleman from Texas agrees with me on that, I believe. Make the ACA better. Help us improve it for a change. The gentleman knows there are good things in this bill and in this law. Help us make it better for the American people.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 596. You would think that if my friends on the other side cobbled together all of the time they have spent trying to undermine the ACA, they should have been able to come up with an alternative for this law, the law they can't find anything good to say about, but I am not holding my breath for that. While we have been here 55 times before, including my Republican colleagues shutting down the government over ACA--let's not forget that. You shut the place down in trying to stop ACA. Oh, by the way, you don't know how much that cost, the billions of dollars in jobs. But we will overlook that today. Today is different because they are now repealing the law after the major coverage expansion provisions have gone into effect. Today's vote to repeal the ACA means taking away health insurance for the 19 million Americans who receive coverage under ACA, including 213,000 people from my home State of New Jersey; second, ending the tax credits 85 percent of Americans with coverage through the exchange are using to help offset the premiums and requiring them to pay back the tax credits they already received; and third, among the many reasons, seniors losing the new Medicare benefits the ACA created, such as lower drug costs and free preventive services. I want to be there when you tell the seniors in your district that are covered under this plan that they don't have it anymore. I want you to tell them how much it is going to be increased on prescription drugs. You stand there. Don't pontificate on this floor. Go to your district. Tell the people what you are doing. Before the ACA, many people were paying for plans that didn't provide them with the coverage they needed. The plans they purchased had high out-of-pocket costs and artificially low caps on coverage.