Bill Pascrell

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chair, in the words of Vice President--remember him--Dick Cheney, he proclaimed, ``Deficits don't matter.'' So, you have had a call to religion. You have come back. Your budget, the deficit is simply an excuse to cut the social safety net. So I say, let's vote down this phony budget and get on with the real thing, Mr. Chair.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this legislation. This is an illusion, another one. The NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game is tonight. I know that many of my colleagues are looking forward to watching some high-level competition from these two great squads. However, at some point, you can be assured, you will see one team's coach yelling at the referees. Guaranteed. They will be screaming in their faces, convinced that they are calling too many fouls and that they are being biased against their team. You can be assured that the coach yelling at the refs the most will be the one whose team is losing. This is basically the same thing that is happening here on the floor today, Mr. Speaker, on this bill, and all the other so-called budget process. You can't get away from process. You don't want to talk about results. You are always talking about process, process, and process, trying to work the refs because you are losing this argument. The ref in this case is the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. You referred to that many, many times, nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The bill before us today, offered by my colleague from New Jersey, would require the Congressional Budget Office to score Federal loan guarantee programs in a way that makes them appear more expensive than they actually are. That is what you are all about. I have served on this Budget Committee for the last 4 years. We can't do our job right if we don't have accurate estimates of what Federal programs really cost. This bill will absolutely make our job harder by making us work with inaccurate data. In fact, all in all, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that this bill, your bill, would have increased the estimated cost of Federal credit programs in 2014, would have increased them by $50 million, all by waving your magic wand. Now, this isn't really about finding the best technical way to measure the costs of each program. That is what you say. It is working the refs in a way that would make even Coach K proud. It is nothing but a dishonest attempt to make worthy government programs appear more costly, so that those who are ideologically opposed to government and government spending can more easily undermine those very programs. That is what this is all about.

Mr. PASCRELL. Thank you very much to my colleague from New Jersey. First of all, no one on this side of the aisle ever suggested that we need no rules. See, what you are trying to do is put everyone at extremes, and that is where we are many times because you are the majority and we are the minority. And I respect that. But don't say we don't want the rules. We fought for rules.

Mr. PASCRELL. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, this isn't as complicated as one would pretend it to be. First of all, the CBO says, if this was the law of the land, in other words, if this bill would have been passed by both the House and the Senate when it first came up, it would have cost us $50 billion more in the 2014 budget. Now, I find that hard to believe that you would accept that, when you practically, the gentleman that I am speaking to right now, through the Chair, has voted ``no'' on everything under the Sun. So I find that difficult to believe. There need to be rules, particularly in all financial matters. Those rules have a purpose. I am telling you, this is a process question and this does not, in any manner, shape, or form enhance the passage of a budget that we can live with, we Americans.

Mr. PASCRELL. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. PASCRELL. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle don't like the Federal loan guarantee programs that help first-time homebuyers, that help less fortunate Americans pay for their education. They are willing to cook the books in order to make a better case for their elimination. Mr. Speaker, we could do better than this. We can argue about these programs on their merits instead of resorting to budgeting sleight-of- hand, process. I am strongly opposed to the bill. We could be voting to raise the minimum wage and give a raise to 27.8 million Americans to $10.10 per hour. That is what we should be debating on this floor. We could finally consider the immigration reform legislation that the Senate passed nearly a year ago. We should be debating the UI-- unemployment insurance--rates to restore unemployment benefits to more than 2 million Americans, including 125,000 in our own State of New Jersey. But, instead, we are here today considering a bill that does nothing except enable the majority's fringe ideology, pave the way for even more cuts to the most vulnerable in the future.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4278, the Ukraine Support Act. This bill will send an important signal to the Ukrainian people that the United States of America will stand by them as they resist Russia's aggression. This is not just a symbolic gesture on our part. In addition to the condemnation of Russia's actions through targeted sanctions, this vital legislation provides assistance to stabilize Ukraine's economy and to support important anti-corruption initiatives. As a great nation of over 45 million people and a breadbasket for Europe and the world, Ukraine has the potential to be a true economic powerhouse. But decades of mismanagement and corruption at the highest levels have stifled Ukraine's economic growth and military readiness. This weakness has allowed Russia to bully its way into Ukraine's internal affairs--culminating in the recent invasion and annexation of Crimea. Although the world has condemning this illegal land grab, Russian actions continue to threaten Ukraine's prosperity and territorial integrity. Our support is vital to ensuring that Ukraine has the ability to defend its sovereignty and strengthen its democracy in order to resist external coercion. By extending a hand to-Ukraine, we give them the opportunity to shake off Russia's influence once and for all. The people of Ukraine, as well as Ukrainian Americans in New Jersey and around the nation, want the United States to hold true to our values by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine in her time of great need. I am grateful that we can come together on a bipartisan basis to quickly bring forward this much-needed legislation. It is high time that we solidified our commitment to Ukraine. Much more remains to be done, but this bill is a step in the right direction. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Delaying the individual mandate will result in 13 million fewer Americans getting health insurance through the ACA and higher premiums for those with health insurance. You want it to fail. You don't want it to succeed. You forgot what you did back 9 years ago when we passed the premium D. We went back to our districts and made it work, even though we voted against it. That is the American way. Learn the American way. It works. Don't go on recess.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, to quote a very famous President: There they go again. This is an alternative universe, through the Speaker, that you are trying to create. For years, we have been talking about how to reform SGR and how to pay for our Medicare providers. I, along with my Democratic colleagues--and some Republicans--supported past efforts to repeal and replace SGR once and for all, but we have never been able to get it done. That changed late last year. The Energy and Commerce Committee passed unanimously a bill to repeal and replace SGR. Building on that proposal, Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee and in the Ways and Means Committee here, which I sit on, came together and passed the bill that repeals SGR and replaces it with a payment system that rewards providers for delivering quality care to our seniors. What you have done, through the Speaker, is to take months of thoughtful bipartisan policymaking and thrown it away in order to score some really poor and cheap political points. All you are trying to do is undermine affordable care. What are you going to do with the 13 million people who can't get affordable care if we delay the personal mandate? You have never come up with an answer. You have never had an answer to what are you going to do about health care. All you can do is criticize and criticize.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I want to state for the record that today, March 11th, I was unavoidably detained in my district and missed several rollcall votes. Had I been present I would have voted: ``aye''--rollcall vote 115--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3474--Hire More Heroes Act of 2013; ``aye''--rollcall vote 116--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3979--Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act of 2014, as amended; ``aye''--rollcall Vote 117--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H. Res. 499--Condemning the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity by military forces of the Russian Federation, as amended.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4152. This critical legislation will make Ukraine eligible for U.S. loan guarantees, helping to bolster Ukraine's struggling economy. Strong financial aid for Ukraine will send a message that the United States and the international community are backing the Ukrainian people with more than words. This step will help free Ukraine from Russia's economic coercion. Russia's aggressive campaign to seize Ukrainian territory in the Crimean Peninsula and beyond presents a grave threat to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is a crucial moment for Ukraine--any misstep from either side at this moment could lead to all- out war. It is critical that the United States and the international community act decisively to support the Ukrainian people and isolate Russia for its transgressions. I appreciate the work that the Obama Administration has already undertaken to suspend trade talks and military cooperation with Russia--as well as to assemble an economic aid package for Ukraine. It is fitting that the United States has quickly recognized the legitimacy of Ukraine's new government, reflecting the right of the Ukrainian people to choose their own future. However, we must recognize that tough talk alone will not persuade Russia to change its course. Russia needs to feel tangible consequences for deploying troops in Ukraine. Our partners in Europe, particularly Germany, are positioned to have a large economic impact on Russia through sanctions. It will be critical to bring them along in our efforts. Russia should also be stripped of its current G8 presidency and suspended from the G8. G8 members should boycott the 40th G8 Summit, scheduled for June 4 and 5, 2014 in Sochi. I represent New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District, which is home to a large and active community of Ukrainian Americans. I am proud to have a productive and longstanding relationship with New Jersey's Ukrainian Americans. Since this crisis emerged, I have hosted meetings in my office and listened to the advice of those with close ties to Ukraine. The Ukrainian American community has proven to be an invaluable resource, and I am grateful for their guidance. The people of Ukraine need support to realize a peaceful, democratic solution to this crisis. That's why it is so fitting that the United States act to support Ukraine. Once again, I urge my colleagues to support this vital measure for Ukraine in its time of need.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, it must be very painful for people to watch this when affected--whether you are on a river or whether you are on the ocean--because it is painful to see that some of the people who are opposed to this bill also voted ``no'' on the Sandy relief, so they are being consistent anyway. After Sandy, many of my constituents in towns such as Moonachie and Little Ferry are now experiencing a second blow from skyrocketing flood insurance rates. In particular, the home sale trigger has resulted in drastically higher flood insurance rates for prospective home buyers, putting a wet blanket on real estate markets in flood-prone areas. The bill before us today contains some very important changes. It provides immediate relief to homeowners by repealing the home sale trigger and reducing the rate of possible increases. I am hopeful that we can revisit flood insurance reform in a way which will provide relief to second homes and small businesses. Although these are important first steps, I know we can do better, and I thank all those who contributed to this legislation.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. One of the most egregious newly legal big spenders are organizations operating as 501(c)(4) tax-exempt groups. They could easily be under section 527. We created a special section of the Tax Code precisely for tax-exempt political groups. No, they don't want to go under those groups, because if they go under those groups, they have got to tell us who is contributing to them. This is absolutely chicanery. These regulations aren't some wild- eyed, down-the-rabbit-hole conspiracy theory to prosecute the President's political enemies.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely have the greatest respect for the good doctor. I think he is a reasonable man and a good person, but when you are explaining, you are losing. I rise in strong opposition to this legislation. After we learned last year about the inexcusable way the IRS evaluated applications for tax-exempt status--because that is what is at the heart of this issue--I was hopeful that we could have a bipartisan response. After all, it was not only conservative groups, as you have heard, that had their applications singled out solely because of words like ``Tea Party.'' No one is denying that. Progressive groups were inappropriately filtered as well. My Democratic colleagues and I were equally outraged by this behavior. We put it on the record. But those hopes faded quickly when it became apparent that my colleagues on the other side weren't actually interested in investigating this wrongdoing and fixing the problems. This bill is just the latest example of how, instead, they are only concerned with scoring cheap political points. Where I am from in Paterson, New Jersey, we would call this Pyrrhic sophistry. That is what we would call it. Empty arguments, deceitful. That is what that means. The examples the Republican leader pointed out could be under section 527. But if you are under 527, you need to disclose where the money came from. So you choose not to be under section 527 of the Tax Code. You would rather be in another section. And what is that other section? You are not tax liable and you don't have to disclose who gave you the money. What is this? Russia? China? You heard the numbers. We are talking about billions of dollars. The difference? They would have to disclose where the money came from. No evidence of any retribution has been found yet within either political party. So this is really a witch hunt. For the American people, unfortunately, it is the integrity of our electoral process here that is on trial. The fact is that the Supreme Court's rulings have legalized a torrent of hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate spending that has infected our elections. We ask again today, join us in correcting that decision by the Supreme Court. It has infected our legal process.

Mr. PASCRELL. They are simply about preserving congressional intent and providing clear rules of the road, both for tax-exempt groups and the IRS, about what exactly is political activity so they know what is permissible under the law. This isn't about free speech. This isn't about being a Tea Party or a Progressive. Spend all the money you want to say whatever you want about any election. Just don't expect to be able to do so while calling yourself a tax-exempt social welfare group. We are paying more taxes because these people are getting away with it. That is the bottom line. And you, I know, Doctor, are totally against that, because you would not really, in the final analysis, prefer that some groups are better than others--those particularly who don't tell us who donated to the group.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Ukrainian Americans deeply desire a solution to this crisis which respects the fundamental rights of their sisters and brothers in Ukraine to free speech, press, and peaceful assembly. It is my sincere hope that the United States can facilitate a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Ukraine which respects the will of the Ukrainian people and brings justice to those who have been harmed through wrongful arrests and violence. As we saw in Syria, crackdowns on nonviolent protests can lead to an all-out civil war, and we still do not do what we should be doing with those refugees from Syria. That is a disgrace. We need to act now to help the people of Ukraine before the violence escalates further. I urge my colleagues to join this vital show of support from the American people to the people of Ukraine. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for yielding.

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I thank both Mr. Eliot Engel of New York and Mr. Chris Smith of New Jersey for leading us through what are important things for us to contemplate, because what is applicable to Ukraine is applicable to a lot of places in this world. So I am a proud cosponsor and a strong supporter of H. Res. 447. It expresses our solidarity with the Ukrainian people and affirms their right to choose their own future. In this room, not that many years ago, we brought in the Prime Minister. Many of us had these flags, the colors of the Ukraine country. Mass protests have broken out in Ukraine following President Yanukovych's decision in November to back away from negotiations for closer integration with Europe. So Russia has their fingers in all of this. Beware. There was an agreement which had been supported by millions of Ukrainians in Ukraine and around the world. We have known about the violence. We have known about the detainment because folks just expressed their legitimate dissatisfaction with Yanukovych's government. However, the current crisis in Ukraine had deeper roots. Almost a decade ago, the Orange Revolution led to the annulment of a fraudulent election which would have brought Viktor Yanukovych to power. In the wake of protests and civil disobedience on a massive scale, the Ukrainian people, instead, chose President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. She is in jail. She is in jail right now, as we speak, still. Now the democratic gains made as a result of that Orange Revolution are at risk. Viktor Yanukovych has gained the presidency, and former Prime Minister Tymoshenko, as I said, is still in jail. The use of force to suppress open expression by political opponents or popular protests could never be tolerated in a free and democratic society, and those within the Ukrainian Government who authorized these brutal crackdowns should be held accountable for their egregious abuse of power. There has been a strong outpouring of support for the protesters from the large and active Ukrainian American community, many of whom live in my district, the Ninth Congressional District of New Jersey.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. I thank the gentleman. This legislation will prevent premium rate hikes until FEMA completes the affordability study called for in the original Biggert-Waters flood insurance reform legislation, giving FEMA a chance to implement an affordability framework before implementing new rates. The bill establishes an appeal process for remapping and creates an advocate position within FEMA. Just last week, a bipartisan majority in the Senate did approve this bill, as you already heard. It is time to bring this vital legislation to the floor. Again, I appeal to the chairman. This is urgent, not simply because we had two major storms in the last few years, but because Americans all over this country are affected one way or another, if not by a storm off the ocean, a snowstorm or even worse. So I ask you specifically to do what you can to put this in front of us as soon as possible.

Mr. PASCRELL. I thank the ranking member. Mr. Chairman, I appeal to you to make this an urgent issue. Urgency, I think, is very critical here. So I rise in opposition to the previous question so that we can consider the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, over 74,000 National Flood Insurance Program claims were submitted in New Jersey from policyholders. To date, the NFIP has paid over $3.5 billion in Sandy claims. It has served as a lifeline to thousands of New Jersey residents whose lives were turned upside down by the storm. The funds paid out through those claims have helped our neighbors rebuild their homes and businesses. Regardless of what political affiliation or persuasion, we are all affected by this. Estimates indicate that the total cost of Sandy will be between $12 and $15 billion, making Sandy the second-costliest flood event after Hurricane Katrina. So, it is true that we need to make changes to ensure that NFIP remains solvent. However, the rollout of the 2012 reforms to NFIP have been fraught with issues. I am hearing from constituents in towns such as Little Ferry and Moonachie, particularly, which were devastated by Sandy. This is destroying property values and disrupting the real estate markets in the communities of New Jersey and across the country. That is why it is so crucial that we revisit flood insurance reform by passing H.R. 3370.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concerns regarding the Sochi Olympics. A number of issues have been raised regarding the misguided decision to host the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, from LGBT rights to the real threat of terrorism. However, I would like to discuss an issue which has not received the same level of attention: the historical mistreatment of the Circassian people by Russia. The Circassians are an ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus region. Sochi is located in the historical nation of Circassia, which was conquered by the Russian Empire in a series of wars during the 18th and 19th centuries. In fact, Sochi served as the last capitol of Circassia. Following their defeat in 1864, 90 percent of the Circassian population was forcibly deported or killed and Circassia was annexed by Russia. Hundreds of thousands of Circassians were exiled from their homeland, never to return. Millions of Circassians are now spread around the world in diaspora communities, while only about 700,000 Circassians remain within their ancestral homeland, now a part of the Russian Federation. Given this history, it is deeply disrespectful to the Circassian community for the Russian government to use Sochi as a stage to promote themselves to the world. Although I condemn the decision to hold the Olympics in Sochi, this year's Winter Olympics present the opportunity to raise the world's awareness of the historical injustices perpetrated by Russia against the Circassian people and homeland. Today, Circassians worldwide strive to achieve the right of return to their homeland, and seek to gain self-determination and a revival of their language and culture. I am proud to represent a large and active Circassian-American community within New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District. Colleagues, I urge you to join me in condemning the Sochi Olympics and celebrating the contributions of the Circassian people to the United States of America.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I want to state for the record that yesterday, January 27, I missed several rollcall votes. Had I been present I would have voted: ``yes''--rollcall vote 24--H.R. 2166--Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act; ``yes''--rollcall vote 25--H.R. 3008--To provide for the conveyance of a small parcel of National Forest System land in Los Padres National Forest in California, and for other purposes.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 3212--the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013, which would help prevent additional child abductions to foreign countries in the future. Recently, I was able to meet with a constituent of mine--Michael Elias. Michael has worked in the Bergen County Sheriffs Department and honorably served our country in the Iraq War. Upon his return from his service to our country, Michael and his wife, a citizen of Japan, agreed to separate. In 2008, a Bergen County judge ordered joint custody of their two children--Jade and Michael, Jr. The judge also ordered that the children's passports be surrendered and they were. After a few months, on a day like any other, Michael was expecting his ex-wife to drop off Jade and Michael, Jr. to his house after spending the day with her. They never showed up. Somehow, his ex-wife was able to obtain new passports for Jade and Michael, Jr. and had fled to Japan, which is not a party to the Hague Convention on Abduction. Despite Michael's years of inquiries and toil, The Government of Japan has produced no answers on how his ex-wife was able to obtain the new visas for Jade and Michael, Jr. And nearly five years later, Michael has not been able see his own children. This bill will help countless families across the country that face the same heartbreaking situation that Michael Elias is still dealing with today. Our State Department must be on the frontlines for people like Michael, who have literally put their life on the line for this country. H.R. 1951 will empower the State Department to advocate for the victims of these tragic abductions. And that is why I urge my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 3212, for people like Michael Elias and the countless families that have been wrongfully torn apart.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I want to state for the record that on December 2nd, I was unavoidably detained in my district and missed several rollcall votes. Had I been present I would have voted: ``aye''--rollcall Vote 612--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3547, the Space Launch Liability Indemnification Extension Act. ``aye''--rollcall Vote 613--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3588, the Community Fire Safety Act of 2013. ``aye''--rollcall Vote 614--On Approving the Journal.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Michael, thank you for putting this together tonight. I come tonight not only to talk about Barry, but to talk about all the staff. Please understand what I am saying tonight. If you feel that there is an injection in my words of politics, so be it. First of all, I never understood what Barry said at any time, so it is not a question of having a translation. Thank you for your service to your country and thank you for your service to this Congress--every Congressperson. The entire membership has been so fortunate to have you here. You know what I mean when I say Barry, Location, location, location. You were right: you fit, and you did what you said you were going to do. I do not speak to you in terms of your title, because titles come and go. I speak to your character. You are a person of character. Your word is always your bond. We joked and we kibitzed back and forth. We joked about sports. We joked about life. You are an example for all of us, as you move forward. And you may be on--as some might say--the down side of the mountain, but you are really not. I say this to all the staff members. I have been here for close to 17 years, and Barry, you are leaving at a time of most interest to me, since I always made it a habit, whether I was a teacher or whether I was in the mayor's office, whatever, to talk to everybody--the secretary, the administrator, the young lady on the elevator, the maintenance man, the guy who took care of the boiler. When I was the mayor, in the middle of the winter, the temperature in the council chambers was 80 degrees. I would tell him to go down and stoke the fire and make it so hot so we could get the meeting over with. You have got to know who to talk to. You don't talk to the mayor, you don't talk to the superintendent of the schools, you don't talk to the Speaker. You talk to the Barry's of this world that make the place run. If you don't learn that, then you are in for a sad awakening when you get here. Public servants have been maligned in this very institution. Public servants have not been appreciated. I want to speak--and I have done it many times on this floor, Barry--for public servants. They can speak for themselves. I guess I am a public servant, too. But the disrespect shown, with a pat on the back and then a spit in your eye, doesn't belong here, because if we are really grateful for what you do, Mr. Barry, Mr. Police Officer, Mr. Firefighter, Mr. Teacher, Mr. Congressman, if we really appreciate it, we are straight with you. We respect you. We want to make sure you get fair compensation for your pay so you don't have to feel like you have your hat out. You have raised this institution. You have made it a better place-- all of you. So, Mr. Speaker, to go back to those who aren't here right now, I will tell them that when we lose the appreciation for the staff people who serve every day, serve our country every day, we are the worse for it, not the better. Barry, I have never heard an evil word spoken about you because there was nothing to say of negativity. Thank you for who you are. I hope I see you again. You have made an impression on all of us. God bless you, and God bless your beautiful family. God bless America.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise as we recognize the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall in New Jersey one year ago today. By now, we all know that Sandy was a storm of epic proportions. In New Jersey, 357,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and 2.7 million households were left without power--some for weeks. We pause to remember the over 3 dozen New Jerseyans tragically killed by the storm. It is only thanks to the heroic efforts of our first responders that many more were saved from the rising waters. As media coverage focused on the destruction to shore communities, inland towns along the Hackensack River in Northern New Jersey were also being inundated by floodwaters The towns of Little Ferry and Moonachie in Bergen County were particularly hard hit. About 90 percent of the homes there were damaged or destroyed. Over $19.6 million in Individual Assistance from FEMA has been awarded in my district, including $9.3 million in Little Ferry and $6.2 million in Moonachie--two working class towns with a combined population of just over 13,000. We have come far over the past year, but we still have a long way to go moving forward. Moonachie's Borough Hall, which houses the municipal government and public safety department, is still operating out of temporary trailers. In Little Ferry, many homeowners were only recently informed that after spending thousands on repairs, the extent of the damage was severe enough that their homes would have to be elevated--weeks after grant programs to help fund the elevations had closed their applications. Unfortunately, the State of New Jersey has been slow to spend its initial allocation of HUD funding provided under the Sandy supplemental appropriations legislation. According to some estimates, just 25 percent of the funding allocated for housing programs has gone out the door to those in need. With the next round of Community Development Block Grant--Disaster Recovery funding on the way for the regions impacted, I will be fighting to ensure that these critical aid dollars go towards addressing our outstanding needs and priorities quickly and efficiently. Sandy taught us how utterly vulnerable we are when disaster strikes-- a lesson we cannot soon forget. As we continue to rebuild for the long term, we need to focus on finding solutions which will make our communities more resilient to better protect us from future storms. We must also work towards reducing our carbon emissions in order to slow the warming of our climate, which is driving stronger storms, sea level rise, and more severe weather. As we move into the second year of our recovery efforts, I urge my colleagues to stay firm in their resolve to support us in the work we still have ahead of us.