Bill Pascrell

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6517, the Omnibus Trade Act of 2010. Shipping jobs overseas has become an industry unto itself. Jobs and people are displaced again and again. This is an attempt to try to respond to those workers who have lost jobs under the guise of free trade. Our first line of defense is fair trade that doesn't sacrifice the American workforce. This is good bipartisan legislation. We haven't had too much of it, so we might not have noticed it. I am pleased that the committee was able to work in a bipartisan fashion with the minority to extend these programs and provisions that help our workers and businesses compete in this global economy. It is particularly critical that we reauthorize the reforms Congress made to the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, or the TAA, which was passed as part of the Recovery Act in February of last year. As the chairman pointed out, these reforms have been in place now for some time, and the program has helped hundreds of thousands of workers; 5,000 of those workers whose jobs were shipped overseas during this recession were in New Jersey. They received retraining, support for their incomes, and they were able to keep their health care. We expanded the program's eligibility, including the service sector and more manufacturing jobs; we increased training and health coverage benefits, and we streamlined the program, making it more flexible and efficient for workers to take advantage of.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, the issue we come here to address today is not a Democratic or a Republican problem, but one facing each and every one of our nation's seniors in the Social Security program. Despite any political rhetoric, the lack of a Cost-of-Living Adjustment this year was not a result of Congressional action, but a result of a formula in place since the 1970s. I have long supported a change to this formula to take into account the rising costs for seniors, but in the interim, I am here as a cosponsor of this important legislation. Right now, in my district, seniors are struggling with their gas and electric bills. This 250 dollar payment could help seniors not only with these rising costs, but also with their food, rent, medications, and more. So many of our seniors rely heavily on their Social Security checks and as costs continue to rise each year, their Social Security checks are not going as far as they used to. Today, in offering this small adjustment, we can give our seniors that extra cushion they need to meet the unexpected costs of 2011. In this time of great uncertainty and economic hardship, how can we possibly deny our seniors the extra support they need? I rise today and ask that my colleagues support this measure for our seniors, who have given so much to our country and who deserve this much-needed relief.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I have heard in the last few moments about trickle-down economics--you know, here we go again--and I heard the quote of what works and what doesn't work. Let me tell you what doesn't work. If you look back just a few years ago, in 2000, we had a 4.2 percent unemployment rate. By the end of 2008, we had doubled it. Not one word about that. Those 8 years have disappeared from your memory. By the beginning of 2009, the concentration of wealth amongst the top 1 percent was only matched by the period immediately before the Great Depression. So let's get it straight. In this piece of legislation, everyone gets a tax cut, even Sammy Sosa--I don't know if he's playing anymore--and even Derrick Jeter. They all get a tax cut up to $200,000. Of course, if they're couples, it's $250,000. Even billionaires will get a tax cut up to $250,000. You have never communicated it because you have never told the total truth. This legislation is very specific about how we are going to help the middle class. I believe a 5-year extension would be better. I don't believe we should extend any tax cut indefinitely, but I am going to vote for this bill because I refuse to allow the middle class to be the victims of partisan gridlock. America's middle class is the one for which I have come to the floor multiple times over the last 6 months to declare the necessity of taking a vote on these taxes. I went to my own district. There are 334,000 households in the district, and less than 1 percent--1,092--are making $1 million or more. Their argument is dead in the water with heavy sand that buries it deeper and deeper because they don't want to talk about the middle class.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to address the elephant in the room--the expiration of the tax rates that will occur 31 days from now. We all agree that it is imperative that we work together to provide America's working-class families with tax relief as soon as possible. That is why I applaud the President for meeting with Members from the House and Senate in order to forge a bipartisan compromise. But to be fair, this past September, I, along with Messrs. Capuano, Higgins and Owens, proposed a compromise that provides tax relief for American families and that gives Congress the fiscal flexibility to address our long-term deficit. I am proud to say that the Joint Committee on Taxation has confirmed that this plan costs significantly less and provides greater flexibility to reduce the national debt. Our compromise includes a 5-year extension of the middle class tax rates and the current rates on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends, costing $801.5 billion; and a 1-year extension of the current rates for income earned between $250,000 and $500,000, costing $8.27 billion. This plan is better than the $2.2 trillion over 10 years which is now before us. It is a compromise, and we ought to try it sometime.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call your attention to the life and work of an outstanding individual, the late Sergeant Willie James Quince of Paterson, New Jersey, whose life will be celebrated during a memorial service on Monday, November 29, 2010, at the First A.M.E. Zion Church. It is only fitting that he be honored in this, the permanent record of the greatest democracy ever known, for he served countless others throughout his lifetime. Sergeant Willie James Quince was born in Valdosta, Georgia, in 1921 to Mr. Remer Quince and Helen Braswell. His family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, for where he finished elementary school and graduated from Industrial High School. He went on to courses at Purple Kerpels School of Mechanical Dentistry in New York City, NY. He then studied 4 years at the Jones Barber School in Atlantic City, NJ, and the Interracial Barber College in Atlantic City, NJ, graduating in three years. After graduation, he moved to Paterson, N.J. in January 1958 and opened Quince's Barber Shop. He was married to Mary M. Quince for 61 years, and together they raised five children, Wiley ``Sonny'' Quince, William A. Quince (Linda), Madgeline Z. Quince, Sylvia A. Lucas, and Kelvin C. Quince (Cora); and also now have ten grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. Mr. Quince was a faithful husband, dedicated father, grandfather and great grandfather, and a committed community servant. He earned many accolades and had a long record of accomplishment as a forerunner for civil rights and a leader throughout Paterson. He was a long time member of First A.M.E. Zion Church where he was elected Man Of The Year multiple times, served on the Board of Trustees for 31 years and served as Chairman for 15 years. He also served on the Stewart Board, Usher Board, The Dreamers, The Kitchen Cabinet, and The Zion Seniors. He served our Nation as a Drill Sergeant during World War II Army Air Force and received the Medal of Good Conduct, WWII Victory Medal and ATO Medal. He was an Honored Life Member of the NAACP Paterson Branch, a member of the Habitat for Humanity Paterson Chapter Tenants Selection Committee for Home Ownership. He was the 1st African-American elected chairman of the Paterson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, and he served as Project Housing Manager of Christopher Columbus Housing Development and as Manager of the Riverside Terrace Housing Development. He also served as Paterson's 4th Ward Leader of the Passaic County Democratic Party for many years. He was known for his superb social mannerisms and good conversation. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing the lifetime achievement of a giving person such as Sergeant Willie James Quince. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Willie's family and friends, and me in recognizing the late Sergeant Willie James Quince's outstanding life of service to his community.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 259, honoring the life and work of Andrea Palladio. As cochair of the Italian American Caucus, I have had the privilege of honoring the contributions of explorers like Christopher Columbus, scientists like Galileo, and artists like Constantino Brumidi. Constantino did most of the fresco work in this Capitol. He came to the United States with nothing in his pocket to become an American citizen. He became an American citizen in a very short period of time, and then he set out to perform his great works here, not only in the Capitol, but in many places in New York City. Or how about veterans, like Sergeant John Basilone, who in the Second World War was the highest decorated member of the Armed Forces. He was wounded at Guadalcanal. He came back to the States and sold war bonds. That wasn't his kick. He asked to go back into the Pacific Theater. He got to Iwo Jima. The third day he was back, he was killed. In 2005, we had a stamp for Sergeant Basilone. Just this year we named a building after him in New Jersey. We named a bridge after him, the highest- decorated person in the history of the Armed Forces of the United States of America. I bring his name up also because there is a legacy here that is shared with American history, and it changes somewhat the stereotyping of Italian Americans. I hope it does. I am proud to be an Italian American, and I know Mr. Manzullo is, and we know what that stereotyping is. Stereotyping was not invented in the 20th century. So this is one of the reasons why we have presented this. It is only right that today we honor this influential architect, Andrea Palladio. He was born Andrea di Pietro in Padua, Italy, on November 30, 1508. He spent his life studying architecture, engineering, topography and military service. As was mentioned, his very famous masterpiece is ``The Four Books of Architecture.'' Jefferson called these four books the ``Bible'' for architectural practice, the protocol, and he employed Palladio's principles in establishing the lasting standards up to this date in America and in the constructing of his own masterpiece, Monticello. Our Nation's most iconic buildings and the White House itself reflect the influence of his great architecture. There is no better way to honor the close ties between Italy and the United States than to look to our shared cultural history, and much of it is shared. I would like to thank my Italian American Caucus cochair, Pat Tiberi, and Ambassador Giulio Terzi, for all of their work bringing this resolution to the floor. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting such an important figure in the history of both our Nation and Italy.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the deeds of an outstanding individual, Mr. Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., who will be recognized on October 23, 2010, by the Columbian Foundation for his many years of service working to reform Essex County's finances while improving its facilities. Joe first entered into public office in Essex County as a member of the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, a position which he held for 13 years. For eight of those 13 years, Joe served as the President of the Board. In 2003, Joe took office as the fifth Essex County Executive, a position which he continues to hold after being re-elected in 2006. In the seven and one-half years since he took office, Joe has drastically changed the face of Essex County. He has successfully reduced government inefficiency by cutting expenditures and eliminating unnecessary contracts. With the money that he has saved through these calculated spending cuts, Joe has been able to fund improvements to the community. He opened an Environmental Center, aided in the expansion and improvement of the Turtle Back Zoo, guided the restoration of the historic Courthouse, and revamped the Government Complex. In addition, Joe has worked to assist the community through the construction of a new correctional facility in Newark, a new psychiatric hospital center in Cedar Gfove and a new prosecutor's crime scene investigative headquarters. Another commitment Joe has followed through on has been to clean up and expand the county's parks, playgrounds and preservation areas to improve the common space for all citizens. Joe has also been dedicated to the issue of ethical reform. He established an Ethics Board and created the position of Inspector General to ensure that there is a high standard for ethical behavior in local government and businesses within Essex County. Joe has been an outstanding leader in the community whose actions as an Essex County Executive have changed the county for the better. I know he will continue to strive for the same goals in the future. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to working with and recognizing the efforts of dedicated community servants like Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, the residents of Essex County, the Columbian Foundation, Joe's family and friends, and me in recognizing Joe DiVincenzo's outstanding service to his community.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to bring your attention to the extraordinary life of Mr. Ralph J. Golzio. A lifetime resident of New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District, Mr. Golzio celebrates the milestone of his 101st birthday on October 20, 2010. The Italian- American community recognized Mr. Golzio by holding a dinner in his honor on October 17, 2010. Ralph Golzio was born to Italian-American parents John and Caroline Golzio on October 20, 1909, in my hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. In 1928, his family moved to a larger property in Wayne, New Jersey, where his mother opened the family home to boarders to help make ends meet. Ralph worked at the house, waiting on patrons and hunting to provide food. These experiences inspired in him a lifelong passion for the outdoors. In 1929, Ralph enrolled at Stevens Institute of Technology. While there, he briefly played lacrosse and baseball for his school before graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1932. He returned to Stevens in 1937 for graduate work in ballistics and internal combustion engines. Ralph went on to found Engineering Associates in 1947, enjoying a long and distinguished career as a consulting engineer until his retirement at the age of 78 in 1987. Ralph's intellectual curiosity persists to this day, as he continues to study nuclear physics, quantum physics, and astronomy in his spare time. As a Project Engineer at Wrights Aeronautical Company, Ralph met and married his beloved wife Betty. Ralph and Betty shared many interests and passions together, raising two wonderful daughters in Totowa, New Jersey, where Ralph resides to this day. Ralph and Betty shared 43 happy years together before her passing in 1984. Ralph has always maintained a sunny outlook and an active lifestyle, truly living up to his motto of ``play as hard as you work to achieve balance of mind and spirit.'' His many hobbies have included hiking, climbing, hunting, archery, skeet shooting, speed skating, and snow shoeing. More recently, he cruised through the Caribbean at the age of 92. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding; however, I especially appreciate learning about and recognizing individuals like Ralph J. Golzio. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Ralph's family and friends, and the Italian-American community in honoring Mr. Ralph J. Golzio on the occasion of his 101st birthday. His story should be an inspiration for all Americans to live life to the fullest, and he continues to serve as a source of pride and admiration for those who have been touched by him.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the achievements of an outstanding individual, Christopher L. DiMattio. As co-chair of the Italian-American Congressional Caucus, I am privileged to offer my sincerest congratulations for Christopher's selection as UNICO's National President on the occasion of UNICO's ``Meet the President Night,'' an event being held in his honor. UNICO is our nation's largest Italian-American service organization. His proven record of service to his community, faith, and strong Italian heritage makes him the perfect choice for this position with UNICO. Through his life and work, he has upheld UNICO's model of ``Service above Self'' He has served selflessly on the leadership board of UNICO. He also played an important role in the Roman Catholic Church's Diocese of Scranton. His tireless work on the local level and in planning fundraisers and charity events has ensured that the numerous organizations he has served will flourish for years to come. All of this outstanding service has not interfered with Christopher's professional and personal lives as in the least. He has received numerous awards for outstanding performance in his role as Senior Vice President at FNCB Wealth Management Services. Christopher also sets a wonderful example as a family man for his wife, Ann and his sons Louis Carlo, and Robert. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to learning about and recognizing individuals like Christopher DiMattio. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Christopher's family and friends, all the students and athletes whose lives he has touched and me in recognizing Mr. Christopher L. DiMattio.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the life of an outstanding individual, Richard Michael ``Muggs'' McGinnis, who retired this year after over 3 decades of service as a teacher, coach and youth sports official in my hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. Mr. McGinnis will be honored by his admirers at the Brownstone in Paterson on Friday, October 22nd. Mr. McGinnis was born and raised in Paterson, where he attended Don Bosco Technical and Vocational High School. At Don Bosco Tech, he was actively involved in Student Government and the National Honor Society. However, his true passion lay in sport. He earned recognition for representing his school on the soccer field, basketball court, and baseball diamond In 1970, ``Muggs,'' as Mr. McGinnis is affectionately nicknamed, enrolled at Montclair State College. During his first year, he played baseball for his college. However, in 1972 he chose to begin sharing his gift for athletics with others. That year, he began his long and storied coaching career, returning to his alma mater, Don Bosco, to serve as an Assistant Baseball Coach. He graduated with a B.A. in Mathematics Education from Montclair State in 1974. Shortly after his graduation, ``Muggs'' earned his teaching certification and started sharing his considerable intellectual gifts. He began working full-time at Don Bosco teaching mathematics and was promoted to Mathematics Department Chairperson after just one year. In 1980, ``Muggs'' moved to John F. Kennedy High School where he also taught math and coached soccer and baseball. He also coached soccer for Ramapo College of New Jersey, worked for the City of Paterson Board of Recreation, and officiated soccer, basketball, and baseball at all levels. Beloved by his students and athletes as a coach, educator and friend, his tireless energy and enthusiasm should serve as an example for all Americans. ``Muggs'' retired from JFK High School in June 2010 after 30 years of dedicated service. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to learning about and recognizing individuals like Muggs McGinnis. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Muggs' family and friends, all the students and athletes whose lives he has touched and me in recognizing Mr. Richard Michael ``Muggs'' McGinnis.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the deeds of an outstanding individual, Mrs. Cesarina Augusto Earl, who will be recognized on October 23, 2010 by the Columbian Foundation for her contributions to the Italian-American community. Cesarina, an Italian-American herself, grew up in my hometown of Paterson, New Jersey helping her parents operate the print shop on Mill Street which they owned. She continued on this literary path, studying Library and Information Science at Caldwell College and Rutgers University after receiving a history degree from Seton Hall University. After completing her education, Cesarina served as both a professional and a school librarian and worked as an Education Media Specialist in various public schools in New Jersey, New York, and California. She retired in 2004 from the rewarding work of helping students and adults find their needs in libraries. One of the various publications that Cesarina's family printed was their own weekly publication, La Voce Italiana or the Italian Voice. It has been in print for 79 years and highlights the positive accomplishments of Italian-Americans. Cesarina has worked tirelessly with her son Douglas as the publisher and editor for 25 years of La Voce Italiana. In addition to promoting issues which affect Italian-Americans, Cesarina has also been an advocate for women's issues worldwide through her involvement in Zonta International. In addition to her impressive professional accomplishments, Cesarina is a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother. She has two adult children and two grandsons. Cesarina has proven herself to be a leader in the Italian-American community as well as a dedicated employee of the public school system, and I know she will continue this important work in the future. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to working with and recognizing the efforts of dedicated servants of the community like Cesarina Augusto Earl. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, the residents of Essex County, the Columbian Foundation, Cesarinas's family and friends, and me in recognizing Cesarina Augusto Earl's outstanding service to her community.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Levin for bringing this bill to the floor today, as well as the sponsors of this legislation, Mr. Ryan and Mr. Johnson for working in a bipartisan way on behalf of America's workers and manufacturers. In the Ways and Means Committee, we have studied how China uses ``state capitalism'' to manipulate world trade to give its industries an unfair advantage over the rest of the world, at the expensive of our workers and businesses. Currency manipulation is just the tip of the iceberg. China provides government subsidizes to favored industries--notably green technology, selectively rebates its value added tax to penalize imports and encourage exports, imposes restrictive local content rules, and practices an ``indigenous innovation'' policy. We must deal with each of these issues as a part of a broad strategy. Everyone acknowledges the reality that China's currency is fundamentally undervalued. My friends on the other side of the aisle, the Administration, our international partners, and even China itself have all said the RMB could and should appreciate. However, despite this widespread consensus, China has not taken any meaningful steps to correct this manipulation that disrupts the flow of international trade. With the passage of this bill today, we signal to China that enough is enough. The free ride is over. We will not stand by while we lose 1.5 million Americans jobs and shave 1.5 percent off of our GDP every year. I hope that this legislation will cause China to change its behavior and strengthen the Administration's hand in multilateral negotiations. But after 8 years of asking nicely, the Congress will not be silent anymore. We must allow American industries to respond to the injury being caused by this policy, and H.R. 2378 will help level the playing field, plain and simple--when the playing field is level, the American worker can out-compete anyone. Our system of international trade only works when everyone plays by the same rules. By passing this legislation, we stand up for that system, and stand up for American workers and businesses.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, many folks from New Jersey, both first responders and workers, went to New York after this tragedy. There is no question that, when you look at the records, that there were people from all 50 States in Lower Manhattan on 9/11 and after 9/11. There are 435 congressional districts, and 430 of them were represented by the names of constituents on the World Trade Center Health Registry. But you don't need that. You need to look at the two reports from Mount Sinai Hospital, a great hospital in New York City, to see the number of people that went to that hospital who worked on that pile even after they were given the all-clear signal by the government, not self-imposed. What in God's name are we doing to ourselves and arguing amongst ourselves when we know that this is the right thing to do? Get out of the bureaucracy nightmare. Let's do something together for a change. The only thing we have to show for it is bickering over the last 2 years, and what did that bring us? These folks deserve our help, and they deserve it now. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to standing here to support our heroes from 9/11. Today--more than four and a half years after the death of NYPD Det. James Zadroga--I am here to say that we need to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act right away because we are losing these brave souls as we speak. I'm sad to say its now been nine years since 9/11 and we still haven't passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act--nine years is too long to wait and watch as our first responders from that day continue to suffer physically and emotionally--nine years is late, BUT its not too late to do the right thing. We need to pass this bill and we need to pass it now. Nine years ago we gave those brave souls the ``all clear'' sign, but the government now knows that we were exposing those men and women to a poisonous dust that would stay with them for the rest of their lives. I have to admit it bothers me greatly that there were Members of this body who not only voted against the 9/11 Health Bill the last time, but spoke strongly against it as well. And yet I imagine earlier this month on the ninth anniversary of the attacks they spoke eloquently about the loss we all suffered as a nation--and they would be right on that point, but they would also be hypocrites if they vote against the 9/11 Health Bill today. I am proud to say that as a member of the Ways & Means Committee we found a way to pay for this bill so that we can do the right thing for our 9/11 workers AND for our children who will bear the debt of the decisions we make today. So the choice is clear do we support a responsible course to do right by our heroes--or do we support keeping open foreign tax loopholes? This isn't just a bill for New York and New Jersey--This is a bill for all Americans. We know that people from all 50 states were in lower Manhattan on or after 9/11 and now are facing serious health concerns--there are 435 Congressional Districts and 431 of them are represented by the names of constituents on the World Trade Center Health Registry. After 9/11 we all said we would be there for these brave first responders--but today if we vote against this bill we are asking those same brave individuals to come to Washington, year after year to fight for their health benefits--do we expect them to come here ten years form now? By then it may be too late for many of these men and women who responded to their nation's call of duty. I urge all my colleagues to support the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, middle class families are the backbone of our economy, and that is why we should not wait any longer to vote on extending tax cuts for these middle class families. There is near universal agreement to extend these cuts. There is also agreement that we should extend the investment portion of the current Tax Code. So we need a universal agreement to extend the cuts. We can and must take this action now. There is uncertainty within American families and there is uncertainty in businesses. Extension of these taxes have been held hostage by the discussion of whether to extend the rates for the wealthiest Americans. We can't afford $700 billion over 10 years just for the highest income earners with 79 percent of that $700 billion, get this, going to less than one- fifth of 1 percent of all American taxpayers. That's preposterous. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center has said the extension of middle class tax cuts would affect less than 2 percent of all small business. My colleagues--Capuano, Higgins, and Owens--have put forth our own proposal: a 5-year extension of the current middle class tax cuts, a 5- year extension of the current rates on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends, and a 1-year extension of the highest tax rates of those making up to $500,000.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, as you know, Speaker Pelosi gaveled in the 110th Congress on behalf of America's children. Today I am proud to say the House will consider this bipartisan bill to protect our children in youth sports. As cochair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force with Congressman Platts from Pennsylvania, I have worked for the last 9 years on the issue of brain injury for our troops, as well as those who are playing sports, all sports, men and women. Back then, we had no idea how prevalent brain jury would become for our youth. A study published this month in Pediatrics found that between 1997 and 2007, the number of children seeking emergency medical care for concussions doubled. To address this growing problem for schools, Congressman Todd Platts and I introduced the ConTACT Act, H.R. 1347, to create Federal guidelines on concussion management and a grant program for States to implement these policies. This bill is dedicated to kids like Ryne Dougherty, a constituent of mine who died after returning to a football game without recovering from a previous concussion, and Niki Popyer, who suffered over 11 concussions from basketball. While we did not have the proper guidelines in place to protect them on the field of play, this bill would create Federal guidelines, not by the Congress but by professionals, to protect other student athletes so they can excel not only in sports but in school. I want to thank Speaker Pelosi, and I want to thank Majority Leader Hoyer for recognizing the importance of bringing this bill to the floor, and Chairman Waxman and Chairman Pallone for helping this particular bill through the committee process. I want to thank the organizations that supported the bill, that recognized its value for our citizens: The Brain Injury Association, Easter Seals, the NFL, the NFL Players Association, the Parkinson's Action Network, the National Athletic Trainers Association, the National Association of Head Injury Administrators, the New Jersey Council of General Hospitals, and the American College of Rehabilitation Medicine. This is a big deal for the kids that are our children, our grandchildren, throughout the United States. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Minority Leader.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise to address the issue of flooding raised by the National Flood Insurance Program Reextension Act of 2010 before us today. Although it is critical that we pass this legislation to ensure that flood insurance remains available to those in flood prone areas, this reextension is not the ultimate solution. Congress has followed a dangerously inconsistent stopgap approach of short-term fixes to the National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, for almost 2 years now. We need a permanent solution for the sake of my constituents and all Americans in flood-prone regions. Too frequently, the NFIP has been allowed to lapse. The House recently passed a bill which would address this issue by providing long-term authorization for the NFIP. This type of solution is necessary to provide certainty in real estate markets and the greater economy, as thousands of potential real estate transactions were stalled every day during the 53 days this year which the program lapsed. These issues further damage our economy, as homeowners in the flood- prone areas of more than 20,000 communities across the U.S. could not obtain mortgages without the critical flood insurance made available through NFIP. In these regions, homeowners face a one in four chance that their property will suffer flood damage over the life of a 30-year mortgage. My constituents and I are all too familiar with the issue of flooding. The Passaic River basin in my district is a historically flood-prone region, and the rapid growth of population and industry in that region has made the threat of loss of property and life a serious problem. Since 1900, at least 26 lives have been lost in floods and the total losses over that period are over $4.5 billion. Just this March, the residents of the Eighth Congressional District of New Jersey along the Passaic basin suffered some of the most extensive flooding in the region to have occurred in the last quarter century. Approximately 2,500 residents in the district were forced from their homes and the estimated damage to the public sector alone is over $10 million dollars. These events resulted in a Federal Disaster Declaration issued by President Obama. All across this country, access to flood insurance is an absolute necessity just as it is in the Passaic River basin. If Congress does not act now, the flood insurance program will expire once again on September 30, at the peak of hurricane season. Madam Speaker, distinguished colleagues, I ask you today to join me in passing this bill. However, we must dedicate ourselves to finding a permanent solution for those Americans adversely affected by flooding. The people of my district need a long-term extension of the flood insurance program--and they need to know that the flood insurance program will always be there for them. While we are working to mitigate the damage caused by floods, this program remains essential for those tragic times when nature takes over. With homes in my district and in every flood-prone part of the country in harm's way, it is simply too dangerous to risk disaster because we failed once again to extend the National Flood Insurance Program.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. This Congress has done more for small businesses than others in years. Billions in tax cuts. We funded the SBA, payroll tax holidays, incentives for capital investments, depreciation, on and on. Nine specific tax cuts. Tax and spend? No, we wanted to cut taxes. You didn't give us one vote on any of these. You are standing up and preaching to us that what we have to do is change our culture? Nine tax cuts from this Congress. It's time to continue to do more by moving forward on the middle class tax cuts. I proudly support this rule.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I support the rule. It's taken far too long to overcome the obstruction to this bill. This obstruction has impeded $30 billion in credit for small businesses. The credit squeeze has been one of the largest obstacles they are facing today, small businesses. We have been told time after time after time that without access to credit, small businesses cannot grow. I am pleased that we continue to focus on job creation through the engine of our economy. Small businesses have generated 64 percent of new jobs over the last 15 years. But we must do more. We must address the elephant in the room. And here's the elephant in the room: we must address the expiration of the middle class tax cuts, which alone will help 98 percent of all Americans and 97 percent of small business. Small businesses have been struggling for decades, not just the last few years, because they have been the victim of previous administrations' and past Congresses' priorities that placed Wall Street and big banks over Main Street small businesses and their community banks. And here's the rub, and you can't deny it: these priorities have led to a 20 percent decline in small business market shares. And they have lost that to corporate welfare. Look at the record before the recession. Twenty percent more of market loss. That did not fall out of the sky. And I blame both parties. Neither party is privileged to virtue here. No one has a monopoly on this. This Congress recognized the problem.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the deeds of a person I am proud to call a friend, Mr. Carlist Athel Creech, who will be recognized on Thursday September 16, 2010 on the occasion of his retirement, for his dedication to education and community service. Carl was born and raised in South Carolina. As an only child, he lived on a farm with his grandparents. He attended elementary and high school in South Carolina where he graduated second in his class. Upon graduating high school, Carl received a full four year music scholarship to Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, Texas. Mr. Creech was also very active in college. As a means of earning extra money he started his own Rhythm and Blues band. He played professionally for four years in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In September 1969 Carl's career in the Passaic Schools began when he obtained a job as an Instrumental Music teacher. He taught concert, marching and jazz band at various levels. He quickly became an important part of the community, not only teaching, but to working at the Passaic Boys & Girls Club for fifteen years while earning his masters degree at Montclair State University. Mr. Creech started his administrative career in 1974 serving as an elementary school assistant principal, then moving on to become a vice principal at Passaic High School. He then became the first African American principal of Passaic High School. Carl's dedication continues to enrich the lives of both the students and the entire Passaic community. He is a member of the Passaic Optimist Club, Past Distinguished President of the Passaic Chapter of the NAACP. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for community service such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Xi Omega Chapter 2003 Legacy Award, 2002 Passaic Liam Club Educator of Year, 2000 Outstanding Community Leader Award Passaic Chapter of NAACP, and the 1995 Roger Williams Baptist Outstanding Community Service Award In recognition of Black History Month in 2006, Carl was named one of the many exceptional African Americans by the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Over the years, Carl has received numerous other awards and recognitions. Creech is very humbled by opportunities provided to him to make a difference in the lives of others. He finds solace in the words of the spiritual song ``If I can help someone as I pass this way, then my living would not have been in vain''. Carl was married to the late Susie Carol Siler Creech, a union that was blessed with two sons, Rodney and Corey. He is a grandfather to two boys, Carl Michael Creech, son of Rodney and Caden Termain Creech, son of Corey. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to working with and recognizing the efforts of dedicated public servants like Carl Creech. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, the students and alumni of the Passaic Schools, the City of Passaic and its' education community, Carl's family and friends, and me in recognizing Carlist Athel Creech's outstanding service to his community.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the legislation that enabled the formation of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs. Today's REITs provide investors with an open and liquid option to invest in high-quality commercial real estate. Throughout the country, REITs owned companies provide management and leasing services to tenants ranging from health care to retail, and multifamily housing to lodging and self-storage sectors. Thanks to the liquidity and capital raising advantages enjoyed by publicly held REITs, many of these tenants have found an effective and efficient way to improve or expand their facilities while remaining focused on their core business. REITs are pursuing forward looking policies that seek to reduce their carbon footprints with energy consumption reduction and by minimizing the energy requirements of their new buildings. In New Jersey, REITs own over twenty buildings that qualify for the Energy Star label. On the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the first REIT law, I look forward to supporting Chairman Levin's resolution commemorating this occasion as it comes to the floor, and I encourage the industry to continue its commitment to sustainability and providing its investors with a vehicle to advance both their investments and the surrounding communities.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, it is difficult to believe that it has been 9 years to the day when our Nation was attacked by foreign terrorists who claimed the lives of 2,977 Americans including 411 of our Nation's bravest first responders. As a Member of the Homeland Security Committee I am proud of the steps we have taken since that fateful day to make the American people safer, but our work is far from complete and this is a mission we, as public servants, can never stop striving to achieve. I am also proud that this Congress passed the aptly-named Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act which designates September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. On September 11 more so than any other day of the year we should come together as Americans and find new ways to serve our Nation. For it was on September 11 that so many Americans unexpectedly found themselves in the middle of a truly horrible situation and yet summoned the courage to help save others without regard to themselves. So I say to all of you that many of the wounds of that fateful day will heal over time, but that we will never forget the heroism we witnessed, the lessons we learned, and the redemption the American people earned through our own strength. On September 11, more than any other day in our history, we witnessed what it truly means to serve our Nation as a first responder. We witnessed police officers, fire fighters, and paramedics racing up flights of stairs, hoping to save even a few more lives, without once thinking about their own safety. Its not only those of you who are already serving our communities that understand this sacrifice, it is also evident in all of our current trainees, because after 9/11 no one could possibly make the commitment to being a first responder without fully understanding what kind of sacrifice was being asked of them. As a public servant, I can not pretend to relate to this level of sacrifice, but I do strongly share your determination that those first responders who lost their lives on 9/11 should not just merely be commemorated, but in fact their memories should spur us towards making our Nation stronger and safer. As a Member of Congress and as an original member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I believe we must commit ourselves to providing our Nation's first responders with all the tools they need to protect our communities. I also believe it is critical on this day to say that we need Congress to bring back the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act--and this time we need bipartisan support to pass it. While the entire Nation watched with sorrow for those we lost and tried to heal emotionally after that day--there were only a few brave souls who went back to that rubble day-after-day and endured the physical and mental strain of clearing the remains of the towers in lower Manhattan. On that day we gave those brave souls the ``all clear'' sign, but we now know that we were exposing those men and women to a poisonous dust that would stay with them for the rest of their lives. We need this bill because it will finally provide comprehensive health care and compensation for thousands of our ailing 9/11 heroes. This isn't just a bill for New York and New Jersey--this is a bill for all Americans. We know that people from all 50 States were in lower Manhattan on or after 9/11 and now are facing serious health concerns. This is not about Bill Pascrell or any other public official, but I tell you all of this because I want you, the protectors of our communities, to know that I stand firmly behind the mission of our Nation's first responders. We can not turn back the clock and provide our first responders with the equipment they should have had on 9/11, but we must take every step necessary to ensure that all of you are equipped with the tools necessary to face all the threats of the future. These are bipartisan solutions that all Americans have embraced because we understand now that if we are not strong here in our communities than we are not safe as a Nation. I want to conclude by simply stating that even 9 years after 9/11 we will continue to bow our heads for those we lost, but we will also hold our hands in solidarity with one another, in the determination of those brave first responders who proved on 9/11 that we may have been attacked, but that we would not be defeated.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My friends from both sides of the aisle, many people responded on 9/ 11, a lot of folks from New Jersey. They were put into a situation which they did not ask for, did not pray for. These brave people deserve to be responded to. If you forget them, if you put them aside, we will have done a bad, bad thing here in the Congress of the United States. I ask you, I plead with you, please recognize--two studies from two major hospitals in New Jersey indicate how severe that situation is. These people need your help, whether they were contractors, workers, firemen, or policemen. I ask you to respond. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to be standing here to support our heroes from 9/11. While the entire nation watched with sorrow for those we lost and tried to heal emotionally after that day--there were only a few brave souls who went back to that rubble day-after-day and endured the physical and mental strain of clearing the remains of the towers in lower Manhattan. On that day, we gave those brave souls the ``all clear'' sign, but we now know that we were exposing those men and women to a poisonous dust that would stay with them for the rest of their lives. Today--more than four and a half years after the death of NYPD Det. James Zadroga--I am here to say that we need to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act right away because we are losing these brave souls as we speak. We need this bill because it will finally provide comprehensive health care and compensation for thousands of our ailing 9/11 heroes-- and it does so while being fully paid for by closing foreign tax shelters. This isn't just a bill for New York and New Jersey--This is a bill for all Americans. We know that people from all 50 States were in lower Manhattan on or after 9/11 and now are facing serious health concerns--there are 435 congressional districts and 431 of them are represented by the names of constituents on the World Trade Center Health Registry. After 9/11, we all said we would be there for these brave first responders--but today if we vote against this bill we are asking those same brave individuals to come to Washington, year after year to fight for their health benefits--do we expect them to come here ten years from now? By then, it may be too late for many of these men and women who responded to their Nation's call of duty. I urge all my colleagues to support the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. I will make my comments directly to the Chair, Mr. Speaker. We have short memories here. Ten years is a long time to remember, I will admit that, but it took the last administration in 2001 and in 2002--the first 2 years of that administration--to finally get us into the plus on private jobs. You don't know what you're talking about. Mr. Speaker, we have selective memory here. This legislation is about private jobs. They voted ``no'' on everything. They voted ``no'' on the stimulus. And yet the reports in the last 2 days indicate without that stimulus we would have been deep in, not only recession, but depression. Not our economists on this side of the aisle, our economists have concluded that. There now have been six straight months of private sector job growth. I'm not making these numbers up. It's the truth. Challenge them. I'll wait 10 seconds. Now that I've waited 10 seconds, the data is clear. We all know that there is more work to be done. No one's saying that this is a perfect place for us all to be. That is why I strongly support the Invest in America Jobs Act. This bill will directly contribute to private-public partnerships that create American jobs. Why don't you be for something? Come up with your own idea. While this entire bill has seen many critical job creating provisions, I'm going to talk about just one part of the legislation, excluding water and sewer bonds from State volume caps. This year the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the Nation's water and wastewater systems the worst grade of any infrastructure category. They gave it a D minus.

Mr. PASCRELL. As a former mayor, Mr. Speaker, I understand that a strong water infrastructure is essential. Municipalities don't have the money. This portion of the legislation aims to repair our crumbling water infrastructure, while leveraging private capital to create jobs. Every dollar invested in public water and sewer infrastructure adds $8.97 to the national economy. It's currently estimated there will be $2.5 trillion to $4.8 trillion in water and waste systems.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. At the end of the day, the United States is the most open, accessible, and dynamic market in the world. We hold our trading partners, hopefully, to the same standard. We must tackle our trade deficit head-on so that United States businesses and families can continue to prosper in the years to come. I urge passage of this legislation. I eagerly await the report of the commission.