Bill Pascrell

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1266, a resolution congratulating Albania and Croatia on being invited to begin accession talks with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. I support this continuing enlargement of the alliance. These nations have been preparing for NATO for 8 years and are undergoing a historic process. They have made important improvements in the areas of ethnic diversity, human rights, free market economic principles and the promotion of good neighborly relations. Their unique geo-strategic position will be an asset to NATO. I commend the governments of these deserving nations for this historic achievement. However, it bears mentioning there were three nations being considered for NATO membership this year, Croatia, Albania, and Macedonia. Unfortunately, Macedonia's bid for NATO accession was blocked due to an ongoing dispute with another NATO member. It is a shame that Macedonia, our steadfast ally who just this year committed to doubling its troop level in Iraq and has military serving in Afghanistan, was treated in this manner. I remember Macedonia took over 35,000 refugees, I was there at the time, as Milosevic tried to wipe out Kosovo. Macedonia's strong and sincere commitment to transforming their country into one dedicated to the principles of free market economics, pluralistic democracy and the rule of law cannot be denied. The exclusion of Macedonia from NATO will only serve to diminish regional stability, which I think is what we want, and will discourage other developing democracies from making needed political, economic and military reforms. Its omission was purely political. As a Member with both Macedonian and Greek constituents in my district, the 8th District of New Jersey, I have been involved in this dispute for a long time. I strongly belief we should be bringing nations together, not keeping them apart. We are talking about objecting because of what Macedonia calls itself. Thomas Friedman has written about this time and time again. This is the 21st century. What are we doing to ourselves? This nation has responded every time the United States has asked, and yet we have accepted the denial. And the State Department agrees with my position. Madam Speaker, I offer my sincere congratulations to Albania and Croatia on their achievement. And I will tell you how far this went, Madam Speaker: The denial on the floor of the Senate, holding up the U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia, Philip Reeker, apparently because he was not talking enough ``pro- Greece.'' I am pro-Greece. I am pro-Macedonia. We cannot afford to have this happen, because we stand for the little guy, remember, the United States of America. Macedonia is a very small country, less than 2.5 million people. It doesn't have a great standing army. I ask us not only to congratulate Croatia and Albania, but do everything in our power to make sure Macedonia sits at the table.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, today, July 24th, I had an unexpected emergency that required me to return to my Congressional District and I regretfully missed the last two rollcall votes of the day. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 532 on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 1368--Relating to the House procedures contained in section 803 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. Had I been present I would have also voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 533 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended to H. Res. 1296--National Child Awareness Month.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Thank you for yielding. This legislation could not come at a better time. In the State of New Jersey, foreclosure filings increased 5 percent in June compared to a year ago, but even that paled in comparison to the 53 percent increase that occurred throughout the United States of America. I am particularly pleased that H.R. 3221 contains a tax benefit for first-time home buyers. This is a truly meaningful incentive and one that will pull out a large swath of people from the sidelines and into the market. This is what we need. Studies have shown that this will help reduce housing inventory by some 900,000 homes, which will, in turn, stabilize prices. This is wise and necessary at this time. It is in this climate we need bipartisanship. When it comes to helping families keep their homes, working to solve the housing market crisis, there are no Democrats or Republicans, only Americans. We want to reassure the private market. It is in this spirit that I applaud Secretary Paulson for working with congressional leadership to include financial support and regulatory measures for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal home loan bank system in this bill so that they can provide our Nation's families with affordable housing, and for his work in encouraging the President to drop his veto threat of this worthy piece of legislation. Frankly, this is the kind of cooperation from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue which has been long overdue. Congressional changes to help Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae operate are critical to reining in these institutions. Regulation is in order to primarily protect our citizens. I also want to thank the chairmen, Chairman Frank and Chairman Rangel, and all the others and all the other authors of this legislation which will offer real relief to families facing foreclosure and will help other families avoid foreclosure in the future.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. We must overturn the President's veto, Madam Speaker. This time the President has gone too far. He is jeopardizing the health of over 44 million seniors. This legislation is in the best interest of Medicare patients, physicians, pharmacies, and other care providers. Rolling back this administration's efforts to privatize Medicare is a critical first step in extending the program's long-term solvency. In overturning the President's veto of this legislation, Congress has the unique opportunity to upend the years of this administration's destructive attempts to privatize Medicare. And if we don't, the risk of not implementing these modest but necessary Medicare changes is incalculable. Low-income families stand to become further removed from basic medical care, services and drugs. Physicians stand to be forced out of practice. Pharmacies, overburdened by financial stress, will have to consider closing their doors or laying off workers, actions that will only further depress regional economic activity. As the number of uninsured Americans climbs to new record highs and the economy continues to struggle, this is called for. We must come together, both sides of the aisle, and veto what the President has done.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. We must do more to honor the DEA and I pledge my full support. Mr. Speaker, let me plead with you and my fellow Members on both sides of the aisle that there is no greater threat to the United States of America than the undermining of our will and our morale with the issuing of drugs through proliferation through our streets. There is no greater danger, Mr. Speaker. I cannot say it enough. The DEA understands that. Hopefully the Congress will come to understand it as well.

Mr. PASCRELL. Thank you for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration on the occasion of their 35th anniversary. We must take every opportunity to honor our brave law enforcement officers, but we often forget the critical importance of the DEA and the terrible dangers that their officers face in order to keep our streets safe from drugs. When you look at the list of those who have given their lives, Mr. Speaker, we know how serious this is. And we have this issue occur on our streets every day. I want to congratulate the DEA acting administrator, Michele M. Leonhart, for leading this commendable agency through its 35th year. I want to give great thanks to Gerald McAleer, Special Agent in charge of the DEA New Jersey division, for all of the tremendous work he's done to team with local law enforcement in order to provide the most effective level of security against drugs in our neighborhoods. Just 3 days ago, the DEA in New Jersey teamed with Passaic County Prosecutor James F. Avigliano to arrest six individuals affiliated with the Trey 9 set of the Bloods street gang who were peddling large quantities of drugs in Newark, Parsippany, and in my town of Paterson, New Jersey. These arrests were executed as part of New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's Crime Initiative to target criminal gangs, drugs, and guns. This particular 35-day investigation was initiated by the prosecutor's office of gang/narcotics task force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Office, and the Clifton Police Department, proving once again that our greatest level of homeland security can only come from Federal, State, and local enforcement agencies working in this partnership. In regards to the DEA's efforts in this high-profile drug bust, I can provide no greater testament to the urgency of the work than by quoting Prosecutor James Avigliano who stated this: ``Without the outstanding cooperation with the DEA Newark office, we would have been unable to arrest six major gang leaders and confiscate a substantial quantity of narcotics. The assistance provided by the DEA is key to our continued success in taking high level dealers and large quantities of drugs off the street.'' It is due to the critical nature of their work that I am very thankful that we saw fit to approve much-needed funding of the DEA in last year's Consolidated Appropriations Act that put 200 more agents on the street after having to endure a long hiring freeze in previous years. No justification for that whatsoever, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, one of the hallmarks of the Ways and Means Committee is that fairness is always the order of the day. Fairness in priorities. Fairness in legislation. H.R. 6275 exemplifies this fact. Our bill will provide $62 billion in AMT relief to more than 25 million families nationwide. In my district alone, almost 80,000 people are on track to endure the significant tax increase of the AMT this year if we do not act now. That's up from 20,000 people in 2005. Many of the people affected would be firefighters, cops and teachers--a far cry from the original intent of the AMT. Indeed, the middle class is being more and more affected--your constituents and mine. And it's only getting worse. Unfortunately there are those on the other side of the aisle who will not vote today for the best interests of their constituents. Instead, they will choose to cast their vote for the Kings of Wall Street who are already the richest people in the history of our Nation. We pay for this bill, in part, by simply requiring that investment fund managers are taxed at the same income rates as every other American. After all, why should the very richest among us be taxed at 15 percent when a doctor or lawyer pays 35 percent? Or when a teacher or plumber, et cetera, is taxed at 25? Yet because of this provision, many Republicans will be unable to vote for real tax relief for their constituents. I find this as inexplicable as I do sad. This legislation is wise and it is fair. It will give tax relief to 25 million hard-working Americans while ensuring fairness in the tax code. So try to explain to the firefighters and cops in your district that you wanted to take care of investment fund managers instead.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to rise in support of H.R. 6346, the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act. And I want to commend the gentleman from Michigan not only for this legislation but other legislation he's put forward debunking the theory that this is simply a supply-and-demand problem. It is not. It is not. The New York Mercantile Exchange laid it out very clearly. The speculators have increased their share of oil futures, oil future contracts to 71 percent this year from 37 percent in 2000. At the same time, the contracts held by traditional oil users have fallen to less than 30 percent from more than 60 percent. So while this piece of legislation talks about gouging at the pump, there is gouging going on Wall Street; and if you don't want to recognize it, that's your problem. The American people want answers. In these tough economic times, price gouging is a very real problem for Americans struggling to get to work. How about that for openers. As prices climb, so does the potential for consumers to be gouged at the pump. Now, it's $4.07 a gallon; when the President took office in January of 2001, $1.36. That's a 270 percent increase. The food becomes more expensive, millions of Americans lose their jobs. It is shameful that unscrupulous vendors try to make a quick buck by artificially inflating the price. Just last week, officials in my home State of New Jersey issued 350 citations for price gouging-related offenses after surveying 1,000 gas stations. 350 citations. Where is the urgency? If you don't understand the urgency, then we ought to go back to 101. H.R. 6346 will ensure that those who engage in this practice are not only investigated and found guilty, thoroughly punished, just like what we should do to those on Wall Street who gouge those prices who have speculated and speculated and got us to believe at a time when consumption and supply is just about the same as last year. That's ridiculous. This bill directs penalties from price gougers to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help families with their heating and their air-conditioning bills. Twenty-eight States, Mr. Speaker, have anti- price gouging laws on the books. And it's time for the Federal Government to do exactly the same thing. I urge my colleagues to support Mr. Stupak in his efforts and to support the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act. And I don't sit until I say, Mr. Stupak, the American people say thank you to you.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the life of an outstanding individual, Sidney H. Lichter, upon the completion of his term of office as Commander, Department of New Jersey, Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., on Saturday, June 21, 2008. It is only fitting that he be honored in this, the permanent record of the greatest democracy ever known, for he has served countless others throughout his lifetime. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Lichter enlisted in the Air Force in 1966. He served two decades in the armed forces where he was able to see much of the world and was awarded many honors. Mr. Lichter was stationed all over the globe including: Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon; Alabama; Taiwan, and Germany. When he retired in 1986 as a Master Sergeant, he had been awarded such honors as the Meritorious Service Medal, two Air Force Commendation Medals, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with four campaign stars, along with both the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Presidential Award. Mr. Lichter decided in 1991 to continue his service to others, but this time remaining close to home. He brought his commitment and expertise to the volunteer sector. His time with the Jewish War Veterans of the United States has proved to be as rewarding as his time in the Air Force. Over his 17 years of membership, he has served as Post Scholarship Chairman; Post Commander; Commander, Essex County Council; Department of New Jersey Adjutant; both Junior and Senior Vice Commander, and this past year he has served as Commander of the Department. I am proud to represent a man who has spent his lifetime serving his country and community, a commitment I am sure he will continue for years to come. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to learning about and recognizing individuals like Sidney H. Lichter. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Sidney's friends, the Department of New Jersey, Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., and me in recognizing Sidney H. Lichter.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I want to state for the record that my vote today against Amendment No. 1 to H.R. 2642, the Supplemental Appropriations Act is a vote against further unconditional funding for the war in Iraq. However, I would also like to make clear that this is not a vote against funding our troops fighting in Afghanistan. In fact, I believe that my vote today against amendment No. 1 is indeed a vote that supports our mission in Afghanistan because I believe the failed war in Iraq has greatly hurt our ability to defeat our enemies who attacked our Nation on 9/11. I cannot vote to continue funding for the war in Iraq because it has not been fought for the purpose that was stated to the American people back in 2002 and it has not achieved the goals that were set out by this Administration. The war in Iraq has lasted far too long and has recklessly put the lives and livelihood of too many American troops in danger. With over 4,000 of our brave sons and daughters killed and more than 30,000 diagnosed with injuries, it is time they come home. After 5 years, this war has lasted longer than America's military involvement in World War I, World War II, the Korean war and the Civil War. I remain fully committed to the withdrawal of America's troops from the war in Iraq and am greatly disappointed that a timeline for withdrawal has not been included in this emergency funding measure. To be certain, a timeline is the only way that the current Iraqi Government will understand the dire need to unify and stand together to build their nation. Our brave men and women of the Armed Forces can not and should not have to hold Iraq together indefinitely. My vote today against this amendment is strictly a vote to bring our troops home from Iraq. While I strongly oppose continued funding for our war in Iraq I am an even stronger supporter for greater funding and resources to win the battle against Al Qeada and Taliban extremists in Afghanistan. I have stated unequivocally on multiple occasions that Afghanistan is the central front in the war on terror. In fact, just 2 months ago I joined my colleagues Representatives Capuano and LoBiondo in a congressional assignment to Afghanistan and Pakistan. I had the honor to meet our troops stationed in Afghanistan and see the battle conditions they faced high up in the mountain ranges of the Afghan-Pakistan border. Despite the extreme conditions and dangerous assignments they were engaged in, I was encouraged by the troops' morale and unwavering commitment to their mission in Afghanistan. I told them I would continue to do everything in my power in Congress to provide them with the resources they need to be successful in Afghanistan and I believe I am doing so with this vote today. It is my regret that I do not have the ability today to vote to reject continued funding for the war in Iraq and still vote to approve greater funding for our efforts in Afghanistan. It is clear to me that the central front in the War on Terror in Afghanistan has suffered due to the singular focus the administration has had on Iraq. It should be deeply disturbing to my colleagues and all Americans that because of this focus on Iraq we are seeing a resurgence of the Taliban as witnessed in the recent suicide bombing of a prison in Kandahar that freed over 400 Taliban inmates. The facts make clear my reasoning as to why I am voting today against Amendment No. 1 in support of our brave troops fighting in Afghanistan.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise to offer a personal explanation. I was unavoidably detained last Thursday, June 5, during the rollcall votes for the following bills: H.R. 5540, Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act; H.R. 3058, Public Land Communities Transition Act of 2007. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``No'' on rollcall vote 384, on the Bishop of Utah amendment to H.R. 5540, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act; ``No'' on rollcall vote 385, on Motion To Recommit With Instructions, H.R. 5540, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act; ``Yes'' on rollcall vote 386, on Passage of H.R. 5540, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act; ``Yes'' on rollcall vote 387, on Motion To Suspend the Rules and Pass, as amended, the Public Land Communities Transition Act of 2007, H.R. 3058.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 is a great piece of legislation. I want to commend Chairman Oberstar and Chairwoman Corrine Brown. I know how hard you worked on this the last several years, both of you, and of course, Ranking Member Mica and Mr. Shuster from Pennsylvania. The need for a strong, national passenger railroad system grows daily. The price of oil has reached $140 per barrel. On the ground, congestion on our interstates mounts with increases of commuters and the movement of goods. In the air, many of our Nation's airlines are cutting back the number of planes and, therefore, the capacity by 10 to 20 percent. The American people need and deserve an alternative to driving their automobiles and traveling by airplane. This legislation would bolster the fortunes of our intercity passenger rail system and put Amtrak on the path to success. In addition to procuring new rolling stock and meeting its labor commitments, under this bill Amtrak would be able to make needed improvements to the heavily trafficked Northeast Corridor, NEC. My home State of New Jersey and Amtrak have had an interesting, symbiotic relationship. The Northeast Corridor rail operations are important for New Jersey's economic growth and our competitiveness, as the NEC is the spine for New Jersey Transit's commuter rail system. Both Mr. Oberstar and Mr. Mica have come, seen. They understand what the situation is in terms of our relationship to economic growth. Eighty percent of all New Jersey Transit riders use the Northeast Corridor, nearly 200,000 daily trips. New Jersey Transit is the major operator on the NEC, operating 385 trains per day to Newark, New York, and the 30th Street Philadelphia Station, as compared to Amtrak's 110 daily trains.

Mr. PASCRELL. Accordingly, the State of New Jersey has invested more than $1.8 billion in the NEC for Amtrak stations like the Newark Airport Station, as well as for capital investments that benefit both Amtrak and New Jersey. This is a great relationship. New Jersey's putting up its money, and the Federal Government now is leveraging that money. This is what it is all about, if we could get States to partner in what we're trying to do. That's why I commend the leadership on both sides. New Jersey has a major interest in the success of the corridor. This stake will increase going forward as we work with Amtrak, the FTA, the FRA to build this critical infrastructure. The new tunnel that we're going to invest in through the Hudson River is just another way. I want to thank both sides for this great legislation. I wish you both well.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5749. The CBO, or the Congressional Budget Office, recently found that extending unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective, fastest acting forms of economic stimulus. As a matter of fact, it's estimated that every dollar spent on unemployment insurance boasts the economy by $1.64. My friends, this is a systemic problem. This is not a footnote; this is not an ad lib; this is not something as an addendum. We need to face this problem head on. Forty percent of unemployed workers in 11 States have already exhausted their unemployment insurance. In New Jersey, it's projected that nearly 153,000 workers will deplete their regular unemployment benefits between now and the next several months. There are the unemployed. There are those that are underemployed, who have sought work, have found no work, they find themselves relegated to no States whatsoever. How dare anyone question this legislation while people are unemployed!

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to stand in strong support of S. 254, or H.R. 1609 in the House, to award this posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to Constantino Brumidi which would be displayed in the Capitol Visitor's Center. This American immigrant was the creator of some of the most beautiful works of art in the United States Capitol Building. As the sponsor of the House version of this bill and as cochair of the Congressional Italian American delegation, this is an issue very close to me, Mr. Speaker. Now, these things don't happen in a vacuum. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Senator Enzi and Senator Clinton, to Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, to Congressman John Mica, to Congressman Zack Space and Gus Bilirakis, and my very close friend Gary Ackerman, John Sarbanes, Michael Burgess, and Rick Renzi for their tireless work in garnering support for this worthy initiative. If it were not for the diligent advocacy efforts of the Constantino Brumidi Society, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, and the National Italian American Foundation, we would not be standing here today. It's as simple as that. Born in Rome of Italian and Greek heritage in 1805, Constantino Brumidi trained in drawing, painting and sculpture at Rome's prestigious Accademia di San Luca. In 1840, this rigorous artistic training was put on display when Brumidi and several other artists were commissioned to restore the richly decorated frescos in the Vatican Palace. He immigrated to the United States in 1852, with nothing in his pocket, and when he died, he had nothing in his pocket. His only objective was to come here and become an American citizen, and he did that in 5 years. He gave it all, as you walk through this beautiful edifice of freedom that everyone knows all over the world. In 25 years, from 1854 to 1879, he decorated the Capitol with murals and frescos. His frescos in this Capitol were probably the first true frescos to be painted in the United States of America. Brumidi believed that the classical architecture of the Capitol Building required real fresco, like the palaces of Augustus and Nero, and the baths of Titus and Livia at Rome, and the admired relics of the painting at Herculaneium and Pompei. His art drew heavily on his training and experience in Rome, incorporating the history and symbols of the United States into his classical repertoire. His most significant influences included ancient Greek and Roman wall paintings and Raphael's classical decoration in the Vatican. Although he's often called the Michelangelo of the Capitol, this immigrant who came here and gave everything to this country, Brumidi perhaps should be called the Raphael of the Capitol, since it was Raphael who was his greatest inspiration. Brumidi's creations in the Capitol Building include his masterpiece, the allegorical fresco, ``The Apotheosis of Washington,'' in the 4,664- square foot canopy over the eye of the dome, 180 feet above the floor of the Rotunda. He also painted the extensive frescos in the Brumidi corridors throughout this Capitol. His last years were spent painting the historic scenes in the Rotunda frieze, even carrying out his own historic research for his work. Outside of his work in this Capitol, he also was well-connected in the Catholic church. His commissions included altar pieces and murals in important cathedrals in Mexico City, New York City, Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. The consummate American, Brumidi is reported to have remarked: ``My one ambition and my daily prayer is that I may live long enough to make beautiful the Capitol of the one country on Earth which there is liberty.'' Sadly, at the time of his death in 1880, as I said, he was penniless. Following his death, his work was roundly criticized by the artistic establishment of his day. However, the 1970s, not that far long ago, brought a renewed appreciation for Victorian architecture and decoration and the growth of the historic preservation, and work was done to restore Brumidi's art to its former glory. Today's scholars are able to fully comprehend the full extent of his talent. Even though he is long gone, it is imperative that we fully recognize the transcendental beauty, the intricate grace he brought to the building that we stand in and that we work in every day. There is widespread bipartisan support for this initiative. You heard how many cosponsors in the Senate, as my good friend from West Virginia pointed out how many, 307, right here in the House of Representatives. What great testimony. I urge my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to support this legislation and to remember the background of this individual, his Italian and his Greek heritage, and think of all the immigrants when we think of Brumidi and his contributions.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the work of a man I am proud to represent in Congress, Mr. Joseph E. Hicswa. Mr. Hicswa is being recognized, with pride and gratitude, on Monday, on May 19, 2008, by the Passaic City Democratic Club for his exemplary work as a member of the Passaic City Democratic Club and County Committee. It is only fitting that he be honored in this, the permanent record of the greatest freely erected body on earth, for he has a long history of untiring effort in support of bettering his community through the Club and Committee. Joseph has always been a proud American, willing to do whatever was needed to defend and protect the freedoms and liberties that make this country so grand. He answered the call to serve our nation during World War II and did so nobly. Joseph is a lifelong Democrat, who was introduced to the ideals of the party by his parents. As his mother and father taught him, the guiding principle of the Democratic Party is to help others who have less than you do, and to improve the quality of life for all Americans. He was drawn to support the party of his parents because of what it strove to accomplish. It was Joseph's deep respect for the importance of civic involvement that led him to serve in an official capacity. When he went into the voting booth for the June 1988 primary election, he noticed that there was a blank space on the ballot. No one was running for the position of Male Democratic Committeeman in his district. He was disturbed by the fact that there was a job to be done for the party he believed in that was to go unfilled. He wrote his name in, won the election with that one vote, and has held the seat ever since, even winning against opponents in some of the races. Once he became part of the Passaic Democratic Organization, as well as the Passaic City Democratic Club, his hard work and dedication led him to be appointed and elected to various leadership positions. He served a number of terms as the Sergeant-at-Arms. He has served as the Publicity Chairman and Program Coordinator since 1991. He served as Corresponding Secretary of the Club from 1997 to 2001, and as the Treasurer of the Passaic City Democratic Committee from 1992 to 1994. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Club since 2002. Joseph is also an accomplished letter writer. He makes sure that his voice and the voices of Passaic's Democrats are heard. He writes regularly to local, state and federal officials throughout the area as well as newspapers. He also expands his communications outside the area, to world leaders like the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ambassadors, and foreign heads of state. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to learning about and recognizing the efforts of individuals like Joseph E. Hicswa. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, everyone associated with the Passaic City Democratic Club, all those whose lives have been touched by his work and his friendship, and me in recognizing the outstanding and invaluable achievements of Mr. Joseph E. Hicswa.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Subjecting our businesses to both foreign and American corporate taxes puts them at a competitive disadvantage. I would add this, in conclusion, these are the kind of actions that will help create fair trade in America. You cannot be against that, in all fairness.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of affection and I have a great deal of respect for the ranking member on the other side, but you are dead wrong on this. First of all, you talk about this side of the aisle not being able to pass AMT. We did pass legislation, and your side sunk it. The alternative minimum tax would be gone, it would be abolished, there would be nada there, but you decided, for whatever reason, that you didn't want to pay for it. That's the problem. Now, my friends on the other side of the aisle are determined not to support this legislation. It should be noted that entities such as Goldman Sachs--I mean, these are not, most of the time, our friends-- Bank of America, Caterpillar, Ford, Deere, and Prudential disagree with you, and they publicly support the legislation. Connect the dots here. After all, a number of important provisions, such as the critical research and development credit, the election to deduct State and local general sales tax, the 15-year straight-line cost recovery for qualified leasehold improvements, and the election to expense brownfields environmental remediation costs have already expired. These provisions are so important to American businesses and consumers, and the time to renew them is now. There are a wide array of important provisions here, from renewable energy incentives to middle class tax cuts. I want to add how grateful we should all be to Chairman Rangel for his decision to include a 1- year extension on the active financing rules critical to global competitiveness of U.S. financial services and companies. Those companies in this country that export are at a tremendous disadvantage. We are not playing on a level playing field. Active financing rules provide American companies with the level playing field necessary to compete in the global marketplace. Most other countries don't try to extract any taxes on its companies' foreign-based operations.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the great Military Families of one of the great communities in New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District, the Township of Livingston in the County of Essex. These families, with the help and support of various veterans and civic groups throughout Livingston, strive to support their loved ones as they serve their Nation many miles from home. It is only fitting that these patriotic citizens and their courageous family members be honored in this, the permanent record of the greatest democracy ever known, for their efforts in support of the brave servicemen and women who are fighting every day to help ensure that people everywhere have the right to live in peace and safety. Livingston has a long and glorious history among the towns of New Jersey, and its residents have always been willing to do whatever was needed to defend American ideals. Their families have led the way in supporting their efforts, keeping the home fires burning, sending care packages as well as their prayers. At this time there are over twenty- five families whose loved ones currently serve our Nation in all branches of the military. I would especially like to commend the families of the following: Nicholas Albicocco, Aaron Attermann, Jeffrey Cushman, Louis Del Tufo, Daniel Devlin, Michael Goldfarb, John Rey Julian, Daniel Oliva, Eric Powell, Lee Tam, Robert Tilley, Mikel Weich, Adam Winter, Charles Garbarino. Brian Asman, Christopher Courter, Shea Datz, Joshua Denton, Jonah Eisenstark, Ryan Healy, John D. Kramer, Scott Perry, Steve Roman, Grant Thompson, John Tomcyzk, Scott Wild, and Michael Wishnia. The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to learning about and recognizing outstanding citizens such as these who are making the greatest of sacrifices for the sake of our Nation. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, the citizens of the Township of Livingston, and me in recognizing the outstanding contributions of these families to the United States of America.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, you can't have it both ways. You can't say that this is an emergency and we've got to get something done, and then in the other breath say let's go through the technical procedures. They're contradictory. This bill was vetted. And housing inventories in our communities continue to increase and home prices continue to decline. We need to incentivize Americans to reenter the housing market. It affects so much of our economy. I think this amendment, this bill takes giant leaps towards accomplishing this goal. I applaud Mr. Rangel for his efforts and the 12 Members from the distinguished opposition who joined. There is an array of good work here, but in particular I'm heartened that included within is a tax benefit for most first-time homebuyers. This is a truly meaningful incentive, and one that will pull out a large swath of people from the sidelines and back into the market, having a ripple effect throughout the rest of the economy. After all, without bold action to spur housing market activity, inventories across the country may continue to grow, placing downward pressure on home prices and wiping out equity that so many Americans have worked so hard to build. We don't want more homes to be in that situation. We prove nothing. There is a place for the Federal Government, therefore, in this terrible situation that has occurred and developed over the last year. This bill, when passed, will allow middle class families to receive a tax benefit that is equivalent to an interest-free loan of $7,000 towards the purchase of their first home. It will also allow existing homeowners who claim the standard deduction to an additional standard deduction for property taxes, up to $700 for a married couple filing jointly. When we first addressed this issue in the Ways and Means Committee, the National Association of Realtors found that our legislation would generate about 1 million sales----

Mr. PASCRELL. The National Association of Realtors found that our legislation would generate about 1 million sales to first-time homebuyers and stimulate nearly $130 billion in increased economic activity. You tell me that that's not worth it in this economy. Studies have shown that this will help reduce housing inventory by 900,000 homes, which will, in turn, stabilize prices. This is a wise and necessary course to take. Because of this we also salute Chairman Rangel's leadership. I hope all my colleagues will enthusiastically support this proposal. It's good for America.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained yesterday during the rollcall votes for the following three bills considered under suspension: H. Res. 1079, Supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month 2008; HR 4332, Financial Consumer Hotline Act of 2007; S. 2739, Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``Yes'' on rollcall vote 224 (H. Res. 1079, Supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month 2008); ``Yes'' on rollcall vote 225 (H.R. 4332, Financial Consumer Hotline Act of 2007); ``Yes'' on rollcall vote 226 (S. 2739, Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008).

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in strong support of H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard Authorization Act, as this is a necessary piece of legislation that is vital to our Nation's homeland security strategy. The President and indeed many in this body often talk about the need not to fall back into a pre-9/11 mindset when it comes to homeland security and I could not agree more. This is why I want to start by thanking Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson for all his work to strengthen the crucial port security aspects of this bill. Ever since 9/11 we have faced the fact that our Nation is vulnerable to possible terrorist attack by air, land and sea. In response our Nation's entire security apparatus has had to work harder and stretch their resources farther in order to be more responsive to these increased threats and few agencies have exemplified this more than the Coast Guard. This legislation finally provides the resources necessary to ensure that the Coast Guard can successfully execute all its missions by authorizing the increase of their end-strength by 1,500 members to 47,000 and increasing funding to the Coast Guard to $8.4 billion, a full $200 million over the President's budget. However, this President and many of this body have objected to Section 720 of this bill which would strengthen security around liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminals and tanker ships. These terminals represent a critical piece of our energy infrastructure that could be attractive targets for attack, especially if we allow them to be built without any regard for our ability to secure them. Without Section 720, we would certainly be guilty of maintaining a pre-9/11 mindset that says it's acceptable to maintain soft spots in our homeland security strategy and that is simply unacceptable. I hope we would all learn the lessons of 9/11 and support this legislation in full instead of trying to weaken our comprehensive homeland security strategy.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer a personal explanation. On Tuesday, April 15, I was unavoidably detained on rollcall votes 186, 187 and 188 due to an official congressional delegation to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 186 (Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 5719), ``yea'' on rollcall vote 187 (H. Res. 1102--Rule providing for H.R. 5719--Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008) and ``yea'' on rollcall vote 188 (H.R. 5036--Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 2008).

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dick Vitale for being inducted with the 2008 class to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In his long career as a teacher, coach, and commentator, Mr. Vitale has become known around the world for his unrelenting and unyielding passion for the game of college basketball. Dick Vitale was born in Passaic, New Jersey, where his parents taught him to give ``110 percent all of the time,'' a lesson that has stayed with him throughout his life. After graduating from Seton Hall University, Vitale took a job at Mark Twain Elementary School in Garfield, NJ, where he began his coaching career. After several years he returned to his alma mater, East Rutherford High School, and coached the basketball team to two state championships over the next 6 years. In 1970, Dick Vitale burst onto the college basketball scene when he was brought on as an assistant coach for the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights basketball team. He was soon hired as the head coach of the University of Detroit, and led the Titans to a 78 and 30 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 1977. His success at the college level caught the eye of another team in Detroit, and he was hired to coach the NBA' s Pistons in 1978. Although his professional coaching career wasn't as successful as he hoped, what was supposed to be a temporary job while waiting for another coaching opportunity ended up leading Mr. Vitale to his true calling. He signed up with the then fledgling ESPN network as a basketball analyst and the rest, they say, is history ``baby!'' Since calling the first college basketball game in ESPN's history in 1979, Dick Vitale has been courtside for more than 1,000 contests. His pithy comments seem to keep even the most lackluster games interesting and colorful. Love him or hate him, Mr. Vitale's trademark catchphrases and endless enthusiasm have become a part of college basketball history. As he approaches his 30th year with ESPN, his election to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor to the sport is well deserved. I extend my most sincere congratulations to Mr. Vitale, and I thank him for the personality and passion he has brought to the game of college basketball.