Bill Pascrell

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3997, and I want to commend Chairman Rangel, Congressman Neal, and Congressman English for their persistence. Tax changes, if done wrong, can exacerbate existing inequalities, hurt our moral fabric, and slow the economy; so I am glad today with this bill we will take up a tax measure that is not geared towards increasing the fortunes of the already fortunate, but instead we will provide a measure of relief for those brave men and women serving in the military and as first responders. In particular, I am glad to see that this bill excludes from income certain reimbursable expenses incurred in the line of duty by volunteer firefighters; and I commend my friend, Congressman Larson from Connecticut, who has worked on this issue for some time. I am truly heartened we are permanently extending combat pay in the calculations of the earned income tax credit. Recent law allowed members of the Armed Forces to exclude combat pay, which is generally nontaxable, for purposes of computing the earned income credit. But this will only last through the 2006 tax year. Many of us have worked for some time to make this proposal permanent. I am tremendously pleased that this provision has made it into the broader package that we are discussing today. There is no reason a member of the Armed Forces should lose their earned income tax credit when they are mobilized serving their country. Again, I thank the chairman and I thank Mr. Neal and Mr. English for their work and diligence on this critical issue.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, to the gentleman from Texas, he obviously didn't read the bill. I recommend that you read the bills before you get up on the floor and make a fool of yourself. It says right here, section 114, ``No benefit allowances, training, or other employment services may be provided under this chapter to a worker who is an alien unless the alien is an individual lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States, is lawfully present in the United States, or is permanently residing in the United States under color of the law.'' You stoop to conquer. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Every time you get in the corner, you've got to bring up illegal aliens. It says it in the law. By the way, any law that I know of dealing with people who are out of work deals only with those people who are here legally. Get it? It's easy. It's simple. There are only three words here with more than three syllables. You've got to understand that, instead of coming to this floor and embarrassing yourselves. We know that the dramatically accelerated pace of globalization is one of the more major phenomena of this era. We accept this. But we also believe that we must help shape globalization and mitigate its negative side effects so that American workers are no longer left behind. Dislocated workers put out of their jobs as a result of trade decisions must be protected. We need to first stop the hemorrhaging of the jobs. Just this morning, we had a 39-0 vote. How dare someone come to the floor and twist the record. I want his words examined, the gentleman from Texas. I want his words examined. You can't come to the floor and say whatever you want. This is not covered speech. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. PASCRELL. I want to address some of the cogent points that have been presented by the other side. We are not talking about hundreds of square miles here. We are talking about 110 acres of land. We are talking about in the middle of that property the second largest falls in the East. We are talking about what Alexander Hamilton said in 1774, before the establishment of the Society of Useful Manufacturers, before America decided that it was going to go that industrial route so that we would have a multifaceted economy, he discerned that at that falls that water power would bring tremendous job growth and tremendous facilitation to economic growth and industrial growth. He was right. He was absolutely right. No other industrial city, no other city that brought the technology and science from England and from other parts of Europe had the success that Paterson had. There were seven or eight major areas, and I pointed them out and I am not going to do it again. I am going to tell you, there is no other area, and all powered by the falls. Today, when we talk about alternative energy sources, and both sides of the aisle have been talking about it, and talking and talking and talking and talking, it was really at the falls that we had the beginnings of hydroelectric power. I think the significance is not to be simply caught up in how beautiful the place is. We are not talking about aesthetics; we are talking about what the meaning of this place is, where all races and all creeds and all nationalities worked during what we call the Industrial Revolution. This is a national landmark and a national natural landmark, and there is no other place in the United States that meets that criteria. Isn't that interesting. So while the park system opposed Lowell and opposed a lot of things, it is the Congress that will determine in the Constitution, the Congress will determine what is a park system and what is not. That is our authority; that is our responsibility. And today I hope, with your good sense, we will have bipartisan support of this legislation.

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today in strong support of the passage of the Paterson Great Falls National Park Act, H.R. 189. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Speaker, Chairman Rahall and Chairman Grijalva for their tireless work in bringing this worthy legislation to the floor. I want to thank all the members of the New Jersey delegation, Democrats and Republicans. All of them endorsed this legislation. As a lifelong Paterson resident, as the city's former mayor, I fought for many years to bring recognition to this site that has played such a seminal role in American history. The National Historic Park is the only way to properly showcase the significant cultural and historic landmarks and natural beauty that the Great Falls Historic Park District has to offer. This legislation ensures that it will get the recognition and support that it richly deserves. Mr. Speaker, 15 miles west of New York City, the Great Falls was the second largest waterfall in Colonial America. At the Great Falls, Alexander Hamilton conceived a plan to harness the force of water to power the new industries that would secure our economic independence. He told the Congress of the United States and the American people that at the Great Falls he would begin to implement his ambitious strategy to transform an agricultural society, dependent upon slavery, into a modern economy based on freedom. How dare anyone imply that this is not significant. It was the power of the Great Falls. True to Hamilton's vision, Paterson became a great manufacturing city. It produced the Colt Revolver; the first submarine, John Holland, 1878; the aircraft engine for the first transatlantic flight; more locomotives than any city in the United States; more silk than any city in the world. This is not significant, Mr. Speaker? Cotton sails for the U.S. Navy early in the 19th century. Mr. Speaker, scholars have concluded that Pierre L'Enfant's innovative water power system in Paterson and many factories built later constitute the finest remaining collection of engineering and architectural structures representing each stage of America's progress from a weak agrarian society to the leader in the global economy. The Great Falls Historic District is the only national historic district that includes both a national natural resource and a national landmark, the only one in the entire Nation. In a special bicentennial speech in Paterson, with the spectacular national beauty of the falls behind it, the President of the United States, the late Gerald Ford, in 1976, and I had the honor as a Democrat to introduce him that day, Mr. Speaker, said this: ``We can see the Great Falls as a symbol of the industrial might which helps to make America the most powerful Nation in the world.'' Now, so many years later, we are that much closer to making the dream of a national park in Paterson a reality. I do not see facts and figures here, Mr. Speaker. I see the faces of hardworking people from all over the world, who came to Paterson, came to the falls and worked in those factories. We are talking about human beings. We are talking about people who came here and made this country the greatest country in the world, who asked nothing, who didn't get a real living wage until years later. I am talking about those people who are not faceless, who do have names, who worked hard to give their children a better opportunity, a better place. That was Alexander Hamilton's dream, to bring economic superiority to the United States, so that we would not pretend to be an agrarian society for the rest of our history. He introduced the Industrial Revolution; and then, secondly, to give equal opportunity to each person regardless of where he came from, what he looked like, how he cooked his food, how he spoke. Mr. Speaker, this legislation enjoys bipartisan and widespread support. It is cosponsored by every member of the New Jersey congressional delegation. National conservation and historic organizations, our Nation's most renowned Hamiltonian scholars and distinguished professors throughout America have documented that this historic district is worthy of National Historic Park designation. When the park service says it is not worthy because we have other places, they were even against Lowell, Massachusetts. They didn't support Lowell, Massachusetts either. This has to do with urban parks. This has to do with how we became the country we are today. Editorial boards, Federal, State, local officials and community groups have also endorsed the campaign to create a National Park Service unit. Today, on page 3, U.S. News, a full page on the Paterson Falls and two other places in the United States, where that historic district, where the park service was able to in partnership with the locality, with the State, to bring economic opportunity. It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that this park will be run as a partnership between the State of New Jersey and the Federal Government, as they already have a State park designated at the site. The National Park Service has a long history of Federal and State cooperation, from the Lowell National Historic Park to the Redwood National State Parks in California. It is park service policy to foster State and Federal partnerships to fund and manage parks. Great Falls will be no different. Mr. Speaker, if the Great Falls District were added to the park system, Federal resources could be leveraged to revitalize the falls, the entire city, the entire area. Through this Federal partnership, the Great Falls will be transformed into an attraction for visitors and Patersonians alike that can lead to the economic revitalization of this entire area, be a living reminder of our Nation's rich industrial history with so many of our star places where we put purple ropes around them, ``don't touch.'' That is not what we are talking about here. We are talking about living history. Congress must act now to pass this vital piece of legislation, so that we may fully recognize these cultural and historic landmarks that have played such a decisive role in America's history. Today, Mr. Speaker, we have that opportunity. I hope we will all come together and support that opportunity.

Mr. PASCRELL. Yes, the State of New Jersey has designated this as a State park. It has committed $10 million to the project in true partnership. The municipality has also done the same thing.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to inform Congress what so many people in my district have known for years--that Clifton, New Jersey is indeed a pierogi lover's heaven. Clifton has a rich history of Eastern European ancestry, and this delicacy is indeed one of the many fine contributions made by those of that region in the world. And in the Eighth District of New Jersey--one of the most diverse in the country--people from all cultures and walks of life can agree that the city of Clifton has some of the finest pierogies in America. Indeed, the pierogi has reached almost mythical status in Clifton. It is sold in restaurants and delis, churches and schools. One would be hard pressed to find the dish absent from a single menu in the city. The people of Clifton possess a genuine love for the pierogi, more so than anywhere else I have seen, whether stuffed with the traditional potato and cheese, or more exotic fillings, like papayas and blueberries. Showing their true dedication, last month the City Council of Clifton decreed that every day of the year in Clifton is now officially ``Pierogi Day.'' And it has now come to my attention that Clifton is one of five cities vying for the title of pierogi capital of the Nation. The public can vote online at www.pierogypocket.com. I could not recommend Clifton more strongly. In the Eighth District, we are proud of the strong cultural ties that each of us has to our heritage. The City of Clifton's love for the pierogi truly embodies this spirit. Clifton desires neither the fame nor fortune that would come with being named pierogi capital of the world. They only seek to confirm the obvious. The title would be the sour cream and fried onions on top.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida, and I rise this morning to speak in favor of the rule on the RESTORE Act, H.R. 3773. I believe this is an appropriate rule given the large number of amendments that were considered in both the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees. I want to highlight some of the most important provisions in the bill provided through this rule and steps that I believe can be taken to strengthen the intent of the legislation. Mr. Speaker, section 5 of the current legislation requires quarterly audits by the Justice Department Inspector General on communications collected under this legislation, which would then be provided to the FISA Court and to Congress. In the end, the issue is that without outside oversight, such as the FISA Court, you put a huge amount of authority in the hands of a very small number of people and leave an awful lot to their individual judgment in dealing with very sensitive issues of personal privacy. I hope that under this section the Justice Department Inspector General would also be inclined to include statistical information, as is possible, relating to the sex, race, ethnicity, religion and age of U.S. persons identified in intelligence reports obtained pursuant to the legislation. This data will help our intelligence agencies, the FISA Court and the Congress to gain a clear overview of intelligence collection on Americans swept up through these types of investigations and would create the necessary oversight to judge whether a pattern of profiling is occurring. I want to draw attention to the Schakowsky amendment which was approved by the Intelligence Committee. This would require that the FISA Court approve guidelines to ensure that an individual FISA court order is sought when the significant purpose of an acquisition is to acquire the communications of a specific U.S. person reasonably believed to be located in the United States. This is a vital provision to the bill that makes clear that no American can be the target of surveillance under this bill unless an individual warrant is obtained from the FISA Court. Under this provision, I hope we will also make clear the sensitivity surrounding communications between Americans and family members who may live abroad. We need to make certain that no American, regardless of their foreign family connections, can be the target of surveillance without an individual warrant being obtained from the FISA Court. We're not trying to protect foreigners. We're trying to protect Americans and safeguarding the Constitution. I thank the Speaker for the time. I want to thank you, and I hope that the Members will approve the appropriate rule on the RESTORE Act. I thank my friend.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentlelady from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin), who is a model of sensitivity to the needs of all of our children. I want to thank Congressman Fossella, who's been at the forefront of this. Madam Speaker, I rise today regarding an issue that has long been near to my heart. I've been listening to these other bills that have been put forth in bipartisan fashion. This is a good example of what we can do together when it comes to our children, their health care and their education. This is critical. This is important. So anybody who says we can't do it is not listening today. I also want to thank Chairman Dingell, Chairman Pallone for their thoughtful consideration and support for preventive vision care for children. Many a kid has been put in the back of the class or sent out of the room because it was misinterpreted, misunderstood, and many times, that child had a problem with vision, with seeing and was too embarrassed to say so, or couldn't recognize it within himself. So preventive vision care is critically important to avoid vision loss and blindness in our Nation's children. Untreated vision problems can affect a child's physical, educational, and emotional development. That is why for many years, as my good friend from Staten Island has pointed out, we have fought for legislation to set up a grant program to provide comprehensive eye exams and the necessary follow-up care for children whose families do not have the resources or access to such care. The Center for Disease Control states that approximately 1.8 million children under the age of 18 are blind or have some form of visual impairment. Fortunately, vision loss can be avoided with early diagnosis and treatment. That is not so revealing, is it? On any such disease, early vision, early problems affecting vision, early problems affecting hearing, early problems of detection of teeth, et cetera, et cetera, many of these visual deficits are caught only after they have impaired the child's early and most critical education. That's the rub. Eye health has a direct impact on learning and achievement. That's the core of the fight that we have waged. It is a national disgrace, Madam Speaker, that only one in three children receive preventive vision care before they are enrolled in elementary school. That's not acceptable. So I'm pleased to introduce this, along with Congressman Gene Green, and there are many others that we need to salute here who have fought this fight with us, and that is Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Representative John Boozman. Senator Kit Bond on the other side of the building has waged that fight over there. A truly bipartisan effort. It's so easy. I know it's difficult for us as Congressmen to understand that, including myself. But it's so easy that we can come together when the problem is defined and we can work together, together on a solution. Here's a perfect example. The seven bills, the eight bills that we just have gone through, Commerce, these affect people's lives. They're not esoteric. They're not up in the sky someplace. These affect people. H.R. 507 will establish a Federal grant program to provide for timely diagnostic examination, treatment and follow-up vision care for children. This legislation will complement existing State programs and allow eye exams for a vulnerable pediatric population that does not qualify for Medicaid and does not qualify for SCHIP and do not have access to private health insurance. Critical that we understand this. Very important here. Very significant for those families. Better eye care will significantly mitigate the effects of visual impairment. So it's important to act now, Madam Speaker. The prevention is more than half the battle. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Vision Care for Kids Act. Kids out there are waiting for us in all 50 States to act on this. Thank you, Mr. Fossella. Thank you to my good friend, the gentlelady from Wisconsin. And I think that we've hit a home run here for the last hour and a half, thanks to you both.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, this is a cooked-up survey that was just referred to. In the words of the former IRS Commissioner, Mark Iverson, appointed by President Bush, he testified that the IRS can collect Federal taxes more cheaply, more efficiently than private companies. I rest my case. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3056. This legislation is designed to protect taxpayers by repealing the authorization for the IRS to use private contractors to collect Federal income taxes. Few would disagree that the collection of Federal taxes is an inherent government function. We have seen, through multiple hearings in Ways and Means, that privatizing and outsourcing this fundamental role has been a mistake on many levels. We've learned of numerous cases of harassment, not overexaggeration, on the record, abusive calling, violations of the rights of taxpayers. We've discovered that some taxpayers, many of whom were elderly, have had to endure literally hundreds of phone calls from private collectors. We listened to those phone calls. We had them on tape. Tapes are a terrible thing, you know. They don't lie. Other cases involve people in nursing homes, those who have served in Iraq, and low-income taxpayers facing economic hardships. And as if taxpayer harassment was not enough, we have also seen that the program is inefficient. So far, privatizing tax collection has actually cost us money. Currently, we are $50 million in the hole. The IRS has spent $71 million to collect a net of $20 million. This is just like the postal department with the privatizing of providing mail throughout the United States. Now they're backing off, finally. It has been a disaster. After paying $5.5 million in commissions to the private debt collectors, they make a commission of $5.5 million, and they can't do the job. This just doesn't make sense. Mr. Speaker, if $70 million was spent on IRS employees instead of private contractors, statistics project that they would have collected over $1.4 billion. That's quite a difference, indeed. And taxpayers deserve more. They expect to deal with their government when they have a tax problem. Private debt collection must end, and today we do that. I thank Chairman Rangel and John Lewis, chairman of the Ways and Means Oversight. I thank Congressman Rothman from the State of New Jersey for his persistence. I implore all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. It's time, Mr. Speaker, for truth in advertising to correct some of the misinformation being used to justify President Bush's inexplicable veto of the children's health care bill. The bipartisan Children's Health Care Program reauthorization does not expand the Children's Health Insurance Program; it maintains current law. The agreement is targeted towards State needs. Responsible spending to cover low-income children is incentivized in the bill. The belief that SCHIP will lead to socialized medicine is nothing more than a red herring. The fact is that the bipartisan compromise combines the best of public and private approaches to provide health coverage for children. Now for the biggest lie: Those siding with President Bush's claim that the agreement provides health coverage to illegal immigrant children are also wrong. Undocumented immigrants, illegal immigrants, have never been eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP. Read the bill. Read the law. The bipartisan agreement requires proof of citizenship before enrollment in SCHIP, similar to requirements for the Medicare program. Get it right, tell the truth to the American people, and get on with it.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution to recognize October 7-13, 2007, as Fire Prevention Week and to highlight the commitment of the Congress and the American public to honoring the courageous service of firefighters, and to underscore the importance of public awareness of fire prevention and planning. I am glad to be joined today in introducing this bipartisan resolution by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, as well as Congressmen Henry Cuellar, Peter King, Charlie Dent, and Dave Reichert. America's firefighters have never wavered in their selfless commitment to preventing the loss of lives and property, and we must maintain our commitment to recognizing the service that they perform on our behalf. I recognize that America's firefighters demonstrate heroism and fortitude not only through their responses to fire emergencies, of which there are over 1,600,000 per year, but also through their selfless support to communities affected by emergencies of all kinds. Firefighters come to the aid of the communities they serve during fire emergencies, at the onset of natural disasters, in response to acts of terrorism, and in the wake of any events that threatens the lives and safety of the American public. As we reflect each year on the bravery of firefighters who risk their lives in the line of duty, we also recognize the significant role of these individuals in providing medical care, responding to emergency rescue situations, and encouraging our communities to take measures to protect themselves from harm. We traditionally have paired our appreciation for the honorable service of firefighters with our focus on educating the American public on fire safety methods, since the first Fire Prevention Week in 1922. In closing, I urge the Congress to honor the sacrifices made by these courageous men and women by supporting this resolution.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to thank Mr. Rangel and Mr. McCrery for the great work they have done and the great work of Rob Andrews from New Jersey, the exhaustive efforts in this regard, to help people avoid foreclosure, to stay in their homes. There is a little doubt that the current tax effect on the struggling homeowners is not fair or prudent. Requiring any discharge of indebtedness to be included in taxable income further exacerbates and endangers the financial health of those already in distress. Think about it: A bank forgives some amount of indebtedness for a homeowner in trouble, either to avoid foreclosure or to forgive a debt to a homeowner in the foreclosure process. Right now the amount of forgiven indebtedness is treated by the IRS as income, which is then taxable. That's pretty incredible, I think. For families across America, this dubious income and the resulting tax burden can cause an even greater level of anguish that they should not have to absorb in the time of need. This legislation would provide a permanent exclusion of gross income of discharged homeowner indebtedness. It is the wise and decent thing to do. And I might add there is danger ahead. Right now between January and September of this year $263 billion of debt that was opened up, people were losing their homes, and in 18 months that is going to go to $700 billion of loans in the pipeline that are going to open up to higher rates. This is what we have to look forward to. This is a serious, serious problem that's not going to go away next week. So I thank both the chairman and the ranking member. With the abundance of acute problems in the mortgage finance system, this legislation can help stabilize families, their neighborhoods and communities, as well as our national economy.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today with grave concern over H. Res. 356. This resolution is based on unfounded allegations and misinformation about the Republic of Macedonia, and I urge my colleagues to consider the whole story as they review this bill. For example, the name ``the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)'' is used throughout this resolution. It is a controversial name that Macedonia rejects in favor of its constitutional name, ``The Republic of Macedonia.'' This is a position shared by 118 other nations, including the United States, which officially recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name in 2004. It is important to note that Macedonia has always emphasized that the Republic of Macedonia does not hold exclusive rights over the name ``Macedonia'' in geographic, cultural, historic, or commercial terms. Although Greece objects to Macedonia's constitutional name, the Macedonian government rightly believes that one country does not have the right to dictate to another country what it can call itself. The Republic of Macedonia earned the right to self-determination when it declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and it intends to continue to exercise that right. H. Res. 356 also states that Macedonia produces and distributes propaganda asserting a right to territory in Greece, which is also untrue. This is based on the fact that Greece and Macedonia both include areas of the historic region of Macedonia, and Greece is concerned that Macedonia has irredentist ambitions against their Macedonian region. However, in 1995 Macedonia reinforced the ``no-change'' of borders provision of their Constitution, adding that they ``have no territorial claim against neighboring states.'' Of course, a small, developing democracy with only 2 million people could not and will not take over land that belongs to Greece, a large, established country of over 10 million people. Macedonia wants only peace with its neighbor, and has repeatedly stated this fact. In addition, the resolution claims that a Macedonian Military Academy textbook contains maps showing that a Greater Macedonia extends many miles south into Greece to Mount Olympus and miles east to Mount Pirin in Bulgaria. Not only is the book in question no longer in use in the academy, the maps the resolution refers to were originally drawn in the 1800s by non-Macedonians. They are presented in a historical light. Furthermore, the textbooks used in the general educational system in the Republic of Macedonia do not contain any maps of this kind. H. Res. 356 also mentions that Macedonia's Skopje airport was recently renamed ``Alexander the Great'' airport, and implies that Macedonia is asserting ``patrimony'' over the historical figure. Alexander the Great is a significant figure in human history and part of the universal consciousness, over which no country has ownership. Another Macedonian airport, in Ohrid, was recently named after ``Apostle Paul,'' a universally known historic figure, and Macedonia has heard little protest. Contrary to the allegations made in this bill, the Republic of Macedonia has actively sought to positively engage in international affairs and to negotiate in good faith with its Greek neighbors. Macedonia has consistently sought to improve relations with Greece, even changing its national flag due to Greek concerns in 1995. Although political relations between Greece and Macedonia are frozen, Greece is the top investor in Macedonia, and bilateral trade is strong. The Republic of Macedonia is also a committed ally of the United States. Macedonia has provided troops to serve alongside our brave men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, and continues to seek full membership in NATO and the European Union. As a Member of Congress with both Macedonian and Greek constituents, I follow both Greek and Macedonian issues closely. Given this, it is my opinion that H. Res. 356 is confrontational and unnecessary. As negotiations between Greece and Macedonia continue on issues including the latter country's name, I believe it is important for Members of Congress to support the process so that the two countries can resolve their differences bilaterally. Inflammatory rhetoric by uninvolved parties has the potential to be detrimental to this complex process. Madam Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to air my concerns about this bill. I urge my colleagues to carefully consider all the facts about H. Res. 356.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 635, which recognizes the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith. I'm proud to be a cosponsor of this bill, and I want to congratulate the sponsor, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. This is the first time in history that the United States Congress will commemorate and recognize the month of Ramadan, a month which Muslims have been observing for more than 1,300 years. In this month, I know that Muslims will fast from sunrise to sunset, but the month of Ramadan is about so much more than the act of abstaining from food. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims will strive to become stronger in their faith and in their character. This means striving to be better members of our families and within our communities, striving to perform acts of charity for those who are less fortunate, striving to set a better example to those around us. In truth, it is a striving to become a more complete human being. But this month should not just be important for Muslims. It should also be imperative for all of us non-Muslims to learn about this faith, which too often has been misunderstood and mischaracterized. Muslims share a great deal of commonality with other faiths. For example, the practice of fasting is not just done by Muslims but is also observed by Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus, among others. These United States of America, this is a Nation of God and all religions. Indeed, the book of Exodus tells us that Moses fasted for 40 days and 40 nights while he was on the mountain with God, and the accounts of Matthew and Luke tell us that Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights while in the desert prior to the three temptations. I've always been extremely fortunate to represent probably one of the most diverse districts in the entire country, the Eighth District of New Jersey. It has been through the many good works of my Muslim constituents that it has become clear to me that the true faith of Islam is one of peace and mutual understanding. Despite what others may say, we should have no qualms about electing a Muslim to any elected office in the United States, for our Nation was founded on the principle that there can be no religious test for holding office, only a test of that individual's character. We are all part of the beautiful tapestry that comprises our Nation, and Muslim Americans are starting to move to the forefront where they belong. I wish all Muslims in our Nation a happy and a blessed month of Ramadan.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, 90 million Americans, nearly one-third of our Nation's population, had no health insurance for some or all of the past 2 years. Please let it sink in. It is shameful that roughly 10 million of these uninsured are children. Ninety percent of those kids live in working households and a majority in two-parent families who simply cannot afford health coverage. Six million children are in imminent danger of losing their coverage if Congress fails to reauthorize SCHIP now. We've heard many things this evening and that is, you've stooped to conquer. You accuse the Republicans and Democrats who support this legislation of wanting to do this for illegals. Then you accuse the Republicans and Democrats who support this legislation of supporting socialized medicine. And that wasn't bad enough. You went to the next thing. You accused Democrats and Republicans of encouraging smoking, and then you said that we want to aid the rich and comfort the rich. Read the legislation. This is good legislation for America. Help the children for a change. Let's come together and vote for this legislation.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would like to call your attention to the life and work of an outstanding individual whom I feel fortunate to have known. The late Dr. Mitchell Rosenthal of Vauxhall, NJ, passed away suddenly in May at the age of 58. For people who did not know Dr. Rosenthal, he was part of the small group of founders of the National Head Injury Foundation, now known as the Brain Injury Association of America. Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability among young Americans in the United States. During his renowned life, Dr. Rosenthal was the Chief Operating Officer for Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation in West Orange, NJ, and Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He also served on several committees and boards dedicated to brain injury research and education, including the TBI National Database Center, funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, and the American Psychological Association. Further, he served as the President of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine in 1992. Dr. Rosenthal received many awards during his career; he published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles, books, and book chapters, and he delivered more than 200 presentations at major national and international meetings, primarily related to brain injury rehabilitation. As co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, I had the privilege of working with Dr. Rosenthal on the issues of TBI education, services and research funding here in Congress. The brain injury community has lost a great advocate. Dr. Rosenthal will be deeply missed by those who knew him, and by those whose lives he has bettered through his dedication to brain injury research and education. He leaves a legacy of true leadership, intellectual honesty, and total commitment to others. I would like to offer my condolences to the Rosenthal family, his wife Margaret, and his children Michelle and David. The job of a United States Congressman involves so much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to working with and recognizing the efforts of dedicated community servants like Dr. Mitchell Rosenthal. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, everyone gathered this evening, Mitchell's family and friends, and me in recognizing the late Dr. Mitchell Rosenthal's outstanding service to his community.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations in honor of the 100th Anniversary of Montclair State University. MSU has grown from its humble beginnings as a normal school into one of the premier educational institutions in my home State of New Jersey with over 16,000 students and 465 full-time faculty members. Building on its proud heritage by continuing to train the Nation's finest teachers, MSU has stayed true to its original mission while developing a comprehensive range of first-class undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Montclair State University's remarkable growth into the second largest and fastest growing university in New Jersey is a direct result of the university's commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience to a diverse student body reflective of the population of New Jersey. For 100 years, Montclair State University has remained dedicated to maintaining an outstanding faculty, exceptional teaching, and quality of scholarship. The university is led by a dedicated and talented team that is focused on helping meet many of the pressing educational challenges confronting our Nation. While providing the individual attention of a small college, MSU offers a vast array of majors and concentrations, including the Nation's only doctorate in pedagogy, and New Jersey's only doctorate in audiology. I applaud the university for maintaining an active role in the local community and greater New Jersey, engaging their students, faculty and staff through such programs as the Center for Community-Based Learning, which bridges the classroom experience with local neighborhoods by addressing community needs and fostering students' community service and professional development. Madam Speaker, I am proud of Montclair State University's commitment to educating the students of New Jersey, conducting research, and serving local and wider communities, and I applaud the university on its first 100 years of success. I am sure this is only an indication of continued growth and success for many more years to come.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2467, which would designate the Post Office facility located at 69 Montgomery Street in Jersey City, NJ, as the ``Frank J. Guarini Post Office Building.'' Former Congressman Frank J. Guarini represented the 14th Congressional District of New Jersey for 14 years, from 1979 to 1993. He did so in an exemplary fashion, serving his constituents, and all Americans, in a way in which we should strive to attain. Because of his intellect and work ethic he became a rising star early in his career. He was the first Representative to be appointed to the Ways and Means Committee during his first term in Congress in over 200 years. While on this vital committee, Mr. Guarini worked to modernize our trade and tariff laws with heads of state to assure that other countries open their markets to the United States. In recognition of this work, he received the award ``for outstanding contributions to the administration of justice in International Trade Law'' from the U.S. Court of International Trade. He also served with Chairman Charles Rangel and Ben Gilman on the Select Committee on Narcotic Abuse, developing expertise on drug issues and bringing about vital legislation and strategies to fight the war against drugs both here and abroad. In addition, Mr. Guarini was a senior member of the Budget Committee, where he chaired the Task Force on Urgent Fiscal Issues. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Guarini was an outspoken advocate for fiscal responsibility and fought to provide education and job opportunities for our Nation's young while also reducing wasteful government spending. Since his retirement from Government service, Congressman Guarini has proudly served as the National Italian-American Foundation's chairman emeritus. As co-chair of the Italian-American Congressional Delegation, Frank and I often work together to promote Italian-American culture and traditions in the United States Congress. Just like his congressional career, he does an extraordinary job on this front. I am proud to be the first New Jersey Member of Congress to serve on the Ways and Means Committee since Mr. Guarini's retirement in 1993. Mr. Guarini was a great Member of this body and I am honored to call him my friend. I would like to thank my New Jersey colleague Albio Sires for introducing this resolution and honoring Mr. Guarini, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow will mark six years to a day of inconceivable terror and grief brought upon our nation by the very worst acts of humankind. It was also a day where we witnessed the very best of America. We saw first responders entering buildings to save their fellow citizens knowing full well that their lives were in danger, yet doing so without reservation. We saw concerned Americans standing in lines to donate blood for their fallen neighbors. We saw our nation come together with one voice and one spirit, in that day of terror we saw our Nation more united than any point in our history. Our hearts go out to the families of all the victims of that terrible day. We will forever remain saddened by the tragic loss of human life. What happened to our Nation six years ago was an unspeakable act of war on the very foundation of what makes us American. What happened on that day was an assault on thousands of innocent people who were enjoying the very freedom we hold so dear. Truly, we mourn the victims of September 11th, but today, six years after those attacks we can also celebrate the lives of those who were lost to us on that fateful day. They were truly representative of the diversity and richness of character in our Nation. The victims of September 11th hailed from almost every state in our union, they came from countries throughout the globe, emblematic of the rich tapestry that is the hallmark of our people. On that day, those victims and indeed all of us, were not divided along racial or religious lines, on that day more than any other, we were Americans united by our common values of life, liberty and justice. Six years ago tomorrow our first responders struck the first blow in the War on Terror. By refusing to consider their lives before others, they drew a stark contrast to the terrorists of September 11th who refused to even value their own lives before taking the lives of so many innocent human beings. Those first responders refused to bow to the fear that the terrorists hoped to instill in our minds on that day. They refused to despair in the face of the greatest attack upon our Nation, instead they charged forward. They not only saved lives on that day, but their selfless acts inspired the psyche of every American, their acts of heroism inspired our nation to action. Now six years later from September 11th, I fear we have lost much of the unity that came to define that day. Truly the heroism of September 11th continues today, with more than 3,800 Americans who have given their lives fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But at home we have allowed politics to come between us, we have allowed ourselves to be divided in the face of a continuing War on Terror. But I remain hopeful that the spirit we saw on September 11th is still present in all of us. We must rekindle the firm resolve we had on that day, it was a resolve not simply founded by the attacks upon our nation by a group of terrorists, but built by our collective belief in the greatness of our nation and its ideals. We must remain a beacon for freedom and integrity throughout the world, but all efforts must start at home. Six years ago we suffered the worst day of our collective lives, but I hope that today we have turned the pain of September 11th into a new calling for our Nation.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, we could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress. This year, 6 million children will have access to quality affordable health insurance because of the program we know as the SCHIP. These children are in working families with parents who either can't afford insurance or hold jobs that lack health care benefits. We have an opportunity today. In New Jersey, we have over 100,000 of eligible kids who aren't enrolled in New Jersey alone. Are we going to do the same thing on health care that we did to those kids in Head Start? So many eligible, not enough resources, wrongheaded priorities? Contrary to what my friends on the other side said, the Ways and Means Committee has also worked to protect the integrity and solvency of Medicare and to approve the benefits for all beneficiaries within this bill. The fully paid for CHAMP Act protects Medicare from privatization, promotes fiscal responsibility, you have got to read the bill, by reducing overpayments to private plans. I see nothing wrong with that. Adding 3 years to the Medicare trust fund solvency, I think that is a home run. Limiting premium increases, two home runs, and improving access and benefits for all Medicare participants. Mr. Speaker, this bill needs everyone's support in here. It should be and will be bipartisan.

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, one of President Bush's most used justification for the war in Iraq has been that it is central to winning the war on terror, but the National Intelligence Estimate tells a completely different story. Al Qaeda has only gained strength since the United States invasion of Iraq in March of 2003, and al Qaeda has regenerated in Pakistan along its border with Afghanistan, a reality that may have something to do with the fact that the great majority of our troops and resources are fighting an ill-conceived war in Iraq instead of finishing the job we started in Afghanistan. The sad truth is that when our Nation undertook Operation Enduring Freedom after the horrific attacks of 9/11, we had al Qaeda on the run. We had them on the verge of being dismantled. President Bush decided to alter our mission at a critical time and send our brave men and women to Iraq that had nothing to do with 9/11, to fight a war that has been a detriment to the war on terror. President Bush had al Qaeda on the ropes. He threw them a life preserver. They were weak, and today they're stronger, according to the report. So to President Bush, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who want to stay the course, I simply ask why? Why would we want to continue a war that the American people want to end?

Mr. PASCRELL

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to provide an additional $1,274,000 for programs making up the Traumatic Brain Injury Act, a modest increase for a vital public health program. Traumatic brain injury is the signature injury of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force is extremely grateful for the increased funding for both the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to address these needs of our injured servicemembers. TBI is a civilian epidemic as well. 5.3 million Americans currently living with a long-term disability as a result of TBI and the 1.4 million new TBI cases occurring each year at an annual cost of $60 billion clearly illustrate Congress' responsibility to provide adequate funding for the TBI Act. The TBI Act is the only Federal law that specifically addresses this major public health problem, provides a foundation for State health departments and Federal agencies to combat the Nation's leading cause of disability for children and adults. Without adequate funding, the program and the progress made to date will be jeopardized, thereby diminishing the Federal investment during the last 10 years and severely limiting the Nation's ability to address the complex needs of individuals with traumatic brain injury. This funding for the Traumatic Brain Injury Act will help strengthen and improve State systems, preserve and strengthen families, foster community living, and assist States in preventing traumatic brain injury. Madam Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. PASCRELL. I will yield.

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.