Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, one of my constituents, Paul from Montclair, New Jersey, shared with my office his struggle with bladder cancer, HIV, and severe depression. He told us that he is scared, like most people who rely on the Affordable Care Act, because Republicans are determined to gut this legislation. He told us that he depends on the ACA for his medications and treatments, without which he fears he will die. Paul lives on an unstable income, and it is only because of the ACA that he is able to afford his treatments. The staffer in my office who spoke with Paul told me that he could feel the fear in Paul's voice as he listened to Paul's story. Paul is rightly concerned about whether he will be able to afford his next urologist appointment and what will happen if he can no longer pay for his depression medication. Now, Paul told us that this was the first time that he publicly announced his medical conditions because he wants people to see the human face on the problem of the ACA repeal. He wants people to know that the ACA is keeping people alive. Over 20 million people now depend on the ACA. They are not empty numbers. They are real people who deserve affordable, quality health coverage. ACA repeal would strip them of this coverage and make it impossible for them to get the care they rightly need. Democrats will continue to stand our ground on the ACA, and we will continue to stand up for people who depend on the law, like Paul. We will refuse to make America sick again and create chaos in our Nation's healthcare system.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Fort Worth (Mr. Veasey). I was looking forward to a potential clash with his team next week, but I guess you have to get out of Green Bay before you can go to Dallas. Mr. Speaker, the job of the U.S. Attorney General is to protect the rights and freedoms of every single American. Senator Sessions' record and public statements suggest that, if confirmed, he will not uphold our Constitution's values of fairness, justice, and equality for all. Since the election, President-elect Trump's victory has been marred by allegations of voter intimidation and suppression in key States. It is clear that we need to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. Yet, Senator Sessions has called the Voting Rights Act an intrusive piece of legislation. When he was the United States Attorney in west Alabama, Senator Sessions used the power of his office to intimidate and dissuade African American voters. Americans recognize the need for Congress to find a bipartisan solution to immigration reform. Yet, Senator Sessions has been one of the loudest opponents of comprehensive immigration reform. He has even fought against legal immigration, arguing, instead, for immigration moderation. Americans also recognize the dire need for criminal justice reform. Yet, Senator Sessions has opposed bipartisan legislation to modernize prison sentencing for low-level drug offenders. On every measure, Senator Sessions has shown that he will be detrimental to African Americans and other minority communities as our Nation's next Attorney General. The next Attorney General must build on the progress of the last few years under Attorney General Lynch and Attorney General Holder. He or she must safeguard civil rights, prosecute hate crimes, protect the right of due process, and uphold the Constitution and our basic values and freedoms. Every indication is that Senator Sessions is too extreme and unwilling to protect the safety and the rights of every American. If confirmed as U.S. Attorney General, Senator Sessions will pose a grave threat to our justice system and to the communities that system is meant to protect. His ideologies are in direct contrast with the Justice Department's mission.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, on December 1, 2016, I inadvertently recorded a vote of ``Yea'' on H.R. 6392--Systemic Risk Designation Improvement Act of 2016 (Roll Call no. 599). I oppose H.R. 6392, and my vote should be recorded as ``Nay''.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 20th anniversary of the Jaguar Track Club, a competitive track program for youth ages 7-18 in South Orange, Maplewood, and surrounding communities in the 10th district of New Jersey. Founders Maurice and Daneen Cooper, Andrea Johnson, and Carl Lea held their first practice at Underhill Field in April 1996 and have been serving the public ever since. The program's motto is ``train your body to lead, train your body to follow.'' Not only are these young athletes exercising their bodies physically, but they are working their minds concurrently to become productive members of society. Each youth is trained to run sprint, middle, and long distances, as well as field events such as hurdles, shot put, discus, and long jump. However, the program also builds self- esteem, promotes physical fitness, teaches positive social skills, develops responsibility, and requires maintenance of academic excellence. Over 2,000 athletes have gone through the Jaguar Track Club; many have continued their love for track in college and beyond. A number of the youth have achieved the distinction of All American, participated in Olympic trials, and even represented the United States in the Olympics. On December 28, 2016, the Jaguar Track Club will celebrate its 20th anniversary and the common bond shared of being a Jaguar. I am honored to recognize the athletes, parents, and coaches that have all participated throughout these past two decades. Congratulations once again to the Jaguar Track Club.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education program developed by the United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey. This STEM Educational Outreach Program supports public and private schools, colleges and universities, and professional development training throughout the state of New Jersey. Participants of the program have the opportunity to visit with exceptional engineers and scientists in their laboratories, gain funding for their student robotics teams and sponsorship for student competitions, and benefit from the creation of new instructional materials. Approximately 200 Picatinny scientists and engineers have volunteered to support STEM education by making over 1000 classroom visits, staffing over 100 educational field trips to Picatinny Arsenal's laboratories, participating in the annual ``Introduce a Girl to Engineering'' Open House, assisting nearly 800 teachers, and inspiring 50,000 students in over 400 schools, including many throughout the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey. This program has been developed to inspire students and educators through fresh and stimulating classroom activities in all avenues of STEM education. It has been custom tailored to meet the specific needs of individual schools using cutting edge technologies that are critical in order to compete in this current employment market. On behalf of the New Jersey youth, I am humbled to see such dedication from ARDEC's staff and professionals who are dedicated to transferring their knowledge of emerging technologies in STEM and look forward to the next generation of scientists and engineers from NJ-10.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for this opportunity to speak during this Special Order hour and to also thank my other classmate, the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries from New York, for this opportunity to speak at this time on unfinished business. Mr. Speaker, it has been my great honor to represent the 10th Congressional District of the State of New Jersey for the past two Congresses, and I have seen a great deal of angst. I have seen some accomplishment, but not as much as the American people are due. We come here week after week. We get here on Monday nights, like tonight. We come in and meet with our staffs, and then we are told of the proposed votes that we have that evening. On most nights, it is two. Now, I understand it is a night of travel and of making sure all Members have the opportunity to get here; but what does it say about Tuesday when there could possibly be two or about Wednesday morning when there will only be two votes? There is unfinished business, Mr. Speaker, in the House of Representatives. There are so many issues that we could discuss, and I think they are all being hit by my colleagues. Zika is a frightening prospect for this Nation in its moving forward. Yet and still we are unable to get the level of funding that the President has asked for to try to understand and stop this disease, to do the research needed to figure out what is going on or how to prevent it. We just go home for recess. Not until it enters the continental United States or certain Members' States will they take it seriously. There is the whole issue around gun control, of commonsense gun legislation--unfinished business. My colleague Mr. Meeks spoke about the issue of water, the most basic necessity of life. We traveled to Flint as the Congressional Black Caucus, along with Leader Pelosi and Mr. Hoyer. We talked to that community about what they were going through, about how they didn't know who to trust anymore because their elected officials had misled them to believe that something with a brown discoloring was drinkable. We found out, Mr. Speaker, that it was not drinkable. In fact, it was poisonous. How do we do that to American citizens? We are given the obligation to stand in the gap for them, to make sure that we take care of them at every turn; but yet and still, because it was cheaper to use another water source, it was done to these people. I traveled back to my district in Newark, New Jersey, and I talked to several mayors in my district. I said: You know what I saw in Flint? You need to pay attention to what is going on with your water source. That was on a Friday evening. By Tuesday morning, they had found lead in 88 schools in Newark, New Jersey, so they had to switch over to bottled water. The testing continued, and more schools were involved. I created legislation for testing for lead in school systems around the country, because it is not legislated anywhere in the country to test for lead in school systems. I moved forward on that legislation, but one wouldn't know it because the majority wouldn't allow it to hit the floor. So here we are, going back to our offices in the Cannon House Office Building, frustrated with this issue in our knowing that it is just going to continue to grow. Lo and behold, 5 months after my legislation is suggested, we find there is lead in the water in the Cannon House Office Building, where the Members of Congress' offices are; so now there is bottled water, and water fountains have been sealed off. This is something that we need to understand, that needs to be addressed-- unfinished business. I could just go on and on and on. Mr. Speaker, we will continue to raise these issues for as long as it takes. We are part of this body, and we are not going anywhere. Our voices will be heard on the unfinished business of this House.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Officers Angel Padilla and Peter Hammer of the Linden Police Department in Linden, New Jersey for their role in the apprehension of the New Jersey-New York bombing suspect. Just days after we observed the 15th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, multiple bombs were planted in New York City and in Seaside Park and Elizabeth, New Jersey. On Monday, September 19, 2016, local law enforcement in my district apprehended the bombing suspect, Ahmad Khan Rahami, but not before a shootout injured two brave police officers, Angel Padilla and Peter Hammer. That day, Padilla and Hammer were among officers who responded to a call of a man sleeping in the entrance of a tavern in Linden. As he approached Rahami, whom he recognized as the bombing suspect, Padilla was shot in the torso. Fortunately, Padilla was wearing his bulletproof vest when he was struck. During the shootout, Hammer, a 22-year veteran of the department, was hit in the head by bullet shrapnel. Thankfully, both officers are expected to make full recoveries. It is undeniable that Officers Padilla and Hammer, as well as the other officers involved in the apprehension of Rahami, are heroes. They pursued the suspect not knowing whether he was armed or worse, putting themselves in harm's way to protect their community. Thanks to their outstanding work, Rahami was apprehended, our community was kept safe, and no lives were lost. On behalf of New Jersey's 10th Congressional District, I extend Officers Padilla and Hammer my deepest appreciation for their service and courage. I am honored to have such dedicated and selfless police officers serving in my district.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 5459, the Cyber Preparedness Act of 2016. Mr. Speaker, in May the Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing to examine how the Department of Homeland Security assists States in preparing and responding to cyber attacks. Historically, States have rated cybersecurity among the core capabilities in which they have the least confidence. At the hearing, we heard compelling testimony from State emergency managers and chief information officers about the initiatives States are undertaking to reverse that trend and prevent cyber attacks within their State. For instance, some States like New Jersey and California have begun developing their own cyber information-sharing capabilities akin to DHS' National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. One of the consistent challenges witnesses identified, however, was the lack of robust cyber information sharing. H.R. 5459 addresses this challenge by promoting the sharing of cyber threat indicators and information, as well as cybersecurity best practices, with State and major urban area fusion centers. The bill also designates cybersecurity as an allowable use of State Homeland Security Grants and Urban Areas Security Initiative funds. Mr. Speaker, cyber attacks on systems that underpin the operation of critical infrastructure have the potential to wreak havoc on our communities. State emergency managers and chief information officers have made clear that the better sharing of cyber information is essential to preventing cyber attacks. H.R. 5459 seeks to improve cyber information sharing with fusion centers. Moreover, I would note that, with respect to cyber threats to election equipment, the committee adopted an amendment to specifically direct DHS to share cyber threat information regarding election equipment and technology with fusion centers. The right to vote is among the most cherished, and the integrity of our election process is fundamental to our democracy. We must protect it. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5459. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5346 was unanimously approved by the Committee on Homeland Security on September 13. It recognizes the importance of securing our food and agriculture sector. Once again, I would like to reiterate that the proper agriculture specialist staffing at our ports helps to keep the diseases that are likely to jeopardize the agriculture industry and food supply out of this country. I hope that H.R. 5346 will help improve our ability to protect the agriculture industry from biothreats. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5346. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5346, the Securing Our Agriculture and Food Act. H.R. 5346 would clarify the responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security's Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs as they relate to the Department's responsibilities under HSPD-9, the Defense of U.S. Agriculture and Food. Accounting for nearly one-fifth of the economic activity of the Nation, agriculture is not only critical to human health, but also to the national economy. Although New Jersey's 10th Congressional District is not known for its rolling fields of corn or vast cattle ranches, it is home to large international ports. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists are on the front lines at the Port of Newark and Newark Liberty International Airport to protect domestic agriculture and food supply from foreign pathogens. These ports of entry are located in the largest consumer market in North America, reaching 23 million local consumers and 100 million more within a 36-hour reach. In fact, the Port of Newark and Newark Liberty International Airport are top-performing ports of entry with top interception numbers and several ``First-in-Nation'' insect finds. Despite the large size and enormous volume of these two ports, there are not enough agriculture specialists for the work that we need to be done. That is why I offered an amendment in the committee to direct the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to coordinate activities with other DHS components, including Customs and Border Protection. I want to thank the subcommittee chairman for his support, and I am hopeful that the coordination required by my amendment will inform staffing decisions at U.S. ports of entry. We must do what we can to ensure the food and agriculture sector is protected. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 5460, the First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act. Mr. Speaker, a week ago, after we observed the fifteenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks this month, a disturbed man planted bombs in New York City, in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Local law enforcement in my district ultimately apprehended the suspect, but not before a shootout injured two brave officers, Officer Hammer and Officer Padilla of the Linden Police Department. In our Nation's darkest hours, the bravest among us rush into situations everyone else tries to escape. Those heros need the best, most modern technology on the market to do their jobs better and safer. With the help of the private sector, we have made significant strides in developing first responder technology. Nevertheless, first responders cannot use their Homeland Security grant dollars to purchase the latest technology unless it meets or exceeds voluntary industry standards, which take years to develop. To ensure that our brave first responders have access to the most modern equipment, the First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop a transparent process to review requests to purchase equipment for which voluntary industry standards do not exist. H.R. 5460 has the support of the Securities Industry Association and was approved by the full committee by voice vote. Mr. Speaker, our first responders are our heros. Time and time again, they put themselves in harm's way to protect their communities. The First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act will ensure that our first responders have the technology they need to keep themselves safe as they keep us safe. I want to thank Subcommittee Chairman Donovan for his support of this measure. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5460. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 5943, the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act. Following the March 2016 attacks on mass transit facilities in Brussels, the Committee on Homeland Security's Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee held a hearing in my district at New Jersey City University to learn more about efforts to secure mass transit domestically. The subcommittee heard from Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and MTA about what they are doing to keep passengers safe and how the Federal Government can help. Witnesses lamented the drastic reduction in Transit Security Grant funding from upwards of $385 million in 2008 to only $100 million in 2016. Unfortunately, in the current fiscal environment, prospects for restoring this critical funding are not great. Witnesses also testified that the 36-month period of performance limits the ability of transit owners to invest in important security-hardening projects that cannot be completed within that window of time. Fortunately, we can address that problem. H.R. 5943 is a bipartisan bill that would extend the period of performance for transit grant activities that are related to infrastructure hardening to 55 months and would give grantees the flexibility to use the grant money for expenses that are related to covering the costs of staffing backfill for when responders are sent to security training. The threats to our transit infrastructure are real, Mr. Speaker. Two weeks ago, we had a close call outside a train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey, when a backpack containing a bomb was discovered by two citizens. Fortunately, they notified law enforcement; and although there was an explosion, no one was injured. Police found four other devices in the vicinity. H.R. 5943 will help transit owners and operators better address the threats to our critical transportation systems. As such, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5943 was unanimously approved by the committee on Homeland Security on September 13. It recognizes that Transit Security Grant Program grantees can spend their money better and smarter when they have the time necessary to do so. I congratulate my colleague, Mr. Donovan, on this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 5943. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert), my good friend, stated one thing that was true in his speech, that he does not know what community outreach means. It is something that helps first responders, has helped; but obviously, he has had no experiences with that. This talk and this notion about the White House and what they are and they aren't and what they do and they don't do--when our greatest enemy, Osama bin Laden, was in our sights, whoever or whatever at the White House said: Take that shot. So to continue to question certain people's resolve in keeping the homeland safe I think is disrespectful. Mr. Speaker, nothing in this bill provides that any entity other than law enforcement will be eligible to receive grant funding. Only law enforcement will be eligible. This bill merely provides that community partners that law enforcement are being trained to protect are included in the efforts to prepare for complex and coordinated attacks. This is language I added, and I thank the chairman for his commitment to community preparedness. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Donovan).

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 5859, the Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act of 2016. Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, a pressure cooker bomb exploded in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. A second explosive was found only blocks away. Thankfully, nobody was killed, but 29 innocent people were injured. Over the course of the investigation, additional explosive devices were found in Elizabeth, New Jersey. All of these devices were ultimately connected devices that were found in Seaside Park, New Jersey, one of which exploded early Saturday morning. Law enforcement's pursuit of the suspected terrorist ended in Linden, New Jersey, which is in my congressional district. Yesterday, police successfully apprehended the suspect after a shootout in which two brave officers were shot. Thankfully, we understand that both injured Linden police officers have been released from the hospital. Officer Padilla and Officer Hammer have even made requests to go back to work. Mr. Speaker, the events of this past weekend reflect the evolving nature of the terrorist threats that our communities are confronting. From homemade explosive devices that are planted in multiple densely populated locations throughout a region to active shooter incidents, today's threat environment demands that local law enforcement be prepared to respond to these complex attacks. The Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act would formally authorize the $39 million Complex Coordinated Terrorist Attacks program funded in the fiscal year 2016 appropriations bill. The program would help our first responders access the training that is necessary to stay a step ahead of those who would do us harm and to keep our communities safe. I also want to express my deepest appreciation for the first responders and New Jersey citizens who came together to quickly identify and apprehend the suspect in the bombings. By remaining engaged and vigilant, Linden and Elizabeth residents, law enforcement, and first responders kept our communities safe and prevented loss of life. I know a lot of people will not acknowledge the help we got from the Muslim community, but I specifically acknowledge their efforts to assist authorities in apprehending the suspect. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. No, I am not.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to Chairman McCaul to control.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor those who have been touched by cancer and those lost to the disease. Almost every family in America has been impacted by cancer, one of the great public health challenges of our time. I am glad to honor my late mother, Hazel Payne, who lost her battle to brain cancer when I was four years old. And my late father, Congressman Donald Payne, Sr., who lost his battle to colorectal cancer four and a half years ago. The best way we can honor those touched by cancer is to make the disease a national priority. Today, we have a real opportunity to accelerate advances in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, and to decrease the number of people suffering from this disease. Congress should increase funding to the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute for life-saving research and advancement. If we're going to win the fight against cancer, we need to provide the resources necessary to develop new treatments, and we need to accelerate research that is under way. Organizations like the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, which held its annual Lights of Hope ceremony in Washington, D.C. last night, deserve our gratitude for their tireless efforts against cancer. Only by coming together in this fight will we find a cure.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give recognition to the non- profit organization Kimse Yok Mu (KYM). This Turkish based international organization has successfully provided developmental and humanitarian aid through enlisting the help of 180,000 volunteers worldwide in over 113 countries. I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the amazing achievements of this great organization. Established in 2002, KYM has been able to aid over 200,000 families within Turkey and even millions more around the world. Their efforts include helping bring clean water to 17 African countries through the creation of 1,622 fresh water drinking wells, providing cataract surgery to 25,577 people on the African continent, as well as helping orphaned children in 56 countries. KYM has been granted United Nations ECOSOC Special Consultative Status as an international charity, as they are credited with providing different sources of aid through medical services, social services, disaster relief, humanitarian services, educational programs, and sustainable infrastructure development. KYM is known to quickly respond to natural disasters through its sophisticated monitoring system and efficient work ethic. The KYM has significantly changed millions of people's lives for the better, and on behalf of the people of the United States and New Jersey we thank them immensely for their humanitarian efforts.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, once again, here we are. Democrats are here, ready to roll up their sleeves and work to do what we need to do for the American people. I have been to a briefing on Zika. We have seen what the whole issue around gun violence has meant for this country. Why aren't we here to do the work of the American people? Why aren't we here to answer their call? We have the issue in Flint. Why would we leave Americans in the lurch without clean water to drink? Why? My colleagues on the other side have good will, but why can we not do the things we need to do for the American people? It is unconscionable that we have adjourned and they have left town. It is irresponsible. The people have sent us here to do the work of the people. These things are critical to moving this Nation forward, and we cannot get anything done because of NRA: No Republican Action.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, knowing what has transpired in the last 48 hours has been horrific. Two men-- fathers, brothers, sons--gunned down by law enforcement. We understand that our police have a job to do that can be difficult, but we need restraint from our law enforcement officers until they are able to determine whether there is a threat or not. You cannot be a threat just because you are an African American in a car. No one should die being stopped for a taillight. And Mr. Castile, in Minnesota, was very compliant. He had told the officer he was reaching for his wallet and lost his life. There is something wrong in the United States of America, and we need to address it soon.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me as I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Jacqueline A. Young on her retirement from the Essex Regional Educational Services Commission in June 2016. Dr. Young has been an educator for 42 years. She received her B.A. from Douglas College and her M.Ed. and Ed.D. from Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. Dr. Young began her career as an Elementary School Teacher in the Newark Public Schools. She then worked as an Elementary School Teacher and a Reading Resource Teacher for the East Orange School District. In 1980, she joined the New Jersey Department of Education as a Basic Skills Consultant and soon became a School Program Coordinator. In that capacity, she served as a facilitator between the Essex County Office of Education and the special needs urban districts for school improvement activities. Since 1982, Dr. Young has been at the Essex Regional Educational Services Commission (ERESC) where she has held several positions including Supervisor of Instruction and Director of Services to Nonpublic Schools. In 1992, she assumed the position of Superintendent. Under her leadership and direction, the ERESC has grown into the largest educational services commission in the State of New Jersey. The ERESC provides services to local school districts, agencies and nonpublic schools throughout northern New Jersey. Over half of Dr. Young's career has been spent championing the needs of special education and at risk students. During her tenure at the ERESC, she has assisted school districts by developing programs and establishing schools to meet the needs of those students who have difficulty functioning in traditional school settings. These schools incorporate strategies and techniques conducive to the educational and emotional needs of the students in an environment with a low student/ teacher ratio. In September 1997, Dr. Young assumed the responsibility of establishing a school for pre-adjudicated adolescents in the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center in Newark which is now called Sojourn High School. Sojourn High School addresses the specific needs of the students using a combination of thematic instruction and service learning. For the past 19 years, she and her staff have provided these students with the opportunity to earn high school diplomas from their resident school districts or GEDs. Presently, the ERESC operates the following schools: Essex Campus Academy in Fairfield; Essex Junior Academy in Cedar Grove and Essex High School in Passaic in addition to Sojourn High School. Dr. Young has received awards from a variety of organizations and communities for her work with this population of students. She was inducted into the Rutgers African American Alumni Alliance Hall of Fame Award in October 2011 and received the Shirley Chisholm ``Catalyst For Change'' Award. She is a member of the National Association of School Administrators, New Jersey Association of School Administrators, New Jersey Network of Superintendents, New Jersey Superintendents' Study Council, Essex County Superintendents' Group, Association of Educational Service Agencies, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, International Reading Association and Phi Delta Kappa. In addition, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Montclair Alumnae Chapter. At this time, she is Co-Chairperson of Delta GEMS which stands for ``Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully''. This program services teenage girls between the ages of 14 and 18 in grades 9-12 addressing the following areas: sisterhood, community service, scholarship, college preparation and career options. Dr. Young's sincere concern for these young people and dedication to helping them has been a source of inspiration throughout her career. Mr. Speaker, I know my fellow members of the U.S. House of Representatives agree that Dr. Jacqueline A. Young deserves to be recognized for a job well done and for many years of service to the people of New Jersey.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, as the representative of New Jersey's Tenth Congressional District--which suffered one-third of the State's total gun deaths last year--I know the destruction that gun violence inflicts, and I know how important it is that we do more to keep guns out of the wrong hands. Today we stand with the vast majority of the American people in support of a very simple principle: our gun laws should uphold and protect the freedom of all Americans--that includes responsible gun owners and those Americans trying to exercise their basic right to be free from gun violence. We stand with the vast majority of Americans who believe that, if you are too dangerous to fly, you are too dangerous to buy a gun; who believe that we need to keep guns from criminals, domestic abusers, and dangerously mentally ill individuals. Mr. Speaker, on this day of action, we renew our call for Republican leadership to give the American people a vote that is bipartisan in nature on gun safety legislation. We cannot continue to have the NRA stand for ``no Republican action.''

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, over the last 100 years, the life expectancy of men has declined in comparison with that of women, and women now live on average five years longer than men. There is a silent crisis of men's health in America, and it's important that we bring it to light to reverse the trend. This week, National Men's Health Week, we aim to save lives by raising awareness of male health challenges and empowering men and boys to make smart health decisions to tackle them. Despite advances in medical technology and research, men continue to die at higher rates of nine of the ten leading causes of death. And men are half as likely as women to seek preventive care, one of the simplest ways to stave off chronic illness. Many health problems that affect men, from heart disease to colon cancer, can be prevented with earlier detection. That is why we need to use National Men's Health Week as an opportunity to encourage men and boys to adopt preventive behaviors, seek timely medical care, and make their health a priority. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Men's Health Caucus, I am proud to celebrate this week and encourage men and boys to be proactive about their health, so they can live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. So they can be there for their families. And I am proud to join the millions of Americans who are marking this month by calling on men to be active, to be engaged, and to take control of their health through smart decisions and proactive behaviors. Mr. Speaker, our country has made important strides in improving the health and well-being of men and boys--including significant declines in cardiovascular disease mortality--and we can continue to make progress as long as we stay focused. So, let's keep moving forward, drawing attention to ways that we and our loved ones can live longer, healthier lives.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Seton Hall University on its thirteenth annual ``The Hall on the Hill,'' held today, June 15. I would like to invite everyone to celebrate the rising future of this great university, and its newly formed College of Communications and the Arts. Founded in 1856 in the village of South Orange, New Jersey, which is in my district, Seton Hall University has been a staple of the New Jersey community, consistently ranking among the first tier of national universities. The university has continually made us proud in NCAA Division I intercollegiate basketball in the Big East conference, and has even churned out basketball legends who were inducted into the Hall of Fame such as Bob Davies. Seton Hall has also continued to impress through their distinguished alumni, including actor and athlete Chuck Connors, sportscaster Dick Vitale, and actor Dule Hill. Not only has Seton Hall University made an important impact on the lives of countless New Jerseyans, but I personally hold Seton Hall very close to my heart due to the positive impact it has had on my family. My late father, Donald M. Payne, attended Seton Hall University for his undergraduate career as a scholarship student and graduated in 1957. In honor of his passing and his compassion for humanity, the university launched a lecture series in his name to pay tribute to people who, like him, strive for a peaceful and a better future. My father attributed the beginning of the formation of his life philosophy to his time at Seton Hall. The university also hosts the historical manuscript collection of his congressional papers, which were acquisitioned by the University in 2015 after his passing in 2012. The University now has these papers readily available for anyone wishing to gain insight into congressional affairs, as my father served Congress from 1989 to 2012. I am forever grateful for the opportunities that Seton Hall offered my father, and the opportunities it continues to offer to its students every year. More of Seton Hall's talented alumni will be showcased through performances and artwork during this year's ``The Hall on the Hill.'' I invite all of you to show your appreciation for Seton Hall today and bring out your ``True Blue.'' Go pirates.