Steven Rothman

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to introduce a bill, at the suggestion of a high school student in my district, and with the support of the entire New Jersey House delegation, authorizing the renaming of the main post office in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, as the Mary Ann Collura Post Office. After dutifully serving eighteen years as an outstanding officer and a role model in her community, Officer Collura was fatally shot on April 17, 2003, in the line of duty. Throughout her life, Mary Ann Collura embodied what is best in our communities--she was courageous, kind, and concerned about the world and people around her. Renaming the main post office in Fair Lawn after Mary Ann will help ensure that her legacy lives on. The fact that a Fair Lawn High School student came up with the idea of renaming the post office speaks volumes about how much Officer Collura meant to the people of Fair Lawn. Officer Collura fought hard for what was right and worked tirelessly each day, risking her life, to make sure the residents of Fair Lawn and their families were safe. The post office redesignation is just one way in which we can honor her life in the Borough she loved. By renaming the post office in Fair Lawn after Officer Mary Ann Collura, we are ensuring that she will always have a presence in our community. Officer Collura was a beloved and trusted member of the Fair Lawn community, which is why renaming the main post office is fitting.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, heart disease is the leading cause of death for all Americans. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 500,000 women die of cardiovascular disease each year. For women, heart disease is responsible for more deaths than the next seven causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. And shockingly, only 8 percent of women think that heart disease is a major personal concern. These statistics are a sign that the message is not getting out. I rise today, in the middle of American Heart Month, to call attention to heart health and to encourage women to learn about the signs and causes of cardiovascular disease. This past Friday, February 6, 2004, the American Heart Association sponsored ``Go Red for Women'' day. This initiative, encouraging individuals to wear red to increase awareness of heart disease, is an important step in making sure women take back control of their personal health. Both men and women must educate themselves on the warning signs of heart attack, stroke, and cardiac arrest. Women in particular must know the risk factors that they can control, including diabetes, high blood pressure, tobacco use, cholesterol, physical inactivity, and obesity because one in ten American women aged 45 to 64 and one in four American women aged 64 or older has some form of heart disease. Not only can well informed women and mothers improve their own health, but as the family gatekeeper, mothers can also help put children on the path to a lifetime of good heart health. We know childhood obesity and diabetes are pandemic in our society, but there are things we can do to stop the growing trend of children exhibiting heart disease risk-factors at such an early age. We all must work to ensure that our families are eating healthy, well-balanced meals and we must make sure that our families are getting enough physical activity. These simple but important efforts will mean a great deal to the future health of our family members and our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I know you will join me in encouraging all Americans to contact the American Heart Association either through their Website or over the phone to find out the information that can save their lives. I hope my colleagues in the House will join me in this fight against heart disease, our Nation's leading killer.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, according to the National Cancer Institute, 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. I rise today in support of H.R. 1385, the Breast Cancer Research Postal Stamp because I believe that number is unacceptable. Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer among women in the United States with incidents on the rise. In my home State of New Jersey over 6,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer last year and tragically, approximately 1,500 women died from this terrible disease. I support and cosponsored H.R. 1385 because it is about changing those statistics, it is about hope. In December of 2003, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp expired, and today we have an opportunity and a responsibility to renew it. Approximately 500 million copies of this special Breast Cancer Research Stamp have been sold, raising about $40 million for the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. These are programs that help more women get screened, help more breast cancer cases to be detected and detected early, and help more women get the treatment that allows them to survive. There is another very positive aspect of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp--it raises awareness. Each time the stamp passes hands as a letter goes from sender to recipient, another person becomes aware; another man grows concerned and reminds his wife to get a mammogram, another woman schedules a check-up with her doctor, and another mother teaches her daughter about breast self exams. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because ``breast cancer needs to be stamped out!'' I strongly hope that my colleagues will stand with me and reauthorize the Breast Cancer Research Stamp.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, 62 years ago yesterday, our nation was suddenly attacked by the Imperial Japanese Naval Forces and drawn into World War II. This unprovoked act of war killed 2,338 military personnel and civilians, and wounded 1,178. The attacks sank or heavily damaged 21 ships and destroyed or damaged 323 aircraft. December 7, 1941 is a date which continues to live in infamy. Mr. Speaker, the brave servicemen and women who served that day are responsible for our presence here today. Sadly, on September 11, 2001, this nation tragically experienced another Pearl Harbor whereupon our nation again sacrificed innocent Americans who woke up that morning, entirely unaware that they would never see their loved ones again. During that most difficult time we drew strength and courage from those who served this great nation before and from the leaders who led this great nation through our darkest hours. On December 8, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt addressed the nation and declared, ``no matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.'' These are words that ring true today. On a day when many Americans feared for our nation, FDR's words of confidence, determination, and purpose did indeed carry this nation to absolute victory. Those same words will carry this nation to absolute victory once again as our brave men and women of the armed services are stationed in and around Iraq and Afghanistan fighting to preserve our freedom, security and democracy. Like those who served before, we are forever grateful for their courageous and heroic acts and we will never forget their sacrifices. On the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we must remember the difficult times our brave servicemen and women went through to defend our nation, and we mourn the deaths of the military personnel and civilians who died that day. Mr. Speaker, today we must ensure that our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren learn about the lives of our veterans, including those of the Greatest Generation who served in World War II. Our commitment to our veterans must remain strong because they are a symbol of the greatness of our country. President Kennedy once said that you can judge a nation not just by the people--the men and women--that it produces, but also by the people that a nation remembers. Today, Mr. Speaker, we remember true heroes.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1964, the Highlands Conservation Act, introduced by my colleague, Mr. Rodney Frelinghuysen. I am very pleased to be an original cosponsor of the Highlands Conservation Act, which is an important step forward in our ongoing effort to save New Jersey's precious open space and enhance the quality of life for residents. New Jersey is the most densely populated State in the Nation, which is why it is so important that we think ahead and recognize the importance of preserving our remaining acres of open space. By protecting the 2 million acres of the Highlands, which extend through our neighboring states as well, we are creating an environmental legacy for future generations, safeguarding our area's drinking water, and ensuring that our children and our children's children have places to explore and opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. The Highlands Conservation Act is a testament to the foresight of the bill's author, Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, who recognizes the importance of saving New Jersey's open space. I have seen Congressman Frelinghuysen's commitment to the preservation of undeveloped acres firsthand as a colleague of his on the House Appropriations Committee. He worked in a bipartisan fashion to garner support for his measure. Congressman Frelinghuysen's leadership to protect the Highlands will truly help New Jersey live up to its namesake as the Garden State. Getting Congress to authorize $100 million for the preservation of the Highlands would be a victory for our quality of life and the environment, but also a victory for New Jersey's taxpayers who will be spared from having to pay for the full cost of these preservation efforts. I am pleased that I was able to help get this bill onto the floor today and I look forward to working with Congressman Frelinghuysen on the Appropriations Committee to preserve New Jersey's open space.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my sorrow and rage over the Saturday bombings of the Neve Shalom and Beth Israel synagogues and the Thursday bombings of the British Consulate and HSBC Bank in Istanbul, Turkey. Tragically, 51 innocent victims of the War on Terror have died in Turkey this week and over 750 were wounded. These victims died or were wounded simply because they gathered to pray on a Saturday morning in honor of Shabbat, the Jewish day of reflection and rest, or were going about their normal daily lives in Istanbul. Turkish officials have identified the bombers of the Neve Shalom and Beth Israel synagogues as Turkish militants, with possible connections to al Qaeda, who loaded bombs, each with about 500 pounds of ammonium sulfate, nitrate, and fuel oil, into trucks they pulled in front of the synagogues and detonated nearly simultaneously. Among those who died were 6 Jews and 17 Muslims--each buried near the remains of the 22 victims killed in a 1986 bombing at Neve Shalom. Initial reports indicate that truck bombs were also used in the terrorist attacks against the British Consulate and London based HSBC Holdings, which killed at least 27 and wounded over 450 people. Madam Speaker, approximately 30,000 Jews live in Turkey--a 99.8% Muslim nation. For years Jews have lived peacefully and freely and have in fact thrived in a predominately Muslim nation. Much of this is due to Turkey's historically good treatment of its Jewish residents--dating back to the early influx of Jews during the Spanish Inquisition and later to Turkey's refusal to deport and exterminate its Jewish population during the Holocaust despite its longstanding relationship with Germany. Today, a benevolent relationship has grown between the Turkish and Israeli governments who share close ties and hold joint military exercises. The attacks in Turkey this week aim to undermine the relationship between Turkey, the U.S., and Britain, and highlight the growing resurgence of al Qaeda and its worldwide network. The attacks in Turkey follow the suspected hand of al Qaeda in incidents in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Morocco. The attacks on Thursday also highlight the fact that Turkey is a secular Muslim country that leans West through its business dealings, culture, and government affairs. The terrorists are determined to undermine the links between Turkey and the Western world. Madam Speaker, as fighting has flared up in Iraq and al Qaeda has again regrouped and gained strength, and as President Bush returns from his trip to England while Israel and the Palestinian Authority tentatively reach out to each other in hopes of a cease fire and peace, now is not the time to turn our backs on the War on Terror. Now is the time to stand together with our friends and allies around the world as we all mourn those who died in Turkey this past week and those we have lost to terror attacks in the past, while jointly taking a stand to continue to fight for our survival in our war of self-defense against these madmen. We must work to ensure that all our allies help us root out terror at its source by sharing intelligence, auditing finances and doing whatever else is necessary in the hopes that like the Jews and Muslims have done for years in Turkey: we can all live together in peace.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, for seven years, I have been pushing and voting for a voluntary prescription drug benefit under Medicare. Such a plan would give seniors access to the quality, affordable, life-saving medicines they need. Unfortunately, the final Medicare bill--written in secret by the very same Republicans who eight years ago shut down the federal government as part of their strategy to force Medicare to wither on the vine--does exactly the opposite of what it is supposed to do. Instead of providing seniors with a voluntary, guaranteed drug benefit, the bill provides no drug coverage until 2006, and then forces millions of seniors to pay more for drugs if they don't give up their doctor and join an HMO--HMOs that can raise premiums at will and will throw out seniors who get too sick. The bill is nothing less than an outrageous giveaway of taxpayer funds to the health insurance industry. A $12 billion slush fund in the bill will be doled out to insurance companies that offer privatized Medicare services and employers are given a $70 million windfall to maintain their retiree drug plans. These subsidies create a huge bias in favor of private plans. That's not competition, it's corporate welfare, and it's wrong. The Congressional Budget Office projects that when the drug benefit begins in 2006, the average senior will spend $3,155 annually on prescription drugs. Under the Republican bill, because it so loaded up with giveaways to the private insurance industry, a senior with an income over $13,500 will pay $2,075 out of the first $3,155 in total drug costs--66 percent or two-thirds of the total--including the $35 monthly premium and the $250 annual deductible. And on top of these costs, 52,000 New Jersey seniors will face additional increases in their Part B premiums. Also, instead of a voluntary benefit under Medicare, seniors will lose their doctors and be forced out of the system they know and trust. Worse still, 220,000 New Jersey seniors enrolled in PAAD and Senior Gold will have their health jeopardized and their choice of medicines limited by restrictive drug formularies imposed on the State by managed care plans. These seniors will face disruption in their coverage and will likely get less help than they currently receive. And it's a bad bill for doctors, whose reimbursement rates will be set not by the federal government, but by HMOs out to make a profit. It is an especially bad deal for New Jersey seniors. As a result of the Republican bill, 94,000 New Jersey retirees will lose their drug coverage, 2-3 million nationwide. Over 150,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in New Jersey will pay more for drugs and 186,000 New Jersey seniors will be forced to leave traditional fee-for-service and accept vouchers to enroll in private plans starting in 2008. The Republicans controlling the House of Representatives today dislike Medicare so much that they are literally willing to subsidize private health insurance companies to compete with Medicare, paying those companies $82 billion to create new private bureaucracies to handle prescription drugs for seniors and to even go so far as to build in a profit for them. We tried this experiment once already, giving private plans subsidies to offer Medicare services in the form of Medicare+Choice. But despite these subsidies, private Medicare+Choice plans felt they could not make enough of a profit, so they cut benefits and dropped hundreds of thousands of policyholders. Not only will this bill ultimately destroy Medicare and force seniors and their doctors into dealing with private HMOs, but the $82 billion could have been invested into the existing Medicare infrastructure, covering all seniors with a voluntary prescription drug program and reducing the premiums and co-pays for our nation's seniors. Most galling the bill expressly prohibits the federal government from negotiating prices with the drug industry. The government already permits such negotiation in prices by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense--if this is good enough for veterans and those serving on active duty in the armed forces, why not for seniors? This is a $139 billion gift to drug companies in windfall profits. If Republicans were serious about reducing costs, their bill would not block the Secretary of Health and Human Services from using Medicare's enormous purchasing power to bring drug prices down. AARP, which claims to speak for seniors, but is in fact a big insurance company with over $200 million in commissions on health and life insurance policies and prescription drug plans, has hastily endorsed the bill. Like hundreds of rank and file AARP members in my district who have called my office to disavow the national group's decision, I am outraged that AARP renounced the anti-privatization principles it claimed were central to its support. For this reason, I have resigned my AARP membership. As many have said, this bill is a Trojan Horse: a radical dismantling of Medicare masquerading as a prescription drug bill. We must not forget that only a handful of Republicans voted for Medicare when Democrats created the program nearly 40 years ago. And at every turn since 1965, the Republican Party has worked to weaken a popular and successful health care system that allows seniors and their personal doctors to manage their own care. We must not now adopt a privatization scheme that will harm seniors and risk Medicare's future. Instead, Congress ought to add a simple, straightforward and voluntary drug benefit to Medicare, save the $82 billion in subsidies to private insurance companies and private plans, and apply that money to lessen seniors Medicare drug premiums and co- pays. And then we should engage in a real bipartisan discussion about the future of Medicare--out in the open and not in a secret congressional backroom.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2130, a bill to redesignate the United States Postal Service facility at 650 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge, NJ, as the New Bridge Landing Post Office. As a life-long resident of New Jersey, a history buff, and the Congressman who formerly represented the Borough of River Edge for my first 6 years in Congress, I am delighted to be a cosponsor of legislation that will highlight the unique, strategic role that New Jersey, and specifically River Edge, played in the birth of our Nation and the Continental Army's success in the Revolutionary War. Renaming the River Edge postal facility--located just two blocks away from Historic New Bridge Landing--will help ensure that future generations will have a window into New Jersey's colonial life that was home to more Revolutionary War engagements than any other of the 13 original colonies. New Bridge Landing has played a pivotal role in the development of River Edge since Native Americans first inhabited the area. During the Revolutionary War, GEN George Washington retreated from historic Fort Lee across New Bridge Landing, leading the unprecedented march of a ragtag band of volunteer soldiers and a committed people in pursuit of the timeless ideals of liberty, freedom, and equality that our Nation enjoys today. Its proximity to the Hackensack River later made it a hub for industrial development; it was used as both a tidal mill and bustling shipping point for iron. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and gratitude for those revolutionary fighters that I ask all my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 2130, so that future generations of New Jerseyans will remember what those heroic patriots accomplished at New Bridge Landing so long ago.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month and in commemoration of the over five hundred years that America has been enriched by Hispanic culture. This year, from September 15th to October 15th, we have the opportunity to honor the myriad contributions the 37 million people of Hispanic origin currently living in the United States have made to our great country, and we have the responsibility and pleasure of recognizing and remembering the many gifts of Hispanic Americans. An exemplar of the contributions to the culture of our society made by Hispanic Americans is Celia Cruz, the ``Queen of Salsa'' who passed away this July in her home in Fort Lee, New Jersey which is located in my Congressional District. Born in Havana, Cuba, Celia Cruz fled to the United States to free herself from the brutal dictatorship of Fidel Castro. With a genuine love of life and passion for family and friends, Celia Cruz represented the true spirit of Hispanic Americans through her music. Hispanic Americans comprise 14 percent of the total U.S. population and have contributed to American society in innumerable ways. From literature and art to business, science, academia and government, Hispanic Americans have significantly and so positively impacted American culture. Among other great examples are Carlos Gutierrez, Chairman and CEO of the Kellogg Company since 2000, NASA Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, and former Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson. Each of these men and women has touched the lives of countless people of all races, religions, and ethnicities across the United States. It is with honor and gratitude, Mr. Speaker, that I ask all my colleagues to join me in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to an issue of serious concern to my constituents in northern New Jersey, as well as to consumers and local governments throughout the Northeast: rising gas prices. Following the historic Northeast blackout, gas prices increased twelve cents on average during the last week of August, raising the national average to $1.75 per gallon--an all-time high. In some places the spike was more severe--in New Jersey, for example, gas prices at the pump rose by more than 30 cents per gallon. Local governments are particularly negatively affected by unforeseen spikes in gas prices. Municipalities budget more than a year in advance for gas purchases for police cars, public works trucks and for heating oil for municipal buildings. Similarly, consumers and families have to budget for gasoline purchases every week, and for the upcoming home heating, based on increasingly high prices. Mr. Speaker, it is time that policymakers at all levels of government take action to combat price spikes induced by firms that manipulate market fluctuations to gouge consumers and governments. I am pleased to report that the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders acted quickly to do just that, passing a resolution sponsored by two members who are also local mayors, Mayor David L. Ganz of my hometown of Fair Lawn, and Mayor Jim Carroll of Demerest. On September 17, 2003, Bergen County Freeholders voted unanimously to ask the New Jersey state legislature to investigate oil companies that deliberately gouge the public with high gasoline prices at the pump. The Board also called on President Bush to consider releasing oil from the 22 billion barrel strategic petroleum reserve to give consumers immediate relief. Mayors Ganz and Carroll cited high gas prices that were playing havoc with municipal budgets, especially for law and public safety departments of the county and their own municipalities. Mr. Speaker, I commend the Bergen County Freeholders, particularly Mayors Ganz and Carroll, for taking swift action on behalf of their constituents and New Jersey consumers. I wish to add my voice to their efforts by urging Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to expeditiously conclude the ongoing joint Energy Information Administration-Federal Trade Commission investigation of the record August gas price spike. If firms are indeed found to have manipulated market conditions to gouge consumers and local governments, I call on the Department of Justice and the Bush Administration to prosecute all wrongdoing to the fullest extent of the law. Mr. Speaker, urge that every Member of Congress pay attention to the severe problem of gas price spikes now so that our communities do not face this problem in the future.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank Chairman Istook and Ranking Member Olver for their fine work on this bill. I am proud to be a member of this Subcommittee, under their leadership. I rise today in opposition to the Flake amendment to lift the ban on travel to Cuba. There are many reasons to support the ban on travel to Cuba. Number one, we must remember that Cuba is considered a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. government, as are Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, and until recently, Iraq under Saddam Hussein's regime. Number two, thousands of Americans traveling to Cuba will not change the Castro regime. Today, Canadians and Europeans travel to Cuba on a regular basis, and the lives of average Cubans have not improved. The average Cuban has not had contact with foreigners and has not benefited from the tourism revenue because the money flows directly to Castro. Instead of enlightening the Castro regime to respect human rights and support democracy, we have seen no improvement as a result of increased travel to Cuba. Number three, on March 18, 2003, Castro's regime instituted a massive crackdown on independent journalists and democracy activists. Seventy- five activists were arrested, subjected to summary trials and prosecutions, and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 6 to 28 years. Amnesty International has termed it ``the most severe crackdown on the dissident movement since the years following the Cuban revolution.'' Castro's regime also executed three men in April who had hijacked a ferry in Havana in an attempt to reach the United States. The men were executed by firing squads after summary trials that were held behind closed doors; four other ferry hijackers received life sentences while another received 30 years in prison. Number four, the Castro government continues to provide sanctuary for American fugitives from justice. For example, take the case of Joanne Chesimard, a convicted cop killer who took the life of a New Jersey State Trooper. On May 2, 1973, New Jersey State troopers Werner Foerster and James Harper pulled over Joanne Chesimard and two of her companions in a routine traffic stop. A shoot-out transpired, and Trooper Foerster, who had served on the force for less than three years, was shot and killed. Trooper Harper was wounded. A jury in the United States found that Trooper Foerster had been shot in the back of his head, execution style, at point-blank range. The jury convicted Joanne Chesimard of murder and sentenced her to life in prison. But, Chesimard escaped from prison in 1979, lived underground in America for a few years, and soon found sanctuary in Castro's Cuba. Chesimard continues to live in Cuba, free from justice. Castro has refused to turn Chesimard over to the United States. In addition to Joanne Chesimard, there are 73 other fugitives from U.S. law living under Castro's protection in Cuba, including a member of the FBI's 10 most wanted list. Mr. Speaker, the United States of America should not allow Fidel Castro, a state sponsor of terrorism, egregious abuser of human rights, and protector of U.S. cop killers, to enjoy the financial benefits of American tourism. He must return Joanne Chesimard and the other fugitives from American justice, cease support for terrorism, end the gross human rights violations within his country, and embrace democracy before we can welcome Castro among the nations of the world. The Flake amendment will not create the changes we all hope for in Cuba. The amendment will only make Castro and his family richer, and send a horrible message to dictators across the world. Oppose the Flake amendment.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the EPA's recent decision to gut the Clean Air Act--landmark legislation that protects the public from deadly air toxins. With one swift blow the Bush Administration has rolled back three decades of environmental protection by allowing some 20,000 of the oldest and dirtiest power plants, oil refineries, incinerators, chemical plants and industrial facilities that were exempted from the Clean Air Act to avoid installing the newest and best available pollution control technologies when they upgrade and modernize their facilities. It is a reckless act that will shower thousands of additional tons of smog and soot from dirty Midwest power plants onto the people and communities of New Jersey, endangering the public health most severely in densely-populated urban areas--such as those in my district--that already suffer the ill-effects of downwind industrial pollution. The New Source Review program had been the linchpin of our nation's clean air laws. Since the late 1980's--during successive Republican and Democratic Administrations--the EPA and the Department of Justice teamed up to investigate and sue polluters who refused to install ``best-available'' pollution control technologies when they modernized their plants and increased emissions. Some 540 ``grandfathered'' coal-fired power plants nationwide cause 98 percent of the soot emissions that lead to 30,000 premature deaths and 170,000 asthma attacks each year. Through the new source review process, DOJ has filed suit against 53 of these plants that are in violation of the Clean Air Act. Five of the 53 admitted wrongdoing and settled with the federal government--settlements that will result in 393,000 less tons of sulfur dioxide, 175,000 less tons of nitrogen dioxide, and 10.7 million less tons of carbon dioxide being released into the air we breathe each year. Despite this success, in issuing this new rule, the Administration has cast doubt on the pending cases while announcing that it will no longer pursue those polluters who have broken the law for years. As a downwind state, New Jersey suffers disproportionately from power plants that refuse to clean up their act. New Jersey is hit by increased emissions in the form of acid rain and increased respiratory disorders. In fact, because of these out-of-state polluters, New Jersey has the worst air pollution and the sixth highest rate of asthma in the nation. The societal and economic costs of air pollution come in the form of missed school and work days, more emergency room visits, more heart attacks and strokes. Unfortunately, this Administration has turned a blind eye to environmental science, the written comments of over 300,000 Americans who opposed the New Source Review rule, and the enforcement successes of the NSR program in favor of its corporate polluter friends. This is a travesty. And at the same time that the Administration is rewriting the Clean Air Act, it has set about dismantling the EPA's criminal enforcement division. The President's current EPA budget proposal would eliminate 126 EPA enforcement positions over the last three years--a 60 percent decline in civil enforcement and compliance monitoring. Further, a recent GAO report stated that EPA relied heavily on anecdotal evidence to build a case for the New Source Review rule-- something Jeffrey Holmstead, Assistant EPA Administrator for Air and Radiation, all but admitted in newspaper reports when he stated that the EPA ``wished it had better data.'' This perhaps explains why EPA tried to catch the American people off guard by signing the final rule two days before the traditional Labor Day holiday when many Americans were enjoying their last few days of summer rest with their families. Mr. Speaker, I share the view of countless Americans and over 350 newspapers nationwide in calling the Bush Administration's actions an outrage and a devastating blow to public health. I urge all my colleagues in Congress--Republican and Democrat--to disapprove this rule and come together to craft new legislation that sets tough new standards for the dangerous toxic pollutants that will now cloud our air.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague, the ranking member of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), who is a mentor to so many of us in this Congress and an example of what a Member of Congress can achieve not only in the Congress, but around the world with regard to human rights and so many other important issues. While I have left the Committee on International Relations, I have not left the field, so to speak. I join many distinguished friends and colleagues on the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations. Mr. Speaker, I would like acknowledge the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for his work on the issues of human rights; and of course my cherished friend, the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) for all of his courtesies and leadership he has extended throughout the years. I would also like to thank the majority leader and our Democratic leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) whose eloquent remarks speak for themselves as to her long commitment to this issue of freedom for Tibet and the Tibetan people. Mr. Speaker, the issue of Tibet is not a new one to this House, as the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and so many other Members have eloquently stated. Congress has been on record throughout these many, many years in support of the people of Tibet speaking out against the persecution of Tibetans, opposing the destruction of the 6,000 monasteries in Tibet. Congress is on record condemning the torture and abuse of Tibetan monks and nuns. Congress is on record bringing the world's attention to the economic marginalization and impoverishment of Tibetans in their own land. We as a Congress have also provided support for the Tibetan refugees who have made the difficult journey and decision to leave Tibet and seek refuge from persecution in foreign lands. I am proud to add my voice as the sponsor of this resolution in support of the Tibetan people, led, of course, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. That is because I believe that it is not only our obligation as freedom-loving Americans who believe in the value of each individual's human rights and dignity but because it is our moral duty, I believe, as human beings to speak out for the voiceless, the powerless, and the victims in the world. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 359 welcomes His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the United States and recognizes the Dalai Lama for his efforts to peacefully resolve the Tibetan issue. The measure encourages dialogue between the relevant parties, China and Tibet, in order to achieve genuine autonomy and respect for the human rights and religious freedoms of the people of Tibet. Since 1959 when His Holiness the Dalai Lama was forced to flee his homeland of Tibet and seek refuge in India, he has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Tibetans both inside and outside of Tibet and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict so that his fellow Tibetans can return to their homeland. The Dalai Lama has promoted a democratically elected government for Tibetans in exile located in Dharamsala, India; and he remains the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. But His Holiness has indicated that should a negotiated settlement be reached on the issue of Tibet, he would not play any role in a future Tibetan government or seek the Dalai Lama's traditional political responsibilities. The Dalai Lama has also actively worked to sustain the distinct cultural and religious identity of Tibetans, which can be seen in Tibetan communities in India, Nepal, and in so many places around the world. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has taken the courageous step of promoting his middle path, the middle-way approach, which provides genuine autonomy for Tibetans but does not call for independence or separation of Tibet. For over 40 years, His Holiness has been a leader in promoting nonviolent solutions for conflicts across the globe and has been a vocal supporter of human rights for all people, including the freedom of religion. He was, as we know, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for these efforts. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support House Resolution 359 and ask for them to continue to speak out so that one day Tibetans will be afforded the basic human rights that every single human being on this planet deserves.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank my distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver) the very kind and distinguished ranking member, for yielding me this time. I also want to thank my chairman for all of his cooperation and friendship and going out of his way to help me and the people of my district on a number of different issues, along with, of course, my ranking member, the staffs of my chairman and the ranking member. By the way, I have so many things to talk about, but I am only using 2 minutes in the interest of the group; so I will cut to the chase. There was an issue involved in a one-size-fits-all FAA regulation that would have had a devastating effect on the people of northern New Jersey. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a bipartisan agency, the bipartisan elected officials in New Jersey and all the people of my region were adamant that Washington should not force a solution that was wrong for us on them, and the chairman and his staff bent over backwards along with the ranking member to accommodate a reasonable commonsense solution to that problem, and I am extremely grateful to the chairman and the ranking member for accommodating the interests of the hundreds of thousands of people who would otherwise have been negatively affected. I intend to support this bill. It is not perfect. I hope Amtrak gets plussed-up in the conference, but by and large this is a bill that we can all be proud of, and I thank my chairman again and my ranking member for all their kindness and courtesies.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of the 29th Anniversary of the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus and to commemorate this tragedy for the Greek Cypriot people. On the 29th Anniversary of the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus, we solemnly remember the victims of the invasion. The invasion claimed 5,000 Cypriot lives, displaced 200,000 Greek Cypriots from their homes, and has created one of the most militarized areas in the world, with 40,000 Turkish troops continuing to occupy the island. The invasion also created hatred between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots that poisoned the way they thought of each other for years. While we mourn the tragic losses of the past 29 years, we are also able to celebrate the future of a Cyprus integrated into the European Union. This is an historic year for Cyprus, and I would like to commend Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot people for their commitment and determination in reaching a settlement on the reunification of the island and especially membership in the European Union. On April 16, 2003, Cyprus signed the Accession Treaty to the European Union and will now have a host of new opportunities open to its people. Just this week, the Wall Street Journal ran an article describing the emotional meetings of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots going back to their former villages, and their realization that the hatred melted away once they met and spoke with people on the other side. If this is truly the case, then there is hope for a peaceful future. Nevertheless, it is the obligation of the U.S. Congress to condemn the violence that separated the island nation of Cyprus, and to encourage Turkish Cypriot leaders as needed to negotiate in good faith with their Greek Cypriot counterparts to settle this dispute. The reunification of the island nation is a priority for this Congress and the international community. On this anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, we mourn the deaths of those killed in the invasion and the lost opportunities over the years, and we look forward to a future of a reunited Cyprus in the European Union.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute to the ``Queen of Salsa,'' Celia Cruz. Ms. Cruz passed away yesterday at her home in Fort Lee, New Jersey, which is located in my Congressional District. She is survived by her husband Pedro Knight. Born in Havana, Cuba, Celia Cruz fled to the United States to free herself of the brutal dictatorship of Fidel Castro. She became a United States citizen in 1961, and refused to return to her homeland as long as Castro remained in power. She did, however, attempt to return to Cuba for her father's funeral, but Castro refused to give her permission to attend. Celia Cruz is widely considered to be a pioneer of salsa--reinventing and bringing Latin music to its now more familiar sound of upbeat vigorous dance rhythms and rich musical flavors. She was a true performer. Her powerful alto voice carried her concerts, which were accompanied by sensational dancing that always seemed to lift audience members from their seats as they joined along. With a genuine love of life and passion for family and friends, Celia Cruz represented the true spirit of the Latin people through her music. Her music spread across the world. From Latin America to Asia, the music of Celia Cruz touched the lives of countless people of all races, religions, and ethnicities. Throughout her six decade-long career, in which she recorded more than 70 albums and performed in 10 movies, Celia Cruz received many great honors, including a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, five Grammy Awards, two Latin Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Smithsonian Institution and the National Medal of Arts, which President Clinton awarded her in 1994. Celia Cruz also received honorary doctorates from Yale University, the University of Miami, and Florida International University. Additionally, streets in Costa Rica, Mexico, Miami, and New York bear her name. The world has suffered a great loss with the passing of Celia Cruz. But the world is a much richer place thanks to the timeless music that she gave all of us, which will surely be passed on from generation to generation. To all of her fans from around and the world, and to Celia Cruz herself who is still with us in spirit and looking down upon us from heaven, I say, Azucar!

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for yielding me this time, and I would like to address my remarks to the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee. Mr. Chairman, I rise to discuss an important issue regarding the Fish and Wildlife Service's ongoing work in the Hackensack Meadowlands area of New Jersey. The Fish and Wildlife Service has termed the 8,400-acre Hackensack Meadowlands an ``aquatic resource of national importance,'' an area 10 times the size of Central Park in New York City, located in the most densely populated area of the most densely populated State in the Nation, New Jersey, just a handful of miles from the Empire State Building. The Meadowlands is home to 65 species of nesting birds and 50 species of fish and shellfish. During the last 2 fiscal years, Mr. Chairman, Congress has directed the service to assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in its ongoing feasibility study of preparing alternative approaches to preserving the meadowlands. In fiscal year 2003, the committee provided $180,000 for the service's New Jersey field office for such purposes. I want to thank both Chairman Taylor and Ranking Member Dicks for their past and continuing support of this important project. To continue the service's coordination with the Army Corps as well as its development of a comprehensive restoration plan that will recommend long-term management options for the Hackensack Meadowlands, an additional $50,000 is needed in fiscal year 2004 so that the New Jersey field office can complete the hiring of a field biologist and an environmental toxicologist. As the interior bill moves to conference with the Senate, I ask that the distinguished chairman consider the funding requirement for this important effort.

Mr. ROTHMAN. I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mr. ROTHMAN. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Taylor) and my distinguished ranking member for all their help on this issue and look forward to their continuing support on this issue.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Elise Cogorno, who after devoting 34 years of her life to teaching and inspiring public school students in New Jersey, is retiring this month. Whether in her role as one of the Nation's most esteemed Spanish teachers, or as an active leader in extracurricular activities for students, or as a volunteer in community programs, Elise Cogorno has been a remarkable and committed role model to thousands of children. Born Elise Braunschweiger in 1946, her childhood was spent in Hillside, New Jersey. She and her family then moved to Morristown, New Jersey, where she attended high school. After receiving her education from Montclair State University, Elise Cogorno spent her entire 34 years of teaching in Teaneck, New Jersey--first in Thomas Jefferson Junior High School, and later at Teaneck High School. As an extraordinarily gifted teacher, Elise Cogorno motivated her students through creativity, humor, and enthusiasm. Her love for teaching generated a love for learning among her students. I urge my colleagues to join me in saluting one of our Nation's finest teachers, Elise Cogorno, whose outstanding teaching abilities helped and inspired thousands of New Jersey students. Elise Cogorno's successful teaching career has proved invaluable for countless New Jersey students. She truly represents the best of New Jersey.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Creative Arts Therapies Week, which began on June 1 and continues through June 7. Creative Arts Therapies are an increasingly important tool for healing both physical and mental health needs. There are currently more than 15,000 Creative Arts Therapists practicing in the United States and around the world--all working to address major societal issues including school violence, substance abuse, breast cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and domestic violence. Since its first application over 50 years ago, Creative Arts Therapists have provided individual and group art experiences for people in need of care and treatment to address and overcome great personal challenges. Using art, dance, movement, drama, music, and poetry, therapists are able to achieve remarkable results. I commend Creative Arts therapists and the National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies for their tireless work to improve health, communication, and expression, to enhance self-awareness, and to facilitate positive change in human experience and behavior.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have had the great privilege of representing the district that is the home to Reverend Gregory Jerome Jackson, the wonderful man who just gave the invocation. Reverend Greg Jackson is a man of great ability, integrity, and compassion who has committed his life to helping others and in strengthening the bonds of family and community. He started his life as the grandson of sharecroppers in South Carolina. He made his way at the age of 16, no doubt with divine guidance, to the promised land of New Jersey, where he went on to graduate from St. Peter's College and the Colgate Rochester Divinity School. He even served 2 years here as an intern to Congressman Cornelias Gallagher. Whether it is in his role as pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Hackensack, New Jersey, whose membership has risen with 1,000 new members under his leadership since 1984, or as an executive board member of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, which seeks to prevent HIV-AIDS and provide comfort and counsel to those who have been affected by the disease in Africa and the Caribbean, or as a leader of countless other civic and community organizations, or as the loving husband of Barbara and father of Michael and Monique, Reverend Greg Jackson has used his unique gifts as a pastor and community leader to improve the lives of those around him. Mr. Speaker, everyone who has ever met Greg Jackson knows that he is a true humanist, a man of great warmth, conviction, and character, who has literally improved the lives of tens of thousands of my constituents over his nearly 20-year career at Mt. Olive, and who has traveled the world saving lives and bringing his deep faith in service to millions more. I am delighted and proud to be the Congressman for my dear friend, the honorable Reverend Gregory Jerome Jackson, and so proud, Mr. Speaker, that this institution saw fit to allow him to make the invocation this morning.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to enter into the Record an article that appears in the April 29th issue of the Numismatic News entitled ``September 11 deserves commemoration on coin.'' This article was written by my friend, mayor of my hometown of Fair Lawn, and a Bergen County Freeholder in the State of New Jersey, David Ganz. I commend it to the attention of every Member of Congress. [From the Numismatic News, Apr. 29, 2003] Sept. 11 Deserves Commemoration on Coin (By David L. Ganz) Liberty, Freedom, Justice, Intellect, Ingenuity, Challenge, Capitalism, Success, Glory, Might, Power, America. The twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City connoted all of these things--the very reason that the building was a primary target for the extremists and terrorists who murdered thousands of innocents Sept. 11, 2001. America has avenged the events of that day, when the towers came under attack along with at least two other locations. Without taking anything away from the victims on Flight 93, or those who were at the Pentagon, the aim of Osama Bin Laden and his terrorist crew was the rich symbolism of the World Trade Center--what it stood for. In any generation, there may be one or two events that are seminal, that define the generation. The bombing of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the Flight 93 attack are defining for the United States, for it marks the end of an age of innocence and, perhaps, of a new era of American military might. The war that we fought in Iraq, now moving toward a complete cessation of hostilities, is a direct outgrowth of the World Trade Center attack and the subsequent nearly futile search for its progenitor, Osama Bin Laden. H.R. 298 was introduced by Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., Chair of the House coinage subcommittee, on Jan. 8, ``To posthumously award congressional gold medals to government workers and others who responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and perished and to people aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who helped resist the hijackers and caused the plane to crash, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the Spirit of America, recognizing the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.'' Co-sponsor: Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. On Feb. 27 it was referred to King's Unit, the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology. Nothing further has been heard from it. A little more than a year earlier, Rep. Steve Rothman, D- N.J., introduced H.R. 3980 to authorize commemoration of ``Events of cataclysmic proportion, as well as epic struggles, [which] have long been commemorated on the coinage of various countries.'' Congress has yet to take action on any measure, but it should. It should be more than a national medal that honors those who perished. It should celebrate the majesty of the buildings where they once stood and of what they stood for: above all, Liberty and Freedom, that which its enemies could never destroy. There are those who believe--some congressional staff members among them--that the events of Sept. 11 should not be commemorated at all, and that we should forget America's darkest hour. Commemoration, their view is, should be reserved for triumphs, not tragedies. World history and the practices of other nations offers a different perspective. Canada's tombac nickel, for example, issued in 1943, featured a new reverse from the famous Churchill ``V'' for victory over the Nazi Axis war machine. It came at a dark moment of the war after battles had been lost and when D-Day was more than a year away. It's more than me, alone, being a cheerleader. Coinstar, who changed the way people dealt with cashing in coins, did a survey last summer which concluded that ``more than half (52 percent) of Americans revealed they would prefer to see scenes of the flag raising by firemen at the World Trade Center/Ground Zero over the U.S. Military at Iwo Jima (37 percent).'' More surprising: with younger Americans (18-34) popularity is even stronger, at 63 percent. However, for Americans age 65 and over prefer the U.S. Military at Iwo Jima (50 percent) over World Trade Center (32 percent). The poll, compiled from telephone research among more than 1,000 randomly selected American adults, was conducted by an independent market research firm. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent. Private enterprise has stepped in where the Congress and the Executive Branch fear to tread. Already, there are colorized versions of the World Trade Center being placed on silver Eagles as well as other coins. The U.S. Mint official position: ``The United States Mint does not comment on coin- grading issues or on a colorized coin's current or future value as a collectible item. If you like a colorized coin because of the way it looks, then you may want to add it to your collection. However, if you are primarily concerned about the long-term investment value of a colorized coin, you should contact a reputable coin dealer or coin grading service before you purchase the coin.'' What is it that is magical about the twin towers World Trade Center, which at 110 stories tall each were an arresting scene of American power and might in the skyscraper silhouette of New York City's downtown? The World Trade Center had consisted of seven buildings, one of which was briefly the tallest building on the planet (the towers were not exactly the same height). The twin towers were endless subject of New York skyline scenes that appeared in newspapers, on medals and almost on the New York state quarter. Designed by Minoru Yamasakui and Emery Roth, the twin towers were part of a complex built in lower Manhattan island that actually constituted the world's largest building complex. Two rectangular twin towers were the most prominent part. Each 110 stories tall (one also contained a television antennae used by major networks, the building known as 1 WTC was home to the elegant ``Windows on the World'' restaurant and the antennae, while 2 WTC contained an observation deck that offered an unparalleled view from more than a quarter of a mile up in the air. One tower was 1,362 feet, the other 1,368 feet in height. Both was completed in 1973 at a cost of more than $750 million and were owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Wrapped in stainless steel bodies lined with tall, narrow windows, the skyscrapers were state-of-the-art buildings. The Vista hotel complex, part of the center, was the host of numerous New York International coin shows. Built on a 16-acre site, and going seven stories into the ground (or more than 70 feet into Manhattan bedrock), the twin towers dominated the New York skyline for more than 30 years. That 70-foot drilling was surrounded by a giant bathrub-like structure that kept out the nearby Hudson River. In June 2002, just about nine months after the horrific events of Sept. 11, I traveled into Manhattan to go to Ground Zero. As mayor of my municipality (Fair Lawn, N.J.), I was able to travel with the head of our Emergency Management Office, Tom Metzler, and the other members of our Borough Council. The ostensive reason was to see what terroristic damage could occur, how it could be prevented and to help plan the future. The other reason, more personal, was to stand in the pit of Ground Zero, seven or eight stories beneath sea level, and pay tribute to those who died that freedom might live. The nearest-height building was the Empire State Building with 102 stories, located several times uptown to the north, and then the Chrysler Building, at 67 stories. One view of the twin towers is depicted on a drawing presented to the Fine Arts Commission as a possible final design choice for the New York quarter. Instead, a view featuring the Statute of Liberty superimposed on a New York state map was selected. Relegated to a third place finish, the towers design shows the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor, the twin towers (including the aerial), misplaced bridges and a too-close proximity of what appears to be a taller Empire state building. The real twin towers always seemed larger than life. My own memories of the twin towers are long, and varied. By day, Windows on the World was a private restaurant known as the Club at the World Trade Center. I was a member there for about 25 years, joining right after law school. (In fact, right after I was admitted to the bar across the river in Brooklyn, I took my parents, wife and in-laws to a celebratory luncheon at Windows). At Windows, Kevin Zraley was first the sommelier, and later the Inhilco director of beverages corporate-wide. He taught a fabulous wine course over a period of a dozen weeks, and I took it. It gave me an appreciation of wine that has lasted a lifetime. On becoming a club member, I had the privilege of buying wine from them at Cellar cost, and storing it there. I went mostly for older Bordeaux, and had some 1950 Haut Brion as well as 1966 Chateau Gruaud Arose, and some Louis Jadot burgundies--which were carefully stored in the basement of the center. That came to a crashing end 10 years ago in 1993 when a car bomb that tried to topple the edifice blew up, destroying portions of the underground parking garage and causing $300 million in damages, not counting my wine. When I became president of the American Numismatic Association, I sponsored a board dinner at Windows on the World that allowed me to show off the restored cellar following the explosion. The wine served that night came exclusively from my private reserve, and as best I recall, nine members of the board, their spouses or guests and the professional staff went through three cases of wine, retail value $2,500. (OK, they did buy the meals from their per diem, but all of the wine was on me.) Through the years, Windows remained my favorite place to take an overseas client; the food was excellent so long as you stuck to simple dishes like a grilled prime steak or veal chop, less successful with, say, a sauced dish like lobster thermidor. Though never on the menu, except when I first started going there around 1976, their fried zucchini sticks were always available, served in a white cloth napkin designed to gently blot the oil, but not the flavor. Just a year before Sept. 11, my wife, Kathy, and I took our first cruise, going from Manhattan to Nova Scotia and back again. We left on the Carnival Line (the Victory) and went down the Hudson River towards the Verrazano Narrows bridge, the Ocean, and the voyage. As we were piloted down, we passed the magnificient structures and Kathy took postcard-like photos showing not only the height of the buildings, but the indelible place that they held in the New York skyline. It forms the basis for the proposed coin design photograph that accompanies this article--which is done with the assistance of a computerized program that gives the appearance of a raised surface similar to that of a coin. The Sept. 11 destruction was incredible to watch--and millions saw it happen on television. The rich numismatic connection makes it a story likely to be remembered for years to come. It should be a story that ends with a commemorative coin being struck to honor the American dream that continues to tower, even without those twin buildings.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear friend of mine and of the Bergen County community, Robert B. Hille, who is about to become the 105th President of the Bergen County Bar Association. Robert Hille and I began our careers together as young lawyers in the Bergen County Bar Association. It was there that I got to see firsthand what a remarkable person Robert Hille is. He has been and continues to be an extraordinarily gifted attorney and loving husband of Leslie and father of Erin and Tara. Throughout the course of his career, Robert Hille has handled himself in a highly professional and dignified manner that has won him the great admiration and respect of his peers. His election as the 105th Bergen County Bar Association President is a reflection of the high esteem that not only I have for him, but that everyone in the Bergen County legal community has for him. Robert Hille is a man who strives to do what is right and just in his profession. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to him and his family on his election as President of this most prestigious organization, I wish him the very best.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.