Steven Rothman

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. I thank the chairman. First, I would like to thank Chairman Price and Ranking Member Rogers and my fellow subcommittee members for their leadership on this entire Homeland Security legislation and for their support for this project. As you know, the Department of Homeland Security reviewed this project and had no objection to it. This is a good bill and a good project. Mr. Flake's amendment would remove funding for this project that would otherwise help local, State, and Federal emergency response agencies better communicate and coordinate in the aftermath of a terrorist attack or natural disaster. My district is across the river from what were the Twin Towers in New York City, and we know firsthand the difficulties that arose in that terrible tragedy because of the inoperability, the lack of communication technologies working together amongst police, fire, and other emergency services. There was a landmark publication, ``Why Can't We Talk,'' which was produced in the wake of 9/11 by a national task force of 18 associations representing public safety and elected officials. It noted five key reasons why first responders struggle to communicate sometimes with their own agencies. This $1 million project would support specific initiatives established in the National Emergency Communications Plan delivered to Congress in July 2008 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Emergency Communications. Working in partnership with that office, the National Institute for Communications Interoperability would address the most critical issue facing the first responder community today, their ability to command and control emergency resources in response to terrorist attacks, natural disasters and crimes through interagency communication. This project will not only help to make our Nation safer by demonstrating how various regional emergency responses can better coordinate, but it will help to ensure that local, State and Federal tax dollars that have already been allocated in previous Homeland Security measures and in previous budgets throughout the United States are used more wisely. The primary goal of this project is to ensure the best possible use of taxpayer money by public safety officers and first responder organizations. Federal, State, and local governments have invested a substantial amount of capital, as they should have, on first responder equipment, emergency plans, and safety personnel. It makes sense for Congress to support a project that will help to coordinate these efforts and maximize the return on these essential investments. I urge the defeat of this amendment. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. May I ask the gentleman to yield for a short question?

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. Is the gentleman aware that there will be five areas across this country that will be supported by this program as determined by this organization which has been established by 50 States and the territories?

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. Will the gentleman yield for one more question?

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. I thank the gentleman. My friend from Arizona does not, Madam Chairman, dispute the validity and the importance of coordinating emergency communication throughout the United States, nor does my friend from Arizona dispute that this project represents five pilot projects across the country. So I find it difficult to believe that there would be any objection to this very valuable program that has already met with success and that is deserving of additional new outreach to the first responders emergency personnel across the country.

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. I thank the gentleman for the time. Mr. Speaker, today, we consider legislation that is an important step in protecting our young people as they come to explore this amazing world that we live in. First, I want to take time to thank my friend, the Education and Labor Chairman George Miller. Earlier this year, Chairman Miller took time from his schedule to meet with Phylicia Moore's parents, Lola and Douglas Moore, and with Phylicia's brother, Christopher. Chairman Miller heard their heartbreaking story. The legislation we have before us today is a testament to his leadership and to his compassion. I also want to acknowledge the role played by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. He also personally met with the Moores. He and his staff have suggested several important improvements to the bill. I am deeply grateful for his personal involvement. I would also like to thank Ranking Member McKeon and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for their bipartisan support of this very important legislation. I would also like to recognize and to express my gratitude for the endorsements of the National Parent Teacher Association, the National Education Association and the National School Boards Association for this important bill. Phylicia's Law bears the name of a young woman from my district who was taken from us much too soon. Phylicia Moore was an 18-year-old high school student from Teaneck, New Jersey, who died in April 2007 while on a school-sponsored trip to Ghana. Today, however, is not about the past. We are here to talk about the future and what we can do to help ensure that no more parents endure what Douglas and Lola Moore have gone through. It is the culmination of the Moores' hard work, the dedication to their daughter and to her memory, and their desire that no other parents suffer as they have that brings us to this moment on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. As a parent myself, when I send my children to school, I expect them to be safe. I expect them to be just as safe when the school takes them on a field trip off school premises. Public school districts are now required to have safety plans and security procedures in place for the physical campus of their schools. However, there are no such requirements when schools take students off campus for field trips or for any other reason. Phylicia's Law will fix this dangerous omission. Phylicia's Law will require school districts to develop a safety policy for overnight school trips. However, the bill as written still gives individual schools the leeway to determine their own plans and procedures, which parents will then be able to review before the parents decide if the school district has the right security plan for their child sufficient to allow a parent in good conscience to let their child take this off-campus school trip. Given that schools already know how to devise their security plans for on- campus events, this new requirement for off-campus events should not be overly burdensome. On the contrary, I think this new requirement should be welcome as a plan and set of procedures that will help protect everyone on their trip. With plans and procedures in place, there will be a blueprint for chaperones, for their trip leaders, for students, and for parents, all of whom will want to know what individual roles and responsibilities there are on this trip and what will happen should tragedy strike. We need Phylicia's Law to not only keep children safe but help schools to continue to offer important off-campus learning activities. Off-campus school trips are an important part of the educational experience of our Nation's students. Each year, millions of our young people enjoy these trips. They provide students with invaluable learning opportunities outside the classroom. Keeping our students safe is paramount, but we also need to continue to provide these essential off-campus educational experiences. Phylicia Moore was in Ghana on a goodwill trip. She was there to help others. She was a good, caring person. She was brave. She was filled with light. When speaking with Phylicia's parents, Douglas and Lola Moore, it is easy to see how much loved Phylicia was. Douglas and Lola's love helped make Phylicia the wonderful young woman she had become. It is with a heavy heart that I stand here today because nothing will bring this wonderful young woman back. But I commend Phylicia's parents, Douglas and Lola Moore, coming to me about Phylicia's Law, for caring about other parents and children, and I hope that we can get Phylicia's Law passed for them, for their daughter, and to make sure that parents across the country never have to face the pain that the Moores will continue to live with. I urge my colleagues to stand up for students and parents across this country by supporting this bill.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. I thank the gentleman. The gentleman has expressed, I think, an important concern with regards to those powers that are not deemed already provided to the Federal Government with regards to the State should not be expanded. However, there are many, many instances--whether it be clean water standards or clean air standards or seatbelt standards for cars; the list is endless--to protect the public safety and good health of our people that the Federal Legislature, made up of 435 of us from all over the country, provide the minimum standards of safety that we wish to have in each of the 50 States. But recognizing the general intention of the gentleman's objection, we changed the law to make it even more local community friendly this way. We said, We're not going to tell the local school districts what plan to have. Whatever plan they come up with is fine, period. All we require them to do is to have a plan or not have a plan but simply tell the parents, We have no plan, or, Here is our plan. This is to empower parents to make an informed judgment as to whether they want to put their children's safety in the hands of this particular school district if and when the school district decides they want to go on a school trip. I think that's why it has received bipartisan support. I'm a former local mayor, former judge myself, and I'm very sensitive to too much intrusion in the local decisionmaking. This simply says to the school districts have a plan or don't have a plan, but you have got to tell the parents and let them make their judgment on the validity of the plan so that they can decide, as a parent, then, whether they want to go forth. This is not just a tribute to Phylicia, although it is in some part. It is an effort to prevent these tragedies from happening again. That's why the National Parent-Teacher Association, the National School Boards Association, and the National Education Association, as well as colleagues on both sides of the aisle, have supported it. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 100th birthday of Levonia ``Tiny'' Chaney. Levonia was born on June 16, 1909, in the rural community of Brookman, Georgia, to Henry and Laura (nee Boston) Bailey. Her father was a successful farmer, blacksmith, barber, community activist, and chairman of the Deacon Board at New Zion Baptist Church. Levonia Bailey Chaney migrated from Savannah, Georgia, in 1934, to Hackensack, New Jersey, where she met and married her late husband, Arthur Chaney Sr. They were blessed with three children, Arthur W. Chaney Jr. M.D.; Carol Tunstall, retired music educator; and Dewey Chaney M.D. Her mother was a dressmaker. She watched her mother sew from the scraps that her father brought from the mill whenever he went to town to sell his produce. Levonia looked forward to helping her mother make clothes for the family. After the death of her mother, she became dressmaker, hairdresser, and barber for the family. She was baptized at an early age and joined the New Zion Baptist Church in Brookman, Georgia. She was salutatorian of her class at Seldon Normal Industrial Institute in Brunswick, Georgia, where she majored in home making. As a teenager she was an active member of the Girls 4-H club of America. She won numerous awards, including ``Champion Dressmaker of the State of Georgia.'' She is the oldest living PTA president in the city of Hackensack. She and her late husband were recognized in 1970 by the Hackensack Negro Professional Women's Club as ``Parents of the Year.'' In 1999, Mount Olive Baptist Church, under the pastorate of Rev. Gregory J. Jackson, recognized her 69 years of faithful service. She is a charter member of the Emeritus of the Nurses Unit. Levonia, affectionately called ``Tiny,'' arrived in Bergen County in 1934 where she united with the Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Hackensack under the pastorate of the late Rev. T. W. H. Gibson. She shared her gift of sewing by making choir robes, altar skirts, covers for chairs, the nurse's uniforms, and whatever else the church needed. She is still an active member of the church for 75 years now, under the pastorate of Rev. Gregory J. Jackson. After 41 years of service, Tiny retired from International Ladies Garment Workers Union. The community also benefited from her skills creating bridal party gowns and garments for members in the church and community. She enjoys reading with great excitement, doing search and find word puzzles, playing games, exercise time, movies, arts and crafts, celebrating each other's birthday, singing and dancing at the Martin Luther King Center in Hackensack. She looks forward to a new MLK center that would provide friendship, sense of purpose, uplifting and a host of other cultural and educational activities. She is a Past Matron of Pride of the East Order of the Eastern Star, PHA Hackensack and has been honored for her dedicated service for over 60 years. ``Tiny'' the matriarch of the Bailey family has three surviving sisters, Vera Brewer, Gussie B. Langston and Susie Richardson. She is the grandmother of seven, Arthur Chaney III, MD, Kip Chaney, Gina Chaney, Corey Chaney, Craig Chaney, Shanda Tunstall-Charles, and Harvey Tunstall. She is the great grandmother of six. She has one living fraternal aunt, Genevieve Scott of Brunswick, GA. On behalf of myself and the people of the 9th Congressional District of New Jersey, I wish Levonia very best as she celebrates her 100th birthday.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 50th anniversary of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church of Ridgefield, New Jersey. On May 19, 1957, a community's dream began to take shape. On that day, ground was broken for what was then known as the Armenian Apostolic Church of New Jersey. In two short years, the Armenian American community of Bergen County came together and raised the necessary funds to realize the dream of building a church. On May 3, 1959, the church was consecrated by His Eminence Archbishop Khoren Paroyian, Nuncio of His Holiness Zareh I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. Sts. Vartanantz today stands as a beacon of Armenian American community life in Bergen County with its Sunday school, the Nareg Saturday Armenian School, the ladies guild, the men's club, the seniors groups, and several cultural, youth, educational, and fraternal organizations working to perpetuate the Armenian faith and heritage. I extend my congratulations to the pastor, Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, the Board of Trustees, and all members and friends of Sts. Vartanantz and wish them many more years of growth and service to the Armenian American community. I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sts. Vartanantz Church for its contributions to the Armenian American residents of Bergen County, as well the larger Armenian American community in the United States.

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 100th birthday of Mrs. Sally Matthews, which will take place on May 30, 2009. Sally, a lifelong resident of Jersey City, New Jersey, is the proud mother of two sons and six grandchildren. Throughout her life, Sally has been an outstanding public servant and professional. She worked for the New Jersey State Board of Children's Guardians from 1925 to 1942. Sally was subsequently employed as a legal secretary, receiving the distinction of being the Hudson County Legal Secretaries Association's Legal Secretary of the Year in 1970. Sally has always taken the time to give back to her community, having volunteered at St. Aedan's Rectory in Jersey City and having been a charter member of St. Aedan's Golden Club, 41 years ago. As Sally and her friends gather on June 1st to celebrate her 100th birthday, I wish her, on behalf of myself and the people of the 9th Congressional District of New Jersey, the very best as she reaches this exciting milestone in her life.

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Alfred E. Zampella, recipient of the Jersey City Heights Legend Award. This award honors my Hudson County Director, good friend and constituent, Al Zampella, for his lifelong commitment and dedication to the Jersey City community. A lifelong resident of Jersey City, Al Zampella was born on February 8, 1923, the youngest of five boys. Coming from an iconic family in Jersey City, Al and his siblings all have made significant contributions to our community in their respective occupations. Al began his commitment to public service on the battlefields in World War II as a Lieutenant and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his heroism during sea combat in the Asiatic Pacific Theater of Operations. He earned his undergraduate degree from Seton Hall University and an M.A. in Education Administration and Supervision from New York University. Al served as Principal of Jersey City Public School No. 27 for 27 years, as a guiding, trusted force in the lives of thousands of students, encouraging them to remain in school and use their formal education to succeed in life. Al retired in 1990 and on November 7, 1996 received the great honor of having Public School No. 27 formally dedicated to him, and renamed the Alfred E. Zampella P.S. No. 27. Today the school continues the important work he started and has received many prestigious honors and awards recognizing its success. Al's commitment to his community continued outside the walls of Public School No. 27. Not only is Al a member of many boards and organizations in Northern New Jersey, he also continues to serve the people of Jersey City as the Ninth Congressional District's Hudson County Director. But above everything else, Al Zampella is a family man. He and his wife Jaclyn have three exceptional sons: Edward, Walter, and Gary. And their grandchildren, Bailey, Evan, Lauren, Matthew, Francesca, and Juliana, are the light of their lives. I cannot imagine the Heights section of Jersey City without this true legend: Al Zampella. My very best wishes go to Al and his family and I offer my sincerest and deepest appreciation and congratulations to him on his receiving the Jersey City Heights Legend Award.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Boswell Engineering. In 1924, the late David C. Boswell recognized the need for engineering expertise in a world that was expanding and developing at a lightening-fast pace. It was then, in Ridgefield Park, NJ, that he founded Boswell Engineering. His leadership provided the solid foundation upon which the company is built. Family ownership continued as both of David C. Boswell's sons--the late Howard L. Boswell, Sr. and David J. Boswell--became the second generation to own and operate the firm, each making his unique contribution toward establishing Boswell as a full-service engineering company. The company's third generation of family ownership and management headed by Stephen Boswell who together with his brothers Bruce and Kevin are presently providing the leadership for continuation and expansion of the superb quality of service and high standard of excellence Boswell is known for in the engineering community. Through the company's fine history of engineering accomplishments-- from a two-man field office concentrating on surveying and civil engineering to a 250 person multi-disciplined engineering firm serving numerous public sector clients at all levels of government, Boswell continues to play a major role in the structuring of the future and improving the quality of life for the cities, towns and counties with which it is associated. Today, as the fourth generation is now actively engaged at the family owned business, Boswell Engineering, which has been headquartered in Bergen County since it's founding in 1924, looks forward to maintaining a reputation for excellence by continuing to provide superb engineering services envisioned by its founder 85 years ago.

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey

Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of the Holocaust Memorial Day program, which commemorates the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of April 19, 1943 and Yom HaShoah, a day of remembrance for the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. The event, which will be held in my Congressional District, specifically honors six survivors: Jeannette Adler of Glen Rock, Gunther Apfel of Elmwood Park, Ray Fischler of Wayne, Marion Coti of Bergenfield, and Joseph Grabczk and Leoni Salomon of Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding contributions and dedication of my Deputy Chief of Staff, Shelly O'Neill Stoneman, as she leaves my office to work in the Office of Legislative Affairs for President Barack Obama. Shelly served on my staff for more than 5 years, and during that time she advised me expertly on issues of defense and foreign policy. Shelly continuously demonstrated extraordinary intellect, grace under pressure, and the highest ethical and professional standards. Shelly's vast sphere of knowledge and her friendship will genuinely be missed in my office. Shelly was born in Newport Beach, California, and later moved to Orlando, Florida where she attended Dr. Phillips High School. She attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She has also earned a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from the United States Naval War College, as well as a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma's Program in Europe. Prior to joining my office, Shelly worked as an intern in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs in 1997 during the Clinton Administration. This is the same office which Shelly will now be joining as a staffer within the Obama Administration. In 1999, Shelly joined the United States Senate Governmental Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services under Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), and later worked as a research consultant for the Small Arms Survey, evaluating the arms export control systems of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European countries. Her previous experience has served her well and helped make her an extraordinarily effective member of my staff, and I know those same capabilities will serve her well in the White House. While serving long hours as the brilliant Deputy Chief of Staff for my office, Shelly directed my legislative agenda and staffed me on the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, as well as the Subcommittee on Defense. In addition to her work within my office, Shelly founded the Democratic Legislative Directors Study Group, a wonderful support and networking system for Democratic senior staff on Capitol Hill. Madam Speaker, over the past 5 years, my office has come to know Shelly O'Neill Stoneman well and we will remember her as a conscientious and dedicated colleague, a gifted writer, and a loyal friend to her fellow coworkers. Shelly is a passionate advocate for the protection of human rights and international aid, and has used her well-honed skills as a policy-maker to help ensure that these vital aspects of United States foreign policy are maintained. Throughout her tenure with my office, Shelly provided me with thoughtful and accurate counsel, which has allowed me to better serve the people of New Jersey's Ninth District. She is now, and forever, an honorary ``Jersey Girl'', and has my deep respect and appreciation for all of the contributions she has made to my office and the work she has done. While I will miss her dearly, I wish Shelly the very best and know that she has a bright future ahead of her. The White House is lucky to have her.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 84, legislation to honor the heroic efforts of Flight 1549's Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III, his flight crew, the First Responders and private citizens that prevented a catastrophic engine failure on a commercial aircraft from resulting in a single loss of life. Just five minutes after lifting off on January 15, 2009, Captain Sullenberger's aircraft was struck by a flock of birds, resulting in the loss of two of his engines. The instant those engines failed, Captain Sullenberger, his crew, the passengers entrusted to his care, and residents of the 9th Congressional District of New Jersey who were in the plane's potential flight path were at grave risk. And yet, rather than give in to panic, Captain Sullenberger wrestled his damaged aircraft into a controlled water landing--an act described in the Wall Street Journal as ``one of the rarest and most technically challenging feats in commercial aviation.'' When his plane hit the water Captain Sullenberger and his flight crew--including First Officer Jeffrey Sikes and Flight Attendants Doreen Welsh, Donna Dent, and Sheila Dail--worked quickly and calmly to evacuate their passengers, not stopping until every man, woman and child was out of harm's way. Outside, they were aided by a growing flotilla not just of Coast Guard and police boats, but civilian ferries as well. Once Flight 1549 was emptied of passengers, Captain Sullenberger walked up and down the aisles of the sinking aircraft twice, only exiting when he was absolutely certain that he had discharged his duty to completely evacuate the plane. His grace under pressure, as well as that of the rescue workers and flight crew, ensured that an emergency in the air did not become a disaster on the ground. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 84. The courage, level-headed professionalism and sheer heroism of the Captain and crew of Flight 1549 are an inspiration to all Americans.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Robert Hekemian, a resident of Saddle River, New Jersey, for his lifetime of dedication to the improvement of the community, and being awarded the Bergen Community College Foundation's 2008 Medallion Award of Merit for Corporate Responsibility and Philanthropy. Mr. Hekemian currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of both Hekemian & Co., Inc., a real estate investment, management and brokerage company, and First Real Estate Investment Trust of New Jersey. He has been active in the real estate business for more than 6 decades, and is esteemed by his peers. Mr. Hekemian, who is of Armenian descent, is a devoted member of the Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus, New Jersey and serves on the Board of the Armenian Missionary Association of America. During the past 50 years, he has contributed substantially to numerous civic and community organizations, as well as domestic and international charitable endeavors, both personally and through the Robert and Mary Jane Hekemian Foundation. Benefactors of the Foundation include The New York Philharmonic, Hackensack University Medical Center, Bergen Community College, Boy Scouts of America and The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). Finally, Mr. Hekemian is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He has been married to his loving wife Mary Jane for 51 years, and they have been blessed with 4 wonderful children and 7 grandchildren. Today, I would like to recognize Robert Hekemian's leadership by example for more than half a century. I am proud that such an honorable man resides in my Congressional District. My constituents' lives are better for all his many and generous contributions to the community. I offer my sincere and hearty congratulations on the occasion of this well-deserved and distinguished award.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate the Jersey City Fire Department on receiving the U.S. Department of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. From their beginnings in 1829 through today, the Jersey City Fire Department's primary focus has been on protecting and supporting the community. This is readily apparent in how they treat their employees, particularly those who have chosen to serve in the U.S. military Reserves. Fire Captain Leonard DiStaso has been working for the department since 1997 in addition to serving in the Marine Corps Reserve. In the past 5 years, Captain DiStaso has been deployed to Iraq twice and both times the Jersey City Fire Department was there to support him and his family: The Jersey City Fire Department went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that Captain DiStaso was able to keep in contact with his family, while the department made sure to take care of them at home. His coworkers at the fire department stayed in touch with his family and helped them with snow shoveling and other necessities. In addition, the Jersey City Fire Department also raised thousands of dollars to buy phone cards for him and his fellow Marines in Iraq, as well as for wounded Marines at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. In fact, they even gave Christmas gifts to the families of all the Marines in his unit. I commend the Jersey City Fire Department for their commitment to the community and their employees. This group of dedicated individuals is exceedingly deserving of the Department of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, which recognizes employers who provide exceptional support to employees serving in the National Guard or Reserve. This is the U.S. Government's highest recognition for efforts made in the civilian lives of America's citizen-servicemembers, which make up roughly half of the Nation's Armed Forces. I am so proud to represent the men and women of the Jersey City Fire Department and hope every Member of Congress will join me in recognizing them for their outstanding commitment to the community.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. I thank the gentleman from Virginia not only for the time but also for his leadership on the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. I also want to thank my friend and colleague from California (Mr. Issa) for all his support in moving this legislation forward. I also want to recognize the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Gohmert from Texas. I also would like to acknowledge the leadership of Chairman Conyers and Ranking Member Lamar Smith. Mr. Speaker, we are often asked, as Members of Congress, why don't you people do anything important? Well, today we're about to do something very important. Back in 2000, when I was a member of the Judiciary Committee, I received two different letters from two different young girls in two different middle schools in my district. And the letters basically said, Congressman, we're afraid to go to school. There are gangs, there are wise guys, there are kids on drugs. We're not sure who's coming in and out of our school. And we're constantly looking over our shoulders wondering if someone's going to hurt us. Aren't you supposed to be doing something about that? You adults, protecting us kids? As the father of two kids then, now of two kids and three stepkids, it really did strike me very deeply. And I went to our chairman, may he rest in peace, Chairman Henry Hyde, and I told him about the situation. I told him I had an idea. I said that we should have a matching grant program so it wouldn't be a Federal mandate, that schools that wanted to participate could, those that didn't want to didn't have to. But those who wanted to get metal detectors, new locks on their doors, security training for their personnel, they could apply to the Federal Government through the Justice Department for a grant, a 50/50 grant; the schools put up half, the Feds put up the other half. And if the schools were really destitute and out of money and could demonstrate that, as well as a real need, the Federal Government would pay 100 percent. This was at the time right after Watergate, rather, after the Clinton impeachment. Needless to say, there was disagreement amongst the parties. The Republicans were in charge. The bill passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary Committee and then came to the floor and passed unanimously. And since then, more than 3,400 schools nationwide have benefited, have added security cameras and metal detectors and new locks to limit entranceways and egresses from the schools. More than 177 schools in the Garden State of New Jersey, my State. And I've gotten letters and phone calls and people stopping me on the street thanking me, Congressman, thank you for protecting us. This year, 7 years after we passed the Secure Our Schools, actually we passed it in 2001, we have an improvement, the School Safety Enhancements Act. What we found, unfortunately, was that the $30 million authorized level wasn't enough money to cover all the schools in the country who wanted to participate, who wanted to put up half the money for these security improvements for their schools. There wasn't enough money to go around. So we made our case to the subcommittee and to the full committee, and they were kind enough to work with us and introduce this bill, the School Safety Enhancements Act, to raise the dollar amount from $30 million authorized to $50 million authorized. The other changes we made were to change the Federal match so that the Federal Government could provide even a larger percentage than the 50/50 percentage. We know how strapped local property taxpayers are back home, and so that's the least we could do from the Federal Government. We also added a couple of other things, as Chairman Scott referred to, namely, a campus safety assessment program to implement a campus emergency response plan that would have to be established at all of our universities across the country so that parents who are sending their kids to these universities and colleges would know that, at the very least, there was a plan if, God forbid, there was a tragedy. We worked very closely, we also established a hot line for call in for kids and others to report problems. We worked with Senator Barbara Boxer from the Senate who was instrumental in helping us in that body in adding some of these provisions. Again, this has complete flexibility. This is not a Federal mandate. Schools have to make the applications on the merits of their need for these safety improvements and for the financial contribution from the Federal Government. But they're willing to kick in their own dollars to help pay for these security improvements, metal detectors, locks on doors, locks on windows and training for security personnel. It doesn't get better than this when we can provide the money for even more schools and to protect even more students. That's our job, our responsibility as Members of Congress, to protect the people, as moms and dads, aunts and uncles, grandparents and friends of kids. My goodness, there's nothing more important than preventing harm to our children. I urge the adoption of this bill.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of the 34th Anniversary of the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus and to commemorate this tragedy for the Greek Cypriot people. The 34th commemoration of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus serves to remind all freedom-loving people to solemnly remember the 1974 Turkish military invasion of the island of Cyprus, to mourn those who lost their lives in the invasion, and to condemn the ongoing Turkish occupation. For the past 34 years, Cyprus has endured the illegal military occupation of more than one third of its territory by the Turkish armed forces, in violation of a number of U.N. Security Council resolutions. However, both the U.S. and the Cypriot governments remain committed to achieving a peaceful resolution of this dispute through diplomatic negotiations. However, the strong U.S.-Cyprus relationship is not just based on a shared interest in ending the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, but also on the fact that the U.S. and Cyprus share a deep and abiding commitment to upholding the ideals of freedom, democracy, justice, human rights, and the international rule of law. The U.S. and the rest of the international community have a moral and ethical obligation to stand with Cypriots to reunify their island and end the Turkish military occupation. Cyprus's goal is the reunification of the island as a bicommunal and bizonal federation that will protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, but also implement a prompt withdrawal of Turkish occupation forces. Cypriot President Demetris Christofias is committed to negotiating a just, viable solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of U.N. Security Council Resolutions, the High Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979, as well as the values and principles on which the European Union was founded. I urge my colleagues in the U.S. Congress to take note of the 34-year anniversary of the violent invasion that brutally divided the island nation of Cyprus, and to encourage Turkish Cypriot leaders to negotiate in good faith with their Greek Cypriot counterparts, settle this dispute, and develop a plan for reunification that addresses the serious concerns of all Cypriots. The reunification of the island nation remains a priority for this Congress and for 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 for reunification over the years, and we look forward to a future of a reunited and peaceful Cyprus.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Football League, NFL, for its continuing efforts to improve the lives of America's youth both on and off the field. In 1998, the NFL and NFL Players Association organized the NFL Youth Football Fund, YFF, which is a non-profit foundation that supports the game of football at the youth level and promotes positive youth development. This wonderful organization has provided hundreds of thousands of children with the opportunity to learn the game of football, stay physically active, and get involved in productive after- school activities with positive role models. One important initiative that the YFF has undertaken is its Grassroots Field Refurbishment Program. This unique program provides funds for communities to revamp local athletic fields so that youth have a safe place for athletic activities. The fields are newly built or significantly renovated, with improvements such as irrigation systems, lights, bleachers, scoreboards, goal posts and turf. The YFF has contributed nearly $23 million through the Grassroots Program to rebuild 170 fields nationwide in underserved areas. The NFL recently awarded a $200,000 grant to the Jersey City public schools to help replace the playing field at Cochrane Stadium in the Caven Point Athletic Complex, which is located in my home state of New Jersey. The field was closed in April 2008 because of concerns about high levels of lead found in the astroturf surface. The sports complex at Caven Point is an integral part of youth athletics in Hudson County and many of my constituents use these facilities. I am extremely pleased that the NFL is assisting the community in this way. I am honored to have an outstanding NFL franchise such as the Giants, who are the Super Bowl XLII Champions, play in my Congressional district at their home field of Giants Stadium in East Rutherford. Our local community continues to proudly support the Giants and is grateful that the NFL has selected Jersey City to receive a grant to improve their local athletic playing field. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me today in commending the National Football League for its consistent support of our youth across the country. I also ask for unanimous consent to enter an article from the Jersey Journal into the Record. [From the Jersey Journal, June 10, 2008] NFL Giving $200G To Help Replace Turf at Cochrane Stadium (By Ken Thorbourne) The National Football League is chipping in to replace an athletic field in Jersey City that was closed in April due to concerns about lead. The National Football League Grassroots Program announced the $200,000 grant to the Jersey City public schools to help replace the heavily used Cochrane Stadium field at the Caven Point Athletic Complex last week. ``The district is thrilled the NFL is supporting local athletics,'' said Board of Education spokesman Gerard Crisonino. ``We see it as a real commitment to the students of Jersey City.'' Cochrane Stadium--along with the field at Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken--were closed after elevated levels of lead were found in the synthetic fibers. The Hoboken field has already been replaced. Crisonino said a new field at Caven Point is expected to cost $1.1 million. In addition to the NFL grant, the district expects to receive city and county money. Specifications are being drawn up to bid the contract, he added. Elevated lead levels were also found at the College of New Jersey's Lions Stadium Field in Ewing, which also has a synthetic turf field. ``Fields are an integral part of creating viable and healthy communities,'' NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. ``The development and refurbishment of these football fields give youngsters a safe place to play the game, and brings families and neighborhoods together.''

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding contributions and dedication of my communications director, Kimberly Allen, as she leaves to relocate to Richmond, Virginia with her husband, Tom Emswiler. Kimberly has been on my staff for more than 2\1/ 2\ years, and during that time she has demonstrated extraordinary talent, grace under pressure, and the highest ethical and professional standards as my public spokesperson. She has also done a superb job handling the inquiries my office has received from national, State, and local media outlets. Kimberly has a true gift with words, is steadfastly loyal, and embodies the very spirit of teamwork. Kimberly grew up in Annandale, Virginia and attended Annandale High School. She later attended Boston University's College of Communication and graduated with a bachelor of science in Communication in 2002. Before joining my office, Kimberly worked at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing as their communications assistant and webmaster. She later served as the communications and production manager for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Her previous experience served her well and helped make her a very effective communications director. In addition to serving long hours as the brilliant spokesperson for my office, Kimberly is extremely involved in community activities and volunteers to help those who are less fortunate. Since 2002, she has annually prepared tax forms at weekend clinics for those who are not able to afford private assistance with their income taxes. She has also volunteered at ``We Are Family,'' which provides groceries to families in need, since 2007. Madam Speaker, over the past 2\1/2\ years, my office has come to know Kimberly Allen well and we will remember her as a conscientious and dedicated colleague, a gifted writer with a great sense of humor, and a loyal friend to her fellow coworkers. She has been a passionate advocate for protecting the freedom of the press, immigration reform, and human rights. Throughout her tenure with my office, Kimberly has provided me with good counsel and effective communication to the people of New Jersey. She has my deep respect and appreciation for all of the contributions she has made to my office and the work she has done. I wish Kimberly the very best and know that she has a bright future ahead of her.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. I thank our distinguished chairman. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of the manager's amendment to the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act. I want to begin by thanking our distinguished Chairman Miller and his wonderful staff, as well as the ranking member and his outstanding staff, for putting together this bipartisan bill and for working with me to incorporate two provisions into this manager's amendment that will strengthen accountability measures in the bill. Specifically, my provisions direct programs such as these to notify parents of any reports of abuse as soon as possible but absolutely no later than 48 hours after the incident. Parents have the right to know when their child is in danger, and this amendment ensures that parents are informed expeditiously of any reports of child abuse or neglect. This amendment would also strengthen accountability in this way: The bill creates a publicly searchable Web site that will contain information on these facilities such as death, reports of abuse, and violations of safety standards. My provisions require the Web site to disclose the cause of death. This will help parents to make informed decisions about which residential facilities are safely caring for children as well as which have poor records on incidents of abuse and/or death. It is a terrifying yet documented fact that such severe abuse occurs in these programs. The Government Accountability Office reports that precipitated this bill found that more than 1,600 cases of alleged abuse in 33 States occurred in 2005 alone. These alarming occurrences of cruelty and neglect must end, and this bill will establish new national safety standards and guidelines for private therapy facilities to reduce, if not eliminate, these incidents. Again, I would like to thank Chairman Miller and his outstanding staff for all of his help in including my thoughts on this measure. I thank again the ranking member and his staff for making this a very important bipartisan measure that deserves the support of all of our colleagues.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of Mr. Kevin Williams of Secaucus, New Jersey, for his extraordinary public service and congratulate him for being honored with the Congressional Award Gold Medal. The Congressional Award is an esteemed recognition bestowed on exemplary young people who complete a minimum of 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development activities, 200 hours of physical fitness, and four consecutive days and nights of an exploration or expedition. Kevin epitomizes everything that this award is seeking to extol; particularly his dedication to his community and commitment to public service. At the young age of 18, Kevin Williams has already founded two nonprofit organizations, People to People International's Go International For Tomorrow Student Chapter and Wrap4ASmile Foundation, Inc. The first of these organizations, Go International For Tomorrow, focuses on developing youth leadership through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities. The second, Wrap4ASmile, raises funds, collects products, packs care packages, and distributes personal care items that cannot be purchased with food stamps. These two groups successfully encourage young adults to get involved in various public service activities. Kevin has spent over one thousand hours performing valuable community service, both in my home State of New Jersey and abroad. He has earned numerous awards documenting and celebrating his achievements. Most recently, Kevin received the 2008 Comcast Leaders and Achievers Award, the People to People International Golden Award, and, for the past 4 years, the Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award. Kevin is a truly exceptional young leader in our community. In addition to founding two nonprofits, Kevin has participated in the International Student Leadership Conference of Operation Smile, the American Legion New Jersey Boys State Conference, and the National Youth Leadership Council Conference in Healthcare Medicine. He is an ambassador of public service, and his efforts help make the world a better place for all of us. Today, I would like to congratulate Mr. Kevin Williams for receiving the Congressional Award Gold Medal in recognition of his exemplary contributions to New Jersey and beyond. I extend to him my very best wishes.

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I would like to state for the record my position on the following votes I missed on June 3, 2008. On Tuesday, June 3, 2008, I was unable to be present in the Capitol and missed rollcall votes Nos. 367 through 369. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: On rollcall vote No. 367, on H. Con. Res. 138, a resolution supporting National Men's Health Week, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 368, on H. Res. 923, a resolution recognizing the state of Minnesota's 150rh anniversary, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 369, on H. Res. 1114, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the Arbor Day Foundation and National Arbor Day, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. ROTHMAN

Mr. ROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the efforts of the Young Women's Christian Association, YWCA, of Bergen County Rape Crisis Center to designate April 28, 2008 as Denim Day in New Jersey. This day-long observance is an important opportunity to raise awareness about sexual violence and end the `blame-the-victim' mentality about rape that continues to impede justice for those attacked. Unfortunately, appalling misconceptions about rape and sexual violence still exist and were on full display in the Italian Supreme Court decision that launched International Denim Day in 1998. In that case, the justices overturned a rape conviction because the woman wore jeans. They reasoned that the victim must have helped her attacker remove her jeans because they were ``tight,'' thereby implying her consent. After the decision, women in the Italian Parliament protested by wearing jeans to work the next day. Those Italian legislators were right to protest such an awful decision and inspired people around the world to speak out against similar injustices. We must do everything possible as a community and as a Nation of laws to stop rape and sexual assault and help survivors. That includes educating young men and women about consent, making clear that rape is the responsibility of the offender, not the victim, and eliminating the fear of shame and blame that prevents an estimated 9 in 10 rape victims from reporting an attack. Today, on the first annual Denim Day in NJ, I commend the ongoing efforts of the YWCA of Bergen County Rape Crisis Center to accomplish these goals. I stand united with the YWCA, survivors of sexual assault, and their loved ones in observing this important day.