José Serrano

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month 2012, I rise today to recognize a dedicated arts and cultural leader in the Bronx who has done wonderful work for the people of our borough, Ms. Deirdre Scott. Ms. Scott is a lifelong resident of New York and has been a resident and leader in the Bronx for more than 20 years. She attended Temple University School of Architecture and Engineering Technology, before enrolling in Hunter College, CUNY where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Art History/Fine Arts. She also earned a Business Development Certificate from Columbia University School of Business in 1994. She has been the Executive Director of the Bronx Council on the Arts, BCA, since 2009, and served on the board prior to that. Ms. Scott has extensive experience at art institutions throughout New York City, and prior to her time at BCA, she was the Director of Technology at the Studio Museum in Harlem for seven years. She has also worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bronx Museum of the Arts and Cooper- Hewitt--The Smithsonian's National Design Museum. She also co-founded the Aquamarine Sculpture Park in Manhattan, which was the first waterfront sculpture park in the borough. Among other roles, she has worked as a curator, educator, exhibition and multimedia designer, and instructor. Ms. Scott has also been involved in an amazing number of civic efforts. She is a member of the Board of Directors at the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, is a member of the New York City Workforce Investment Board, the Juxtopia Informatics' Virtual Instructors Pilot Research Group, and the Bronx Initiative for Energy and the Environment. The BCA is one of the Bronx's premier organizations, and this year will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. In her role as Executive Director, Ms. Scott has helped numerous artists, art organizations, and community groups through the BCA's programming and grants. In addition, she has played an important role in securing BCA's future by leading an effort that resulted in the donation of a new building to serve as the headquarters for the BCA. Mr. Speaker, the Bronx has a long and rich history in the arts. I am proud to say that Ms. Scott is not just a part of that past, but is also developing the future of arts and culture in our borough. She is very well respected by leaders in the arts community and her talents have not gone unnoticed by her peers. I am proud to join them in recognizing and thanking her for her contributions to the Bronx and to New York City. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing a gifted and talented woman, Ms. Deirdre Scott.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month 2012, I rise today to recognize a community leader from the Bronx whom I deeply respect, Ms. Karen Washington. Karen Washington was born and raised in New York City and has resided in the Bronx for more than a quarter century. She attended Hunter College, CUNY where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, with her Bachelor's in Health Sciences. She then attended New York University where she earned her Master's Degree in Occupational Biomechanics and Ergonomics. Since 1985, Ms. Washington has worked to improve the quality of life in the Bronx as a community activist. Ms. Washington works with residents of the Bronx to turn empty lots into accessible green spaces through her work as a community gardener and as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Botanical Garden. Not only has her work brought much needed green space to our neighborhoods but, as President of New York City Community Gardens, she has fought for the protection and preservation of existing community gardens. As a Just Food board member and trainer, Ms. Washington also leads workshops on food growing and food justice for community gardeners throughout the city. She has also worked to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in the Bronx that are grown in our community gardens. Ms. Washington is the Co-Founder of Black Urban Growers, an organization of agricultural volunteers committed to building networks and support for growers in both urban and rural settings. Ms. Washington has achieved these impressive accomplishments while working professionally as a physical therapist for over 30 years. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Washington's work in creating green space in urban areas and in advocating for food equity has touched thousands of lives throughout New York City. Our communities are stronger and more vibrant due to Ms. Washington's unwavering dedication. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to a woman of excellence, who aspires to make her community stronger, Ms. Karen Washington.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman Dicks for yielding me time so that I can comment on the Financial Services and General Government section of this bill. I would also like to thank both him and Chairman Rogers for their hard work in bringing this bill to the floor. Please let me also express my appreciation to Chairwoman Emerson, who worked so well with me and our staff throughout this process. Unfortunately, because of the budget agreement and the allocation that was given to the subcommittee, there are significant cuts to many important agencies. However, this is a much better bill than what emerged from our committee markup, and we worked hard to provide sufficient funding in order to avoid layoffs of hardworking Federal employees. I am especially pleased that the health care repeal provisions and the many anti-Dodd-Frank provisions that were a part of the committee-passed bill have not been included in this final conference agreement. I am, however, distressed that this agreement once again interferes in the local affairs of the District of Columbia. Although D.C. will be able to continue to use its own local funds for syringe exchange programs, this conference report prohibits them from using their own local funds for abortion services, a restriction that no other American city has dictated to it by the Federal Government. Finally, I am pleased that the provision reinstating the harsh Bush- era restrictions on Cuban-American travel to Cuba and limitations on remittances was dropped from the conference report. Had this provision stayed in the bill, there would have been an immediate shutdown of family travel to Cuba, which would have been particularly difficult just days before the holiday season. Before I conclude, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the majority and minority subcommittee staff for all of their hard work and to acknowledge the efforts of my own personal staff. Mr. Speaker, within the strict budgetary limitations that were given the committee and this section, an improved version, I am in favor of the bill, and I would ask my colleagues to vote for it.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. I thank the gentleman for his assistance.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my opposition to H.R. 2584, the Interior Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2012. First, however, I would like to acknowledge both Chairman Simpson and Congressman Moran, who have worked in a bipartisan and collaborative way throughout the lengthy hearing and markup process. It has been a pleasure for me to serve as a member of this subcommittee. Unfortunately, this subcommittee's insufficient spending allocation has resulted in deep cuts in funding for important agencies and programs. In addition, numerous anti-environmental riders have been attached to this legislation. Although there are many to choose from, I would like to mention a few of these cutbacks and what their impact will be on specific agencies and programs. For example, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is crucial in helping to fund land acquisition and in protecting threatened and endangered species, was funded at $66 million, which is $834 million below the budget request. State and Tribal Wildlife Grants, which play an important role in making sure that we have strategic and effective wildlife conservation programs, were funded at $22 million, or $73 million below the request. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, is funded at $7.1 billion, which is $1.8 billion below the request. At this funding level, the EPA will be prevented from accomplishing many of its missions to protect our environment. There are so many destructive riders attached to this legislation that it is difficult to figure out which ones to highlight during my brief remarks. One that specifically harms my State of New York was added during full committee markup. This rider prevents the Great Lakes States from receiving any EPA funding if they have implemented ballast water rules that have stronger timelines or standards than the Federal or international requirements that are currently in effect. Because New York has been at the forefront of efforts to require ships to treat their ballast water before discharging it into New York's waterways, our State will be immediately affected. States should have the right to protect their own waters from dangerous aquatic invasive species. Another particularly harmful rider would stop the EPA from limiting greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources for a 1-year period. Overall, 69 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States come from stationary sources, such as our electric utilities and petroleum refineries. This rider, which prevents the EPA from acting, will have far reaching and devastating consequences on our Nation's air quality. In particular, my Bronx congressional district, which has one of the highest asthma rates in the Nation, will continue to suffer from poor air quality. Because of the sharp reductions included in this bill to the programs and agencies that protect our environment, enrich our lives through the arts, and increase recreational opportunities; and because of the riders that harm our wildlife, our land, our water, and our air quality, I will be voting against this bill.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, when some of us go home and we speak to different groups about how Congress conducts its business, one of the parts of those conversations that may be hard to understand is that we have personal relationships and that we have people on both sides of the aisle who we respect and we like. So especially during these times it becomes difficult for some of us when, for instance, a person like myself looks at a Chairman Rogers or a Chairman Wolf or a Chairman Simpson, and we know that these are good people who are totally confused as to what it is we're supposed to be doing. You say to a Republican these days, Good morning; and he or she answers, Cut the budget. The sky is blue. Cut the budget. We all understand the need to get certain amounts of spending under control, but the problem is that some folks--and this bill shows that-- continue to totally misunderstand that, yes, we may have economic issues that we have to deal with--that's a given--but we are also still--and are perhaps forever--the greatest country on Earth. How did we get there? We didn't get there because we decided every couple of years to simply cut the budget. We got there because we invested money; because we created, yes, rules; because we created, yes, laws that protected our way of life and the way that we wanted our future generations to be treated. What you see across the board now is this belief that if you get the budget down to a certain number--and I say this profoundly sarcastically, perhaps, that some people would like to get it to zero, and I don't know what happens constitutionally after that if the budget is at zero--then the country will do better and everything will be well. Couple that with the fact that, while some folks on that side are, in fact, strong believers that you must cut spending, others have taken the opportunity to roll back language, to roll back regulations that have made the environment safer, that have made our lives better, that have made us safer as Americans. The public is being told it's about cutting the budget. The public is being told it's about not having a national debt. The public is being told it's about the future of our country in terms of what we owe. Yes, that is a legitimate concern; but what the country is not being told is that, for instance, in this bill, through riders, we are going back, perhaps not even to the sixties, but to the fifties or even the forties on environmental issues and on other issues. So what we need to do is to continue to be a voice on this side, as well as the folks on that side who believe as I do, that this is a wrong route to take and that we have to continue to stand up and say, We all understand the need to address the issues we have to, but we can't throw away everything that we've had; we can't throw away everything that we've built, and we can't simply not invest in the future. I sit on other committees, committees that have traditionally given us an opportunity to invest. Somewhere right now in this country, there is a person, male or female, sitting with a white robe, in a laboratory, who is coming up with the next medicine, the next Velcro, if you will--the next invention that will make us a better Nation and a better society, that will help us and help the world. If you look at those budgets--and they'll be coming to a floor near you pretty soon--those budgets are devastated when it comes to investing money in research. So, while it's good to tell the public to cut the budget, we need to be honest and say, In the process, we may set you back 30 or 40 years. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SERRANO. I move to strike the last word.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, during our full committee markup on the Interior bill, Congressman LaTourette offered an amendment to prevent the Great Lakes States from receiving any EPA funding if they have implemented ballast water rules that have stronger timelines or standards than the Federal or international requirements that are currently in effect. At the time, Mr. Chairman, I asked that we look more thoughtfully at the potential impact this amendment might have. Since that markup, I have heard concerns from numerous groups and the State of New York. In addition, it is my understanding that both EPA and the Coast Guard are working towards finalizing national standards. Would you be willing as we move toward conference with the Senate to work with the New York Members, Congressman LaTourette, and other Great Lakes Members to help us find a workable solution to this problem of invasive species and ballast water discharges?

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to the twenty-second annual Bronx Dominican Parade and Festival which will take place on Sunday, July 24, 2011. This famed event is eagerly anticipated by the Dominican and Bronx communities each year. It is a wonderful celebration of the spirit and richness of Dominican culture. Under the continued leadership of Felipe Febles and Rosa Ayala, the Bronx Dominican Day Parade, Inc., La Gran Parada Dominicana del Bronx, has grown into an important institution that increases the self- awareness and pride of the Dominican people in order to promote economic development, education, cultural recognition, and advancement. Dominicans have made invaluable contributions to the city, as well as to the entire nation. Although the highest concentration of Dominican people live in Washington Heights, a significant number have enriched the Bronx with their unique culture and spirit. The Dominican culture is one characterized by, among other things, diverse multi-culturalism, strong family values, distinctive art, amazing music and unique cuisine. We are grateful that so many have chosen to make the Bronx home. Mr. Speaker, the roots of Dominican New Yorkers lie in a country with a fascinating history and arresting beauty. The Dominican Republic is the home of a number of people from various heritages. As a result, the culture is charged with strong Taino, African, and European influences. One visit to the Dominican Republic will put to rest any questions one might have as to why Dominicans in America retain such a strong sense of pride in their homeland and never stop missing it. The achievements and contributions made by Dominican-Americans and Dominican residents have spanned the realms of politics, science, the Armed Forces, literature, public service, and the arts, and undoubtedly make them an integral part of American society. The Bronx Dominican Day Parade and Festival of the Bronx is a great opportunity to celebrate Dominican culture, history, and its bright future. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in honoring the Dominican Day Parade and Festival of the Bronx.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. I thank the gentleman. I rise today to speak against this rule and this bill. This will not solve our Nation's problems but, instead, will devastate our economy and the most vulnerable in our society. Our Nation has run into fiscal problems for three reasons, none of which are addressed by this bill: the Bush tax cuts, foreign wars, and the recession. When the fiscal situation of the government was better, I warned that their spending on tax cuts and foreign wars would cause fiscal problems which Republicans would then balance on the backs of social programs. But when the times were good, Republicans ignored these valid concerns, saying that ``tax cuts pay for themselves'' and, famously, ``deficits don't matter.'' They were wrong, and working families are suffering. Now we get the explanation that by cutting government jobs and spending, you will create jobs and revive the economy. However, it is clear that what we really need are good, stable jobs and stimulus in order for the economy to grow again. My constituents never got the benefits of the Bush bubble. They worked the jobs that were available and paid their taxes. Now the jobs have evaporated, and the social safety net that they paid into is under severe threat. I will vote against this bill on behalf of my constituents and the people like them across this Nation. I will be casting a vote for fairness and economic growth, against the Bush policies that the Republicans are seeking to extend, and for a better future for our children. Our Nation became great by making investments in our people and infrastructure and by creating a stable middle class and a robust social safety net. It became great through Americans supporting one another and paying their fair share of the taxes. Today, we watch as the Republicans continue to turn their backs on that history and continue their push towards a ``me first'' economic system. I want no part of that bleak future, nor should our Nation.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. William ``Bill'' Alexander who passed away in April 2011. William ``Bill'' Alexander joined my staff shortly after I entered Congress in the early 1990's. Bill, as he was affectionately known, was a proud ``Irishman'' who had a strong commitment to social justice and equality. Mr. Speaker, Bill worked to alert and elevate his fellow man to the highest heights. He especially enjoyed assisting young people as they charted their career steps. Because of Bill's commitment to ensure the forward advancement of others, he was the first to provide gainful employment to those who were seeking to start their public service careers in New York State. As the Director of the Press Corp for New York State, Bill was instrumental in working closely with newly elected assemblymen, senators and the administration in ensuring that the democratic agenda was well prepared and delivered. Mr. Speaker, Bill was a consummate reader and enjoyed having a drink during a lively discussion. It was during these times at the water hole that he provided you with his best advice. He was never afraid to take a stand for justice or take an opportunity to set the course for a challenging journey. He faced many obstacles both familiar and professional but always maintained a steady course and determined mind. As we gather here to remember my friend, colleague, mentor and loved one, it comes to mind that the field of journalism in heaven has been enhanced by one additional writer who sought and fought for justice for all.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to the Fifty-Fourth National Puerto Rican Day Parade, which will be held on June 12th, 2011, in New York City. A radiant and star-studded event, this parade proudly recognizes the heritage of Puerto Rican people here in the United States, and year upon year has proven to be one of our nation's largest outdoor festivities. The National Puerto Rican Day Parade is the successor to the New York Puerto Rican Day Parade, which held its inaugural celebration on Sunday, April 12th, 1958, in ``El Barrio,'' Manhattan. The impact of the first Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York was immediate and resounding. Thousands of New York Puerto Ricans flooded the streets in a very public, very proud demonstration of their emergence in the City as an important and growing ethnic group. For the next 38 years, the New York Puerto Rican Day Parade became a staple of New York's cultural life. In 1995, the overwhelming success of the parade prompted organizers to increase its size and transform it into the national and international affair that it is today. On June 12th delegates representing over thirty states, including Alaska and Hawaii, will join the roughly 3 million parade goers every year who turn New York's Fifth Avenue into a sea of traditional red, white, and blue flags. It's a picture unlike anything you will see anywhere else in the country. Not only because New York is the most international city in the world, but also because of the relationship that exists between New York and the Puerto Rican community. It's an historic relationship essentially born of mutual benefit and respect. Puerto Ricans have helped transform New York into a dynamic, bilingual city that continues to welcome newcomers from all over the globe, and the City of New York, believed by many to be a place of opportunity, has enabled Puerto Ricans to flourish economically, culturally and politically. The success that the parade enjoys each year is brought about in large measure by the continued efforts of a choice few individuals-- women and men of able leadership who believe, as I do, in the unbound potential of people of Puerto Rican descent. The Parade's march up Fifth Avenue, while certainly the most visible aspect of the celebration, is hardly the only event associated with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc.'s activities. Each year more than 10,000 people attend a variety of award ceremonies, banquets and cultural events that strengthen the special relationship shared by Puerto Ricans and the City of New York. Mr. Speaker, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade is an experience unlike any other. It signals to all who witness it that the Puerto Rican community, both in New York and nationally, represents an exquisite tapestry of individuals. Its power can be seen on the faces and heard in the streets, as millions come together to joyously proclaim their heritage. And so, Mr. Speaker, as a Puerto Rican and a New Yorker, and as someone who participates in this parade annually, I stand before you and my colleagues in Congress with a full and proud heart to pay tribute to the sights and sounds and wonder that is the National Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month 2011, I rise today to recognize a man who cares deeply about equality in our society, Mr. Demetrius McCord. Demetrius is a lifelong resident of the Bronx, New York, who for several years has worked to further the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. Demetrius is currently the Deputy Executive Director of the Bronx Community Pride Center (BCPC), the borough's only exclusive LGBT service-oriented agency. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Scranton and Juris Doctor from Albany Law School of Union University. Prior to his current role, Demetrius served as the BCPC's Director of Development, tasked with enlarging the institution's capacity and donor base. He organizes public forums and community programming across the city; and among his more recent public victories, Demetrius has been instrumental to the success of the annual Bronx Pride Festival. In addition to his work with the BCPC, Demetrius is the Funding Chair for the annual People of Color Summit, which is sponsored, in part, by the New York State LGBT Health and Human Services Network, a coalition of over fifty LGBT-supportive nonprofit organizations that provide health and social services to LGBT New Yorkers and their families. Demetrius also serves on the Board of the Gay and Lesbian Dominican Empowerment Organization (GALDE), a grassroots organization that serves the city's Dominican and Latino LGBT communities. Mr. Speaker, not only does Demetrius' work support members of the LGBT community across the city, he helps to articulate why the rights and liberties of LGBT Americans must be equal to anyone else. His work brings us nearer to those principals upon which our nation was founded; of fairness and decency and equality under the law. I am therefore very proud to ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing a young man who aspires to make his community stronger and his country more perfect, Mr. Demetrius McCord.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month 2011, I rise today to offer praise and thanks to a man I have known for more than forty years; a man who first learned about service during the Korean War as a United States Marine; and then spent the next half century in service to his community in the Bronx. I speak of a man of action as well as conscience, but most of all, a trusted friend, Mr. Leroy Richard Archible. Mr. Archible, better known as ``Arch,'' was born in Memphis, Tennessee in July 1931. He attended high school in Louisville, Kentucky, before enlisting in the United States Marines. Arch served in the Marines for 10 years, from 1950-1960; and in Korea from 1951-1953. A decorated soldier, Arch was awarded the Korean Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars, the National Defense Service Medal, a Korean President Unit Citation, a United Nations Service Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal with 2 Bronze Stars. After his discharge, Arch migrated to the Bronx, New York. His community involvement began as a Youth Employment Counselor and Sports Director at the Morrisania Youth and Community Services Center. He joined Community Board 3 and was appointed 1st Vice Chairperson, in addition to Chairperson of the Parks & Recreation and Historical Research Committees. Arch has worked for the Mayor's Office Of Veterans Affairs under the Honorable Abe Beame; and served on the Institutional Review Board of Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center. Most recently, Arch was appointed by the Governor of New York to serve on the statewide Veterans Affairs Commission. In addition, for the better part of three decades, Arch has acted as a local historian of African American history in the Bronx. He has traveled across the borough archiving stories and historical documents which help to illustrate the African American experience in the Bronx, beginning from the early 20th century. This preservation work has always been carried out at Arch's own expense, to insure this important legacy is not lost. It is Arch's work with the community of veterans, however, for which he is most well known. Three years ago, Arch helped to lead an effort to have the remains of a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient from the Bronx given proper burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Cornelius H. Charlton was posthumously awarded our nation's highest military honor for bravery during the Korean War He was killed in 1951 but his body was not laid to rest at Arlington. In November 2008, Arch, along with members of Sgt. Charlton's family and several veterans from the Bronx VA, oversaw the reinterring of Sgt. Charlton's body into Arlington National Cemetery. As a result, Arch and the dedicated group who championed this effort formed The Friends of Charlton Garden, a Bronx- based 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that advocates for veterans affairs. Arch serves as Co-Chair of The Friends of Charlton Garden, and is a member of several other veterans groups, including The American Legion Mitchell-Royal Post 1905, and the Bronx Chapter of the National Association of Black Veterans. Mr. Speaker, after so many years of helping others, Leroy Archible has earned the gratitude of more people than he could possibly know. If you were to ask him, however, Arch would tell you that his proudest moments have come as a husband to Ella, a father, and as a grandfather. Arch has been the heartbeat of so much good during his life; he is accomplished in work; respected among peers; and brave in all things. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Mr. Leroy Richard Archible.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month 2011, I rise today to pay tribute to a woman who for forty years has made the well-being of her surrounding community her personal responsibility, Ms. Dorothy DeSuzia. Dorothy was born and raised in New York City and attended public schools as a child. Her father was a native New Yorker and her mother migrated to the U.S. from the West Indies. In 1965 Dorothy moved into a newly constructed, 1,852 unit apartment complex in the Bronx known as Concourse Village. Dorothy was among the first tenants to move in, and describes the development during those years as a ``beautiful'' space with a great diversity of residents. Today, Concourse Village is a model of urban homeownership in New York City; but we must not forget that the earliest residents of Concourse Village, including Dorothy, actually fought and won the right to become shareholders. Dorothy helped lead the campaign to have stock certificates awarded to residents of Concourse Village back in the late 1970s; prior to this, no one living in Concourse Village owned their home. Then in 1981, after a prolonged effort led by Dorothy and a dedicated group of residents, stock certificates were finally awarded and the first shareholder Board of Directors was formed. Dorothy served on the first board and three years later, in 1984, she was elected President of the Board of Directors at Concourse Village; a position she held until 1990. She rejoined the Board of Directors six years later in 1996 and remains a board member to this day. Dorothy has held every position of leadership at Concourse Village, from floor captain to Board President. Her record of transparency and fair dealing has earned her, above all, the trust of her fellow shareholders; and it is safe to say that she has been involved in nearly every major capital and quality of life improvement at the development for the past four decades; including the creation of ``Special Adults,'' Concourse Village's senior citizen program which plans trips and creates a place for seniors to congregate and feel welcome. All of this, however, comes on top of a 38 year career with the former New York Telephone Company, NYTel, now Bell Atlantic/ Verizon, from which Dorothy retired in 1992. Mr. Speaker, if one considers the number of individuals and families who have lived in Concourse Village or have close ties there; and of that number, how many enjoyed a safe, nurturing place to grow up or knew the joy of homeownership since 1981, one can begin to grasp just how impactful Dorothy DeSuzia has been in this community. Her commitment has made the lives of thousands of Bronx residents more enjoyable and more secure. I ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to a kind and decent and brave woman whose contributions will not soon be forgotten, Ms. Dorothy DeSuzia.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Black History Month 2011, I rise today to recognize a lawmaker from the Bronx whom I admire greatly, the Honorable Vanessa L. Gibson. Vanessa is a lifelong resident of New York City and a product of its public school system. She graduated from Murray Bergtraum High School for Business Careers in 1997 before enrolling in the State University of Albany, where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology in 2001. During her senior year as an undergraduate, Vanessa was offered an internship with Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene, a Democrat from the Bronx who would become Vanessa's most trusted friend and mentor. Vanessa worked for Assemblywoman Greene in every capacity; learning the processes of public service from one of the ablest and most respected lawmakers in the state. Vanessa first served as Assemblywoman Greene's Legislative Analyst, with responsibilities that included drafting policies to meet the needs of residents of the 77th Assembly District. She worked with community based organizations and diverse constituencies to promote laws that offered greater protections for renters and people on Section 8, and improved educational opportunities for young people from the Bronx. In 2003, Vanessa was promoted to Bronx Office District Manager, which increased not only her responsibilities but also her prominence within the community. She became the principal liaison to Community Boards 4 and 5, in addition to Secretary of the Bronx Unity Democratic Club. In May 2009, Vanessa received her Master's Degree in Public Administration from Baruch College, part of the City University of New York, CUNY. Later that year, with support from across the state, Vanessa ran for public office and was elected to a seat in the New York State Assembly, representing the people of the 77th District, who after nearly a decade of service had come to know and respect and trust Vanessa's judgment. Mr. Speaker, Vanessa L. Gibson earned her public profile through loyalty, hard work, but above all, on the power of her considerable gifts. Her youth and talent have led many to regard her as one for New York's future; but this should not outshine the fact that Vanessa is also one for New York's present. She is among the most promising in a new wave of elected officials in this country; women and men who learned government from the inside and took away its best lessons; lessons of respect for ethics; of honesty in public dealings; and of fidelity to the best interests of one's constituents. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing a hugely gifted woman, and someone who carries with her the hopes of thousands of New Yorkers, including myself, The Honorable Vanessa L. Gibson.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SERRANO. Let me just very quickly in closing say that I was very surprised and interested in hearing that the Republican Party is going to move next on undoing the mandate on car insurance throughout this country and other insurance. We know what this is. This is a way to try to kill the law of the land. This should not be done. And I oppose the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SERRANO. I would like to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Mr. SERRANO. I think before we go any further on this subject, we really have to understand what is happening here. The majority party would like to do away with the health care reform law, and the way to do that is exactly that way, to try to do away with the law. But they don't have the votes in both Houses to do that. So what they're trying to do is not fund provisions that have to go into place. So at this moment what Mrs. Emerson is trying to do is say that no funds can be used to impose this mandate. Now, this particular part is going to get played out in the courts. So let's be honest: the courts will have to decide why it's okay to mandate that you have car insurance but not this particular issue. And there are going to be a lot of other issues that are going to be done. But the issue here is that they would like to legislate on this bill the end of health care. And that's just not going to happen. Lastly, what this amendment does is speak to the larger issue, which is that in this country now we have a law that provides access to quality health care to all residents regardless of who they are, where they live, or their income. The only people who are upset about this bill, about this law, and have done a good job of telling the American people that this is the end of the world, are the insurance companies who now have to step up to the plate and follow the law. So we know what this is about. We know what you are trying to accomplish, but it's not going to work. It's not going to work this way, and it's not going to work in rescinding the law. Lastly, you know that every so often I give advice to the Republican Party because I like you. If you keep calling it ObamaCare, you know what's going to happen? It's going to make it through the courts, and 20 years from now you are going to have Social Security, Medicare, and ObamaCare, and you would have cemented his legacy forever. So we thank you for that, and I am sure the President thanks you. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).

Mr. SERRANO. I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. SERRANO. How much time do I have, Madam Chair?

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, the amendment proposes a net increase in the budget authority in the bill. The amendment is not in order under section 3(j)(3) of House Resolution 5 of the 112th Congress which states, ``It shall not be in order to consider an amendment to a general appropriations bill proposing a net increase in budget authority in the bill unless considered en bloc with another amendment or amendments proposing an equal or greater decrease in such budget authority pursuant to clause 2(f) of rule XXI. The amendment proposes a net increase in budget authority in the bill in violation of such section. I ask for a ruling from the Chair.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the amendment.

Mr. SERRANO. I thank you for the time. I recognize that you do not support the amendment, but some folks still cannot help themselves. This is not about the White House; it's about who lives in the White House. First, there was an amendment to cut his staff. Then there was an amendment that was taken away about not allowing him a teleprompter, and now there's an amendment that says you can't fix the leaks in the White House. You know, we have a plumbing system at the White House that hasn't been repaired since Harry Truman. That's a long, long time. So, yes, there are difficult times in this country, but when you have a house visited by many, many tourists throughout the year, you should be careful as to the wiring, about the kind of things that could happen with water, about the kind of things that could happen with safety. And after all, whether we like this President or not, this is the residential place and the office space for our President, for the next one, and the ones to follow. I think this is a proper investment, and personally, I think it gets pretty petty when we don't even allow this President to have leaks fixed in the White House.