Albio Sires

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week. Teachers do not merely just teach in the classroom, they listen to their students and gently push them to reach their full potential. Teachers serve as role models and mentors. Because of the mentorship of my teachers in high school, I applied for college. I was fortunate to be given a scholarship and an opportunity that I would not have known about if it were not for my teachers. Upon graduating, I decided to give back to my community and became a teacher. New Jersey has among the most talented teachers in the country, and our students are lucky to learn from them. While we are honoring them this week, we should be thankful for their service every day. We trust teachers with our most valuable resources--our children. While we ask teachers to prepare our children to meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must give them the tools to rise to these challenges. Competitive salaries and financial resources must be provided. Let's join together in recognizing our teachers in New Jersey and across the country. Take the time to thank your teacher for their leadership and inspiration.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was observed last week on April 19. The theme of this year's Holocaust Remembrance Day was ``Choosing to Act,'' offering an important reminder of the sacredness of human life and the need for all of us to stand against evil. The Holocaust represents one of the darkest periods in human history and illustrates the worst of human behavior, yet some still deny the events of the Holocaust ever occurred. It is no wonder that Israel is extremely concerned with the development of nuclear weapons in Iran, putting these arms in the hands of radicals who have shown no respect for human life or basic human rights. We must support and stand by Israel during these dangerous times. We must always keep in the back of our minds the history of the Jewish people. Understanding their history helps us understand their concerns and feelings about what is currently going on in the world. On Holocaust Remembrance Day we are reminded that the Jewish people have had firsthand experience with true evil, and we must work to ensure that such atrocities do not happen again.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge that the MEK be removed from the U.S. Department of State's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Since its listing in 1997, the MEK has denounced violence and provided valuable intelligence on the Iranian regime, yet they remain on our terrorist list. Even important allies acknowledge that the MEK no longer poses a terrorist threat. In 2009, the United Kingdom and the European Union removed the group from their lists. The unjust listing has been considered by the U.S. courts, but the Department of State continues to drag its feet regarding the delisting. In July 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit criticized the Department of State's designation of the MEK as a terrorist organization since the group's due process rights had been violated, and the Department of State has yet to provide specific information demonstrating why the group is a terrorist threat today. The battle over delisting the MEK has gone on far too long with far too little evidence. I urge my colleagues to follow me in calling for the immediate delisting of the MEK by the Department of State.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues here in the House to take action and create jobs by bringing Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, or MAP 21, to the House floor for a vote. Yesterday, for the second time this week, the Republican leadership pulled a short-term highway extension bill. Time is running out, and the ninth extension will be expiring this Saturday, March 31. If Congress does not act by Saturday, millions of construction jobs will be at risk. Gas taxes will not be collected, which can add up to over $90 million a day. Two weeks ago, MAP 21 successfully passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 74 22. While it is not a perfect bill, MAP 21 is fully paid for and is estimated to save 1.8 million jobs and create up to 1 million more jobs. While I would prefer a 5-year transportation bill, MAP 21 is legislation that both Republicans and Democrats can support. A transportation bill will not only improve our infrastructure but will provide jobs. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to bring to the floor MAP 21 for a vote.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, on March 17, the world lost a great spiritual leader, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. I rise today to join the millions of Coptic Christians in mourning his death. This past Sunday, St. Mary Coptic Church in East Brunswick, New Jersey, held a very moving memorial service for the Pope. An estimated 1,000 mourners gathered in the cathedral while a thousand more listened to the service in nearby rooms. There was an outpouring of grief from people of all faiths. Leaders from many religions and sects were in attendance to pay homage to the Pope, including His Grace Bishop David, the Bishop of the Archdiocese of North America. As we mourn the loss of a great leader and purveyor of faith and religious tolerance, we remember and embrace all that the Pope has done for the Coptic community in Egypt and around the world. The beloved leader of the Coptic Christian church has provided immeasurable contributions to further promote tolerance and interfaith dialogue in Egypt and serves as an example of how communities of different faiths can live in harmony. As Egypt continues its transition, Egyptian leaders must work together to uphold the rights of all religious communities in Egypt and end all discrimination.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Coach Jeffrey R. Stabile, the former head coach of Bayonne High School's Girls Basketball team, who taught in the district for over 37 years. Recently, the gymnasium in the Bayonne High School Physical Education/ Community Education Center was dedicated to him and renamed, ``Jeffrey R. Stabile Court.'' Coach Stabile had an outstanding coaching career with the Bayonne High School Bees and also coached both Boys and Girls Basketball and Softball. Additionally, Coach Stabile was a special education teacher. Coach Jeffrey R. Stabile has been a coach at Bayonne High School for 41 years, including 14 years with the Boys Basketball program as a freshman coach and junior varsity coach, and 27 years with the Girls Basketball program as the head coach. Coach Stabile led the Boys Basketball team to back to back Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association Junior Varsity Championships in 1968-69 and in 1969-1970. As the Girls Basketball head coach, Coach Stabile compiled a record of 570 wins and 135 losses, which included 20 Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association (HCIAA) Finals and 14 HCIAA Championships. Coach Stabile led his teams to 11 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Section Finals and won 5 Section Championships. Finally, his teams made 28 straight State Tournament appearances and reached the State final once in 2006. From 1985 until 1992, the team had a 120 game win streak versus Hudson County Teams which led to 7 straight HCIAA Championships. For his accomplishments, Coach Stabile was inducted into the Hudson County Hall of Fame in 2005, into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005, and the St. Aloysius High School Wall of Fame in 2007, where he attended high school. Please join me in honoring Coach Jeffrey R. Stabile for his service to the community as a teacher and a coach. I thank him, his wife, Maryann, and his two children Jeffrey Jr. and Joelle, for his contribution to our community.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following regarding the culture of poverty in Cuba under the Castro regime. [From the Jersey Journal, Dec. 31, 2011] Cuba's Culture of Poverty Persists (By Roland A. Alum) The Fidel-&-Raul Castro regime marks 53 years this Jan. 1. The brothers unquestionably enjoyed extraordinary popularity in 1959, but the enthusiasm soon vanished as they turned Cuba into a financially and spiritually bankrupt Marxist anti- utopia. As a result, nearly two million Cubans of all social backgrounds have fled, many of them settling in Hudson County. By the 1950s, Cuba was a regional leader in numerous social indicators, notwithstanding instability and corruption during the republican era (1902-1958). But since 1959 the island- nation has become a backward, closed society beleaguered by unproductivity and rationing. Sociologist Tomas Masaryk noted that ``dictators `look good' until the last minutes''; in Cuba's case, it seems particularly fine to certain U.S. intellectuals. Comfortably from abroad, apologists contend that most of the socioeconomic problems that traditionally afflicted the prior five and a half decades were eliminated after 1959. Yet, fact-finding by international social-scientists challenges this fantasy. An early, little-known account uncovering some effects of the Castros' regimentation came from research in Cuba in 1969-'70 by U.S. cultural-anthropologists Oscar Lewis and Douglas Butterworth. They intended to test Lewis' theory that a culture of poverty would not exist in a Marxist-oriented society. They had naively presupposed that the socially alienating conditions that engender such phenomena could develop among the poor solely under capitalism. The Lewis-Butterworth early on-the-ground scrutiny validates many accounts by respected experts and the much vilified exiles. There exists a culture of poverty in Cuba, although it is not necessarily a survivor of the old times, but seemingly a by-product of the Castros' totalitarian socialism. There were always poor Cubans, and some version of the culture of poverty might have existed before; but in my communications with Butterworth, he reconfirmed another discovery. The researchers could not document a case for a pervasive pre-1959 culture of poverty. The authorities must have suspected the prospective conclusions because the scholars were abruptly expelled and their Cuban statistician imprisoned. Upon the 53rd anniversary, the old Lewis-Butterworth analysis invites renewed reflection. Apologists customarily replicate propagandistic cliches by blaming failures on external factors, such as the ending, two decades ago, of the multibillion-dollar subsidies from the defunct Soviet Bloc. The anthropologists' undertaking, however, revealed that life for average Cubans in the Castros' first decade was already beset with corruption and time-wasting food lines. Likewise, Butterworth described how ordinary people were engaging in what sociobehavioral scientists now call ``everyday forms of resistance.'' Cubans were already undermining the police-state through black-marketeering, pilfering and vandalism, as we hear that they continue to do decades later. After more than half a century of oppression and poor quality of life, one hopes for a transition to an open society with equal opportunities for every Cuban.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the West New York, New Jersey, School District for their efforts to promote nutrition and physical education at school as part of the Healthy Schools Program. Last week, President Clinton visited PS #2 in West New York to praise the Board of Education for its efforts in transforming the school system's nutritional program. This was part of the Alliance for a Healthy Schools Program to reduce childhood obesity. During his visit, President Clinton was able to see firsthand how the school has embraced nutrition and wellness. West New York has a history of being recognized by the Alliance for nutritional achievement. PS #2 received a Bronx National Recognition Award in 2009 and a Silver National Recognition Award in 2010 for their efforts to provide students with a fresher, more nutritional meal plan. In 2010, my high school alma mater, Memorial High School, received the first and only Gold National Recognition Award given by the Alliance. And last October, the Alliance awarded Sal Valenza, the food service director of West New York, the distinction of the Healthy Schools Program Champion. I am honored to represent a school district that emphasizes healthy lifestyles, and I am pleased that West New York has been recognized for their efforts.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the majority unwisely gambled with the economic security of the middle class. They voted on legislation that was designed to fail, fully knowing that it will be dead on arrival in the Senate and vetoed by the President. By tieing the extension of the payroll tax to controversial and unrelated policies, the majority is playing a dangerous game that could result in tax hikes for 160 million workers. Moreover, by attaching the Medicare doc fix to the same divisive policy, they have endangered seniors' access to their doctors. We must support a clean extension of the payroll tax holiday and the unemployment insurance that is not paid for through increased health care costs for seniors or at the expense of public health. If we fail to pass a clean extension of the payroll tax holiday or unemployment benefits, the average American family will lose a tax break worth $1,000 and our economy will lose $30 billion as the unemployed will lose much needed assistance. Now is not the time to play risky games with our economy. We must pass a clean extension of the payroll tax and continue assistance for the unemployed.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, the majority has held 891 votes in this Chamber, and we still see no plan for job creation. To make matters worse, my colleagues across the aisle have now focused their efforts on opposing a tax break for the middle class. They are opposing the extension of the Federal tax holiday enacted earlier this year that gave virtually all working Americans a much needed tax cut, reducing taxes for over 160 million American workers. Economic uncertainty both here in the U.S. and abroad makes this a dangerous time to eliminate an important tax cut that is saving American families an average of $1,000 a year. Failing to extend the payroll tax holiday will raise taxes on millions of Americans, taking over $120 billion out of the pockets of consumers and out of the economy. Furthermore, at the same time the majority is working to raise taxes on the middle class, they are willing to cut off the unemployment insurance that has been keeping millions of Americans afloat. Madam Speaker, let's ensure that millions of Americans enjoy this holiday season and are not forced to worry about raising taxes or losing essential assistance.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, with our economy struggling and unemployment remaining unacceptably high, now is not the time to take more money out of the pockets of hardworking Americans. The majority is opposing an extension of the payroll tax holiday, enacted earlier this year, that gave virtually all working Americans a much-needed tax cut. The payroll tax holiday cut the Social Security payroll taxes of over 160 million workers. Economic uncertainty both here in the U.S. and abroad makes this a dangerous time to eliminate an important tax cut that is saving American families an average of $1,000 a year. Failing to extend the payroll tax holiday will raise taxes on millions of Americans, taking over $120 billion out of the pockets of consumers and out of the economy. In addition, failing to extend the unemployment insurance to those who have lost their jobs will take an additional $30 billion out of the economy and rob over a million unemployed Americans of much-needed income and assistance. Now is not the time to end these important tax cuts, and it is certainly not the time to pull the plug on the unemployed in our economy. I encourage my colleagues to pass both of these provisions as swiftly as possible.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concern about the closure of post offices across this country. For decades, the post office has sustained and created American jobs in every corner of this country. Closing these vital institutions will not only hurt our economy, but it will devastate American families who rely on these jobs. The closing of thousands of post offices will adversely affect minorities who live in low-income neighborhoods; it will affect the elderly, who need post offices within walking distance in order to send letters to their families; and it will affect small business owners who use the U.S. Postal Service as a way to conduct business. Additionally, rural communities, the hardest hit by the economic downturn, will see the greatest number of closures, causing their communities to further suffer. It has been reported that if 10,000 of the smallest post offices were closed the postal service would only save 1 percent of its total yearly budget. Furthermore, the United States Postal Service branch closings would mean that approximately 5,000 postal employees would lose their jobs. If we are serious about economic recovery, we must save post offices, which provide jobs to thousands of Americans; and we must make the necessary reforms to strengthen our postal service.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the great need to update our Nation's infrastructure and, in particular, bridges. Bridges play a vital role in moving people and goods, and far too many of our bridges are falling into a state of disrepair. Our Nation has a total of 600,000 bridges, with over 65,000 being deemed deficient. That means 11\1/2\ percent of our Nation's bridges are considered deficient and require significant maintenance, rehabilitation or replacement. In the New Jersey portion of New York City metropolitan area, over 8 million vehicles cross a deficient bridge every day. The infrastructure in the United States is crumbling, and the backlog of deficient bridges is growing. Congress has not been able to pass a long-term transportation funding bill for 2 years. We are still working on a fiscal year 2012 budget that will provide States with important transportation funding. This year the construction industry has been suffering from unemployment rates of up to 20 percent. Investing in bridges will create jobs today, keep Americans safe, and ensure economic development for the future. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass legislation to strengthen our transportation infrastructure and put people back to work.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, it has been 43 weeks since Republicans took control of the House, and we have had 817 recorded votes, yet they have failed to pass a single bill to create jobs. In turn, they have actually voted against, blocked, or ignored an array of job-creating proposals, including the American Jobs Act as well as segments of the American Jobs Act. There are 14 million Americans out of work that are counting on Congress to pass legislation that creates jobs and improves the American economy. The American Jobs Act will create and preserve jobs now, put money back into the pockets of working Americans now, and give businesses job-creating tax breaks now. Unfortunately, the majority is continuing a no-jobs agenda by refusing to hold a vote on the American Jobs Act. The House majority will not even follow the Senate's lead by bringing job-creating components of the bill, like the provision that preserves jobs for teachers and first responders, up for a vote. Mr. Speaker, we must act now to establish confidence in our economy, and the American Jobs Act is one way to achieve that goal.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the violence in Egypt. Months after Muslims and Christians fought for democracy, religious violence continues to plague the country. Worse yet, in post- revolution Egypt, violence against Coptic Christians is rising. This weekend, over two dozen people were killed in Cairo, most of them Coptic Christians. Demonstrators had gathered to protest the attack on a Coptic church and other Christian-owned properties. In response, military officials aggressively confronted protesters by driving vehicles into crowds and shooting off rounds of live ammunition. In the end, 26 people were dead and hundreds were wounded. This brutal crackdown puts into great question the ability of the military government to bring democracy to Egypt and protect its minority Coptic population. These military attacks are unacceptable, and the resulting deaths are absolutely appalling. The Coptic Christians simply want respect for their churches, their homes, and their basic rights. Democracy cannot thrive in Egypt if the rights of Coptic Christians are not respected. The United States must do everything it can to pressure military leaders to end the violence, punish those responsible, and uphold the equal rights of all Egyptian citizens.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, the American Jobs Act, proposed by President Obama, is a clear path forward to rebuilding America by putting our country back to work, helping small businesses succeed, and providing tax relief for workers. Specifically, this plan would put teachers, firefighters, police and first responders to work by creating jobs through investments in America's schools and infrastructure. It will also provide tax cuts that put money in the pockets of American workers and employers so they can grow and add jobs, as well as offer job training incentives to hire returning veterans and help the unemployed with pathways back to work. The most critical element of the Jobs Act is that it requires immediate action to create American jobs and rebuild our economy. In conjunction with our Make It in America agenda, the Jobs Act will provide the long-term tools for rebuilding the American manufacturing base and creating well-paying jobs into the future. The Jobs Act invests in our future and assists struggling Americans now, all without adding a dime to the deficit. Mr. Speaker, our number one priority needs to be job creation, and the American Jobs Act is the first step in that effort.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, the President has offered a clear path forward to put the country back to work, help small business succeed and hire, provide tax relief for our workers, and rebuild America. The American Jobs Act will provide an immediate boost to our economy through job creation and tax relief for American workers and businesses. Specifically, this plan will prevent teacher layoffs and keep firefighters and police officers on the job. It will support the modernization of at least 35,000 public schools across the country to ensure that every student has access to a 21st century education. This plan will create even more jobs by investing in America's crumbling infrastructure by rebuilding our roads, rebuilding our railways, and rebuilding our airports. Finally, the American Jobs Act will cut payroll taxes in half for at least 160 million workers next year, allow more Americans to refinance their homes at today's near 4 percent interest rates, and provide incentives for employers to hire long-term unemployed workers. Madam Speaker, Americans across this country are counting on this Congress to swiftly act to create jobs and rebuild our economy.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to recognize Dr. Cynthia D. Starr and her contributions to the medical field and the New Jersey community. On October 29, 2011, Dr. Starr will be honored by Warren Hospital at their 30th annual Foundation Gala for her forty years of dedicated service to her community in the field of hematology and oncology. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Dr. Starr graduated from the Chicago School of Medicine prior to an internship, residency, and fellowship at Montefiore Hospital in Bronx, New York where she mastered internal medicine, hematology, and oncology. Dr. Starr then continued her career in private practice and as an active member on the Warren Hospital staff in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, where she has specialized in hematology and oncology for the past four decades. Additionally, Dr. Starr is a consulting staff member to Easton Hospital in Easton, Pennsylvania and a founding member of the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. During her time at Warren Hospital, Dr. Starr has served as Chairperson of the Warren Hospital Tumor Board and Chairperson of the Warren Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. She continues to serve as Chairperson of the Warren Hospital Cancer Committee and as a member of the Warren Hospital Transfusion Committee. Her recognition on October 29th will be the latest of several honors Dr. Starr has been bestowed throughout her career. She has been elected President of Warren Hospital Medical Staff, elected by colleagues and patients as Warren County Home Care Physician of the Year, and she is a recipient of the First Clinical Instructor of the Year Award for the Warren Hospital Residency Program. In 2001, Warren Hospital opened its new Cynthia D. Starr Breast Care Center in honor of her service to the hospital's field of oncology. It is with the highest esteem that I congratulate Dr. Cynthia Starr on her upcoming honor, as well as her accomplished career. Dr. Starr is a prime example of how one individual's dedication and service can positively impact an entire community.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, Palestinian Authority President Abbas has announced that this Friday he will formally seek statehood recognition at the United Nations. While there are obstacles to achieving a lasting and peaceful two- state solution, the PA's attempt to seek recognition at the UN demonstrates that they are not truly interested in achieving peace. Such a unilateral approach, will not lead to peace. This action violates the letter and spirit of the Oslo accords and deals a significant blow to future negotiations. Recognizing a Palestinian state would also give legitimacy to Hamas given that the terrorist group currently is in control of the Gaza Strip--an area the PA claims for its state. By granting recognition of a state, the international community will reward Hamas for its terrorist actions, rather than condemn them. Furthermore, this reckless action at the UN could lead to widespread violence on the ground. The only way to achieve a two-state solution is through direct negotiations leading to a peace treaty fully accepted by both governments and by both peoples. A vote on a unilateral UN resolution will likely set prospects for peace in the region back years. The United States needs to stand strong with Israel, and I am pleased that President Obama has called the Palestinian efforts at the UN a ``mistake'' and has stated that the United States will veto this resolution should it be brought before the Security Council. We need a unified voice from the United States and our allies showing that this action is not the way to achieve a peace and that if such action is taken, there will be consequences.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, 2 weeks ago, Hurricane Irene ravaged the east coast, including the State of New Jersey. Earlier this year, tornados leveled parts of the Midwest, and now Texas is experiencing one of the worst wildfires in its history. Furthermore, on the heels of Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee hit New Jersey, causing more damage and forcing more people from their homes. Homes have been destroyed, businesses are suffering, and many areas are still covered in water. While many major disaster declarations have been made, the availability of Federal assistance remains uncertain. Today, I rise to ask my colleagues to work in a bipartisan manner to immediately pass emergency disaster relief legislation to support recovery efforts. Communities across the country have witnessed unthinkable destruction and endured great loss, and it is the Federal Government's responsibility to replenish the Disaster Relief Fund to ensure that these communities receive help in their time of need. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting supplemental disaster relief. We must come together now to provide disaster assistance to these devastated areas.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, we have less than 1 week to prevent our Nation from defaulting on its loans. Rather than focusing on a compromise, the majority has come up with yet another irresponsible plan to raise the debt ceiling and slash funding from programs that matter most to seniors and the middle class. First, their budget tried to end Medicare and gut Medicaid, all the while protecting tax breaks for Big Oil and corporations that send jobs overseas. Then it was the so-called Cut, Cap, and Balance to achieve the same objectives. Now the Speaker has put forward another plan that seeks the same goals so they can impose cuts on Medicare and Medicaid as well as set their sights on Social Security. This plan will keep the crisis going with a temporary increase in the debt ceiling, leaving the cloud of uncertainty over our economy. We need to instead focus on the compromise plan that Majority Leader Reid has presented to extend the debt ceiling through 2012 to provide certainty to the markets without hurting the economic recovery, as well as protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security from cuts. Mr. Speaker, we must accept the compromise plan to raise the debt ceiling in order to prevent another recession and save jobs in America.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, thirty-seven years ago, on July 20, 1974, nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots fell victim to a Turkish invasion of northern Cyprus. They were forcibly evicted from their homes and became refugees in their own country. Today, Turkey continues to occupy more than one-third of Cyprus with more than 43,000 Turkish troops, making the occupied area of Cyprus one of the most militarized areas in the world. In addition, mass violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cypriot people continue, as well as forcible ethnic segregation and division of the Greek Cypriot and Turks Cypriot communities. During the invasion, Greek Cypriots were expelled from their homes, resulting in the usurpation and illegal exploitation of the property belonging to the Greek Cypriot refugees. Massive colonization of the occupied areas of Cyprus has also occurred over the past several decades through the illegal placement of more than 160,000 Turkish mainland settlers, who now outnumber the indigenous Turkish Cypriots by almost two to one. Furthermore, cultural destruction and religious desecration continues in northern Cyprus, where many churches, chapels, monasteries, and numerous archaeological sites have been looted, vandalized, or destroyed. I had the opportunity to visit Cyprus several years ago and observe first-hand the devastation that the occupation has had on the island for 37 years. Upon my return, it has been a goal of mine to work with my colleagues in Congress to promote a reunified and prosperous Cyprus where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can live together in peace, security and stability and clear of foreign aggression. On July 20th we must remember our Cypriot friends and commit to work with them to reunify the island.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, we are now in week number 27 of the Republican no-jobs agenda. It is apparent that after last week's disappointing jobs report, that job growth should be our number one priority. But my colleagues across the aisle seem to have not received this message. Since January 1, not a single bill focused on job creation has come to the floor. Instead the majority has chosen to have focus on legislation that would roll back energy efficiency standards, clean water protections, and health care improvements. Now, it seems the majority is threatening to hold the economy hostage. They are refusing to raise the debt ceiling unless we continue providing tax breaks for Big Oil and companies that ship jobs overseas. Instead of focusing on an agenda that balances the budget on the backs of America's middle class and seniors, this Congress needs to focus on a plan that will put America back to work. My Democratic colleagues and I launched an ambitious Make It in America agenda that will rebuild our manufacturing base, create jobs, and position us for long-term economic competition. Mr. Speaker, the millions of unemployed Americans need us to work together to come up with a viable solution to job growth and rebuild our economy.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the privatization of Amtrak, which would threaten reliable, dependable, and accessible passenger rail service throughout the United States. I travel home every weekend on Amtrak to my district in New Jersey, and its service is an essential part of our region's economic vitality. Under the plan to privatize Amtrak, the essential service they provide to millions of passengers could be lost, and nearly 20,000 Amtrak jobs could be eliminated. State-owned infrastructure that Amtrak currently maintains could be turned over to the already deficit- burdened States to maintain. It is likely that station stops will be cut and that commuter rail services will bear increased costs. Additionally, freight railroads that currently use Amtrak-supported lines may face logistical problems if Amtrak becomes privatized. Under the proposal to privatize Amtrak, many important labor provisions will be eliminated. Future railroad employees will be exempt from disability, pension, retirement, and unemployment benefits. By removing future employees from these benefit systems, current and retired employees will be negatively affected, and railroads will face increased taxes to maintain the solvency of these systems. I urge my colleagues to oppose the privatization of Amtrak.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern for the escalating persecution of the Christian community in Egypt. We were all inspired by the call for freedom and democracy in Egypt this winter, but for some in Egypt, the transition has led to more threats, more fear, and more violence. While Mubarak is gone, extremist groups in Egypt are using the newly opened political space to escalate their war against Christians. Churches are burning and people are being murdered in the streets over their religious beliefs. If these groups get their way, the opportunity for a democratic and free Egypt would be lost. As the United States partners with Egyptian communities to support democracy in this time of transition, it is imperative that human rights violations are not pushed aside. The United States must demand that any Egyptian Government protect the rights and lives of its citizens before any U.S. dollars are given to that government. The respect of human rights, including religious freedoms, is imperative for the future and stability of Egypt and the region.