Albio Sires

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 43, a resolution recognizing the efforts of those who serve their communities on Martin Luther King Day and promoting the holiday as a day of national service. I am proud to have this opportunity to highlight the importance of national service as well as honor a national leader and hero, Martin Luther King, Jr. Next Monday, we will celebrate this extraordinary man and the legacy of service he engrained on our Nation through our dedication to service. This year, our celebration of Dr. King's life and his commitment to improving the lives of all Americans is more significant than ever as the country swears in our first African American president, Barack Obama, the very next day. The extraordinary work of Dr. King and his enduring message of providing equal opportunities for all Americans--in conjunction with the inauguration of our new president--provide proof that our Nation is capable of great change and proof that through service, our Nation can accomplish whatever it dreams. As our country swears in President Obama on January 20, I know that Martin Luther King, Jr. will be in my thoughts, as well as in the thoughts of many proud Americans. It is people like Dr. King that make our country great, that make me proud to be a citizen of this great Nation, and that inspire me to serve. I am pleased to join my colleagues in recognizing the amazing service of this man that continues to inspire in our Nation year after year. I urge my colleagues to not only join me in supporting today's resolution, but join me in continuing the call for service in our communities on this special day, and throughout the year.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, tooday I rise to recognize the 117th anniversary of the opening of Ellis Island. Originally opened on January 1, 1892, the island remains a part of American history and our culture. Together with the Statue of Liberty, these places represent what it means to be an American. During the attacks of September 11, 2001 these symbols stood as a reminder and a warning that we will prevail against those who wish us harm. So great are these symbols that visitors from here and abroad visit them every day. Yet the Statue of Liberty crown is still closed to visitors. I am happy that both President-Elect Obama and Interior Secretary Designate Salazar support fully opening up the crown. I am optimistic that we will again allow Americans and foreign visitors to peer out from the crown and to think about what it means to be an American.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today, the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to condemn the ongoing attacks on human rights in Cuba. It has been reported that possibly a dozen people in Cuba have been rounded up and detained by the regime to thwart their efforts to attend Human Rights Day events on the island. I was outraged, but not shocked to hear of this most recent action by the brutal Cuban regime to deny the Cuban people their basic human rights, which are guaranteed in the U.N. declaration. Dissident groups throughout Cuba have attempted to organize protests, and government attacks on protesters will likely continue. This blatant disregard for the rights of all peoples on this symbolic day so accurately represents the true nature of the oppressive Cuban regime. I will continue to fight for a day when the voices of all Cuban people are respected.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution to express my deepest sympathies to our friends in India and the innocent victims from around the world. On November 26, 2008, coordinated terrorist attacks were carried out across the city of Mumbai, India, killing over 170 people and injuring more than 300. I am very disturbed by the brutality of these acts of terrorism and I condemn them in the strongest terms possible. Madame Speaker, I would like the Indian people to know we are standing by them during this difficult time and that we hope to find justice for the innocent victims of this terrible tragedy. I ask that all my colleagues support this resolution.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I would like to state for the record my position on the following votes I missed on September 22, 2008. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 616 on H.R. 6685; ``yea'' on rollcall 617 on H.R. 1907; and ``yea'' on rollcall 618 on H.R. 6853.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Jersey City Fire Department. On September 19, the department received a 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, right here in Washington, D.C., for supporting our Guard and Reserve. For deployments of 12 months, the fire department continues all benefits for servicemembers and their families, as well as full pay for deployments of up to 6 months. They have also shown a tremendous personal generosity by collecting $6,000 in phone cards to send to their coworkers and units serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also collect gifts during the holidays for the children of servicemembers and help families that are falling on tough times during the deployment. I am so proud of the Jersey City Fire Department's dedication to their coworkers, our community, our Guard and Reserve, and our country. They are very deserving of this high honor.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of House Resolution 1369, which recognizes the work of nongovernmental organizations in helping to bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians. It is through the tireless efforts of so many dedicated and talented individuals on the ground in the region that we have been able to see progress. Nongovernmental organizations have worked for years at a grassroots level to build relationships between Israelis and Palestinians; neighbor to neighbor. These organizations have a true commitment to peace and to coexistence. The relationships they nurtured have helped to build bridges within these communities that I hope will sustain a lasting peace in the region.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, both Democrats and Republicans have been talking about high gas prices for months. At first, Republicans said we just needed to drill, drill, drill, but then they joined us in saying that a more comprehensive, all-of-the-above proposal was in order. It turns out it was just all talk. Democrats have been trying to reverse the failed Bush policies of the past, but Republicans keep saying no. We proposed legislation to crack down on price gouging and to curb excess speculation. Republicans said no. We proposed lowering gas prices immediately by tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Republicans said no. We proposed legislation that would force Big Oil to drill on 68 million acres of land to increase oil production here at home. Republicans again said no. Yesterday, we passed an all-of-the-above energy package to bring down prices and to invest in America's energy future, but again, Republicans voted no. Mr. Speaker, it seems like Republicans don't actually want to resolve the crisis. They just want to talk about the crisis.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, when I voted on final passage of H.R. 6842, the Second Amendment Enforcement Act, I incorrectly voted aye. I meant to vote no on final passage of that bill.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1420 recognizing September 11 as a day of remembrance, remembering those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and honoring the heroic actions of our Nation's first responders and the Armed Forces. On that tragic day, I was the Mayor of Jest New York, New Jersey and a member of the State Assembly. My district sits directly across from lower Manhattan and ever since the smoke cleared on 9/11, there has been a visible reminder to me and my constituents of the loss we suffered on that day. Everyday I am at home in West New York, I see the absence in the skyline. It is a constant reminder to me of the great loss our nation suffered on September 11. Hundreds of husbands, wives, parents, friends and neighbors did not return home that night. Many others did return home but still have to bear the burden of their losses everyday. Madam Speaker, today I want to honor the memories of those we lost seven years ago today and those who lost loved ones. I'd also like to honor our troops that, since September 11, 2001, have been fighting so bravely abroad to protect this great cquntry. We appreciate their sacrifice.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to highlight the good work of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency in the 13th District of New Jersey, which I have the honor of representing. The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency has a distinguished history in the fight to eliminate blight, to create opportunities, and to attract residential, commercial and industrial real estate projects in Jersey City. Since its inception 60 years ago, the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency has been responsible for the direct reinvestment of billions of dollars in Jersey City and tens of thousands of jobs. The agency is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all residents of Jersey City by guiding responsible development and reinvestment in all neighborhoods and communities in Jersey City. They work daily to enhance the quality of life of their residents and improve economic and housing opportunities while building strong, viable partnerships with the Jersey City community. Please join me in honoring the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency as they celebrate their 60th year in business and as they continue to build a better Jersey City for all residents.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, for 8 years now Washington Republicans have allowed Big Oil to run our Nation's energy policy. The result: record profits for oil companies and record gas prices at the pump for consumers. All summer long, this Democratic Congress offered real solutions to provide drivers some relief. We proposed legislation to curb excessive speculation which would have reduced oil prices by $20 to $30 a barrel. House Republicans said no. We proposed legislation to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. When the President's father took this action back in 1991, the price of oil immediately dropped $8 a barrel. But again, House Republicans said no. We also proposed legislation that forced Big Oil to begin drilling on the 68 million acres of land they already have leases for. House Republicans once again said no. Mr. Speaker, the record gas prices of last year are a direct result of failed Republican policies. It is time they face the facts so that we can work together and fashion some real relief at the pump.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. The passage of this bipartisan bill will continue Congress' commitment to the fight against HIV, TB and malaria around the world. This bill will dramatically boost HIV/AIDS and health care programs for women and girls, as well as strengthen health and education systems in nations hard-hit by the HIV virus. H.R. 5501 also provides funding for orphans and vulnerable children, as well as food and nutrition programs. The World Health Organization estimates that over 38 million people are living with HIV/AIDS and 95 percent of those people live in the developing world. We must be leaders in combating the global AIDS crisis and this bill allows maximum flexibility for our staff on the ground. H.R. 5501 provides needed funding and support to transition the very successful PEPFAR program from the emergency phase to the sustainability phase. I urge all my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3999, the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act. Maintaining our infrastructure, especially our bridges, is vital to enhancing our economy, improving our quality of life, and most importantly protecting the safety of our constituents. I thank Chairman Oberstar for introducing this important legislation and for his leadership in maintaining our Nation's infrastructure. My district is highly impacted by the structural integrity of our bridges. They provide the necessary infrastructure to support one of the largest ports in the U.S. with more than 25 million tons of cargo moving through the port each year. Most importantly, these bridges serve millions of people who travel on them to and from New York City each year. In response to the tragic 1-35-W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, New Jersey undertook an extensive review of bridges and identified the improvements required to bring all of the State's structurally deficient bridges to a state of good repair. This bill will help to further that initiative and increase the safety of our bridges. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for all your hard work on this bill. I rise today in support of H.R. 3221, the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008. This amendment is very important for a number of reasons. First, this amendment aims to stimulate and increase consumer spending in the mortgage market by creating a new standard deduction for State and local real estate taxes paid for those who do not itemize, and it provides a refundable tax credit for first time home buyers. Second, this amendment provides assistance to all who are looking for a place to call home. It does not forget those who are less fortunate, those who can not afford to buy a home. The permanent affordable housing trust fund will ensure that all Americans have access to a safe and stable place to call home, even those who rent. This amendment also helps those who are looking to buy a home by bolstering the ability of FHA to guarantee more mortgages. Finally, by strengthening and consolidating existing regulatory authorities and giving the Treasury Department new authority, the American taxpayer can have faith that they will not have to bear the weight of future housing financing problems. I urge everyone to support this bill.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus, also known as the Black Anniversary. The occupation of Cyprus is an injustice that has gone on for too long, and the Cyprus question can no longer be ignored. I am encouraged by meetings over the last several months between President Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Talat. Their efforts to implement the July 2006 agreement are helping to lay the framework for talks about a final solution to the Cyprus question. With the recent establishment of working groups and technical committees to discuss substantive and day-to-day issues between the communities, I am hopeful that the meeting on July 25 between President Christofias and Talat will bring about full negotiations. Mr. Speaker, 13 million crossings have taken place between the Greek and the Turkish Cypriot communities without incident, and yet, there are still 43,000 Turkish troops on the island. That is one Turkish troop for every two Turkish Cypriots. Last year, I introduced House Resolution 620, expressing the sense of the House that Turkey should end its occupation of the Republic of Cyprus. I believe this is an occupation that has divided Cyprus and the Cypriot people for far too long. This occupation stands in the way of a final solution to the Cyprus question, as well as Turkey's accession into the European Union. Mr. Speaker, last November I led a congressional delegation to Greece and Cyprus where I toured the buffer zone in Nicosia. I saw the barbed wire, and I saw with my own eyes an area where time has stood still for 34 years. As we rise today to commemorate the events of July 20, 1974, we must remain committed to working together to end the occupation and to bring down the 113 miles of barbed wire fence that continue to divide Cyprus.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the good work of the United Way of Hudson County in the 130th District of New Jersey, which I have the honor of representing in Congress. The United Way of Hudson County has a distinguished history of working with its partners to help the homeless in Hudson County. Hudson County has about 300 chronic homeless and another 2,700 people who are in and out of homelessness, representing nearly 1 percent of the residents in our community. I would like to highlight just a few of the good things the United Way of Hudson County is doing in my district. They are responsible for providing funding to many social services agencies working with the homeless, including a Bayonne facility for homeless men, a program for the elderly in Jersey City, a training program for 59 shelter residents, housing for Hudson County individuals with HIV/AIDS, meals, transitional housing, a soup kitchen, and educational services for homeless persons. In 2005, the United Way of Hudson County created an Emergency Shelter System for the Homeless that was widely honored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of New Jersey, and the State Association of Community Development Directors. In 2006, the United Way of Hudson County was awarded the county's first ``Housing First'' grant for $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This grant provided housing and social services for 26 disabled individuals. Their Housing First focus, championed by the United Way of Hudson County and County Executive Tom DeGise, will provide housing, hope, and a better future for the homeless of Hudson County. Please join me in honoring the United Way of Hudson County as we celebrate their good work at the Second Annual New Jersey Congressional Reception on July 30, 2008.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, the Bush-Cheney energy plan is now 95 percent implemented and we are paying for it at the pump. It's no mystery how it happened. Two oilmen in the White House let Big Oil literally write the energy plan. And while Republicans continue to demand opening up more areas for drilling, Democrats are asking why not drill on 311 million acres of Federal land already open for energy production? Day after day Republicans say drill, drill, drill. But they haven't once asked why oil companies are sitting on 68 million acres of already-leased land. This country needs a comprehensive plan for energy independence, and responsible drilling is part of that plan. Why not open new areas for development that will save consumers little at the pump decades down the road when there are 68 million acres of land ready for drilling? Mr. Speaker, Democrats don't want to make the American consumer wait another 10 to 20 years for any relief. Today we hope that the Republicans will join us in demanding that Big Oil start drilling on the leases they already have, otherwise lose the leases. It's time to tell Big Oil, ``Use it or lose it.''

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the good work of the United Way of Hudson County, New Jersey. They have a distinguished history of working with their partners to help the homeless in Hudson County. I would like to highlight just a few of the good things that United Way of Hudson County is doing in my district. They are, in part, responsible for a Bayonne facility for homeless men, a program for the elderly in Jersey City, a training program for 59 shelter residents, housing for Hudson County individuals with HIV/AIDS, meals, soup kitchens, and educational services for homeless persons. In 2005 the United Way of Hudson County created an emergency shelter system for the homeless that was widely honored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of New Jersey, and the State Association of Community Development Directors. In 2006 they were awarded the County's first ``Housing First'' grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This grant provided housing for social services for 26 disabled individuals. Their Housing First focus, championed by the United Way and the County Executive, Tom DeGise, will provide housing and hope for a better future for the homeless of Hudson County. Please join me on July 30 for the second congressional reception honoring the United Way.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I would like to state for the record my position on the following votes I missed on July 14, 2008. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on Rollcall 486 on H. Res. 1067; ``yes'' on Rollcall 487 on H. Res. 1080; and ``yes'' on Rollcall 488 on H. Con. Res. 297.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5506 which would designate the U.S. Postal Service building located at 369 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey as the ``Bishop Ralph E. Brower Post Office Building.'' Bishop Ralph E. Brower has dedicated more than 50 years of his life in service to the community of Jersey City, New Jersey. In 1954, he was called to build the St. Michael Methodist Church. He started the church with only six members, and served their parish as pastor for over 54 years. In addition to his role as pastor, Bishop Brower served the Jersey City community in many ways. His professional and ministerial accomplishments also include being president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance for 25 years; Hudson County Chaplain for 25 years; commissioner for the Jersey City Redevelopment for 5 years; and deputy mayor for 4 years. With his lifetime of dedication to public service and ministry, Bishop Ralph E. Brower consistently illustrates his caring and commitment to the Jersey City community. I am thrilled to celebrate this dedicated community leader through this legislation. I cannot think of better way to honor Bishop Brower's work then to designate a U.S. Postal Office in his name. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Let me end with this: My office has taken calls from public housing authorities across the Nation. Small, large, urban and rural housing authorities support this bill, and I hope that Members will support this bill. Please make a difference for public housing residents and public housing authorities by easing their regulatory burden. Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6216.

Mr. SIRES. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am very happy to be here today discussing my bill to help public housing authorities across the Nation. Let me start by thanking Chairman Barney Frank for his support on this bill and his leadership in the Financial Service Committee. Without his dedication to this issue, we would not be considering this bill today. Let me start by explaining why I introduced this bill. Shortly after I was sworn in, I received a letter from the Jersey City Housing Authority in my district. They told me they had to lay off 34 employees because of asset management. When I looked into this, I learned that Jersey City was not unique. Over 800 public housing authorities had their operating budgets cut because of the way asset management was implemented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. At the same time, the Department limited the amount of flexibility given to public housing authorities to make ends meet. I knew something had to be done. With the support of Chairman Frank, Congressman Meek, and others, I introduced H.R. 6216, the Asset Management Improvement Act of 2008. You will note that the title indicates that the bill improves asset management; it does not put an end to asset management. That is because I feel strongly that the goals of asset management are worthwhile. By making public housing authorities run more efficiently, asset management has the potential to improve the lives of all those who live in public housing in this country. My bill simply makes four improvements to the asset management rule and it alters the management of public housing in other aspects. First, it requires new negotiations to establish a reasonable management fee and allows public housing authorities to revert back to the old funding mechanism until final implementation of asset management on January 1, 2011. Congress has previously acted to require this, but HUD failed to act. This bill sets HUD straight. Second, my bill reaffirms current law by allowing public housing authorities to transfer funds between their operating fund and their capital fund. This provision prevents the Department from prohibiting such transfers. This flexibility is vital to agencies, particularly since the housing program is underfunded. Housing authorities know best where they need funding, not Washington. There is wide agreement on this provision. In fact, this provision was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008. That provision, however, is only valid for 1 year. My bill will make this change permanent. Third, my bill decreases the exemption threshold from small to medium-sized public housing authorities. The Department recognized that small authorities with fewer than 250 units of housing would not benefit from the benefits of asset management, and so they are exempted. My bill simply raises this threshold to 500 units. Again, there is little disagreement on raising the threshold. The Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008 raised the exemption threshold to 400. My bill goes a little further; to 500 units. The impact of this change would only affect 110 public housing authorities, some of whom may not opt out of asset management because they think it makes good sense. Even with this change, over two-thirds of all public housing units will still be covered by the asset management rules. Third, my bill restates current law in terms of tenant participation. It simply says tenants should be allowed to participate in the decision affecting their homes. It prohibits the Department from altering tenant participation rights and it encourages public housing authorities to include tenants in discussions about asset management that directly affects their home. The bill alters public housing management in a few other ways. First, it restates current law that undocumented immigrants are ineligible for public housing assistance. It includes language that Congresswoman Bachmann brought to our attention on gun rules. In fact, we have incorporated her language into the bill. Public housing authorities cannot require gun registration or prohibit gun ownership if local laws do not restrict ownership. Public housing authorities, as a whole, feel this is a reasonable requirement. Additionally, this bill allows public housing authorities to evict tenants who use an illegal weapon while on public housing property. This text was added by Representatives Maloney and Boren, recognizing that tenants do not have a right to use illegal weapons in public housing. Together, these changes make several improvements to the management of public housing. It will improve the lives of all the residents.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to help raise awareness of Tourette syndrome. This is a misunderstood disorder that affects an unknown number of Americans. The experts think that maybe 200,000 of us suffer from this neurological disorder; although no one really knows because it is often misdiagnosed. That is why we need to increase awareness and applaud those who work on a daily basis to make this one of the issues that we must be aware of. In my home State, the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders provides an innovative, multidisciplinary, multi- institutional approach to the treatment for those in New Jersey who have the Tourette syndrome and for their families. It is the first and only program of its kind in the Nation, and it serves as a model for other centers. In concert with the State legislature, they declared every Wednesday in New Jersey as Tourette Syndrome Day to call attention to this disorder. In order to continue to bring awareness to this disorder, today, I will introduce a resolution supporting the designation of a National Tourette Syndrome Day.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall 438 on H. Res. 1242; ``yes'' on rollcall 439 on H. Con. Res. 372; and ``yes'' on rollcall 440 on H. Res. 1051.